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As the 90-91 year comes to a close, it is an opportunity to reflect on the status of our organization as we reach the end of our first full year as an ex-licensee of URANTIA Foundation. For our organization, this year has been a year of challenges. The actions that the Foundation continues to take under the guise of protecting The Urantia Book, have curtailed the numbers of books available, attacked members of our reader community, and utilized donor money at an astounding pace. Our organization has struggled to remain financially solvent and create an identity for ourselves despite the loss of the word "Urantia" and the concentric circle symbol.

At every stage of the challenges that we worked through together, we could have split into factions. Individuals who believed that we should approach our work in a certain way could have refused to cooperate and formed a new faction. It didn't happen. We remained loosely united under the guiding principal that our founders gave us a purpose which was important to the success of this revelation on our planet. We had a trust which we needed to nurture and protect, and it was our responsibility to do So.

I believe that the work that we have undertaken this year has been uniquely different from the kind of work that this organization has ever undertaken in the past. We have been in an organizational transition which has called into question almost every aspect of our organization: the way that we function, the structure of the organization, the purpose of the organization, our organizational identity, the way that we have interacted with other organizations, and even the role of our central office. I've attached a brief article on what happens during transition if you are interested.

As you read through the reports from the various committees and others involved in the organization, take a moment to examine how our organization has been dealing with the tasks of a transition: disconnecting from the "old way of doing things", the generation and implementation of ideas which are more aligned with the "new way of doing things" and finally creating a new "sense-making" perspective for the organization which enables participants inside and out of the organization to understand what the organization is about. It is my opinion that in addition to dealing with difficulties that the Foundation has created, much of our work over the past year has been in the above three areas.

As for my role over the past year, I have really done work which center around three topics, planning, recognition and review. The next few paragraphs will elaborate on some of the work which I have done over the past year.

Since the council's approval of the Strategic Plan last June, we have worked to have the plan reviewed by an increasing number of people. Fellowship committee members as well as societies have had the opportunity to review it. Additionally, at our mid-winter meeting in Tampa, Florida, the councilors along with area coordinators and society representatives spent a day on its review. The results of this work are attached for your information. The next steps in this process include the committees finishing any work that needs to be done after the Tampa meeting, developing action plans aligned with the strategies and giving reports on our efforts at the summer and mid-winter general council meetings. Many thanks to all the individuals who have contributed to the development process.

On a social note, I worked to plan a party for Gloriann Harris as she left the office after many years of service to our organization. We were extremely lucky to have her kindness, leadership and expertise as we moved through our transition out of 533 Diversey, into 529 Wrightwood. We also planned a short celebration in honor of Berkeley Flliott and John Hay, who will be leaving the Executive committee after the summer elections.

In terms of administrative actions that T have been involved with over the past year, there are several things. I've reviewed the Bulletin, Executive Committee letter, and Fellowship brochure. Additionally, I have worked as a liaison with the Foundation, and also worked with and on the administrative sub-committee.

The last year has been a great year for the fellowship. We've re-identified our purposes and remained loyal to them. We've begun the work of decentralizing, and we've stabilized our organization. Much has been lost in this process, but I feel that a great deal more has been gained. Hopefully, next year will continue with even more growth and evolution.