The Meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m.

Stephen Glauz-Todrank gave an opening prayer.

Larry Cooke asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting pending any corrections and additions. Jan Swayne so moved. Maire Howard seconded the motion. It was passed.

Committee Reports:

Trustees: Maire Howard

The trustees main efforts have been working on the Harvest Festival and plans for the kitchen. Brook Kraeger met with the Fire Department regarding fire protection. and will present a report at the next meeting. The Deacons and Trustees met to work on a new packet of materials for the pews.

Deacons: Glenda McCalla

The Deacons had one meeting to address the pamphlets for the pews. The text will need some wordsmithing. A congregational meeting is needed to approve the pew cards. We will need to discuss how we present who we are on the cards. The back of the cards may be used for people to give feedback on sermons and comments on concerns. Larry Cooke commented that the bulletins may be formatted to include space for notes.

Board of Religious Education: T’Shala Olivieri

The Board has had three meetings since 7/24. The Board hired Laura Benson to provide care in the nursery school.TShala will step back from her role as Sunday School Superintendent. Patricia Wood will take over in November full time. Others are helping out. Linda Heyes will be teaching and is reorganizing things in the cabinets. The curriculum is “Seasons of the Spirit, from last year, because this year’s materials are backordered. T’Shala also wants to let go of being head of the Board of Religious Education in January.

Music and Arts: Chairperson not present

Missions: Joan Law

The committee needs to know the total proceeds from the race before they can distribute the funds. The amount from the web isn't available yet. Missions is concentrating on migrant families and relief efforts for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. So far $2800 has been collected for Katrina relief.

Old Business:

Treasurer’s Report: Gerry Alonzo.

We are behind on expected income. Pledges are behind and offerings are slow. Our shortfall is about four times what it was last year. We received a $5000 donation. The money will go into offerings. Harvest Festival receipts will be close to the budgeted amount. We have received $17,800 of $19,300 projected.

Larry Cooke stated that we need to decide what options to suggest to the membership as possible remedies. The budget is not working as planned. An agenda and announcement of the meeting will need to be made two weeks before the meeting. Larry Cooke will write a brief article about the budget meeting and congregational meeting for the newsletter and Larry will give the council the agenda for feedback before it is posted.

There was a discussion of the budget problem. Jan Swayne asked why we are having a budget meeting. Larry Cooke answered that the congregation asked for it. Jan commented that she sees a relationship between the budget situation and the planned congregational meeting. She thought we should be cautious about making budget decisions before the congregational meeting. Maire Howard commented that we need a long term approach and short term adjustments. Larry Lopp stated that he believes that the central concern is not the budget, but the issue of too many people sitting on the sidelines. Joan Law stated that she thinks we need to cut expenses. Larry Lopp commented that our budget process needs to be available to everybody in church because people don’t understand or know what is going on. We need to make it visible. Maire Howard summarized two opposing points of view: in the congregation: 1.) We need to live within our budget. 2.) We can find ways to increase our income.. Larry Cooke suggested that for now we ask committees to minimize expenditures. At the congregational meeting in January we can review how our actions are working. Jan and Gerry will gather data showing patterns of payment of pledges in the past. Larry Cooke and Gerry Alonzo will meet to draft budget proposals. Stephen Glauz-Todrank recommended that we ask people about their intentions regarding their pledges. Are they planning to catch up or are they not able or willing to fulfill their pledge? . T’Shala Olivieri moved that Larry Cooke and Gerry Alonzo work on a statement to the congregation. Jan Swayne seconded the motion. It was passed.

Larry Lopp asked that minutes be available earlier. However, Larry Cooke pointed out that they can’t be published until approved. It was suggested that a summary of council and committee meetings could be published in the newsletter.

New Business:

Navigation Committee: Larry Cooke

Larry explained that we need to start with the questions from last year’s meeting. A card with questions for consideration was distributed to the congregation. People are beginning to respond with answers. Larry will send the Navigation Committee minutes to the council.

Nominating Committee:

The nominating committee process was briefly summarized. Committee chairs work together with the nominating committee chairs to produce a slate of nominations.

Summary of today’s meeting:

1. Discussion of the budget and how to communicate its status to the congregation.

2. Discussion of possible actions to remedy budget shortfall.

3. Decision to ask Jan and Gerry to analyze past budgetary statistics.

4. Report of Navigation Committee.

5, Agreement that we publish main points of meetings on the Web and in the newsletter.

The next meeting of the Council will be November 20. The budget meeting will be held on October 16, The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Rollins

Clerk

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