Last night and this morning I presenting the steward training for my Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Our UUA consultant was suppose to do the training but he had a family emergency and wasn’t able to make it. Since I was the only person on the Joint Canvass Committee who as actually done an every-member canvasses before I agreed to present the training.
My experience as a steward is that it’s an incredibly fun experience. Many people avoid the experience because they they it’s all about asking for money or forcing people to give more money then they want to the congregation. Actually, it’s more about having a great conversation with either an old or a new friend and in the course of that conversation allowing them to make a pledge for the on-going work of the congregation. Along with all the logistics I had to present as part of the training I hope I was able to pass that attitude along to our stewards.
This is the first time this congregation has done an every-member canvass for many years so this is a new experience for most of our stewards. We’re hoping to make a significant bump-up in our operating budget as well as have a successful capital campaign. We’re trying to do everything “by the book” in order to enhance our chances for a successful campaign.
We’ve already pledged the stewards and a couple of other folks in the congregation. Those early pledges have already committed to 33% of our Operating Budget and 43% of our Capital Budget. YEA!!
