Скачать или смотреть The Wizard Behind The Curtain: A Crowd Funding Campaign for Technology and Accessibility.

Please donate to our Faithify campaign to fund developments in technology and accessibility. Faithify.com is crowd funding website for Unitarian Universalist ministry projects.
You can visit our campaign and donate here:
https://www.faithify.org/uumeridentech

The Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden is seeking $5000 to buy:

-An audio and video editing / live streaming laptop computer ($2200)
A 75 inch flat display screen ($800)
VMix audio/video live streaming and production software ($700)
An 8 headphone hearing assistance support system ($500)
A stand and stabilizers for the large display screen ($300)
A webcam ($300)

The current equipment we’re using is the personal property of one member and it’s not fair to the that person to have to transport all the equipment to and from the church every Sunday. When Covid hit and the congregation moved online, one of our members bought a fantastic live streaming software (VMix ) and used his own equipment to broadcast on Sundays. When the congregation returned to in person worship, he began bringing his equipment to church every Sunday. This included a laptop, tripods, cameras, webcam, microphones. cords and wires.
We need to relieve him of the burden of hauling all these electronics to and from the church each Sunday. Our sanctuary is a multi-use room so that any equipment he wouldn't need for his own use during the week can't be left at the church. It's difficult to teach others how to help with the video recording, in worship multi-media, and live streaming because they must try to learn on the equipment while it's set up at the church on Sunday.

The congregation has never had hearing assistance devices and while we're making purchases of our own congregation owned electronics, we want to purchase equipment that works with a hearing assistance system.

The congregation is purchasing some of the less expensive equipment such as cameras, microphones, wall and ceiling mounts, and a computer desk/table. Some of this has been purchased and some is earmarked for the next year's budget.

The UU Church in Meriden is a small congregation with just over 50 members. Our budget barely covers our building needs and the salary and housing and benefits of our half-time minister, Rev. Tony Lorenzen. Twice in the last three years the congregation has had to do a special capital campaign just to make sure we can afford Rev. Tony. The cost of all the equipment we need is beyond our reach at this time unless we have fundraising help.

The UU Church in Meriden is the only UU congregation between Hartford and New Haven. Our congregation has a long history in the Meriden community, having started as a gathering of Universalists in a local tavern in the 1820s. For over one hundred years, our old downtown church was a well-known fixture in the city's urban center. Since we moved to our present residential neighborhood, we have grown smaller in numbers, but we retain our active participation in the city of Meriden upholding liberal, progressive values. We are small but mighty and our influence in the greater Meriden community far outdistances our membership numbers. City Councilors in Meriden who are people of color have told us "Your congregation shows up. You're not just talk. We need your presence and your voice." The largest PRIDE celebration in Connecticut is in neighboring Middletown and our congregation was the only UU congregation participating. Our online presence reaches many people beyond our membership and during Covid we attracted a number of supporters and donors through our outstanding live streamed Sunday services.

This project is Unitarian Universalist to its core as it will enable a small group of Unitarian Universalists to continue to reach and influence a community in need of a liberal faith voice. This technology will help us bring our message of inclusive, justice and equity oriented religion to Meriden and the Internet. This technology will help us continue our efforts to include those whose hearing loss prevents them for fully participating in our not only our worship, but our greater congregational life. We also hope that our technology helps us draw in our younger generations to great participation in the worship and educational ministries of the congregation.

Our congregation came close to closing its doors during Covid, but we've rebounded and risen with a renewed vitality and vigor. Help us keep this going!