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VESTRY
MEETING MINUTES SAINT GREGORY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MARCH 12,
2007 The Meeting was called to
order at 7:00 P.M. An opening prayer
was given by Fr. Andrew. Present were Clergy: Fr. Andrew,
Fr. Penland, The Rev. Debbie Self, Fr. Wissink; Vestrypersons:
Vicki Klemke, Howard McCall, Mark Angstrom, Rimmie Mac Laren, Bill Unger, Terrie Noland, David Gury, Sandy Laman, Joyce
Dawson, Jon Baker, George Giosmas; Clerk: Leslie Ross and Guest: Lisa Wheeler. Not present: The Rev. Anita Thorstad, Pryse BIBLE STUDY The Gospel for Sunday,
March 18th,
Lent IV, Luke 15:1-3,
11b-32 “The Prodigal Son” was read and
discussed. A welcome was expressed to
Lisa Wheeler,. Chairperson of the Pre-School Committee and to David Gury who had just returned from the MINUTES The Minutes from the
February, 2007 Vestry Meeting were approved as printed. REPORT OF THE SENIOR
WARDEN No report was given as Pryse REPORT OF THE JUNIOR WARDEN Mark Angstrom presented a written report on the maintenance and repairs completed during February. (ATT. A) and ongoing and/or new projects to be handled in March. The Vestry was apprised that the stained glass window is complete, however we have retained $1000 until the Building Permit is officially closed. At the suggestion of Mr. McGee, Mark will investigate how the carillon can be connected to the emergency broadcast system. A report will be made to the Vestry once information is available. Howard McCall reported that the City has agreed to allow the light pole in front of the stained glass window to be removed, however, we must replace it with two bollard lights on the corner marking the sidewalk. An electrician has been contacted to complete this work. TREASURER’S REPORT Bill Unger stated that the
final financial had been e mailed today.
He stated that as the report was e mailed today, copies have been made and will be
distributed. (ATT. B). However, future reports will be e mailed and that it
will be the responsibility of Vestry members to down load it and be ready to
discuss it. Mr. Gury
reported that he was not able to download today’s report. The Clerk was asked to make copies of the
report for distribution at the meeting so that those who were unable to
download would be able to participate in the discussion. Mr. Unger agreed to FAX the February
reports to those that needed them. He
also reported that he would try to have the report ready three days prior to
the meeting, so that Vestry Members will have time to study the report and
ask questions about the entries at the meeting. TREASURER’S REPORT
(Cont’d) It was noted that in the
month of February we ended in the “black” due to high pledge and plate income
supplemented by the transfer of some monies from the pre-paid pledge
account. Fluctuations in the various
line items were noted. It was agreed
that the procedure of withdrawing funds from the pre-paid pledge account to
supplement our income was far superior than using our allotment from the
Endowment Fund. It was noted that it
is important that the Endowment Fund Monies not be used to pay bills. Mr. Unger noted that we
have now opened new bank accounts at Paradise Bank in an effort to
consolidate all accounts (with the exception of the Operating Fund) in one
bank. REPORT FROM THE PRE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Lisa Wheeler, Chairperson
of the newly formed Pre-School committee presented a power point presentation
on the proposed pre-school. Lisa
reported that she is very fortunate to have an excellent committee comprised
of: Nancy Stroud, Cassius Cade,
Vanessa Frost, Carol McGee, Anita Sherman and Palm Steele-Unger as well as
Vestry liaisons: Sandy Laman and Jon Baker. The objectives defined by the Vestry
were assigned to specific committee members 1) requirements to open a
Pre-school; 2) a facility plan; 3) an assessment of the impact a
pre-school would have on our other mission;
4) an assessment of the potential
liabilities. A survey was developed
and sent to 67 families in the parish (with children under the age of 5
years) and the responses are being summarized by Pam Unger. Lisa reported that a county official toured
the houses (266
and 260 N.E. 2 A proposed time line was
given with the target date to open as September 2008. It is hoped to open with approximately 15 three and four
year old children using the interior of the 266 house and the backyards of
both the 266 and 260 house for a play area.
Vanessa Frost, a committee member, has had a lot of experience in
Grants, and has already investigated several for which we would be eligible
to apply. The pre-school will also be
included as a recipient of some of the funds generated by the upcoming Capital
Campaign. A suggestion was made by
Mr. Unger, that we look into leasing Mrs. Withrow’s empty lot for a play ground, rather than the
two back yards. All thought that this
should be investigated. It was also
agreed that the school should not be part of the church’s budget, but should
be a completely separate entity. Fr.
Andrew stated that if we go into a separate corporation for the school, it is
most important that the Vestry and the Church be integrated into the Board
structure. It was also suggested that
we should try to reach non parishioners with the survey. It was suggested that we might go to Story
Time at the library and speak with the mothers of small children attending
and/or the Community Center or Mrs. Wheeler stated that
the Pre-School Committee would be reporting to the Vestry again at either the
May or June Meeting. RECTOR’S REPORT Fr. Andrew reported on our
participation in the downtown affair “Meet Me at Royal Palm Place” that was held on March 3 and 4. Fr. Andrew gave the analogy that the
neighborhood was having a block party and that when the neighborhood has a
party, St. Gregory’s is there as we are part of the neighborhood. Fr. Andrew showed the water bottles that
were given out to people attending the fair and each Vestry member was given
one of these bottles to take home.
Ron Knowlton’s hard work to make our presence at the fair happen, was
commended. Suggestions for next year’s
fair should be given to Ron. In the debriefing following the event, it was
decided that next year we will be more interactive with the people, having
music i.e. handbells and/or the “Simple Gifts” instrumentalists, to
draw people’s attention to our booth. Fr. Andrew also reported on
the Lenten Noonday Concerts and the Lecture Series noting that the attendance
has been good at both events. Attendance
on Sundays is being studied and next month Fr. Andrew will prepare a
quarterly attendance report for Sunday Services. Pastoral concerns were
covered by Fr. Andrew. Fr. Andrew announced that
he will meet with each committee prior to the April Meeting, to insure that
the goals and activities of each committee coincides with the list of goals
decided upon at the Vestry/Leadership Meeting in January 2007. SPACE FOR GRACE -
Vestry members were encouraged to share the names of people
that they would like lifted up in prayer. YOUTH REPORT - Fr.
Michael reported that he will attend the Brothers of St. Gregory’s meeting in
April to speak with them about the ways they can be helpful to the
youth. Fundraisers are being planned
to help fund Youth Group activities.
Relationships are being built working of these fundraisers, which is
an added bonus. The current fundraiser is the Lenten Wednesday night Simple
Suppers and the Rummage Sale on March 24.
The Middle
School group is planning a trip to Youth Confirmation classes
will start on Sunday, March 25th.
The youth have started a band which has drawn several youth in the
church, who were not participants in the Youth Group
in prior years. Clips from the band
are on the web site. ENDOWED PARISH
CONSORTIUM REPORT - Bill Unger and Mark Angstrom reported on
their participation in the Endowed Parish Consortium which was held last week
in Bill Unger presented a
Power Point presentation on the conference stating that it was possible to
speak with representatives from churches of the same size in how to manage
stewardship and budgeting as well as the Endowment account. A great deal of networking was accomplished
and there were a variety of “breakout sessions” scheduled for Rectors,
Wardens, Parish Administrators, Treasurer’s, and Stewardship chairmen. Bill reported that the Episcopal Foundation
reported that the General Convention recommended socially conscious
investing. Also covered were strategies for Endowment management. Mr. Unger stated that it was suggested that
parishes have an Endowment Committee which sets policies on what the money is for and well as an
investment management committee. Mr. Unger
stated that the meeting was so helpful and beneficial, that he thought it was
important that funding for the Rector’s, Wardens, and Treasurer’s attendance
at this meeting should be part of the Operating budget. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Fr. Andrew reported that
Jim Wheeler and Jim Klote have been meeting in
reference to the Capital Campaign.
Things are moving along and one of the next steps will be a
parish survey which is standard
operating procedure for a capital campaign.
Fr. Andrew reported that he would invite Jim Wheeler to the next
Vestry Meeting. HOLY WEEK SERVICES - Fr. Andrew briefly reviewed the upcoming
Holy Week services, likening Holy Week to
our “revival week.” Vestry members
were encouraged to try to attend all of the services offered and to share in
the rhythm of the week as it will be very meaningful. OPEN FORUM Fr. Andrew reported that
Anita Sherman had gone to the UN Commission on the Status of Women
as one of the Episcopal delegates. One
hundred Anglican women were represented and they prepared a statement which
will be presented to the House of Bishops which will be meeting in two weeks.
in the Anglican Communion. First Communion Class - Debbie
Self reported on the First Communion
Class which she has started. Easter Publicity -
Terrie Noland reported that she thought it was imperative that we
consider publicity for our Easter services in
flyer form, in addition to the newspaper ads. She reported that many
churches have colorful postcards or flyers which they attach to door knobs or
place in mailboxes. It would be a wonderful opportunity
for the Youth Group to help with this project. Fr. Andrew reported that someone who can do flyers etc, is
needed, and that hopefully next year we will be able to do publicity of the
type suggested. The meeting was adjourned
with prayer at 9:05 PM. Leslie C. Ross
saved: Marchvestry.doc Clerk |