Frequently Asked Questions
(or, "How Do Things Get Done Around Here?")
PUBLICATION DEADLINES
Q: How do I submit an announcement to be included in the Mini-Pioneer weekly bulletin?
A: The deadline for the Mini-Pioneer is the preceding Wednesday at 9am. Please send all submissions to office@uusg.org.
Q: How do I submit an announcement to be included in the Pioneer monthly newsletter?
A: The Pioneer deadline is typically the 3rd Friday of each month; however, this does change on occasion, so check the previous Pioneer issue, a recent Mini-Pioneer, or the UUSG online calendar for details. Please send all submissions to BOTH office@uusg.org AND minister@uusg.org.
Q: How do I submit an announcement to be included in the weekly email announcements?
A: The deadline for the weekly email announcements is the preceding Wednesday at 9am. Please send all submissions to office@uusg.org.
SCHEDULING
Q: How do I add an event to the church calendar?
A: Check the calendar to see if the date, time, and room you'd like are available. If so, submit your request to the office using the Room Reservation Form (available in the literature display just outside the Common Room or by contacting the church office). You will be contacted to confirm your request.
Q: How do I schedule a room for a recurring meeting?
A: Check the calendar to see if the date, time, and room you'd like are available. If so, submit your request to the office using the Room Reservation Form (available in the literature display just outside the Common Room or by contacting the office). You will be contacted to confirm your request.
Q: How do I make an appointment to meet with a minister?
A: It's often easiest to contact our Senior Minister, the Rev. Dr. Lindsay Bates, through email at minister@uusg.org. You may also call the office at 630-232-2350. Because the minister's schedules varies from week to week and day to day, we ask that you do schedule an appointment.
FINANCE & PLEDGING
Q: How do I designate my pledge or donation?
A: If you're writing a check for a pledge, please use the memo line to indicate both the purpose of the check and the fiscal year to which you'd like the amount applied (for instance, "pledge 08-09"). If you're writing a check for a donation, please write the intended purpose of the donation in the memo line. If you don't indicate a purpose in the memo line, our Assistant Treasurer will do his best to guess your intention--please check your quarterly statements to see that we've gotten it right!
If you're putting cash in the offering basket, please use an offering envelope, with your name on it, to indicate your intentions. Without your name, you can't be given credit for your donation. Without a "purpose" designation, the donation will be applied to your pledge or your general account if you are not a pledger.
Q: Are my donations and pledges tax-deductible?
A: Pledges and donations, including Beyond Our Walls collections, are tax-deductible. Any money given to UUSG for which you receive a service or good in return (such as coffee or a book from the bookstore) are not tax-deductible. All tax-deductible donations will be listed in your annual donor report we send out in January.
Q: What if I am not able to meet my pledge?
A: We understand that circumstances sometimes mean that pledgers won't be able to complete their pledge. If you're comfortable doing so, please contact the Assistant Treasurer or one of the ministers to let them know; you don't need to provide details, but it helps with our planning if we are aware.
Q: How do I make a pledge?
A: Pledge forms are available on our website (link), in the literature display just south of the Common Room, or by contacting the office. Forms can be submitted online or dropped off in the marked box in the Common Room. If you're not sure how much to pledge, feel free to contact our Membership Committee for some guidelines.
Q: How do I get reimbursed for expenses incurred for a church group or activity?
A: Reimbursement Request Forms are available in the literature display just south of the Common Room. Please fill the form out entirely, include all receipts, and put the form in the Congregational Administrator's mailbox. Payment may be dependent on the approval of the group or committee leader. As a result, it is best to have expenses approved by the appropriate person before incurring them.
Q: Can I purchase items for the church tax-free?
A: Yes. Tax-exempt letters are available in the literature display just south of the Common Room or by contacting the office. Please remember that these forms are to be used for church-related purchases only.
Q: Why does it seem like you are always asking for money?
A: It takes a lot of things to run an organization, and money is one of them. It pays for our building, our employees and allows us to accomplish our mission. We ask for your voluntary financial support for this and for our outreach activities. Your time and energy are equally important, but the bills still have to be paid. Please consider donating at a level that matches your belief in our mission and your own financial situation.
EVENTS & SERVICES
Q: How do I know what the sermon topics will be?
A: Feel free to contact the office (630-232-2350 or office@uusg.org) for information about upcoming services.
OUR BUILDING & GROUNDS
Q: How do I purchase a stone for the Memorial Garden?
A: Order forms are available in the literature display outside the Common Room or by contacting the office (630-232-2350 or office@uusg.org).
Q: Whom do I contact about a problem with the building or grounds?
A: In a non-emergency situation, please leave a note for our Congregational Administrator, Katie Phillips, noting the problem, date noticed, your name and contact information, and any other details you think might be helpful.
Q: What do I do if there's a facilities emergency and there are no staff in the building?
A: In an emergency situation and when the Congregational Administrator or a member of the Facilities Committee is not available, any staff or church member is authorized to take appropriate action if safety or potential damage to the building is possible. The procedure for emergency repairs is posted in the Common Room, on the door to the Volunteer Office, and in PH-11. This also lists whom to call when a problem requires immediate attention.