Thrivent Mid-Willamette Chapter Board Meeting
Nov. 10, 2008 7 PM
New China Buffet, Corvallis, ORAttendance: Voting: Cec Zander, Jim Rehley, Dolores Grinden, Gordon Kroemer
Nonvoting: Marilynn Rehley; Katrina Luse,-new Community Director; Pat Burkett-Bethlehem new Congregational Services Team Director; Alvila Burkett, John Grinden, Ron Williamson- Zion, new VP; Vesta Williamson, Chris Ammon (Thrivent rep), Katy Trautman, Peggy Krueger – new Events Director and Mr. Krueger (dinner only)
Pastor Rehley opened the meeting with prayer at 7: p.m.
Pat presented the New Members that were admitted into the chapter. 7 benefit members, 2 Associate members and 2 Youth member for a total of 11 new members.
October minutes approved as read.
Financial Report--Dolores Grinden--not present
∑ See Financial Director’s Report Summary as of Oct. 31, 2008. Approved.
∑ See Program Funds Available (Care Abounds in Communities) Report: $0 remaining of Care Abounds in Community funding
∑ Two congregations exceeded the allotted amount for elections expenses but only 4 congregations submitted expenses. The total expenses do not exceed the budgeted amount. Motion made, seconded and passed that full expenses be reimbursed to each of the four congregations.
President’s Report: Gordon Kroemer
No new items to report
Vice President’s Report: Pastor Rehley
Thanks expressed to all who assisted with elections.
Community Services Director’s Report: Katrina Luse
No report.
Marilyn Rehley reported that a request had been submitted in October by Zion, Corvallis for purchasing gifts on a Giving Tree requesting $700 for this Hands on Project. The Board failed to take action on this report in October despite the request having been correctly submittted by the congregational service team. Because of the Board error, a motion was made, seconded and passed that $700 from operating funds be given for this project.
Communication Director’s Report: Dottie Ferral not present
Calendar has been updated.
Care in Congregation Director’s Report: Pat Burkett
See Care in Congregation Report for November and Program funds Available.
Volunteer Resource Report: Katy Trautman
Elections have been completed. Almost all congregations were able to download documents and ballots electronically. Only 4 congregations received paper mailings. 23 congregations held elections. See attached spreadsheet.
Each Board member has received a contact sheet of new Board members. See attached report.
Each Board member was reminded to answer the interview questions Katy gave you so that she can complete a newsletter introducing the new Board members and thanking the departing Board members.
Katy announced she will be stepping down from the Volunteer Resource Leader as of December 31, 2008 after 10 years in this type of position. Nancy George was suggested as a replacement.
Additions to Agenda
• Congregations will be encouraged to have 2009 planning meetings in November and December. Motion made, seconded and passed that $100 will be available for reimbursement expenses incurred at these planning meetings. Dottie Ferral will be encouraged to send a postcard announcing this.
• A lengthy discussion was held about how to distribute “Community” funds so that more of the funds are used earlier in the year. Cec presented several reports on the congregations who had used Community funds in 2007; a review of responses from chapters throughout the country on how they disburse funds; and one proposal. These reports will be emailed separately to the new and old Board members for perusal over the next month. Board members are encouraged to review these and submit their responses to Gordon prior to the next Board meeting. A tentative proposal will be developed and presented at the December meeting for possible acceptance. See attached reports.
• Audit—whoever is reading this, please let me know what was discussed. I got distracted and didn’t pay attention. Woe is me.
Next Meeting: December 8 5 PM at New Asia Buffet in Corvallis. There will be a new Board orientation prior to the regular meeting at 7 PM.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Cec Zander, Recorder
Attached reports referred to in Additions to Agenda follow:
Churches (16) who participated in Care Abounds in Communities events in 2007
All Nations, Newport
Christmas baskets $1000
May Day Silent Auction 500
May Day Celebration 500
Shepherd of the Valley
MS Mission Swamp Feast 300
CEF 836
Zion, Corvallis
Shrove Tuesday Pancakes 500
Garage Sale 336
Quilting 300
Faith Albany
Bake Sale 136
Outreach to residents 313
Remodel clothes closet 500
Women’s Shelter construction 500
St John, McMinnville
Spaghetti Spring Fling 418
Dessert Auction 336
Cantata 300
Thanksgiving baskets 2500*
Our Savior, Waldport
Garage sale 836
No Bake Sale 100
Beachcomber Breakfast 200
Grace, Corvallis
Coffee Time 600
Holy Cross , Albany
CAP kits 350
LWF Quilts 250
Trinity Lutheran, Sheridan
Sheridan Days Pancake Feed 1136
Good Shepherd, Albany
Paint Exterior HFH home 310
Remodel Shelter 313
Quilts for ABC House 200
Bunk Beds 6057*
Fir Lawn, Sweet Home
Beautificiation 236
Christmas baskets 500
Christmas baskets, SHEM 500*
LWR quilts 500*
LWR quilts 400
Peace, Philomath
Homeless Childrens Project 1000*
Potato Bake 1023
St Peter the Fisherman
Thanksgiving baskets 500
Emmanuel, Willamina
Veterans Day Coffee 495
Our Saviors, Lebanon
Annual Fall Bazaar 984
Trinity Lutheran
Habitt Fundraiser 500
?????
Giving Tree Gifts 700
Churches (8) not using funds: Atonement, Newport; Beautiful Savior, Corvallis; Bethel, Sweet Home; Bethlehem, Lebanon; Immanuel, Albany; Joyful Servant, Newberg; St John, Lebanon; Zion, Newberg
Discussion for changing Care in Community funding.
1. About 1/3 of our participating congregations did not use any funding from Care in Comm in 2007
2. In the last 5 years our Chapter has had to distribute 1/3 to 1/2 of our available funds after October 1st
3. Our Care in Communities director therefore has to spend the last 2 wks in December spendings hours of time finishing up reports by the 31st because of the “last minute” activities that are being done.
In order to solve these problems we might want to consider changing our current plan and begin education our Chapter members prior to the January training meetings.
Chapters around the country were surveyed as to their experiences. In general I have found that those that responded have used some of the following ideas:
1. Projects will be supplement up to set amount that have ranged from$1500-
2400.
2. First come-first served.
3. A set amount is “reserved” until a set date toward the latter part of the year to be available for emergencies.
4. Projects which will provide support in the event of a health emergency, home displacement (e.g. from flooding, fire, etc) would be considered for higher funding.
5. Lutheran schools were “allotted” an equal amount similar to what we do currently for congregations.
6. Hands-on projects seem to have a lower top limit than fund raisers.
My proposal
1. We use a first-come, first served approach
2. We place a top limit such as $1500/project. We could possibly supplement more ambitious projects with a higher supplemental amt especially if the project expects to earn larger amts. For a project earning $5000, we might agree to supplement up to $2000, for example. This might encourage more ambitious projects and they could be “rewarded” for the extra efforts involved.
3. We implement a limit for hand’s on projects of $500 such as food bank, baskets, quilting but a higher amount might be considered for projects that provide more active hands-on such as home/shelter repair, etc
4. We reserve $3000-5000 until mid-September for fall emergencies.
5.