Pilgrim House : Positions / PH Volunteers -

Pilgrim House relies on volunteers to ensure that it remains a viable organization meeting the needs of its members, supporters, and friends. Please consider volunteering for some of the following positions. During April and May, sign-up sheets for these positions are posted at PH. Use those sheets to formally volunteer your services for the following year. Or talk to a Board member any time during the year.

Board of Directors

Description: As established by the PH Bylaws, the PH Board of Directors consists of five officers, the chairs of the Standing Committees, up to two adult at-large members, and up to two youth at-large members. At-large members are appointed by the Board. The Board of Directors has final approval over major budgetary, funding, and policy issues. The Board meets every month (usually the second Wednesday evening of the month). Any PH member is welcome to attend Board meetings.

Board Officers: The Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer are elected each year by the PH membership at the annual meeting. The Chair and Past-Chair automatically carry over from previous elections. The Board Officers are:

Past-Chair: Last year’s Chair automatically becomes this year’s Past-Chair.
Chair: Last year’s Chair-Elect automatically becomes this year’s Chair.
Chair-Elect: Assists the Chair and preside in the absence of the Chair; Appoints and chairs the Nominating committee to select candidates for next year’s officers; Automatically becomes Chair after one year and Past-Chair the year after that. This is a 3-year commitment.
Secretary: Records and distributes minutes of Membership and Board meetings. This is a 1-year commitment.
Treasurer: Maintains the accounts; Collects and disburses all funds. This is an ongoing commitment, as it takes a while to become familiar with the bookkeeping machinery.

Standing Committees

Certain committees are identified by the Bylaws and by Board resolutions as Standing Committees. The chairs of these committees are automatically members of the Board of Directors. Additional volunteers are needed to serve as members of these committees.

Building Committee: Chaired by the Building Chair. Performs normal maintenance of the building and grounds; Recommends major repairs or improvements to the Board; Coordinates major building projects.
Children’s RE Committee: Chaired by the RE Chair ?, who works with the Director of Religious Education. Plans children’s programs, including choice of curriculum; Select coordinators for each age group; Schedule adult volunteers to lead or help with each class.
Program Committee: Chaired by the Program Chair. Plans adult programs for Sunday mornings; Schedules speakers; Coordinates adult RE with children’s RE classes.
Finance Committee: Chaired by the Finance Chair. Coordinates pledge campaign and other fundraising activities.
Membership Committee: Chaired by the Membership Chair. Coordinates activities to welcome visitors and new members; Reviews new membership literature and procedures; Maintains the official list of members.
Social Action Committee: Chaired by the Social Action Chair ?. Publicizes and coordinates opportunities to participate in social action efforts and programs.

Other Board Members:

Adult At-large Directors: The Board appoints up to two.
Youth At-large Directors: The Board appoints up to two.

The Newsletter Editor is typically appointed an At-large Director unless serving on the Board in another capacity.

Other Committees

Description: Although the following committees are not automatically represented on the Board, they perform valuable functions for PH.

Facilitator Committee: Chaired by the Facilitator Coordinator. Provides and trains facilitators for Sunday morning programs.
Caring/Personal Life Events Committee: Incorporates life events into adult programs; Responds to personal crises in members’ lives; Support the bond between the group and individuals, particularly with members and friends who discontinue participation.
Music Committee: Chaired by the Music Coordinator. Plans the music and coordinates musical performances on Sunday: Maintains songbooks and the piano.

Group Activity Coordinators

Description: PH members are often interested in participating in activities outside of Sunday meetings. The following activities occur from time to time as volunteer coordinators come forward to organize them:

Adult Study Group Coordinator: Organizes 4 to 12 week study groups on selected topics.
Biking Group Coordinator: Organizes bicycling outings.
Book Study Group Coordinator: Organizes discussion of a new book each month.
Men’s Support Group: Arranges support group meetings for men.
PH Breakfast Coordinator: Arranges monthly Sunday breakfasts in area restaurants.
PH Circle Supper Coordinator: Arranges periodic in-home potluck get-togethers.
PH Evening Dining Out Coordinator: Arranges periodic evening dining in area restaurants.
PH 4^th Sunday Luncheon Coordinator: Arranges fourth-Sunday luncheons in area restaurants.
Retreat Coordinator: Plans an annual retreat.
Ski Weekend Group Coordinator: Organizes winter ski weekend.
Women’s Support Group: Schedules regular support group meetings for women.

Special Event Coordinators

Description: Throughout the year, PH conducts special celebrations for its members, supporters, friends, and visitors. Each of these events requires one or more coordinators to organize them.

Annual Meeting Food Coordinator (June).
December Christmas Gift and Santa Search Coordinator
December Holiday Celebration Food Coordinator (Christmas).
December Holiday Celebration Program Coordinator (Christmas).
Halloween Party Coordinator.
New Member Potluck Coordinator.
New Year’s Eve Party Coordinator.
Spring Celebration Easter Egg Hunt Coordinator
Spring Celebration Food Coordinator (Easter).
Summer Picnic Coordinator (June–August off-season).
Summer Potluck Coordinator (Periodic summer potlucks at PH).
Thanksgiving Celebration Food Coordinator.

Individual Positions

Description: PH needs multiple individual volunteers to serve in the following areas:

Musician: Performs on Sunday morning.
RE Classroom Teacher: Co-teaches a children’s Religious Education class for one trimester. (This is a 10-week commitment.)
RE Substitute Teacher: Substitutes as teacher for one or more children’s Religious Education classes.
Sunday Meditation Musician: Provides Sunday meditation music
Sunday Meditation Reader: Provides Sunday meditation readings
Sunday Presentations: Presents or arranges a Sunday morning program.

Description: PH functions more smoothly if at least one person assumes responsibility for each of the following duties:

Answering Machine Coordinator: Maintains the answering machine; Takes messages, responds, or circulates as necessary.
Archivist: Maintains PH archives and scrapbooks.
Bulletin Board Coordinator: Keeps PH’s bulletin board up-to-date.
Childcare Coordinator: Hires and oversees PH staff to baby sit our youngest children.
Cleaning Coordinator: Hires and oversees PH cleaning staff.
Food Shelf Coordinator: Coordinates volunteers at the Ralph Reader food shelf.
Food Shelf Volunteer: Volunteers to work at the Ralph Reader food shelf.
Garden Coordinator: Coordinates putting in and maintaining gardens around PH.
Kitchen Coordinator: Coordinates refreshment and cleanup crews; Maintains kitchen supplies.
Mail Pickup: Picks up and distributes mail from the PH mailbox.
Mailing List Coordinator: Maintains, prints, and distributes the mailing list (in cooperation with the Membership Committee).
PH Sign Coordinator: Maintains the PH sign.
Photographer: Maintains the PH Photograph display.
Soup Sunday Coordinator: Oversees sign-up and set-up for Soup Sundays.
Webmaster: Maintains and coordinates the PH Website.
Youth Group Mentor: Works with the youth group to coordinate recreational activities.

Delegates and Representatives

Description: PH belongs to many organizations in the larger UU community. Representatives are often requested in the following capacities:

Minnesota UU Campus Ministry: Represents Pilgrim House on behalf of the University of Minnesota UU Campus Ministry.
Twin Cities UU Service Committee: Represents Pilgrim House on the Twin Cities branch of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
Prairie Star District Annual Meeting: Represents Pilgrim House delegate to the annual UUA regional district meeting in April.
UUA General Assembly: Represents Pilgrim House at the annual UUA convention, held every June somewhere around the country.

Pilgrim House

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship