ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH BOARD MEETING

January 14, 2004

Minutes

 

Board Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneeman, Pam

President

Absent

 

Wetzel, Ed

Treasurer

Present

Sibert, Tom

V President

Present

 

Middleton, Mike

Secretary

Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board Members

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gosling, Mary

Exp 2004

Absent

 

Rempel, John

Exp 2005

Present

Downing, Karen

Exp 2004

Absent

 

Boland, Katie

Exp 2006

Present

Neves, Susan

Exp 2004

Present

 

Byer, Greg

Exp 2006

Absent

Schrementi, Jim

Exp 2004

Present

 

DeRocker, Joy

Exp 2006

Present

Murphy, Jane

Exp 2005

Present

 

Miller, Babette

Exp 2006

Present

Rand, Leon

Exp 2005

Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Others Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clear, Bruce

Minister

 

 

Clear, Nancy

DRE

 

Craig, Bonnie

Office Adm.

 

 

Atwater, Rich

Property Manag.

 

Mendonca, John

 

 

 

Dwyer, Helen

Building Project

 

 

Tom called the meeting to order at 7:08 pm. 

 

Minutes

Minutes of the December 10th Board meeting and December 14th Congregational meeting were approved.

 

Minister’s Report and Religious Education Report

The Minister’s Report was presented.  The Religious Education Report was presented.

 

Property Management

Rich Atwater gave the Property Management Report.  B&B Roofing made repairs to the main roof on new years day.  Rich reported that water is coming in at the first story roof on the north side of the sanctuary.  Bob Stanis is looking at what will be needed to repair it and the matching roof on the south side of the sanctuary.  It is expected that no more roof work will be done till spring. 

 

Lee Rand brought up concerns expressed to him about the sound system.  Rich discussed a quote he had from IRC of $12,000 to $15,000 to replace the sound system.  Tom asked Bonnie to put a note in the bulletin that the problem is being worked on.   Rich will look into possible improvements for the short term and long term with input from Joe Hipskind and other experts.  

 

Treasurer’s Report

Ed Wetzel presented the Treasurers Report.  The $19,000 pre-payment of 2004 pledges will help our cash flow which ended the year at –$11,000.  Ed believes that fundraising plans need to start ASAP.  After some discussion John Mendonca agreed to form a fund raising committee to look at fund raising opportunities and in particular a Service Auction.  Katie Boland agreed to help and Jim Schrementi offered to help with eats after he gets settled into a new house.  Other possible members to recruit are Donna Moose, Deb Ellman and Ann Deagan-Romberg.

 

Babette expressed the desire that, for congregational budget approval, Ed show actual numbers from the previous year as well as the previous years budget. 

 

Tom Asked Bonnie to update pledge data for the next Board meeting.  Babette suggested we send out canvass follow up letters.  Ed, Tom and Bonnie will send out follow up letters before the next meeting.

 

New Business

A brief discussion ensued about the need to appoint a nominating committee.  Bruce Johnson was recommended as someone who did the job before and did it well.

 

Bonnie gave an update on sending out the Bulletin by e-mail.  Adobe software to convert the bulletin will cost $100 per year.  Bonnie calculates that replacing 30 paper bulletin subscriptions with e-bulletins will cover the cost and additional replacements will provide savings.  The Board found no action necessary and encouraged Bonnie to proceed.  

 

Tom opened a discussion of the Capital Campaign and asked Rich to give a quick background.  Rich expects repairs on the order of $250,000 to $300,000 will be required in the next five to ten years.  The UUA consultant Martha Ester-Wells concluded that we could financially manage a 1-1.2 million renovation.  She will help with the Capital Campaign for $8000.  She strongly recommended that we get professional help (for the Campaign that is).  Due to a preparation and build up period the earliest the Campaign can start is the fall.  It can be done in conjunction with the Canvass as long as contributors are reminded that the operating budget is the first priority.

 

Lee Rand made a motion that we run a Capital Campaign in the fall.  John Rempel seconded the motion.  Discussion followed this motion.  John M thinks we should not announce the Campaign till we have some substantial commitments.  Helen stressed the heritage we have been given and the desire if not duty to take care of the facility for future generations.  Jim S expressed concern about the details and outcome if we don’t reach our goal.  Joy heard from church members.  Several just said “do it” and some wondered if we would be successful.  The point was made that later in the campaign we will have more information about how it is going.  We will be able to tailor the plan, either cutting it back or getting a mortgage to make up the shortfall.  Tom expressed Pam’s support for this motion. 

 

The question was called and the motion passed by a unanimous show of hands. 

 

A committee of Lee, Ed, Pam and Tom was formed to, over the next 10 days, identify and establish a leader and supporting committee for this project. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:58

Mike Middleton, Secretary to the Board