Discover What’s Possible - Together
Throughout the month of September, we held 17 Focus Group sessions including the 3D video of our preliminary design. Almost 300 of you participated and the reaction was enthusiastic. After our campaign consultant, John Morrison, tabulated the results, we felt confident in recommending to the board that we initiate a capital campaign.
There was a congregational meeting held on October 6 to determine if there was support for initiating a campaign. Presenters talked about the history of our current building project, how a capital campaign works, why we need this new space and showed the 3D video.The vote to go ahead with the campaign was unanimous, so that will be the next major milestone to be completed on our path to expansion.
Many of you are concerned about the cost of the project. No fundraising goal was announced at the meeting. The Capital Campaign team will brainstorm possible sources of funds beyond the congregation, possible rental income from the new building and approach potential major donors both inside and outside the congregation. In early November, a goal will be announced, and the campaign will begin.
How does the campaign work?
We are recruiting volunteers to make home visits to talk to each of you about your potential support. These volunteers will select people they would like to visit, so the volunteer will be someone you know, or someone who wants to get to know you. Any pledges you make can be paid over 3 to 5 years, so you won’t have to make your contribution all at once. The volunteer will also talk to you about continuing your current pledge to the operating budget.
Can we do this?
We believe we can. We need this building to continue the work that we do for our community.
- Imagine space for the food bank to be inside in inclement weather.
- Imagine shower and kitchenette for our guests during Faith Family Hospitality weeks.
- Image having so much space that no one is forced to sit outside the sanctuary on Sunday morning.
- Imagine having room available for a meeting or small group session, even if you forget to make the reservation until the last minute.
- Imagine our children having a place to worship, more spacious and functional classrooms and nice play areas.
- Imagine a social hour with enough space to chat with old and new friends and with good enough acoustics that you can even hear each other!
We believe we must do this, and with faith and commitment we can achieve this goal.
Looking Back
While the focus groups were going on, the BET finished up the tree survey with the city forester, began working on contracts for the architect and the contractor and began looking at options for completing some other surveys we need to have done. The architects are on hold until after the capital campaign is completed. We want to be ready to go with all the other details when they go back to work.
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Looking Ahead
We plan to spend the rest of October planning our activities for the rest of the year and reviewing where we stand in our project planning.
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Our Team
The Building Expansion Team is Karen Johnese, Peg MacMorris, Chris Bettlach, Jerry Hanley and Margaret Cottam. You can reach us at buildingexpansion@foothillsuu.org. If you are not receiving this newsletter by e-mail, you can sign up at https://foothillsuu.org/teams/building-expansion/
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Questions and ideas? Email us or visit us on the Foothills website.
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