Minutes – April 20, 2010

Approved 5/18/2010

 

Present: Vestry members: Christine Klinger, Loyd Swope, Shea Weidner, Rolf Wilkin, Dale Green, Charlie Russell, Martha McNair, Ellen Hayward

Staff: Lowell Grisham, Suzi Freeman

Clerk: Sara Milford

Absent: Linda Eilers, Greg Puckett, Nicole Olmstead, Terri Chaddick

Opening prayer: Fr. Grisham

Old Business: n/a

New Business:

• Lowell inquired about Rev. Sr. Ellen Francis' visit (the McMichael Lecture).

• Tangent about Episcopal nuns and monks followed. (Yes, we do have them.)

Rector’s Report:

• Lowell is working with Loyd and Rolf to create a letter to the congregation about overcrowding in the the church

  • a certain amount of anxiety is needed to bring about change, per Lowell

  • wants to get everybody's dream

  • advice to vestry: expect - reaction, outrage, sabotage; respond with thanks, hear them, engage in conversation/solution, get them to take ownership

  • Charlie recommends keeping the crowding issue in a positive light, not so negative

• Would Baptists be willing to sell their parking lot?

  • Martha and Rolf will try to make contacts/get info

• Easter overflow in the Parish Hall

  • positive response; Rolf noted that it was nice to have Lowell address those in the Parish Hall

  • cameras now positioned to change views

  • now planning audio/visual of service, sermons on CD, and streaming service on-line

  • “breakfast club” enjoyed Dan's testing at 8:45 last week

• About 30 in Inquirer's class; good response to book; need more time in future

• Bishop visits May 2^nd

  • Reception to follow for Bishop and new confirmands

  • Rolf moves to have adult beverages. Dale seconds. Motion passes.

 

Senior Warden’s Report:

• Good news: St. Paul's got paid for the convention.

• St. Spatula's did a wonderful job with the reception; Sr. Ellen was appreciative, too.

 

Junior Warden’s Report:

• Rolf's property assessment

  • Time to consider new paint in the hallway (along nursery hall)

  • Gutters need and are getting attention

  • Need to trim vegetation around a/c and condenser units

  • Tables are moved

  • Room for snowblower now

  • There's a plan for visitor and ambulatory parking signs

  • Recommends more commercial-quality benches for green space

  • Windows need cleaning (after pollen season) – Suzi says this cost $2,000 last time

  • Step in front of altar rail needs gluing

  • Need to refinish altar floor; Lowell also mentions cleaning the marble

  • TV monitors showing the service might be nice in high traffic areas

  • Will oil the door between the Guild Hall and Columbarium

• Christine says that an awning in front of the Youth Center would be nice; Suzi says this is already in the works and that it is planned to look like the Welcome Center's

• Charlie suggests making sure the storage closet in the Parish Hall is in compliance with fire code; Suzi's going to make sure some gentlemen from the fire department will come to check.

• Lowell wants to borrow an idea from another parish, having a group to create an upcoming repair/maintenance budget. Rolf will be in charge of this.

Administrator’s Report:

• Floors cleaned post-convention

• January financials

  • doesn't match yet because reserve accounts cannot be budget items; reserve accounts allow for carry-over (i.e. McMichael and Servant Leadership)

  • large postage expense because bought Forever stamps

  • investment income naturally varies/fluctuates

  • Community Meals gets contributions and has a reserve account

  • some things will show up in 2010 that are from 2009 bills; now not putting bills in the office window

• Shea moves to approve the financials. Loyd seconds. Motion passes.

Other Business:

• Shea says the vestry meeting time seems late. In the past, the meeting has been earlier to allow for social time afterward.

  • Vestry in attendance is polled and approves moving to a 6 or 6:30 meeting time

  • Absent vestry members will be polled via e-mail by Sara.

  • If all approve, the time will change.

• Lowell's Proposal

  • Endowments funded outreach last year. This year, all outreach expenses are budgeted.

  • About $23,000 from Shively endowment is to be used for outreach.

  • Reminds us of parables of the talents and seeds.

  • Wants to give each pledging household $50 for outreach, hoping to increase the amount, letting St. Paul's know how they used the money, how much was increased (if any), and what cause was benefited.

  • Christine suggests that the money could be used to benefit the cookbook publication, profits going to outreach. Suzi suggests that the mission fund could underwrite the publication, knowing that it would be returned the money.

  • Ellen wants Lowell to announce this to the congregation.

  • OR, could use the whole amount as seed money for a new outreach ministry

Consent Calendar:

• The March minutes were moved to be approved by Loyd, seconded by Dale, and approved by all.

• The next meeting will occur on Tuesday, May 18^th, time to be determined after poll is complete.

Closing: There being no further business, Lowell closed with prayer.