moments from the conference call
oh, two interesting or memorable exchanges from the conference call on Tuesday with the UUA consultant.
1) talking about our operating budget not being in good shape, and being on financially shaky ground. said interested congregant, who I will call Jim, asked if our programs were really being affected by our lower budget this year. to which the finance committee chair ["Susan"] said, um... yes.
it's like, Jim, hello? we cut our DRE position back from full time to part time. that's a, uh, fairly significant change in the religious education program. hello? we have cut salaries for both our minister and our church administrator. Jim, you are the chair of the Values In Action group, and know [or should know] that your budget this year is significantly reduced.
*shakes head*
2) the second thing was something someone else on the finance committee said. I don't remember exactly what question he was answering, but he said something like, sure, it's easier to run without arms, but it's still a problem that you don't have any arms!
everyone in the meeting had to take a second or two to digest that, and there was laughter. and I immediately thought of the episode of The Tick cartoon when both the Tick and Arthur lose their arms. the best part of the episode is right after they've lost their arms, and they've managed to get into a telephone booth and dial American Maid's phone number. she isn't home, so they leave a message, that entirely consists of, We've lost our arms! We've lost our arms!
I was repressing snickers and giggles about that mental image the rest of the meeting, so it's a good thing it didn't occur until close to the end.
1) talking about our operating budget not being in good shape, and being on financially shaky ground. said interested congregant, who I will call Jim, asked if our programs were really being affected by our lower budget this year. to which the finance committee chair ["Susan"] said, um... yes.
it's like, Jim, hello? we cut our DRE position back from full time to part time. that's a, uh, fairly significant change in the religious education program. hello? we have cut salaries for both our minister and our church administrator. Jim, you are the chair of the Values In Action group, and know [or should know] that your budget this year is significantly reduced.
*shakes head*
2) the second thing was something someone else on the finance committee said. I don't remember exactly what question he was answering, but he said something like, sure, it's easier to run without arms, but it's still a problem that you don't have any arms!
everyone in the meeting had to take a second or two to digest that, and there was laughter. and I immediately thought of the episode of The Tick cartoon when both the Tick and Arthur lose their arms. the best part of the episode is right after they've lost their arms, and they've managed to get into a telephone booth and dial American Maid's phone number. she isn't home, so they leave a message, that entirely consists of, We've lost our arms! We've lost our arms!
I was repressing snickers and giggles about that mental image the rest of the meeting, so it's a good thing it didn't occur until close to the end.