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VESTRY MEETING MINUTES ST. GREGORY ‘S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AUGUST 20, 2007 Called
to order: 7:05 P.M. Opening
prayer: Fr. Sherman. Clergy
present: Fr.Sherman, Mo. Self, Deacon Thorstad. Vestry
present: Clerk:
Ross. Cap.
Campaign Chair: J. Wheeler. Cap.
Campaign Consultant: Carl Graber. Clergy
absent: Fr. Penland. Vestry
absent: Laman, Klemke, Noland. Bible
Study: Luke 13;10-17. Minutes: June 11, 2007, approved as printed. Fr.
Andrew requested that all regular reports be succinct for maximum time on
Capital Campaign and pre-school presentation. Sr.
Warden’s Report
Pryse Jr.
Warden’s Report Mark Angstrom presented a written report
(ATT.A) re: repairs and maintenance
during June & July 07. To conserve time, all were requested to
read report separately. 298
house. Completed. Air handler and condenser, replaced. 298
house. Proposed. Renovate kitchen with donated cabinets
& appliances. $5000 cap as
building may come down soon. Motion made,
seconded and approved to proceed project pricing. Church
& Parish Hall. Thermostats have
been raised to save energy/money. Treasurer’s
Report Financials
had been distributed by Email about one week ago (ATT. B) Mr. Unger requested that Minutes and
Financials cease being copied and distributed at the meeting as both have
been sent via Email. Mr. MacLaren reported a problem receiving reports
which we will work to resolve. Mr. Unger commended Mr. Knowlton’s
financial commentary and Vestry
members were asked to call Bill with questions or comments. The Vestry was apprised of a Finance
Commission Meeting at the last Endowment Board Meeting to make plans for the
handling of an anticipated deficit due to a promised large gift which will
not be received. The Finance
Commission recommended to Vestry: Take
the maximum allowed by Charter from the Endowment Fund (6% of the rolling 3
yr. balance of the fund.) Said 6% to
be available to Ron Knowlton exclusively for operational expenses. It was stated that this plus one fundraiser
should close the gap. A
lengthy discussion followed. Fr.
Andrew pointed to successful efforts by all staff at reducing expenses by 7%
YTD. Traditionally, income is down in
summer months however, plate &
pledge for the same three months in 2006 were up 33% in 2007. Discussion: Annual allotment from Endowment is
$75K. We have taken $60K YTD leaving
$15K for use. Mr. Unger reports
visible shortage for the year and though successes are evident, without the
“gift” we are behind about $37K with spending at the same level. Suggestion:
A gala fundraiser to kickoff the Capital Campaign be scheduled with some of the proceeds applied towards
this year’s operating budget directed toward outreach. By passing the
resolution recommended by the Finance Commission and with a portion of the
“Gala” proceeds directed toward this
year’s outreach budget it is estimated
that we will break even. The motion to
use the allowable 6% recommended by the Finance Commission , was unanimously passed
with a caveat added: to be used for
Operating Expenses only and not
Capital Expenses. Rector’s
Report Recapped
past weekend. 1. Vestry/Parish Leaders budget planning
meeting. 2. Sunday school kick off day. 3.
Parish picnic. Attendance: Up 13% over last year. YTD up 11%. Ministry
Reports Youth: Soft
Evangelism: The Parish picnic and the
Brothers of St. Gregory monthly breakfast are media in which members brought
guests. All are encouraged to do this. The
youth are anxious to have a Lock In/Sleep Over in the Church this year. Members being encouraged to bring guests
thus welcoming new youth. (See soft
evangelism, above.) Planned: Super Bowl Sunday coinciding with the 30
Hour Famine (a national youth program) on the same weekend. NEW
BUSINESS Capital
Campaign Jim Wheeler introduced Carl Graber, James
Klote, Inc. our Campaign consultant, who, with his wife Candy, will live in
Boca and become members of ST. GREGORY’S for about 6 months while Carl is
with us. This is a unique and
successful relationship. Mr. Wheeler
reported that much preparatory work for the campaign has been completed. The Capital Campaign has been communicated
to all parishioners with NO negative reactions. A theme developed by Fr. Andrew, Mr. Graber,
Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Unger has been
selected recognizing Saints who have
gone before us, their achievements and gifts to GOD. Suggested slogan: “Build on the shoulders of the Saints with
CHRIST as the cornerstone.” A
suggested logo was distributed, (ATT.C) Per
Fr. Andrew, it is very important to tell the story of St. Gregory’s -- How we are building on the work of the
Saints who have preceded us; entering into the work of two generations of
Episcopalians in Boca; sharing in that work; always remembering that CHRIST
JESUS is the cornerstone. Mr.
Wheeler explained the purpose of the Focus Groups which begin in
September. Facilitator training will
be held this week and the Facilitators will lead the discussions taking place at
each Focus Group Meeting. All
attendees are encouraged to voice their opinions. At the conclusion of these meetings it is
anticipated that a consensus will be
evident. Mr. Graber will work with us
in the Capital Campaign for the funding. Per
Fr. Andrew, it is important that the congregation know that the “vision for St.
Gregory’s was not developed by a small
group, rather the result of broad based ideas voiced in Vestry/Ministry
retreats over the last two years. Six
Part Vision: 1. New Rectory, 2. Land
acquisition, 3. Pre-School, 4. Outreach, 5. Maintenance and Capital need of
existing facility, 6. Increasing the Endowment Fund. The
Capital Campaign will be coordinated with The Stewardship Drive, kicked off
on October 21, 07 running through January 12, 08, with everyone being visited
personally by a Capital Committee Member. Mr.
Graber stated that he was here as a result of GOD’s appointment as to time
and place. He stated that his firm is
one of the few that has residential consulting where the consultant lives,
works and worships in the community during the campaign. (A 24/7 environment) He emphasized the importance of high
attendance at the Focus Meetings. He
will tabulate results in a Readiness Assessment Report after each Focus Meeting. This will be followed by a final report of
about 50 pages stating most frequently asked questions, affirmations and
concerns, all prioritized. He stated
that the Capital Campaign actually enhances the Stewardship drive resulting
in a strengthening of faith in the congregation. SENIOR WARDEN’S REPORT Pyrse
STEWARDSHIP George
Giosmas, Stewardship Chair, stated that this year we will have a newly designed
Stewardship Card. Various designs are
being considered, and it is hoped that the card will look professional, but
be low in cost. The Stewardship Card
will be presented at the next Vestry Meeting.
Mr. Giosmas reported that he
will need five testimonials “What Stewardship means to me” by September 15th
to be placed in the Sunday Bulletin. A cross section of people will be asked
to write. It is the recommendation of
Carl Graber that a personal visit be made to parishioners, as opposed to a
phone call. In this visit both the
Capital Campaign and Stewardship can be covered. Due
to the late hour, it was decided to
have the Pre School Report at the September Meeting. GRANTS
TO SEMINARIANS Fr.
Andrew presented five names of residential seminarians recommended by The
Venerable Mary Gray Reeves to be the recipients of $2500 grants from the
Helene von Kreuter Seminarian Fund. In
addition our own Valerie Miller was recommended to receive a
$5000.grant. A motion was made,
seconded, and unanimously passed approving these grants. The Clerk was asked to publish the names of
the seminarians who received the grants in the Minutes. An article will also be written for the
STEEPLE NEWS explaining the Helen von
Kreuter Seminary Fund with the recipient’s names. Valerie Miller - Episcopal Recipients
of $2500 Grants Angela Corinas - The Episcopal Lee Davis – Bexley Hall, Trinity Lutheran
Seminary, Richard Effinger – General
Theological Seminary, Anne Harris – Gwendolyn Tobias – The
meeting was adjourned with prayer at 9:20 PM Leslie
C. Ross, Clerk
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