ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH BOARD MEETING

May 14, 2003

Minutes

 

Board Officers

 

 

 

 

 

Schneeman, Pam

President

Present

Wetzel, Ed

Treasurer

Present

Sibert, Tom

V President

Absent

Middleton, Mike

Secretary

Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board Members

 

 

 

 

 

Brunso, John

Exp 2003

Present

Page, Fern

Exp 2003

Present

Mendonca, John

Exp 2003

Present

Vinicor, Susan

Exp 2003

Present

Gosling, Mary

Exp 2004

Present

Neves, Susan

Exp 2004

Absent

Hansen, Carl

Exp 2004

Absent

Schrementi, Jim

Exp 2004

Present

Hammond, Jerry

Exp 2005

Present

Rand, Leon

Exp 2005

Present

Murphy, Jane

Exp 2005

Present

Rempel, John

Exp 2005

Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

Others Present

 

 

 

 

 

Atwater, Rich

Building C

 

Boland, Mike

Prop Mg C

 

Papenmeier, Jerry

Audit C

 

 

 

 

 

Pam Schneeman called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm.

 

Minutes

Minutes of the March 12 and April 9 Board meeting were approved.

 

Minister’s Report & Religious Education Report

The Minister’s Report and the Religious Education Report were both delivered.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Ed Wetzel presented the Treasurers Report.  Due to the financial administration being in flux, Ed would like requests to be in writing.  In response to a past question about the endowment Ed reported that it is around $400,000.  A formal report will be given to the congregation on June 1.

 

A motion was made and passed unanimously to authorize a scholarship of $3,000 per year for four years for Edward Kennedy from the Endowment Fund.  Part of the charter of the Endowment Committee is to consider scholarships for children of church employees.  Edward has achieved distinction in his studies and extracurricular activities 

 

A discussion ensued about the Excess Income over Expense for January thru March being about $36,500 below last year.  Prepaid pledges are down about $18,000 from last year.  Ed mentioned that the pledge statements were sent out late this year.  U.U.A. and Heartland prepaid Dues account for another $14,600.   

 

Property Management

Mike Boland gave the Property Management report.  Mike is considering a more permanent location for the Mothers Day Out sign.  The cited problem with the dumpster has been rectified.  New dispensers are being put in the restrooms.  Mike will cut some tree limbs in response to a neighbors concern.

 

Building Renovation Project

Rich Atwater provided an estimate for repairing the south wall windows that totals $21,553.  The board has approved a request for the congregation to authorize $20,000.  Rich believes the actual cost may even be a little higher than the estimate.  If damage is more extensive then observed, costs will be higher.  Also, we may use double pain glass and add insulation above the windows, which will increase costs.  The contractor was chosen from three prospective contractors.  The cost has been negotiated down from $27,000 to the current level.  If the congregation approves the funding a contract will still have to be approved by the board.

 

The Board approved an amendment to the request for authorization from the congregation, increasing the spending limit to $25,000 from $20,000 for south wall window repair.

 

Easter-Wells Feasibility Study

Martha Easter-Wells met with the study committee, which includes Lee Rand, Jerry Papenmeier, Katie Boland, Fred Morris and Jane Murphy.  The study will take the measure of financial support for the building improvement project.  If the study is authorized, interviews of 65 church members will begin June 6.  These 65 members will be divided into representative groups.  The groups will be the knowledgeable, significant donors (time and money) and new members.  Results will be presented to the committee on June 21 and to the congregation on June 22.  

           

Discussion ensued about timing for the capital campaign and the canvass.  A possible scenario is to present the campaign to the congregation for approval in the fall but not to start it till spring.  This would prevent interference and confusion with the canvass.  Martha has advised that the key to the timing of a successful capital campaign is that the congregation is ready for it.

 

Office Support

Wendy has resigned.  The personnel committee is working to find one person to fulfill all our office needs.  Currently we have Letitia (from Dunhill staffing) in the office Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 3:00. 

 

May 18 Congregational Meeting

Mike M will be out of town Sunday so Mary Gosling has volunteered to take the minutes.

 

Audit Committee

Jerry Papenmeier brought up two concerns raised by the Audit Committee.  It is listed in the Teller procedures that an Usher will verify the cash count, but that is not happening.  Secondly there is not a pictorial record of the church valuables.      

Pam will ask the Head Usher (John Burns) to appoint an usher each Sunday to verify the cash count.  Mike Boland will work with the Fine Arts Committee to get a pictorial record.

Music Program

Pam stated that the goal is to have an organist in place by the beginning of the church year.  Some members of the congregation have shown an interest in discussing the music program issues.  Currently Dotty will help find summer people.  Tom is getting some interest from IU students.

 

Birthday Bash

John Mendonca requested a financial report on the Birthday Bash.  John Rempel will pass on the request.

 

Changes to Format of Board Minutes

A motion was made by Leon Rand and amended by Susan Vinicor to include names back into the text of the minutes.  The motion was approved (thank you).  

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:38

Mike Middleton, Secretary to the Board