Philosophy for Downsizing:
I accepted the position as head of the Move Liaison Committee and asked several individuals to join me. Currently, the Committee consists of Jan Beladi as Board Representative, and Lisa McDonald. We have held one meeting on Jan 11, 2022 which was a walk-thru of the entire building and all storage spaces (except the outdoor shed). Our philosophy is to release items that we are not using or have extras of, and that is accomplished by either selecting non-profit organizations in Evanston that can make good use of the items, or by offering them to the UNS members who attend in person, via a table in the back of the sanctuary, for love offering. After that, items are given either to Goodwill or the CCE Rummage sale (which benefits Chicago area social service agencies). Those items that are broken, damaged or contaminated have been released via metal, fabric, electronics or regular recycling or in rare instances, trash. I have also consulted on specific questions with relevant UNS attendees, such as Chet Stroyny, Paul Heiden, and Jeanne Spiro.
Below is an update on each area of the UNS building.
The Bookstore Area
Karl Remien disassembled the (rusty) white grid wall structure that was on the west brick wall; the Lindner team moved it out the back door for metal recycling. The books have been removed from the Book Swap area; paperbacks have been donated by Lori Willer to a women’s jail program that requests paperbacks of a spiritual nature. Remaining Unity books were consolidated with the UNS lending library, with extra copies given to Rev Christina for the Unity Nashville library; other hardcover books were sold at Secondhand Books, with the (small) funds given back to UNS.
LUT Teaching Materials and Books; Lending Library
Rev Kurt reviewed all the various class manuals, current ones were kept, older ones were disassembled and recycled. Books were boxed, and extra copies were provided to Rev Christina.
The Lending Library was also boxed with extra copies were provided to Rev Christina.
Both of these collections had been located in the YFM Office on the bookshelves.
Kitchen, Pantry and Décor Closets, plus Atrium Garden Chat storage
The décor closet housed vases, tablecloths, and glass candles. The gold, purple, silver and aqua tablecloths have been folded and boxed with the assistance of Rose Johnson. A select variety of table vases has been retained. Most of the glass candles have been offered for donation or have otherwise left the premises.
The kitchen cabinets have largely been downsized by Sharon Meyers, keeping a small number of essentials, and providing useful items to several recent immigrant families she works with. Another beneficiary is the Brazilian chef that she/we know. The decorative glassware has also been somewhat downsized—more to come!
The major change is the pantry: the two rusty, contaminated shelving units were removed (again, Karl + Team Lindner for metal recycling) and newer units (recently emptied from YFM closet) were moved in. All the paper supplies have been organized and boxed; if unused by the time of our move to storage, we expect to donate them to Interfaith Action. Other items (coffeemakers, etc) have been downsized and either recycled or donated. All the dry goods (crackers, cookies, etc.) were rancid after almost two years and were donated to Ruth’s squirrels.
There is still much to be accomplished in the kitchen, pantry and Atrium areas.
Social Events/Fundraisers
Supply boxes for each event (chili cookoff, Gala, etc) were removed from the YFM closet, reorganized, cleaned/washed, and repacked.
YFM Storage Closet
Kate Jordan has done several walk-thrus with me, identifying items that were donated and never used; all of these have been appropriately released. All items she identified as curriculum related have been retained but not yet boxed up for move/storage. All VCR tapes were given to Goodwill; books were removed and separated into curriculum-related (for Jasmine’s review and put in the YFM office or on shelving just outside that office) or children’s books (currently on the buffet tables for further review). Halloween and Easter decorations were retained but downsized; costumes and hats were washed and bagged, currently hanging on children’s coat rack.
A large number of non-YFM items were removed (Unity t-shirts, scarves, Marshall Fields paper bags, etc) and appropriately released.
Four rusty, contaminated metal shelving structures were taken apart (Karl and Ruth) and moved outside for metal recycling. Two smaller wheeled tables have been temporarily moved in.
YFM Classrooms
The metal storage cabinets in each classroom have been emptied of supplies; offices supplies from YFM have been consolidated, reviewed, tested and sorted into 5 classroom storage kits, with an additional supply box for the YFM teacher. Surplus supplies have been donated to Family Focus via Rose Johnson. Art supplies (paints, markers, glues, tapes) were sorted and tested by a friend of Ruth’s (Diane S, an elementary school art instructor); they are now labelled and boxed. Two north classrooms have had their rusty metal cabinets moved out by Team Lindner to metal recycling. The large south classroom has had two deteriorating low tables replaced by two newer adjustable height tables. ACIM classroom has been appropriated for boxed storage. YOU Room has been visited, but only (rancid) cookies were removed.
Nursery
The contents of the room have been reviewed, and I have talked with Hanna about room equipment and usage, but nothing has been removed except for the stuffed animals (contaminated) that were sitting in the crib. I’m hoping to have Joyce Davidson’s assistance with downsizing this room.
Healing Room and Bridge Storage Room
The Healing Room’s equipment has been removed (massage table returned to Janice Terry; recliner chair and yoga equipment to Vivian Morrison); the Healing Room is currently being used by Dr. Karl Remien for local clients.
The Bridge Storage Room’s items have not been retrieved, but the books, manuals and cards and card dispensers have been boxed. The card tables remain.
Garden Room and Stage
About 15 broken Garden Room chairs were removed from the stage and furnace room and put out for metal recycling. One Garden Room table was found to be collapsing, so that too was put out. The stage has two upright pianos that we are working on finding homes for.
A tall (sagging) particleboard cabinet outside the YFM Office, and a particleboard display cabinet (from Bridge storage room) were deconstructed and/or collapsed and were removed to trash.
Sanctuary Storage Spaces:
UNS Historical Preservation:
I accepted the position as head of the Move Liaison Committee and asked several individuals to join me. Currently, the Committee consists of Jan Beladi as Board Representative, and Lisa McDonald. We have held one meeting on Jan 11, 2022 which was a walk-thru of the entire building and all storage spaces (except the outdoor shed). Our philosophy is to release items that we are not using or have extras of, and that is accomplished by either selecting non-profit organizations in Evanston that can make good use of the items, or by offering them to the UNS members who attend in person, via a table in the back of the sanctuary, for love offering. After that, items are given either to Goodwill or the CCE Rummage sale (which benefits Chicago area social service agencies). Those items that are broken, damaged or contaminated have been released via metal, fabric, electronics or regular recycling or in rare instances, trash. I have also consulted on specific questions with relevant UNS attendees, such as Chet Stroyny, Paul Heiden, and Jeanne Spiro.
Below is an update on each area of the UNS building.
The Bookstore Area
Karl Remien disassembled the (rusty) white grid wall structure that was on the west brick wall; the Lindner team moved it out the back door for metal recycling. The books have been removed from the Book Swap area; paperbacks have been donated by Lori Willer to a women’s jail program that requests paperbacks of a spiritual nature. Remaining Unity books were consolidated with the UNS lending library, with extra copies given to Rev Christina for the Unity Nashville library; other hardcover books were sold at Secondhand Books, with the (small) funds given back to UNS.
LUT Teaching Materials and Books; Lending Library
Rev Kurt reviewed all the various class manuals, current ones were kept, older ones were disassembled and recycled. Books were boxed, and extra copies were provided to Rev Christina.
The Lending Library was also boxed with extra copies were provided to Rev Christina.
Both of these collections had been located in the YFM Office on the bookshelves.
Kitchen, Pantry and Décor Closets, plus Atrium Garden Chat storage
The décor closet housed vases, tablecloths, and glass candles. The gold, purple, silver and aqua tablecloths have been folded and boxed with the assistance of Rose Johnson. A select variety of table vases has been retained. Most of the glass candles have been offered for donation or have otherwise left the premises.
The kitchen cabinets have largely been downsized by Sharon Meyers, keeping a small number of essentials, and providing useful items to several recent immigrant families she works with. Another beneficiary is the Brazilian chef that she/we know. The decorative glassware has also been somewhat downsized—more to come!
The major change is the pantry: the two rusty, contaminated shelving units were removed (again, Karl + Team Lindner for metal recycling) and newer units (recently emptied from YFM closet) were moved in. All the paper supplies have been organized and boxed; if unused by the time of our move to storage, we expect to donate them to Interfaith Action. Other items (coffeemakers, etc) have been downsized and either recycled or donated. All the dry goods (crackers, cookies, etc.) were rancid after almost two years and were donated to Ruth’s squirrels.
There is still much to be accomplished in the kitchen, pantry and Atrium areas.
Social Events/Fundraisers
Supply boxes for each event (chili cookoff, Gala, etc) were removed from the YFM closet, reorganized, cleaned/washed, and repacked.
YFM Storage Closet
Kate Jordan has done several walk-thrus with me, identifying items that were donated and never used; all of these have been appropriately released. All items she identified as curriculum related have been retained but not yet boxed up for move/storage. All VCR tapes were given to Goodwill; books were removed and separated into curriculum-related (for Jasmine’s review and put in the YFM office or on shelving just outside that office) or children’s books (currently on the buffet tables for further review). Halloween and Easter decorations were retained but downsized; costumes and hats were washed and bagged, currently hanging on children’s coat rack.
A large number of non-YFM items were removed (Unity t-shirts, scarves, Marshall Fields paper bags, etc) and appropriately released.
Four rusty, contaminated metal shelving structures were taken apart (Karl and Ruth) and moved outside for metal recycling. Two smaller wheeled tables have been temporarily moved in.
YFM Classrooms
The metal storage cabinets in each classroom have been emptied of supplies; offices supplies from YFM have been consolidated, reviewed, tested and sorted into 5 classroom storage kits, with an additional supply box for the YFM teacher. Surplus supplies have been donated to Family Focus via Rose Johnson. Art supplies (paints, markers, glues, tapes) were sorted and tested by a friend of Ruth’s (Diane S, an elementary school art instructor); they are now labelled and boxed. Two north classrooms have had their rusty metal cabinets moved out by Team Lindner to metal recycling. The large south classroom has had two deteriorating low tables replaced by two newer adjustable height tables. ACIM classroom has been appropriated for boxed storage. YOU Room has been visited, but only (rancid) cookies were removed.
Nursery
The contents of the room have been reviewed, and I have talked with Hanna about room equipment and usage, but nothing has been removed except for the stuffed animals (contaminated) that were sitting in the crib. I’m hoping to have Joyce Davidson’s assistance with downsizing this room.
Healing Room and Bridge Storage Room
The Healing Room’s equipment has been removed (massage table returned to Janice Terry; recliner chair and yoga equipment to Vivian Morrison); the Healing Room is currently being used by Dr. Karl Remien for local clients.
The Bridge Storage Room’s items have not been retrieved, but the books, manuals and cards and card dispensers have been boxed. The card tables remain.
Garden Room and Stage
About 15 broken Garden Room chairs were removed from the stage and furnace room and put out for metal recycling. One Garden Room table was found to be collapsing, so that too was put out. The stage has two upright pianos that we are working on finding homes for.
A tall (sagging) particleboard cabinet outside the YFM Office, and a particleboard display cabinet (from Bridge storage room) were deconstructed and/or collapsed and were removed to trash.
Sanctuary Storage Spaces:
- Prayer Room/Music Room: UNS was gifted 8 drawers of sheet music from Unity Northwest. Both Bruce Moore and I reviewed this collection. We determined that the music was largely not “new thought” music and was mostly xeroxed copies. These were recycled; original sheet music was donated. The music sung by the UNS choir plus “platform” music was boxed for storage. Other sheet music (classical, pop and musicals) was put out for donation. Two new four drawer file cabinets, plus a 2-drawer file cabinet remain.
- Candle Closet: Rev Kurt reviewed the collection of candle holders and different sizes of candles; candles not needed were put out for donation. The remainder were categorized and boxed; candleholders are being de-waxed and wrapped for storage. The closet still contains candle oil, and wax remover. Battery operated candles still need to be boxed.
- Behind the Unity Wings: a very tall Christmas tree plus two long garlands and two large wreaths are stored there. All Christmas decorations have been put in labelled plastic boxes. Twelve red wall hangings with gold glitter trees were returned to Jeanne Spiro, who made them. Near the south end, there are music stands, speaker poles and microphone stands.
- Floral Closet: Also contains the wireless microphone receiver. The autumn decorations were given to Rev Christina, since UNS has one new large fall display. The rest of the floral decorations need to be reviewed.
- Welcome Desk: brochures have been boxed; lost and found has been disseminated.
- Sound Booth and cabinets: archival materials have been removed; old sound equipment outside the doors was taken to electronics recycling. Remaining equipment needs to be reviewed by Karl and Paul Watkins.
- Children’s Areas: TBD
- Usher Cabinet: Needs to be reviewed
UNS Historical Preservation:
- Archival Materials: There were 11 boxes of archival materials, mostly located in the Floral Closet. This included everything from mortgage information for the initial construction to Board minutes and many photographs. Our congregation includes a retired archivist, Valerie Browne, who graciously assumed the two-and-a-half-month task of sorting and organizing six of the boxes (non-Bd minutes), as well as reserving some duplicate materials for the Evanston History Center. Our congregation has also included Kristin Gwinn-Becker, Ph.D., CEO of HistoryIT, now located in Portland, ME. Kristin has generously offered the services of her company, at a much-reduced rate, to digitize and make searchable, UNS’ archives. These eleven boxes, plus cassettes and CDs of services, and building blueprints, are on their way to HistoryIT.
- Sanctuary Seat Plaque project: Chet Stroyny has volunteered to remove the commemorative plaques on the back of some of the sanctuary seats. The plaques will be stored in a 3-ring binder using plastic holders (for baseball cards, for example), 9 per page, in alphabetical order. All of the supplies to carry out this task are in a green bag in the Storage Room.
