ALL SOULS COMMUNITY CHURCH OF WEST MICHIGAN

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

November 28 (12:20 PM) & December 5 (9:00 AM), 2004

Members present 11/28: Mike Arents, Gordon Arnold, John Belaski, Dennis Benoit, Roger Gilles, David Maxam, Dan Schneider, Jen Schpiro, Herman Sullivan, Jackie Vines, Ursula Williams, the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith

Absent: Sue Belaski

Members present 12/5: Mike Arents, Gordon Arnold, Dennis Benoit, Roger Gilles, David Maxam, Dan Schneider, Jen Schpiro, Jackie Vines, Ursula Williams

Absent: John Belaski, Sue Belaski, Herman Sullivan, the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith

    1. Opening Words – the All Souls Community Church covenant, recited together
    2. Introductory Functions
      1. Minutes from the October 25 Board of Trustees meeting were reviewed and accepted.
      2. Agenda items for this meeting were reviewed and times were established to complete Agenda within two hours.
      3. Assignments for this meeting: Action Item Recorder Ursula Williams, Process Observer Roger Gilles, and Timekeeper Jen Schpiro.
    3. Financial – Report from the Vice President-Finance (Dennis Benoit)
      1. October Income Statement and Balance Sheet were discussed. (See attached financial statements.)
      2. Dennis reviewed income and expenses to date, and the Board took the 2004 budget to the end of the calendar year based on estimates of coming expenses, resulting in an estimated $9,000 shortfall.
      3. Intense 2005 Budget discussions and decisions began and continued on December 5, with the finalized budget accepted December 9 via e-mail vote.
    4. Organizational
      1. Report from the Minister, the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith - None
      2. Report from President, Mike Arents

        2005 Fund-Raising Committee members thus far include Chad Coffman, Nina and Paul Namaste, Roz Sullivan, Ursula Williams, Jackie Vines, and Jen Schpiro, Chair.

      3. Report from Vice-President of Programs, Dan Schneider - None

       

    5. Old Business
      1. Called Minister Committee. Roger Gilles reported on program board interviews with the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith. He also explained the UUA suggested salary range for ministers of small congregations. The board agreed that we should pay our called minister fairly within the UUA guidelines. Roger warned that the Rev. Dr. Smith might well wish to enter into another contract with us, given our budget situation..
      2. Site Committee Update. David Maxam reported that the Committee continues to explore possible sites for an All Souls home.
      3. ASCC Directory. Jen Schpiro had a draft copy of the new Directory. It will be published "as is," rather than trying to schedule picture re-takes.
      4. Fund-Raising Talent Auction – no report
      5. WZZM-TV – no report
    6. New Business
      1. Prince of Peace Church Negotiations. John Belaski reported that Prince of Peace has accepted a developer’s cash offer. The Site Committee has asked the developer about the possibility of our leasing the church building for six months or a year.
      2. Music Update. No report
      3. New Member Update. We are currently at 147 members. However, in January, 2005, the Executive Committee will begin work on "culling" the list of those who no longer wish to be members of All Souls so that the next count given to the UUA and Heartland District will reflect true membership numbers.
      4. Revenue Enhancement Ideas. No Report
      5. Action Steps from Holly Knibbs Recommendations. No Report
    7. Reports from Action-Item Recorder and Process Observer - None
    8. Closing Words – None

11/28 Meeting was adjourned at 2:48 PM

12/5 Meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Jackie Vines, Board Secretary, All Souls Community Church of West Michigan