Social Justice Outreach Committee
Mission
Statement
Approved February, 2002
The SJOC's (Social Justice Outreach Committee's) mission, approved by Standing Committee on February 7, 2002 , reflects our desire to become more focused on social action in the larger world in keeping with our Society's mission statement and our UU principles. In addition to fulfilling the SJOC's existing mandate to allocate charitable funds and to report on the charitable giving of the UUSWH, the SJOC will now be a place for Society members to bring social action initiatives and obtain support for new projects. “Outreach” also encompasses political advocacy efforts and initiatives to heighten the congregation's awareness of the need for coordinated social action.
The SJOC seeks to encourage and sponsor a broad range of social action, social witness, and social education efforts, coordinating these efforts with other social action-oriented committees within the UUSWH and with other UU organizations.
Our mission comprises:
• Allocating Outreach funds in the Society's annual operating budget for the benefit of worthy causes in the larger world;
• Reporting to the congregation charitable contributions (including money, goods, and services) made by the SJOC and various other committees and groups within the UUSWH;
• Providing education to the congregation about social issues;
• Spearheading political advocacy efforts in support of those social issues;
• Serving as a launching pad for new social action initiatives;
• Building alliances with other social action/social justice programs sponsored by the UUA and UUSC; and
• Allocating financial gifts or bequests donated to the Society for the purpose of outreach. Substantial gifts will be allocated in consultation with the Standing Committee.
The committee will maintain a core working group of 5-10 members who will meet regularly. We will continually invite other interested members of the UUSWH community to participate in activities we sponsor and to generate new initiatives. Maintaining regular communication with the congregation is key to the SJOC's ability to carry out this mission.
Guidelines for Allocation of Charitable Funds
The Allocations Process
Allocations will be decided by a quorum of not fewer than 5 members of the full committee (including the chair) who will consider requests for funds throughout the year and make allocations when they are most needed. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the committee will hold a planning meeting at which funds will be budgeted to address general areas of the SJOC's mission.
The SJOC will keep the congregation informed on a regular basis about its activities and willingness to represent members' social action/justice concerns. The congregation will be invited to share their charitable giving priorities as well as specific information about organizations that they would like the SJOC to consider when making allocations. The SJOC will strive to encourage and support the individual social action efforts of UUSWH members: we will give particular consideration to organizations in which Society members are actively involved when making allocation decisions.
Every effort will be made to coordinate all charitable giving within the UUSWH; we will maintain close communication with the Committee Against Hunger and Poverty and other UUSWH committees in order to support each other's work and avoid unnecessary duplication. In addition to input from the congregation, the committee will utilize research on the charitable giving priorities of other UU organizations in order to inform its allocations process.
Selection of Causes
Selection of worthy causes will start anew each fiscal year. We will contribute to organizations we know, either through research or direct involvement. Charitable organizations chosen will be in existence for at least two years, have a reasonable percentage of their funds going to direct provision of care, and have limited donor constituencies. We want to support groups where a relatively modest contribution ($100-$1000) can make a significant difference. The causes we support will be consistent with our denomination's and our Society's priorities and values. We will focus on issues such as education, hunger, poverty, health care, social justice, the environment, and peace. We will maintain a broad focus: we will strive to support a variety of local, national, and international organizations rather than choosing a single theme for the selection of causes. We would like to be a reliable source of continuing support for local organizations with which we have a direct, historical connection.
Guidelines for Reporting the UUSWH's Contributions
In order to facilitate producing a comprehensive and accurate summary of the Society's social action efforts, including donations of funds, goods, and services, the SJOC Chair will gather information on a monthly basis. Information will be collected by maintaining ongoing contact with other committee chairs and by closely monitoring communications within the Society. Information will be reported on a regular basis through the newsletter, as well as summarized to the extent possible in the UUSWH's annual report.
Carrying Out a Broader Outreach Mission
Aside from its allocating and reporting responsibilities, the SJOC's focus will depend on the interest and initiative of its members and of the congregation as a whole. Individual committee members will be encouraged to work on issues of greatest concern to them, building coalitions that include other interested Society members who are able to commit time and energy. The congregation will regularly be invited to share their concerns and ideas with the committee.
As a social change agent, the SJOC may address issues at the policy level through political advocacy. However, the committee will not take any political position purporting to represent the Society without the prior approval of the Standing Committee.
The SJOC will develop and maintain contact with the UUSC area representative and identify other UU groups with which we can collaborate in fulfilling our broader mission.
