Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - April 17, 2017

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the church at 7:00 PM for Evening Prayer and then reconvened in the undercroft meeting room where everyone offered prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present were the rector Kristin Orr; the senior warden Greg Lawrence; the junior warden Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, Zoltan Sziky, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer Debbi Huggett; and the clerk Susan Marquis. Vestry member Rob Carrier was absent. The vestry also was joined by Shay Craig from the diocesan staff.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes
Mary VanSwol moved that the minutes from the March meeting be accepted. Shirley Reilly seconded, and the motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that collections are ahead of expectations largely due to some 2016 pledges being paid late and some 2017 pledges being paid in full. Expenses are below budget, but this is largely due to timing issues. Bob Burgwald moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, and Steve Hofer seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Rector’s Report
— Part of the O’Neill bequest may be used to buy a new missal stand.
— Pastor Orr expressed thanks to all of the people who took on extra responsibilities during Holy Week, including Gale Michael, who oversaw the agape meal, the Altar Guild, the acolytes, and the choir.
— The ushers’ badges that Steve Hofer donated have arrived. Pastor Orr will put a note in the “e-vangelist” stating that the badges were given in memory of long-time usher Dick Keller.
— We still are awaiting an estimate of costs from a general contractor regarding the columbarium.
— Pastor Orr announced that she will be leaving St. John’s to accept a position at the Yellowstone Episcopal Parishes in Montana. She will mail a letter to all parish members on Wednesday and make an announcement in church on Sunday. Her last day at St. John’s will be June 18th. The vestry will meet with Andrea Mysen next Monday at 7:00 PM. Andrea is the transitions minister in the diocese; and she will help explain the process of saying good-bye, finding an interim, and searching for a new rector.
—The vestry retreat scheduled for April 29th has been cancelled.

Discussion and Decisions

Fund-raising
Shay Craig is the Associate for Resource Development for the diocese. She spoke with the vestry about raising funds to ease our budget deficit. She made the following points:
— For the annual giving campaign, stand up the first day and talk about what ideas have arisen organically from discussions in the parish.
— Listen throughout the months about why people come here and what “feeds” them.
— Develop impact statements. For example, a financial statement could be that we donated X number of dollars to PADS. An impact statement could be that we fed X number of people. Concentrate on impact statements.
— Report on one thing, such as one mission, per month.
— List impact statements in pledge letters. Include information such as, “If St. John’s weren’t here, X number of people would not have been fed.”
— Every reminder should come with a thank you. In fact, every request should be balanced by seven expressions of thanks.
— Send handwritten notes to thank parishioners for paying off their pledges.
— Bring in other “pockets” (donors) rather than asking the same people who have given to give more.
— Plan a late summer or fall event for fund-raising. Build onto an existing event or add a new event.
— Know in advance how much money you need to raise at an event.
— Encourage parishioners to bring someone from outside of the parish to an event. The job is not to make them stay but to come here for something. Shay said that we should not have a scarcity mentality because we are in a good financial position relative to many other parishes. She offered to meet in the future with a St. John’s finance committee.

Closing

The meeting ended with prayer for Pastor Orr led by Shay Craig. The next vestry meeting is on May 15th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Approved by the vestry:  May 15, 2017