Author: Katie Watkins (Page 2 of 87)

Katie believes the best things in life are the result of collaboration and diverse perspectives coming together to produce something greater than any individual could. She is passionate about systems, efficiency and collaboration for better community outcomes. She loves dreaming up the big picture and drafting the roadmap to make it happen. She has a background in operations, fundraising, communications and program development, as well as over a decade of nonprofit management experience in Northern Colorado.

Her greatest joy in life comes from her family. Her husband, Steven, a principal at Wellington Middle School, and daughters Emmaline and Esmae are the lights of her life. Together they love mountains, music and all kinds of food. She is passionate about women supporting other women in all stages of life and especially through the critical moments that make or break us. She believes that one of the most important things in life is to be kind.

Being outdoors makes her soul come alive. It always roots her in gratitude and is one of the reasons she loves living in Fort Collins.

Important News from the Internship Committee

November 24, 2024 /

The job of the Internship Committee, in simplest terms, is to guide and support our ministerial intern during this portion of their training in the quest to become a minister, and to submit an evaluation to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee at the completion of the internship.

As many members of the congregation have expressed, having Cheyenne as an intern minister at Foothills has added value to our worship and small group experiences. We have benefited from their preaching and enjoyed their warm presence among us.

Cheyenne has submitted the following statement which we share with you now:

“Hi everyone, I’m sorry to say that I am leaving my position at Foothills this week. I’ve sincerely appreciated the warm welcome I’ve received from this congregation, but unfortunately I’ve realized that this was not the right moment for me to pursue a full-time ministerial internship. I look forward to seeing the ways your congregation will continue to meet the challenges of our time with love and commitment, and if our paths cross again I hope you’ll say hello.”

While we are sad to end our relationship with Cheyenne prematurely, the members of the Internship Committee support Cheyenne’s decision and encourage them to take the time needed to find their path in ministry.

Wisdom from Rev. Sean helps us understand Cheyenne’s decision in the context of the work of becoming a minister.

“Cheyenne has decided to end their internship with us.  This comes from recognizing where they are in terms of timing and readiness – both crucial parts of becoming a minister. Formation is a unique journey for everyone, and sometimes it needs moments of pause to make space for what is to come next. This isn’t uncommon, and it shows a level of discernment and integrity that are essential to any ministry.


You might be wondering what this means for Cheyenne’s path. This pause isn’t an end to Cheyenne’s journey towards ministry. It’s a step that will help them become an even stronger leader down the road. They can begin another internship at any time and continue along their formation journey.”

As for Foothills, though we have had many interns in past years, each experience offers us new learning. We remain grateful for the opportunities, past, present, and future.

If you would like to send Cheyenne a note, their email will remain open until Dec 7th.  

Thanks to the Internship Committee for preparing this post: Margie & Bruce Wagner (Co-chairs) Christine Engelen, Jonathan Sherwood, and Andy Myers

Solar Panels Are Up and Running!

November 21, 2024 /

If you’ve visited the church in recent months, you may have noticed something new glinting in the sunlight—the solar panels on the western roof of Unity Hall and the sanctuary. With approximately 200 panels installed across these roofs, our system has a peak generating capacity of 100KW. These panels are part of Foothills’ ongoing commitment to climate justice and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

We’re waiting for the city inspection to activate the system in the next week, and once operational, these panels will provide renewable solar electrical energy to offset the rising costs of electricity from Fort Collins Utilities. This transition couldn’t come at a better time. Just this week, the Coloradoan reported on a 6.5% increase in electric rates starting January 2025, with similar hikes expected in the coming years. These rising costs make renewable energy not only an ethical choice but also a practical one for the long-term sustainability of our community.

Here’s what our new solar system means for Foothills:

  • Energy Efficiency: The system is expected to offset at least 50% of our electricity usage, and on some days, potentially more.
  • Community Impact: Any excess energy we generate and don’t use will be sent back to the grid, providing renewable power for others in Fort Collins. The church will also receive credits for this contribution.
  • Cost of Installation: With an anticipated final out-of-pocket cost of about $1/watt (thanks to rebates and credits), this project was not only an environmental investment but also a financially responsible one.

In the near future, we plan to install a real-time energy display in the Foyer. This will allow visitors to see the impact of our solar panels in action—a tangible reminder of the power of collective effort and sustainable practices.

This project was made possible by the generosity of 51 donors who contributed to support the installation. Their vision and commitment to climate justice have ensured that Foothills is not only a spiritual home but also a leader in sustainability. 

Thank you to everyone who made this project a reality. Together, we’re creating a brighter, greener future for our church and our community.

Submitted by Steve Tenbrink, Chair of the Solar Panel Committee

We are delighted to update this post with the news that we passed the City inspection on Thursday, and our Solar Panels are now running and fueling our building!

Steven Tenbrink shared the following graph with us from monitoring the City provides. You can see the immediate drop in external energy consumption! Thanks to everyone who made this project possible by giving! And thank you to the committee who worked hard to identify the right plan and installer!

Facility Report of Significant Plumbing Issue

November 9, 2024 /

On Sunday, November 3, a significant sewage backup occurred in the basement, impacting several areas: the family ministry storage area, hallway, and classrooms 113-114. Sewage seeped under the floorboards in rooms 113-114, necessitating floor replacement. Additionally, some items in the craft storage and holiday decorations were damaged and had to be discarded.

ServePro responded promptly on Sunday, handling initial cleanup and air purification. Subsequently, Mr. Rooter performed a scope inspection, revealing a severe blockage on the building’s North side. This blockage required excavating 12 feet to replace piping. The source of the blockage was a large Duplo block, likely causing minor prior backups when located closer to the system’s entry point. The block was removed, and the pipe replaced.

During a follow-up scope, Mr. Rooter discovered severe deterioration in our connection pipes leading to the city sewer. While a full replacement would have cost over $50,000, the team recommended a less invasive and cost-effective solution—a pipe liner installation at around $15,000. 

The issue disrupted our preschool rental partner, Playcrafter Kids, which leases rooms 113-114. They were unable to operate on Monday and Tuesday and were temporarily relocated to Unity Hall for the remainder of the week. Flooring repairs are scheduled with local contractors over the weekend, allowing Playcrafter Kids to resume normal operations next week.

Estimated Costs and Potential Causes
We estimate the total cost for repairs and remediation to be approximately $40,000. Currently, there’s minimal indication that our recent construction project contributed to this issue; however, we are investigating two potential factors:

  1. System Design and Capacity: We are evaluating whether the engineering design considered the increased usage due to the new spaces. Notably, all backups have occurred on Sunday mornings, raising the question of whether the system’s capacity may be a contributing factor. 
  2. Root Intrusion: Repair contractors noted extensive root presence in the affected area, which ideally should have been assessed at the project’s outset.

We are exploring whether any of these expenses could be covered under our construction warranty. If not, we plan to address these costs.

Preventative Measures and Acknowledgments To prevent future incidents
Holly Ayala, our Facilities Coordinator, will collaborate with the Building Team to establish annual pipe scoping as a preventative measure.

Our gratitude goes to Holly Ayala for her tireless dedication, managing this situation professionally and with minimal disruption to services. We also thank Jenn Powell for her coordination with our rental partner to meet their needs during this period. For any specific questions, please contact Holly at holly@foothillsuu.org.

If you are able to make a financial contribution to support these costs, please contact Katie Watkins at katie@foothillsuu.org.

Exciting Volunteer and Paid Opportunities at Foothills!

October 1, 2024 /

As hard as it is to believe, the holiday season is right around the corner! This is one of our most vibrant and bustling times of year at Foothills, and we need you to help make it all happen. We’re offering a couple of key roles—both volunteer and paid—where you can contribute to our community’s success and help create memorable experiences. These opportunities are a great way to get involved, connect, and even earn a little extra this season!

Front Desk Greeters

Volunteer, a few hours per week, flexible
Help us be the welcoming face of Foothills!

We are seeking friendly and organized volunteers to cover the front desk on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 1 PM. If you enjoy meeting new people and have a welcoming presence, this role is for you!
Key responsibilities include:

  • Greeting visitors and assisting with walk-ins
  • Signing in guests and handling light administrative tasks
  • Offering helpful information about our church’s mission and activities
  • Recording information and assisting with basic computer tasks (Google Docs, etc.)

If you’re someone who can offer a warm smile and helpful hand, this is a fantastic way to contribute to the community while staying connected to the heart of Foothills.

Administrative Support for Drag Christmas Spectacular

Paid or Volunteer, part-time, 5 hours per week

Are you a behind-the-scenes hero who loves organizing and managing details? We are seeking administrative support to assist Rev. Sean for our second Annual Drag Christmas Spectacular event. This is a key role that helps ensure everything comes together smoothly and successfully! While we’d love to find a volunteer for this role, we do also have some funds to pay an administrative assistant. Because this is a short-term, seasonal need, members may apply for this role.

Responsibilities include:

  • Managing sponsorship ask

  • Grant submissions 

  • Organizing marketing efforts (in collaboration with the Foothills Communications Team)

  • Creating and managing the event’s ticketing system

Foothills Outside Event Team

Paid, hours vary
Love events or just want to make a little extra money? Help us make our outside and rental events run smoothly. Because this is in support of non-Foothills events, members may apply for this role. 

We’re rolling out a new concept to offer our staff some much-needed relief from 7-day work weeks as our building continues to be a center for activity within and beyond the Foothills Community.  We’re looking for event-loving, energetic individuals who don’t mind being on their feet and can lend a hand with setting up and breaking down event spaces, as well as on-site contact to support outside groups meeting in our building. 

We are able to offer $20/hr for lead roles and $15/hr for team members. Whether you’re looking for a fun side gig or simply want to contribute your time and energy to Foothills in a unique way, we’d love to have you on board!

Interested in these roles, or know someone who might be? Email us at hello@foothillsuu.org to be connected to the right person. These are great ways to be part of the action at Foothills and make a real impact during our busiest season.

Updates to Foothills Music Director Search

September 27, 2024 /

Thank you for your active participation in our Music Director search process. Your feedback—whether through surveys, personal conversations, or insights from services—has been invaluable. We received input from a broad cross-section of our community, including choir members, musicians, staff, virtual attendees, and others involved in our music programming. Our goal has been to be transparent and open-minded at every juncture of this process, and we hope you’ve experienced that. 

The feedback process reflected diverse perspectives as well as strong feelings, both positive and negative about the fit of our final candidate. You can read a summary of the feedback here. The congregation, board, staff and Music Hiring Advisory team share a recognition that our music program must be resourced with strong musical and technical skills but also embody the values and spirit of our congregation. After careful consideration, we’ve decided not to move forward with the final candidate. While this outcome is disappointing, we made this decision with the long-term health of our music ministry in mind, as we seek a partner who will be with us for years to come.

The last quarter of the year is one of the busiest at Foothills, and we believe it is important to prioritize our current ministry programming and operating functions. Continuing the search at this time would not allow us to focus on the immediate needs of our congregation. Therefore, we are pausing the search until next spring.

In the interim, we will implement a temporary music leadership structure to keep our music ministry vibrant and connected. We have identified local staffing options that will serve in an interim basis in leading the choir, song leading on Sundays, and managing musician coordination, logistics, and creative planning. Our goal is to maintain a high standard of musical leadership while we continue the search. We will share more details about this plan and invite your partnership over the next few weeks.. 

We plan to resume the search in the new year aligned with a more regular hiring cycle. Our aim will be to hire a new Music Director who can begin by September 2025. This timeline will allow us to approach the search with renewed energy and carefully consider candidates who align with our needs and values. In the meantime we are grateful for your partnership and patience as we navigate this transition. Music is at the heart of the life of our community, and we remain committed to ensuring it continues to nourish and inspire us.

Thank you again for your trust, engagement, and commitment. We look forward to finding a Music Director who can help us fulfill our mission of unleashing courageous love through music. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

Sincerely,
Rev. Gretchen Haley
Rev. Sean Neil Barron
Katie Watkins, DFO

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