Organization

Vision Statement
UULMNJ is the Unitarian Universalist courageous, compassionate voice for truth, justice and equality in New Jersey public policy.

Board of Trustees
UULMNJ's Board of Trustees consists of eight persons.  Trustees are members of Affiliated Congregations.  At least two Trustees are ministers, and there is at least one young adult member, aged 18 - 23.   No more than two persons from any one Affiliated Congregation may serve as Trustees at any one time.  All Trustees are limited to serving for no more than four consecutive years. 

Executive Director
Rev. Craig Hirshberg came  to the Legislative Ministry in May 2011 with a wealth of experience in the pulpit and in the community. An ordained UU minister for the past 15 years, she was the founding minister at Somerset Hills and helped to build that church from the start to a thriving community of over 150 members. For the last six years Craig has been the Metro New York District Ministerial Settlement Representative and served the last four years as a District Adjunct Training Consultant.  Prior to becoming a UU Minister she worked for 16 years serving in local, metropolitan, national and international YMCA organizations. Immediately following college she was a community organizer in Akron, OH.

Committees
UULMNJ has established a number of committees to help carry out the business of the organization.  Please let us know if you are interested in serving on a committee.  Your participation would be most welcome.

Communications oversees the various mechanisms for communicating with congregations, the public at large, media, and public officials. It coordinates work with other committees and subcommittees that provide content for the website, media outlets, and communicates with congregations and interested individuals. It serves as a resource, housing communications tools such as a News Bureau, a speakers bureau, publications development and fact sheets, e-communications, etc.

Congregational Relations develops, maintains and enhances the relationship between the UULMNJ and NJ congregations to support UULMNJ’s advocacy efforts through Congregation Action Teams and congregations’ local social justice programs. It fosters the spiritual foundation of justice ministry; gives input about, and assistance; with, the Affiliation Agreement and process; supports the dynamics of the Plenary Council; develops and disseminates educational and worship materials; assists with leadership training opportunities, lobby days, and conferences; fosters the engagement of youth and adult UUs.

Development Committee researches and identifies funding sources; coordinates and implements fundraising campaigns; outreaches to individuals to become Friends of UULMNJ.

Financial/Budget Committee develops annual operating budget and monitors expenditures; develops and maintains financial procedures; liaisons with fiscal sponsor, as long as applicable.

Personnel/Policies and Procedures Committee develops job descriptions and personnel policies; oversees hiring process, drafts policies and procedures necessary for governance and operation of organization.

 Public Policy and Research Committee oversees the selection of priority issues for education and advocacy; maintains awareness of relevant NJ legislative developments and emerging priority issues; develops and maintains strategic relationships with other statewide advocacy organizations to establish partnering opportunities; coordinates with other UULMNJ committees to maintain effective channels of communication, problem identification, and establishing overarching policies and procedures; identifies and maintains effective mechanisms to communicate emerging legislative and public policy developments; obtains or develops and shares relevant educational and advocacy materials with interested congregants, statewide.

Annual Meeting
A Plenary meeting is held shall meet once per year with the members of the Board of Trustees and Policy Leaders.  The purpose of this annual meeting is for (1) ) a review of the year’s activities, (2) the election of Trustees and the Nominating Committee, (3) adoption of a budget for the coming fiscal year, (4) setting of the broad priorities for the coming year, (5) adoption of the levels of support for congregational affiliation,  and (6) conducting any other business that the Board presents, or any other business that may come before it. 

Each Affiliated Congregation is entitled to a number of voting representatives, equal to the number allotted for the General Assembly that will follow the annual Plenary.

Membership
Legislative Ministry membership is composed of the UU Congregations of New Jersey who have completed the Affiliation Agreement.

All New Jersey UU congregations are considered participants in the Ministry, and will receive periodic communications, invitations to events, and have the opportunity to affiliate at any time.

Individual participation is strongly encouraged and will include UUs within or outside the state or non-UUs who support the mission of the Ministry.