Live Oak's leadership has tried to anticipate your questions about how things work in our congregation.

As our community grows, we realize that a lot of knowledge has been transmitted through memory and habit, rather than through clear teaching. Please use this evolving list of Frequently Asked Questions to guide your way at Live Oak... and please let us know what other FAQs we could add here -- just send your suggestions through the "contact" link at the top of this page.

Activities & Announcements 

• How do I reserve space for my activity at Live Oak? Please call or email our Administrative Assistant, and ask to reserve a specific space. She will confirm the reservation, or will let you know if there's a space conflict. Reserving your event with our office also insures that it will appear on the Acorn & Leaflet calendars.

• Where should I send announcements for the (weekly) Acorn bulletin? All announcements should be sent to our Administrative Assistant by Thursday at 5 p.m., either via email (use the contact page of this website) or by submitting a written announcement to the office. We ask that your announcement pertain to Live Oak's congregational life; personal announcements will be included only if there's room.

• Where should I send newsletter submissions? Our newsletter, the Leaflet, is published every month; the deadline is the third Sunday of every month. Please send your submission to our office: administrator [at] liveoakgoleta [dot] OH ARE GEE. (Note: email address is encrypted to avoid scanning programs that create spam.)

Worship  

• Who should I contact if I have suggestions for worship or music? What if I want to prepare Opening Reflections, for example? You may contact Rev. Erika Hewitt or one of the Chair of the Worship Committee, Patrick Kearns (contact information available through the office)

Bylaws

• How can I read Live Oak's Bylaws? Easy! By clicking here.

Finances & Reimbursement

• Who should I speak to about an expense or purchase that I'd like to make for Live Oak? It depends what kind of expense it is. Our budget allows for small maintenance purchases, but staff and committees also have money allocated to them for special expenses. If you're unsure of which committee chair to consult, please ask our staff or a Board member for guidance.

• How do I get reimbursed for a Live Oak expense that I paid for? First, make sure it's an expense that has been approved in advance. In our office building, the Farmhouse, there is a long rack of mailboxes. At the bottom is a stack of green reimbursement forms. Please fill out your form, attach receipts (or copies), and have it signed by a Committee Chair or other leader. Place completed form in the mail folder that says "BOOKKEEPER." Reimbursement forms must be submitted within 30 days of the expense.
  

Buildings and Grounds

•  Who do I contact if I have a concern about our buildings or grounds? If your concern seems related to our janitorial team, please contact our Administrative Assistant. If, however, your concern is more encompassing that general maintenance, you're welcome to bring it to the attention of a Board member or staff member.

UU World Magazine

• I'm a member but am not receiving the UUWorld magazine. How do I correct this? Using the contact link at the top of this page, let our Administrative Assistant know that you're having subscription issues. Be sure to include your most current mailing address, and our office will attempt to correct the problem.

Leadership (THIS SECTION IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

• Who do I contact if I have a question or concern about Live Oak?  Good question! Below is a rough guide to the leadership and staff at Live Oak, and each of their areas of responsibility:

James Forrest, Director of Religious Education: Religious Exploration for children, YRUU (youth group)

Michelle Baca, Administrative Assistant: communications, rentals, mailing lists, e-Acorn

Carrie Topliffe, Board President: Long range planning, policies, etc.