March 2026 Board Meeting

Splinters from the March 24 2026 Board Meeting

• Ed Busch presented plans for planting and landscaping around the Historical Marker. A dedication celebration/ceremony with city and state dignitaries (e.g. Michigan Historical Commission) for the Historical Marker will be held at noon on Sunday May 31, after a reception/coffee hour with ice cream (RE sundae Sunday) and cake. An open house/tour of the Natural Play Space and Memorial Garden will follow.

• On behalf of the Stewardship team, Ed Busch also presented and the board approved a "spring ask" campaign, running through the month of April, to resupply UULansing's reserve funds for infrastructure needs such as landscaping, parking lot resurfacing, the Church signage, and unforeseen equipment failures.

• Following on the resignation of Senior Minister Neal Anderson, an Interim Minister search committee is to be constituted. The committee will consist of three board members--Jennifer Blum, Mike Nestell, and Ned Jackson, together with one or two congregants. Following UUA guidelines, a packet describing UULansing is in preparation, due mid-April. Details will be presented for congregation discussion in the April second Sunday (April 12) informational meeting after service.

• Motions were adopted to authorize temporary changes in the period with no minister: (a) Use of remaining funds in the Sabbatical Reserve Account for staff bonus pay (Katherine and LB) and selected minister functions; (b) assignment of president-elect Ralph Putnam as board-staff liaison for operations, sharing executive direction and decision-making with the Church Administrator. Decisions such as hiring, major financial, and infrastructure issues will remain with the Board.

• The board continues to seek feedback from congregants, whether in person via post-service small group conversations, or in written messages (board@uulans.net). It is our intent to respond to all letters/emails.

• For those who missed it, a link to the recording of the March 8 discussion of Rev Neal's resignation is available upon request to the board (board.

• Board meetings will alternate between in-person (March 24, May 26) and zoom (April 28, June 23), and then best practices will be discussed for future meetings.