All Souls Community Church of West Michigan
Board of Trustees Meeting
Minutes
From Board Retreat
August 16, 2003
Members present: Mike Arents, Gordon Arnold, John Belaski, Sue Belaski, Dennis Benoit, Roger Gilles, Linda Mohney, Dan Schneider, Herman Sullivan, Jackie Vines, Ursula Williams
Members absent: David Maxam
During the 2003 Board Retreat, a typical meeting Agenda was followed with expanded explanation and rationale. Business conducted appears below, underscored.
Opening Words: Rev. Dr. Brent Smith
President R. Gilles welcomed Board members to the retreat and gave an overview of “the state of the church” as well as the key church issues for the year ahead. After personal introductions, the basic format for BOT meetings, norms and expectations for meetings, the role of the Executive Committee, and the revised church organizational flowchart were discussed.
Time and place of BOT meetings was discussed, with the majority of Board members preferring to meet from 7 – 9 PM on Wednesday evenings in a public place. Therefore, the following dates were set for BOT meetings: September 24, October 22, November 19, and December 17. Executive Committee meetings will remain as previously scheduled. It was noted that an all-congregational meeting is scheduled for December 14. Several BOT members offered to investigate possible meeting places and report back to President Gilles as soon as possible.
Every attempt will be made to send Agendas, Minutes, and reports one week prior to BOT meeting dates.
The BOT Minutes of May 28 were approved as corrected. (Amy Busby was absent.) The BOT Minutes of July 27 were approved as corrected. (Item IV. A. - paragraph after list of Program Council members should read “Arents also noted that Bob and Mary Blackwell, and Marge Gilles, will be taking responsibility for a new Volunteer Table once a month on Sunday mornings---which will act as a storehouse of information about volunteer needs and opportunities.” It was also noted that D. Benoit’s motion to designate the August 10 offering plate to the Belnap-Lookout Literacy Project, seconded by H. Sullivan, was approved by the BOT via e-mail.
M. Arents reported on Program Council work including church calendar, Homecoming Sunday, volunteer table, newsletter, new-member packet, etc., and previewed fall church activities. Steve Compton presented website revisions and asked for BOT suggestions.
D. Benoit reviewed June and July financials, which were distributed. See attached financial statements dated July 31. A suggestion was made to provide greater detail regarding staff salaries.
President Gilles reported that the Heartland District will consider our ASCC Chalice Lighters grant request in October. He also reported that membership of the Archives Committee will include Sue Belaski, Judge David Soet, Lisa Kemmis, and Vernon Shepard.
Ursula Williams agreed to be the BOT representative to the Ad Hoc Scrip Committee. She will work with Linda Mohney, Roger Gilles, and Dennis Benoit after obtaining more information about a scrip program.
D. Benoit reported that employer insurance has not yet been purchased. Everything is ready to go as soon as funds for the premium become available.
M. Arents presented criteria for evaluating plate donation proposals. He will revise the criteria as discussed and present them at the September BOT meeting.
The final section of the BOT Retreat Agenda, Preview of Upcoming Board Activity, will be discussed at the September Board meeting. These topics will include
Respectfully Submitted,
Jackie Vines,
All Souls Community Church of West Michigan