Old Business

After the minutes were accepted for our last meeting on May 22, we began a discussion of old business which actually felt like new business because of the time elapsed. Jackie showed us a possible survey to be distributed at church. It consisted of how the Skyland 10K Run monies are distributed among the categories. Each category, and the organizations within the category received a certain percentage of the 10K Run monies. Mary Ellen suggested that we add a line to Jackie�s prototype survey. She wanted the congregation to be able to add a category or organization to the survey. Mary Ellen thought that perhaps it could state �I really care about_______� and people could fill in the blank. Stephen agreed and added the term support as in � I want to support ______� to indicate a desire to contribute to a specific category rather than a generalized idea. Stephen reiterated that the mission committee wants input about the direction of our donations. Stephen added that it is important to think about how our faith is manifested in our mission. Then there was much discussion about the dates for distribution of the survey, because everyone was going to be absent for at least one of the Sundays in October. This is a busy month! T�Shala will give the sermon on Oct. 7 and Jackie said that she would distribute the surveys, make an announcement in church, and collect them on 10/07. Anne volunteered to do the same on October 14. Jackie will write about the survey for the October newsletter.

Jackie then told us about the status of the Green certification and the audits over the summer. Jackie said that she and Stephen had been with Tom Pickering of the Green Business Program on July 19th, 2007 when Tom conducted his audit of Skyland Church. His recommendations at the time were to replace the janitorial supplies in the kitchen with more environmentally friendly chemicals, i.e. use Bon Ami cleanser, to purchase recycled-content paper towels for the bathrooms and to contact the pest control folks regarding the optimal environmentally safe and effective pesticide. Jackie will contact the pest control agent. Jackie added that we need a method to inform future boards and members of our commitment to be green. Perhaps that can be reinforced by establishing a green section of the Skyland Church website. This was received enthusiastically. Nancy Jo offered to create the page and Jackie will begin to think about the content. Stephen reinforced how important this is for us to go green and that we all need to have some patience as we change our policies especially considering the independent nature of our church community. However, we all remarked on how much effort had gone into recycling after Harvest Festival. Jan Swayne�s heroic effort to recycle everything possible as well as Jackie�s efforts really made a difference this year. Jackie is really leading the green effort by example.

The energy audit went very smoothly too. Darren Nix of Right Lights conducted it on August 8th with Larry Lopp, Stephen, and Jackie in attendance. The upgrade recommendations were to replace the 8-foot fixtures in lower Whitaker Hall with 15 light fixtures. The estimated cost of replacement lights in lower Whitaker will be $1022.75. This was not a �green� cost since they were being replaced anyway. The lights have been purchased but not installed. Another recommendation was to replace the exterior mercury light with CFL�s as well as the light in Stephen�s office. The Church will need to purchase these lights and Right Lights will replace them as well as replace the lights around the chapel. The total cost after rebates will be $834.59 and the annual savings will be $631.07. Stephen added that Jackie is doing a superb job as the project leader. Under Jackie�s leadership and with Stephen�s support, the church is becoming a viable green business.

Jackie has written two new articles for the Giving Booklet. Anne will edit them. Once that is done then we can discuss making new Giving Booklets for distribution.

Bread for the World was successful as usual though changing the date to the summertime meant that there were less people to write letters. 52 letters were written and Stephen added that the letters really do make a difference.

Jackie said that Joan hadn�t made a definitive date for having Dr. Ammon from Global Strategies come and speak. We discussed possible dates in January. Nancy Jo said that the women�s� retreat was possibly going to be on January 23. T�Shala thought that UCC women were going to have a retreat on the 26th or 27th. Everyone was going to check on dates and February is also a possibility.

New Business

The Mountain Clean-up last spring was so successful that we will try to do it again this fall. Stephen is contacting the churches on Summit Road to see who will host it on November 10. Mountain Bible will provide signs and vests and the Catholic Church will provide bags. Stephen will contact the other three churches and Nancy Jo will write an article about it for the Mountain Network News and the Skyland newsletter.

We looked at the Mission Board yearly calendar to remind ourselves of up-coming projects. Jackie mentioned that at the next meeting we would begin to plan for the migrant worker�s kits. Jackie noted that we would need to discuss our plans with Janet Davies, as she is such an integral part of this project. She handles the distribution of the kits, which Jackie feels is a lot of the job.

Mary Ellen suggested that we bring out the Heifer tube to be placed in church again. It has gone missing temporarily due to the construction and then the Harvest Festival.

Stephen said how much everyone enjoyed filling it up with those extra quarters, especially the children.

Jackie wanted to know if anyone had thoughts on adding or deleting organizations that we contribute to. Anne Evans suggested that everyone go on-line to look up oneworldchildren�s fund.org.

Nancy Jo reported on the council meeting. One of the main topics was the implementation of the congregation�s vision. Jackie feels that adding a green page to the website will help. The council is working on formulating a budget that will include all the upgrades to Whittaker Hall downstairs as well as the bathroom renovations. There are three new possible by-laws to be introduced by the council. They involve pledges, choosing project leaders and effective communication among the congregation as well as the UCC. The budget will be done by December, as well as selection of a committee�s new chairmen and new members. This will allow for easier follow-up.

Jackie then said that she would be stepping down as chair. Mary Ellen then said that her term would be up as well as Joan Law�s. T�Shala said that she was only serving for one year. Sadly that leaves Anne, Jackie, Harold and Nancy Jo on the Mission committee. Mary Ellen, and Joan Law have done yeoman�s work for the committee, as well as hosting so many meetings, and they will be missed! T�Shala also has been a great addition to the committee. How we will miss their experience and guidance!

The next meeting will be at Joan Law�s house on October 23 at 7:30PM.

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