Dean Taylor opened the vestry meeting on January 19 with a prayer and appointed Jim Palermo to continue as Senior Warden through the transition process, as stated in our by-laws, and the Vestry elected the following: Carl Hye-Knudsen as Junior Warden, Gary Buchmeier as Treasurer, Kathie Hayes as Assistant Treasurer, Charles Livingston as Chancellor and Melba Hye-Knudsen as Clerk. Mary Tucker, vestry liaison to the Search Committee, reported that the calling for a new rector was announced this past week, and she presented a detail Search Committee Budget. The vestry commended the committee for their work and detailed planning. The vestry reviewed the 2011 financials and accepted them for audit, reviewed a draft 2012 budget and will be working on ways to close the deficit prior to approval of the budget in March 2012. Dean encouraged the vestry to evaluate the budget process and approve budgets in December, prior to the start of the new budget year. Jim Palermo reported that all of the parts for the organ upgrade have been ordered and that the upgrade is expected to be completed after Easter. The vestry was notified that Anita Countryman, Director of the Church School, will retire on April 22, 2012. The vestry established the meeting schedule for 2012 and determined that the February meeting will be a focus where issues are discussed in detail but formal decisions are not made. The agenda for the February meeting will be the 2012 budget shortfall and a review of the Preschool which finished 2011 in the red.
