ALL
Vice President Tom Sibert called
the meeting to order at
Tom explained the pledge status for 2004. We have received pledges totaling $256,000 for 2004. Sixty members, whose total pledges for 2003 were $51,000, have not submitted pledges for 2004. The budget committee is projecting that these members will pledge $42,000 to give us a total $298,000 for 2004 budgeting purposes.
Ed Wetzel handed out the 2004 budget and a two-page budget worksheet. Tom explained the footnotes and significant changes over the 2003 budget.
Phil Hirsch stated that he believes dropping the NPR advertisement is the wrong direction to take. He made a motion to reinstate the advertisement with funds from a reduction in other parts of the advertising budget and other line items in the budget. The motion was seconded and the floor opened to discussion of the issue. A question was raised about the effectiveness of the NPR ad. Tom related that we have no data to answer that question. Tracy Lee said she would be willing to research this question. The motion was voted on and lost by a vote of 6 for to 26+ against.
Mike Vlantis proposed that the 2004 budget be compared with the 2003 actual expenses rather then the 2003 budget. Ed presented the 2003 budget as comparison because those are the last set of numbers formally presented to the congregation.
A question was raised about the reduction in health insurance for the Office Administrator. Tom explained that the administrator chose to accept ½ of the cost of insurance in cash rather then the insurance since she was already covered.
Sandy Reiberg called the question regarding acceptance of the 2004 budget. Since a number of people had left the sanctuary, an effort was made to bring them back in. With 52 active members present and the assumed proxies of absent board members that had voted for the budget a quorum was constituted. The budget passed by voice vote with one no vote.
Tom raised the subject of the Capital Campaign mentioning that the board will consider it at the January board meeting. Rich Atwater commented that he has been pushing this for 5 years and believes we have no other option but to proceed. Sandy Reiberg using the new phrase for courage and heroism said, “Let’s roll”. A question was raised about the timing of the campaign relative to starting construction. Tom responded that we would know the results of the campaign before starting construction.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:24 p.m.
Mike Middleton, Secretary
*Quorum: Page 47 of the Operations Manual defines a quorum as 10% of the membership eligible to vote. With 542 members eligible to vote (page 45 of the Operations Manual) 55 or more members constitute a quorum.