St. Paul Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2006

Present: Pr. Eastman, Pr. Hooper, Charlie Boone (late), Heidi Carr, Carlo D’Aagostino, Ron Diener, Mark Demich, Mark Disbrow (late, excused), Kevin Dixon, Patty Fess, Lee Liming, Bob Miller
Excused: Andy Voress
Visitor: Barb Warbiany

Kevin Dixon called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Devotions: Lee Liming

Treasurer’s Report
Kevin Dixon presented the Treasurer’s Report for Andy Voress. Charlie Boone moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, Mark Demich seconded and the motion passed.

Presentation
Barb Warbiany gave a presentation on the state of the Evangelism Committee. The Evangelism committee is looking to the Council and the other ministry boards for input and support. They are looking to the boards to provide current information for press releases and more people are needed as members for the Evangelism Committee.

Approve Agenda
There were two additions to the minutes for the Reports and Information section. Carlo D’Agostino added a report on a council self-help binder and Lee Liming added a report on the status of the Helping Hands Coordinator. Bob Miller moved to approve the amended agenda and Patty Fess seconded. The agenda was approved.

Approve January Minutes
Ron Diener moved to approve the January minutes. Mark Demich seconded and the motion passed.

Reports and Information

• Heidi Carr expressed a concern for the current check out system being used for audio-visual equipment, including the new cam-corder, at St. Paul. The equipment needs to be secure when not in use and more readily available to the congregation for use. Operations will work on an inventory list of the equipment and a new proposal for a secure and workable system for checking out the equipment.
  
• Carlo D’Agostino reported on the church-wide e-mail list to be used for e-mailing the Acts and other church information. Parishioners would have to opt in to be available to obtain information by e-mail. Some concerns were that not everyone in the congregation would be on the e-mail list, that the e-mail list would need to be protected and that non-church members could access the e-mail information. Carlo will take the concerns back to the web committee to work out a proposal.
  
• Carlo reported on absentee voting. The ELCA does not prohibit absentee voting. Carlo will talk to Pat Vicha about continuing to explore the possibility of absentee voting. It was also suggested that he contact the Synod Secretary.
  
• Carlo brought up a discussion of streamlining the organizational structure of Youth Board and Ed Board in relation to making it one program. He thought in order to have a more seamless transition between 5th and 6th grade as the youth move from a Sunday School program into a the Youth program of Roots it might be better to have the organization of their education all under the Education Board. The council reviewed the history of why the Youth Board became separate from Education Board. Different ideas for restructuring the organization of the boards were discussed. Carlo will bring the ideas to the boards for more discussion.
  
• Charlie Boone familiarized the Council with the Remembrance Fund request form now available to the boards. Boards are encouraged to make proposals to the Remembrance Committee by filling out the form and getting it to Pr. Eastman.
  
• Lee Liming reported that a job description and a job posting have been created for the Helping Hands Coordinator and the posting has been placed in the Acts and the Bulletin. Applications are being taken through March 3rd and Council will be polled to hire an applicant to be ratified at the next council meeting.
  
• Carlo D’Agostino has created a self-help binder containing helpful information for new members on the Council. A routing slip will be placed in the binder so all Council members can review the information in the binder and add their own.
  
  

• By consensus of the Council a new date, April 8th, was selected for the council retreat.
  

• Pr. Eastman would like the boards to be more clear to the congregation when posting suggestions for “one more thing” to help deepen their spirituality. The suggestions for “one more thing” should include a way for someone to grow closer to God and not just be about volunteering for a task.
  
• Pr. Eastman announced that an anti-racism workshop sponsored by the Synod will be held at St. Paul on Sunday, March 19th from 2-6:00 p.m. She strongly encouraged Council members to attend.
  
• Pr. Hooper gave Council members an outline and a brief report of a week-long course she took on Parish Administration.
  
• Pr. Hooper is taking a vacation day on March 12th.