Old Business

The April minutes were approved. Stephen offered to include information about Bread for the World in his Minister’s column for the June newsletter. We then discussed updating the Missions Giving Booklet this summer. Jackie will edit it first and then email it to the Board. Anne and Stephen volunteered to help proofread it. Nancy Jo volunteered to write two articles about new projects that our money supports: the Kenya school project and the Fiji High School students. Jackie will also add the new projects to the summary of Giving that will be distributed at the Skyland Race as it was last year.

We then discussed the best possible date for the Bread for the World Sunday. With so many events happening in June, it was decided to move Bread for the World to Sunday July 8. Jackie will write sample letters and post them in Whittaker Hall so if people want to write letters beforehand they can. Stephen added that this was a good way to familiarize oneself with the issues. Jackie said that she would send out samples of letters to the board as well as a summary of the issues that she had researched.

We discussed the logistics of Bread for the World Sunday. Jackie will bring envelopes, labels, paper and stamps. Unfortunately her garden won’t be in bloom but perhaps someone else’s will be. Joan, Anne and Mary Ellen will bring bread and Harold and Nancy Jo will bring goodies to put on the loaves. Joan will supervise the set-up on Saturday and everyone will help with the clean-up. It is such a good feeling to write those letters in support of ending hunger.

The Green Business Project was given a “green light” by the Trustees, except for the monetary cost since it is unknown at this point. The council also approved the plan as well as the church congregation “green lit” it. Phillippa will help with the green business audit. The next step will be to have an audit by Santa Cruz. They offer substantial rebates on green business products. Once the audit is finished then the Trustees will have a cost estimate. Then the Council can approve it and it can become a line item in the budget. Jackie added that the Church will be pleased to see that there are rebates of up to 85% on products offered through the Green Business Project.

New Business

Mary Ellen reported on her conversation with Ginn Easterday about the Kenya

Water Project. The water project is on hold because of tribal warfare in the region. All the pipe and materials are there but the workers had to stop working because of raids in the area. It is a very tragic, desperate situation and discouraging for long term development because resources, including water are so scarce. Mary Ellen presumes that the school project is also on hold but will find out more.

Jackie then reported on a request from the council that the Mission Board become a possible home for the food pantry.Jackie said that the responsibility included maintaining a list of food and encouraging people to bring in what was needed. Wes is fulfilling that role right now and Stephen is the one who knows who is in need of food. Larry added that he felt that it needed a home on a board. Joan added the traditional role that the women’s group had played with the food pantry. Nancy Jo said that she would bring it up with the women’s group. Jackie will also volunteer the Mission’s board if the women’s group does not want to administer the Food Pantry.

Jackie then reported that the Budget 2007-08 reflected an increased amount of $8000. to be given as part of the UCC Share. Stephen who had just returned from the UCC meeting in Asilomar said that the UCC was very grateful for the increased amount and really needs the funding.

We then discussed bringing in a speaker next Fall, possibly in October. We discussed asking Dr. Amman or Bridget to come and speak on Global Strategies. Bridget was so inspiring last year when she spoke of their work in the Congo to prevent HIV infection in newborns. Joan offered to call and ask if either or both of them were free anytime in October.

We then spent some time reminiscing about chocolate sauce for ice cream sundaes. Last year Mary Ellen made the infamous Glauz-Todrank chocolate ice cream sauce for the Fourth of July Picnic. The Mission Board won’t be making sundaes this picnic but Stephen repeated his recipe so we could make it at home. The meeting got a little rowdy at this moment so I am not sure about the exact order of adding ingredients. Using a double boiler melt chocolate chips (dark or bittersweet or your preference) .Then add as much unsweetened cocoa until you get the correct chocolate taste that you want. Next add small amounts of half and half and stir until it is the right consistency. Serve warm. Chocolate Bliss.

Larry then asked for volunteers for the summer remodel projects. Everyone volunteered. Larry also gave a brief report on the budget meeting and the bathroom project. All in all it sounds like a busy summer and we look forward to our next meeting after the Harvest Festival on September 25th.

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