St. Paul Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2008

Present: Pr. Eastman, Pr. Williamson, Carlo D’Agostino (late excused), Kevin Dixon, Patty Fess, Bob Hein (late excused), Ann Holmsrom, Lisa Jackson (late), Gayle Meskimen, Bob Miller and Nick Poulos
Excused: Jim Baumgardner and Charlie Boone
Guests: Barb Deli and Carl Heine

Kevin Dixon called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.
Devotions-Pr. Eastman for Jim Baumgardner

Approve Agenda
Bob Miller added two action items. One was to approve a Remembrance Fund expenditure and the other was to approve the audio/visual proposal. Carlo D’Agostino moved to approve the agenda as amended, Nick Poulos seconded and the motion carried.

Approve Minutes
There were no additions or corrections to the minutes dated April 21, 2008. Nick Poulos moved and Bob Hein seconded to approve the minutes. The minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report
Ann Holmstrom presented the April financials. Year to date St. Paul is behind by $52,000 with April being $17,000 less than the amount anticipated for the month. Ann is monitoring the accounts to transfer money for cash flow if necessary. We have $100,000 in undedicated reserves. Nick Poulos moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Carlo D’Agostino seconded. The report was accepted.

Senior Pastor Report
Pastor Eastman presented her report. The Pitching Tent program is being implemented and is receiving enthusiasm. Action items for the Synod Assembly can be down loaded from the synod web site.

Associate Pastor Report
The fund raising for the Youth trip to Mexico is going well with about 70% of the necessary money raised. The Men’s Group will continue to meet through out the summer with about 20 men ordering the book, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the church by N.T. Wright, for discussion. Pr. Williamson is looking forward to the opening event for the Pitching Tent initiative, Memories and Ice Cream.

Nominating Committee Report
Bob Miller reported on behalf of the Nominating Committee. The five candidates for the four open council positions are: Charlie Boone, Carlo D’Agostino, Lisa Jackson, Mina Kerr and John Warbiany. The biographies of the candidates will go out in the June Acts in plenty of time for the congregation to read prior to the election.

Audio/Visual Proposal
Bob Miller highlighted some information from the Audio/Visual Proposal the council had received earlier in the week including financial details of how St. Paul could afford the new system. The total cost of the system as proposed would be $65,000. For this amount we would be able to improve and enhance the sound, add video capabilities with two projectors and digitally record music for the web site. Our current sound system is eighteen years old, is no longer repairable, and in need of an update. Carl Heine, the music director, and Barb Deli, from Worship and Music, were on hand to help to answer questions from the council. The Worship and Music Board is requesting that the council recommend the proposal to the congregation for approval on June 1^st. Carl Heine noted the need for two hand-held microphones and that only three out of the four microphones in the choir loft are currently working. There was a question on the need for projection. Projection could be used to provide bullet points for teaching, project an image for a theme or run movie clips to enhance a sermon. Kevin Dixon summed up the choices for the council’s consideration. We could recommend the proposal to the congregation for approval, delay the proposal until the next budget cycle or break the proposal into affordable sections.

Executive Committee Report
Patty Fess distributed a report from the task force to call members who have not recently attended worship. The report did not contain member’s names, just a summary of the conversation from the phone calls. Kevin Dixon circulated the draft of the Annual Report. He also reminded the council to keep a list of the changes and additions to the Continuing Resolutions. All the accumulated changes and additions will be made at one time a few months from now. Kevin is pursuing a needs assessment in our community to complement the work being done by the Pitching Tent task force. He will research to see if there are any available studies to determine unmet needs in our community.

Action Items

1. Gayle Meskimen moved to remove the paragraph R3.03 from the Continuing Resolutions. Lisa Jackson seconded and the motion passed.
   
2. Gayle Meskimen moved to shift $14,400 more of Pr. Williamson’s salary for a total of $35,000 designated for his housing allowance in 2008. Lisa Jackson seconded and the motion passed.
   
3. Gayle Meskimen moved to approve Lisa Jackson as the temporary replacement for the Children’s Ministry Coordinator from the present until September 7, 2008 at an agreed upon compensation. Carlo D’Agostino seconded and the motion carried.
   
4. Gayle Meskimen moved and Nick Poulos seconded to recommend the Audit Report to the congregation for approval. Motion carried.
   
5. Gayle Meskimen moved and Carlo D’Agostino seconded to approve $288 from the Remembrance Fund to cover the purchase of a purificator and a corporal.
   
6. Bob Miller moved to recommend to the congregation for approval the audio/visual proposal as presented tonight for a price of $65,000. Bob Hein seconded and the motion carried with 7 yeas and 2 nays.
   
7. Gayle Meskimen moved and Lisa Jackson seconded to recommend for congregational approval the agenda for the congregational meeting on June 1^st. The motion carried.
   

1. The Nurture Board will be having a pizza night on June 20^th and a blood drive on June 23^rd. Nurture Board has had a request for St. Paul to consider a columbarium to inter ashes.
   
2. Ann Holmstrom, the Treasurer, is concerned her new position entailing travel may keep her from some of her duties as treasurer but the council will make accommodations.
   
3. Bob Miller, from the Operations Board, is working with the board to form a policy on lending St. Paul property.