March, April, May, June, July 2010
These are notes of highlights from the meeting, and the detailed minutes will be published when prepared and approved. For minutes see the links in the lower right hand column of this page.
The regular July 15 business meeting received the treasurer's good news for mid year that finances are on track without any surprises, and that our annual professional audit had been received with flying colors for our treasurers and business manager. The Vestry made plans for our annual meeting to become three events: A special Members Event from 5-7 pm on Thursday, November 4, with the first part of the meeting at 6:30 pm with the Wardens addresses and the nomination of vestry members. The election will take place at the second part on Sunday morning December 5, and the third part will be an annual look at stewardship and finances on Sunday January 16. As part of our ongoing review of parish life and vision, the vestry approved an update to our Mission Statement.
June 17 was a "focus" meeting led by Senior Warden Jim Palermo (Ted was on vacation) and along with former Senior Warden Susan Rife and Associate Rector Andi Taylor, the Vestry brainstormed about the future, our vision for a transition of leadership when the rector retires. Reports were that it was a lively and positive discussion.
At the May 20 Vestry meeting, Business Manager Cindy Hannon did a page by page, line by line, review of the full financial report (click here for your own copy) and Treasurer Gary Buchmeier reported that we were on target for income and expenses as of April 30. We also received the report that the challenge effort initiated by the Vestry was well received by the parish, and $43,500 was pledged or received by May 1 toward our dream goal of adding $160,000 to the budget to restore and improve staff salaries. The vestry authorized the rector to restore the $43,500 to the salaries beginning with June 1. From this point the treasurers will develop a proposed three year budget and we’ll make plans for the pledge drive for 2011. The vestry affirmed the graduation gifts from the Boniface Scholarship fund for six high school seniors. Ted reported on a meeting held with former parish officers to discuss long range plans. Susan Rife is heading up that task force. Plans were discussed for a conversation with Bishop Smith when he visits June 6. We reviewed a draft of improvements to our mission statement, to be approved at the next meeting. If you’d like to add your comments and ideas, download a copy here. The next meeting will be a focus meeting chaired by Senior Warden Jim Palermo June 17.
April 15 was a "focus" meeting when the vestry meets without business, to brainstorm ideas about ministry. To keep up to date, we did hear from Assistant Treasurer Kathie Hayes and Development Director Betsie Danner about the appeal and matching grant. You may read more on the stewardship page. From Treasurer Gary Buchmeier and Business Manager Cindy Hannon we learned that the first quarter report is nearly complete, and at this point there are no surprises and we are on budget. Ted reported that the Investment Committee, chaired by Oliver Janney, had just met and that our dedicated funds, invested at Northern Trust, are restored to their mid 2008 levels. Those funds, invested prudently, did not lose as much as some other funds did in 2009. Prudent and wise investments will grow slowly in 2010. Ted presented notes from a workshop on Transitions in Large Congregations led by the Clergy Leadership Institute. Reg Irvine, Bruce Wilson, and Gary Buchmeier will represent us at the Diocesan Vestry Workshop April 17 at DaySpring.
The March Vestry meeting had the joy of meeting with Wayne Farrell, parishioner and postulant for Holy Orders, who is in the middle of his seminary career at Sewanee. Wayne brought us up to date, and we in turn certified our approval to the Bishop that he take the next step, to be made a Candidate for Holy Orders. The Vestry also authorized the grant of $2100 from designated scholarship funds, and encouages the parish to make additional scholarship available through gifts to the St. Boniface Seminarian Scholarship Fund.
The bulk of the work of the meeting was devoted to approval of the 2010 budget, which allows the rector to make salary adjustments as of April 1. The parish had clearly stated the first priority for this year was to restore the 2008 and 2009 salary cuts, and although a step was made in this direction, the 2010 budget of $811,000 fall short of the goal of $970,000 which would have made that restoration possible. The vestry has asked the rector and one of the treasurers to speak about this on the next two Sundays.
In reports: Ted Copland announced plans to honor Wes Wasdyke on the occasion of his retirement May 2. Andi Taylor spoke of the youth group's enthusiasm to raise the funds to allow more than three dozen young people to go on two mission trips this summer. Reg Irvine announced that low flush toilets will be installed in the narthex restrooms as the first step in the BEST greening project, and that the parish would move trees and an air conditioner to enable the preschool to upgrade the small playground.
