Administration Ministry Team
Meeting Minutes by Moderator Newman McAllister.
The Administration Ministry Team met on October 20, 2022. Those present were Pastor Darlene Avery, Moderator Newman McAllister (by ZOOM), Treasurer Sunde King, Member Linda Seger, Member Vaughn Drinen (by ZOOM) and Teresa Allen as a guest.
Pastor reported that the AV team is now part of the Music Ministry led by Teresa Allen. Pastor has been working on the Red Cross Shelter. Soon, she will be putting out information to recruit community or church member volunteers to help staff it when necessary. The Red Cross will come train our team. The handbell conference on October 1 and 2 was exciting and fruitful. There is money left from the Kirkpatrick grant to help move the program forward. There are two weddings scheduled in November. Jeff Danforth, whom the church has helped over time, was able to get the spinal surgery he has so long sought. Pastor is much engaged in the community and is part of the D-14 Healthy Community programs, the D-14 Opiod Council, and a local EMS planning committee. Coffee and Conversation on Wednesdays is rich in thought and spirit. Pastor is getting a good response from Chris Ruccius of Digital Mishaps, our IT contractor, toward configuring and stabilizing church and conference center IT. The alarm sensors on the church doors are being serviced and enhanced by the alarm company for a fee. The concrete block wall near the fire escape from Tatter Hall needs repair - it should have been addressed following the renovation, but was not. Pastor is working with Heidi to develop comprehensive rental packets for church and conference rental clients.
Sunde reported the September results. All income was $4,439.32 and all expenses were $17,930.09, for a negative balance for the month of $13,490.77, but with a positive balance for the year of $7,349.52. However, some of the expenses will be repaid from remaining funds from the Kirkpatrick grant, which will make the balance sheet more positive.
The flagstones have been installed as a replacement to the cracked concrete walkway directly in front of the sanctuary, paid for by the Kirkpatrick grant. Carla Chapman is working on getting a contractor’s bid to address the downspout discharge in the church parking lot, also to be paid for by the grant. A successful pressure test was performed on the water intake into the church, a once a year requirement. Further research must be done to determine the history of the pump organ in Patchell Hall. It was a gift to the church but is not useful in its condition.
The annual meeting is set for November 6. The following are willing to serve in 2023: Newman as Moderator, Sunde as Treasurer, and Linda and Vaughn as Admin Team members. Carrie DeValk is willing to serve on the Human Resources Team but Laurie Guido does not want to be re-elected. Sunde presented a worksheet (draft no. 1) for the 2023 spending plan. Pastor excused herself from the discussion because part of the plan is staff salaries. After extensive discussion suggestions were made for revisions to the plan, including a 10% cost-of-living raise for all staff. Sunde will revise and circulate it by e-mail to team members, for recommendation for approval and presentment at the annual meeting.
Pastor suggested that rather than re-staining the doors to the downstairs’ rooms, because they are scratched, that it would be preferable to paint them. The team agreed. Newman will contact Ian Elliott, who has volunteered to do the work. Bonnie Sipp would like to use the church’s Facebook page to solicit donations for the Food Pantry. The team agreed. She also would like to sell the upright freezer (purchased in 2020) and use the money for the pantry. The team wanted more information on why the freezer is not useful. Bonnie will be invited to the next team meeting to explain. Newman said that the HR Team was working on an evaluation form for Pastor. Heidi will create an online form. The Music Director should also be evaluated but the procedure is not yet established.
The next regular meeting is on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 3:30 p.m.