Vestry Minutes


Meetings

Bobble Heads

Every Month

The vestry meets in Fay Hall on the third Monday of every month, normally at 7:00pm (check calendar for times).

This meeting is open to all parishioners. If you have issues you wish to raise, however, we would ask that you contact one of the wardens in advance to make sure your items are included on the agenda.

Meeting of 29th January, 2007

Present

Geoff Underwood, Kim Shultz, Marq Davis, Les Daniels, Wendy Scharen, Basil Brigandi, Amy Reilly, Don Shapleigh, Sal Giorlandino, Helen Panas, Sharon Philcox, Fr. Bill, Michele Mongeon

The meeting opened with prayer at 7:00pm.

Clerk's Report

Minutes of last meeting had been forwarded to the members by email. A motion was made to accept the report, it was seconded and approved.

Treasurer's Report

A review was given of the report presented at annual meeting. After questions and discussion a motion to accept the report was made, seconded, and approved.

Business Items

Most committee assignments remained the same as last year with new vestry members taking on the vacancies.

Deficit Budget

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the severity of the deficit and our inability to fund the church secretary and the church sexton. A motion was made that the vestry draft a letter to the parish explaining the impact of the shortfall on the church staffing. It was seconded. After discussion an amendment was made and seconded that we immediately fund the sexton's and secretary's salaries by borrowing $8141 from investments to keep them paid through June. After much discussion the motion was passed. Father Bill passed out three packets of information relating to Evangelism, Fellowship, and Fundraising. The vestry reviewed the material and the groundwork was laid for a fundraising task force. Recognizing that vestry leadership was essential Basil, Marq, and Michele, with youth involvement are excited about a "Mile of Coins".

Canon 16

Healthy Congregation a Parish Response: Father Bill handed to the vestry a suggested format for discussing Canon 16. The vestry will review and time will be set aside for future discussion.

Communications

A continuing report from Helen, Sal, and Diane. Helen and Sal presented articles and discussed placements in local news media. They have done extensive work on contacting the various media available to us and are prepared to get St. Stephen's mentioned in the local media on a regular basis. Their goal is to have something about St. Stephen's in the local papers twice a month to start and working up to every week. Funnel any news events to Sal, Helen, and Diane.

Other Business

Property, Finance, and Communication Committees should forward a short introductory piece to Dave Trussler for inclusion on the web site. Please forward your reports to him as soon as possible.

Father Bill passed out information on the Wardens, Vestry & Leadership Gathering 2007 that will take place in Springfield on March 10, 2007. Any vestry person or warden interested in attending must select their desired workshops and inform Father Bill that they would like to attend by March 3rd.

Father Bill has received word that it is time for the 2006 audit. A motion was made to hire the person who did the audit last year. It was seconded, discussed and passed.

Father Bill presented a letter from the diocese. The diocese has some left over grant money earmarked for the areas of mission, outreach, youth, and congregational development. The vestry unanimously agreed that we should apply for some of the grant money. Basil took the application and will be working on it.

Committee Reports

Don Shapleigh brought up the subject of rental of the church property. Father Bill can approve a one time use of the church by any group. A group that would want to meet on an on going basis would need vestry approval. Discussion about having a standard fee and form took place and Michele will provide Don with a copy of a similar form that is used to calculate fees at her work. Any parishioner who wants to use the church would not fall under this fee schedule. This rental fee would only apply to outside groups.

Vestry adjourned at 9:45pm

Respectfully submitted, Michele Mongeon, Clerk of the Vestry

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