Minutes – March 30, 2010

Approved April 20, 2010

Present: Vestry members: Christine Klinger, Loyd Swope, Shea Weidner, Linda Eilers, Greg Puckett, Martha McNair, Nicole Olmstead, Ellen Hayward, Terri Chaddick, Rolf Wilkin, Dale Green, Charlie Russell

Staff: Lowell Grisham, Suzi Freeman, Suzanne Stoner

Clerk: Sara Milford

Opening prayer: Fr. Grisham

 New Business:

• Lowell expresses appreciation for trip to the Holy Land.
• 2010 Budget
  • After distributing the printed budget, Suzi explains that the pledged income is discounted on the budget to allow for death, bankruptcy, anger, etc.
  • page 1: Charlie explains the $215,000 surplus: the $100,000 gift from 2009 + unexpended funds from 2009; Dale compliments Suzi on budgeting rather accurate plate offerings.
  • page 2: Lowell's income shows a 15% increase instead of 1.5% -- to be discussed later; Priest Associate's (Steve's) expense covers his pension
  • page 3: Linda Kelly's music classes are paid through the church, which accounts for the discrepancy in actual vs. budget; Lowell notes that for 2010, everything previously paid through the endowment is budgeted, except the building payment.  Also, the asst. youth minister budget for 2010 accommodates a full year's salary.
    
  • page 4:  The great increase for youth CE program and EYC is due to the increased number of youth.  Lowell says Amanda tells him the expense is average for the number of youth being served.  Suzi says there is a need to write off bad debt from the breakfast budget from past years.
    • Loyd makes the motion to clear the books of the breakfast debt.  Rolf seconds.  Approved by all.  Suzi will clear the debt.
  • page 5:  To help reduce some of the communications expense, we need to encourage people to sign up for the e-newsletter.  This page represents many of the outreach ministries, and it's important to support people in their ministries.
  • page 6:  Equipment line item includes the screen + projector, two computers; noted that we need to estimate a "Building Use" expense ($3,000)
  • page 7:  The lay medical insurance increased due to adding another person; the building loan is paid from the endowment, as mentioned earlier.  The Dead Swanky lease income goes into paying back the fund from which building improvements were made.

• • Martha wonders about the shape of 2011 after having $215k cushioned into this year's budget.
  • Staff asked to step outside.  Charlie addresses salary increase for staff, which as budgeted shows 8% for all but Lowell, who has requested 1.5%.  We're reminded that the staff did not receive a raise last year.  It is made clear that next year there could be a salary reduction, but we hope to sustain this increase.  We also want to keep our salary positions comparable with similar institutions.
    
    • Loyd opens the floor for a motion regarding Lowell's salary.  Discussion.  Shea motions to increase Lowell's salary 8%.  Martha seconds.  Passes.

• Expansion process: time to engage the parish more fully
  • Vision: Conversation --> Spring: dream --> Summer: concrete options --> Fall: meet resistance, do underground work --> Spring: assess energy for proposal, fund drive
  • NAG group: 1) add-on once (will work until ~2025), 2) build new building on College to last for a century
  • prayer request for Bob Gallagher for his surgery April 5
  • Charlie wonders about census data for accurate growth numbers; Rolf will make contact
• Installing new cameras to stream video from sanctuary to parish hall

• Blog from Holy Land: insight and energy
• Going to CREDO II conference April 12-19
• Tippy speaker April 17-18: Rev. Sister Ellen Francis
• Michele Halsell preaching Earth Day Sunday, April 25
• Inquirer's Class starting Monday, April 5, with new book
• Bishop's visit is May 2

• Gas leak -- $4,000 repair (for new line, which save the Garth from being dug up)
• Window by Gaia Guild recycling station offers example for home improvement, publicity, demonstration
• Gaia Guild: positive feedback from Mack
• Suzi taking care of urinal issue

• Suzi distributes a Proposal for Bank Accounts and reads through it with us. Changes made keeping in mind the FDIC amount of $250,000.
  • Martha moves to accept as presented.  Nicole seconds.  Passes.
• Alcohol requests -- all approved
  
  • Chuck able to bring beverages to altar guild Saturday morning, so long as he brings beverages equally appealing and non-alcoholic, in compliance with policy
  • Arco Isis fundraiser
  • Piano recital
• Dorothy Metcalf - remembers Garth and Columbarium in will
  
• Verifying vestry contact list
• December financials -- Loyd approves, Dale seconds. Approved by all.

• Loyd gives kudos to Suzi; we give thanks to her renewed health
• St. Spatula's Guild -- recruiting volunteers

• Loyd approves February minutes.  Martha seconds.  Approved.
• Breakfast schedule will be added to Vestry web page
  
• Next meeting -- April 20th