Council Meeting Minutes- 2/17/09

1) Opening prayer

2) Financial report was given by Gerry Alonzo. There was discussion about posting the balance sheet and profit & loss performance on the members section of the website. Gerry will discuss further with Mike Mahrle (Communications). Committees need to forward budget information to Gerry as soon as possible.

3) Minutes from 1/09 meeting. Nancy Jo noted two mistakes. Mike Overson is a new Trustee and Sarah Overson is a new member of the Communication committee. Max Peters’s name was incorrectly given as “Max Peterson.� Gerry made a move to accept the minutes with these corrections. Mary Ellen seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

4) Board and Committee Reports:

A) Communications: Met on 2/5/09. On-going budget needs include publishing brochures, pew cards, newsletter ($80/month), back ups of church website ($5/month). Web hosting is free and the internet connection is donated. New items for the budget include a speaker for the sanctuary, a permanent sound system for the upstairs area of Whittaker Hall, and a monitor in the nursery to hear the service. An amplification system for hearing-impaired members is also being explored. Jackie Seymour mentioned that there is a wireless amplifier system that may also be a possibility. She will send information to Mike Mahrle. Printing of the church bulletins will go on the Communications budget.

B) Deacons: Met on 2/8/09 and completed their budget. They have a new item in the budget, which is $1000 for scholarships to retreats, camps, etc. Deacons will repeat the recycled bags at Harvest Festival. They will work on opening up opportunities for members to be liturgists. Kristin Pratt will be ordained on 3/15 at Foothills Congregation. Volunteers will be bringing refreshments and a cake. Marsha will check to see if anyone is calling church members to do ushering and collect offerings on Sundays, as Don Law had been doing this. There is a request out for seminary intern placement at PSR; however, no one has called yet.

C) Missions: They have been working on 3 book drives to provide libraries at schools in Africa. The first book drive has been completed (1600 books packed, sealed, labelled, and mailed). A book drive for a Botswana library will be done in 3/09. More books are needed. Casey Clark’s book drive will receive assistance with packing from the young adult group members on 3/22. Ann Evans has emailed the budget to Gerry. Terry Leary will do the Skyland Run.

D) Music and Arts: Not present at meeting.

E) Religious Education: They are working on creating an environment where the children will want to be. They are having their first meeting this coming Sunday. Patricia Woods has a DVD to present to the congregation in Whittaker Hall after a service. A Young Adults Group (ages 18-25) has formed and they are working on various projects.

F) Trustees: They will finalize their budget at their 3/09 meeting. They have been reviewing projects, such as fixing the flower boxes, putting a fan in Whittaker Hall, using lower electricity light bulbs, and fixing the shed foundation. They are considering whether we should consider paying for the yard waste bin vs. composting. There is a roof leak in the sanctuary that needs to be fixed.

G) Pastoral Relations: They have had 2 meetings in the past month. Stephen and Margretta’s salaries will stay the same. Margretta will get 3 vacation Sundays. Stephen will get a $400 increase for gasoline and optical coverage will be added to his insurance plan through UCC.

H) Women’s Group: There is the retreat this Saturday. Twenty one people have signed up and 2 scholarships have been given. Other events include a cake decorating class, a collage class, and a wine tasting event.

5) New Business

A) Schedule for stewardship activities and pledge drive

Witnessing Steward during church on 3/15, 3/22, and 3/29

Pledge request letter will go out the week of 3/15

Pledge Sunday- pledges turned in on 3/29 and 4/5

Discuss and decide on budget to present to congregation at 5/12 Council Meeting

Congregational Budget Meeting 5/12/09

Peggy and Stephen will write pledge letters to go out to church community. Letters should be completed and printed out by 3/17 Council Meeting. Council members will help stuff envelopes for this mailer. Gerry will print out the envelopes.

B) Julia Swayne is the new Council Secretary, but she will be out of the country from 4/09 through 6/09. Will need to find someone else to read the prior Congregation Meeting Minutes at the 5/12 meeting. At Council Meetings in April, May, and June, someone will volunteer to take minutes and post on the website.

6) Meeting Adjourned

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