ALL SOULS COMMUNITY CHURCH OF WEST MICHIGAN

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

April 25, 2005

Members present: Mike Arents, Gordon Arnold, Dennis Benoit, Roger Gilles, Jen Schpiro, Herman Sullivan, Ursula Williams, the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith.

Absent: John Belaski, Sue Belaski, David Maxam, Dan Schneider, Jackie Vines

 

          Opening Words – provided by the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith

          Introductory Functions

            A. Minutes from the March 21, 2005, Board of Trustees meetings were reviewed and accepted as revised.

            B. Agenda items for this meeting were reviewed and times were established to complete Agenda within two hours.

            C. Assignments for this meeting: Action Item Recorder Roger Gilles, Process Observer Herman Sullivan, and Timekeeper Gordon Arnold.

          Financial – Report from the Vice President-Finance (Dennis Benoit)

            D. March Income Statement and Balance Sheet were discussed. (See attached financial statements.) Dennis noted that revenues are ahead of schedule (27% pledges, 23% plate), but fund raising is behind. Spending is fairly on-schedule. The UUA fair share is due at the end of June, and the check will be cut soon.

            E. Pledge Drive Update/Summer Envelopes. Dennis reported that summer envelopes will be available at the May 1 Congregational Meeting.

            F. Capital Campaign. Dennis will ask Chad to break out the capital campaign line item from the annual budget.

          Organizational

            G. Report from the Minister, the Rev. Dr. Brent Smith

                  · Plans are moving ahead for All Souls to get on television by September. Tom Bell is converting VHS tapes to digital format. The content will be 20-minute documentaries of famous Unitarian Universalists. We will need to shoot an introduction to the documentaries.

                  · Dr. Smith suggested that the August Board Retreat be held with RE to set goals for the year ahead.

                  · Dr. Smith surveyed the Board for reactions to Mr. Chip Roush during his visit April 10. As a result, he will extend an invitation to him to fill the pulpit for six Sundays this summer. A special collection in May was authorized for Mr. Roush.

                  · Dr. Smith announced a new phase of liturgy, with high school seniors scheduled to deliver sermons May 1 and 9th grade graduation on May 15. May 8 will be Flower Communion, and May 29, Memorial Day Service.

            H. Report from President, Mike Arents

                  · Mike asked the Board to thank Jim Ballmer for his website work.

                  · Mike will attend the UUA General Assembly in June.

                   

            I. Report from Vice-President of Programs, Mike Arents, for Dan Schneider

                  · Volunteer Sunday will be held June 5, the date of the All-Church Picnic.

            J. Report from Site Committee – John Belaski, for David Maxam, Chair

                  · John reported that the Site Committee believes the West Side YMCA to be too expensive. It also has several levels and is not handicapped-friendly.

                  · John also reported on a joint partnership opportunity with Ahavas Israel.

                  · The transformation of the Jarecki Center into the Aquinas College library is set to begin this summer. However, we will be able to continue renting Sunday space through the summer.

          Old Business

            K. Nominating Committee Update. The Notice of Congregational Meeting letter has been sent and includes the recommendations of the Nominating Committee as to a slate of Board of Trustee nominees as well as a slate of officers. Jim Donnohue will make the motion for acceptance of the Nominating Committee recommendations at the Congregational Meeting.

              L. Fund Raising Committee. Jen Schpiro will talk about the fund-raising auction at the

            Congregational Meeting. She will also distribute donation slips requesting donation of timeshares, cabins, boats, reserved camping spots, and similar items to be combined with such items as museum tickets, plane tickets, train tickets, and restaurant gift cards in order to create packages for the auction. Brent’s former church, the First Universalist Unitarian Church of Wausau, Wisconsin, will be working with us on this project in a reciprocal partnership.

          New Business

            M. Newcomers and Membership Bylaws were approved as submitted.

          B. NRP Spot. Dennis discussed buying an advertising spot on NPR. He will send a follow-up

          e-mail regarding the possible Michigan Radio/NPR spot. Discussion ensued regarding

          “ethical.”

          C. Religious Education. RE would like to hire an RE coordinator with budgeted 2005 funds.

            Since the Rev. Dr. Smith is head of staff for All Souls, any hiring will have to be done by the Board of Trustees upon his recommendation. The Board of Trustees would be willing to work with the RE Board on this. Roger, Jen, and Ursula will contact the RE Board about meeting to discuss the search for an RE coordinator and other issues.

          D. Dennis proposed an ASCC summer golf league. He will put notices in the Weekly Expression

          to see if there’s enough interest.

E. The May 23 Board of Trustees meeting will be at Dan Schneider’s.

          Reports from Action-Item Recorder and Process Observer - Roger Gilles and Herman Sullivan reported on action items and group process.

          Closing Words

Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Jennifer Schpiro for Jackie Vines, Board Secretary

All Souls Community Church of West Michigan