Half Plate Guidelines

What if you know of a great organization? Please see the “Half-Plate Guidelines” section below.

The Half-Plate Team

The BVUUF Board of Officers and Trustees has empowered the Half-Plate team to lead this effort, and this team has created a set of guidelines and a process for the selection of groups that advance our mission as well as reflect the worship theme each month. These guidelines are outlined below.  Dianne Ladd, Cathlin Jones, and Meri Gibb are current team members. The team is always interested in having new members.

If we all make it a practice to contribute, even a small amount, it will add up!

If you are paying your pledge with a check in the collection plate, please write ‘pledge‘ on the memo line. Half of all other checks will go each week to the worthy organization recommended by members of the congregation.

The Half-Plate collection is a ‘work in progress.’
We would appreciate feedback on guidelines, along with recommendations of groups. Please contact a team member with your input and/or for more information.

Half Plate Guidelines

The nominator should be an active team in the BVUUF community. Nominators may be volunteers or board members of the group nominated, but may not be paid staff. Nominations will come from teams within BVUUF who work with the nominated organization. Nominator will submit to the Half-Plate Committee a completed application that includes:

  1. Name and contact info of contact person
  2. Name and address and means of delivering the money to the organization, website donation page, mailing address.
  3. A draft paragraph for Connections Weekly (this will be approved by the Committee before publication)

In addition the nominator should be willing to:

  1. Speak or table after the service about the group on the day of the collection, as space and time allow.
  2. Serve, if applicable, as contact and liaison for the group before and after the collection

The Half-Plate Committee will review all applications and make decisions based on the following criteria:

  1. The group is a good fit with UU Principles and the BVUUF social justice initiatives.
  2. The group has a connection with a team in our congregation
  3. The group works for social transformation and self-help, but can also provide direct service.
  4. Local and Colorado-based groups receive preference.
  5. Grassroots groups with close ties to the community receive preference.
  6. Nominations for emergency situations are accepted as needed.

The Half Plate collection process was developed in partnership with BVUUF office and communications staff. The Half-Plate Committee endeavors to plan half-plate collections that are related to the theme of the service. A few full-plate collections occur during