ALL SOULS COMMUNITY CHURCH OF WEST MICHIGAN

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

Preliminary Minutes

These minutes are preliminary and are subject to change. Minutes of the ASCC Board of Trustees are not approved until a motion is passed by the Board of Trustees.

February 21, 2007

Members present: Tom Van Dragt, Mike Arents, Dan Schneider, Gordon Arnold, Elaine Eldridge, Ursula Williams, Jen Hall, David Soet, Suzie MacKeigan

Members absent: John Belaski, Jon Waalkes, Herman Sullivan, Rev. Brent Smith

Opening Words – Tom Van Dragt

Introductory Functions

      A. Minutes from the January 17, 2007 BOT meeting were approved unanimously.

      B. Agenda items for this meeting were reviewed and approved.

      C. Times were established to complete Agenda within two hours.

      D. Assignments for this meeting:

      Action Item Recorder – Dan Schneider

      Timekeeper – Jen Hall

      Process Observer – not assigned

Financial – Report from the Vice President-Finance – David Soet

      A. 2006 year-end reports are not yet available.

      B. 92% of the 2006 pledges were collected; 8.2% pledges were collected for January 2007.

      C. Investment account shows no major changes.

      D. Jen Hall raised a question concerning the strength of the return on some of our investments relative to last year’s market returns. There was a brief discussion concerning selling Grey Wolf.

Organizational

      A. Written report from the Minister, Rev. Brent Smith, was read by Tom Van Dragt

          Rev. Smith reported receiving many questions from congregants concerning BOT activities and responsibilities.

      B. Report from President, Tom Van Dragt

    No Executive Committee meeting minutes are available for February.

     

      C. Report from Vice-President of Programs, Ursula Williams

            March 4, 2007—worship services will be held at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center; program boards and Weekly Expression have been notified

            Religious Education plans a parent survey for next year

            Covenant Board plans an All-Branches picnic for July

            Adult Religious Education is being chaired by Roger Gilles; mid-winter lecture series is set (March 11-12, 2007 with Dr. Lee Barker)

            Newcomers’ pamphlet rack has been well-received; other boards are invited to use it

            Problems with finding caregivers for Roots was discussed

Old Business

      A. “Forward through the Ages” application was submitted

B. Nominating committee has established 20 candidates for open BOT positions

          The Board will consider hiring an administrative assistant in 2008 or 2009 to assist the Vice President of Programs

C. Jen Hall, Tracy Coffman, and Kim Waalkes will form the auction committee.

      D. Five volunteers signed up for the usher group for January and February; March and April still need volunteer sign-ups.

      E. Mike Arents reported on his discussions with Nancy Coombs Morgan, UU Heartland specialist, on implementing Safe Congregations Policy. A list of possible questions about the policy was read and discussed. David Soet moved to suspend the implementation of the policy until August 1, 2007; Gordon Arnold seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

New Business

        Funding for the assessment visit by the UUA fund-raising consultant was discussed

        Pat Talbott and other members of Branches 8 would like to establish a pastoral care counseling center

        The necessity of getting payroll out on time was discussed.

        Tom Van Dragt relayed Rev. Smith’s request for two special collections:

        February 25, 2007 for the Michigan Evolution Education Initiative

        March 18, 2007 for the ninth grade students’ Boston trip

        Both special collections requests were approved unanimously.

Action Items

      Dan Schneider reported on action items.

        Action Item: Ursula Williams will work with Newcomers to resolve problems with finding caregivers for Roots childcare

        Action Item: Tom Van Dragt will discuss possible funding for the visit from the UUA fund-raising consultant with Rev. Smith

        Action Item: Tom Van Dragt will ask Rev. Smith to direct questions that concern BOT responsibilities and activities to Board members.

        Action Item: David Soet will arrange for insurance coverage for our worship service at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center on March 4, 2007

        Action Item: Ursula will chair the March BOT and Executive Committee meetings in Tom Van Dragt’s absence

        Action Item: Ursula and Gary Williams will bring the chalice and hymnals to the March 4 service and return them to Ahavas

        Action Item: Jen Hall will bring the outdoor sign to the March 4 service and return it to Ahavas

        Action Item: Elaine Eldridge will check uua.org for possible REC contracts or letters of intent

        Action Item: Ursula Williams will ask Kim Waalkes if she can provide a contract or letter of intent for the Michele Lussky’s appointment as REC

        Action Item: Mike Arents and Ursula Williams will revise the Safe Congregations Policy

        Action Item: Mike Arents will write an announcement for the Weekly Expression concerning the delay in implementing the Safe Congregations Policy

        Action Item: Ursula Williams, Tom Van Dragt, and Carey Compton will attend the next Branches 8 meeting to hear their pastoral care proposal

        Action Item: Newcomers Board will reimburse families for childcare as appropriate.

         

Closing Words – Tom Van Dragt

Next meeting:

Wednesday, March 21st, 7:00 p.m. at Ahavas

 

Respectfully submitted by Elaine Eldridge for

Jon Waalkes, Board Secretary

All Souls Community Church of West Michigan