Vestry Meeting Minutes                     St. Francis Church                            October 14, 2008

The October 14, 2008 Vestry Meeting was held at St. Francis’ Parish Hall and called to order at 7:00 p.m., with Fr. Kelsey Hogue providing the opening prayer.  Present: Sr. Warden: Brad Bode, presiding, Jr. Warden: Don Eigenberg, Vestry members: Terry Haney, Greg Suhr, Al Williams, Pati McLellan, Julie Fancher, Gina Shedd, Joyce Walsh.  Guests:  Priests Karen Anderson and Bob Manasek, Deacon Robert Brown, co-treasurers Don Kepler and Kathy Yates, and Jane Sayre as secretary.  Absent: Sheryl Spath.  Excused Absent: Darcy Haslam

Motion to accept Minutes of the  September 9, 2008 was made by Gina, seconded by Terry, and approved.

Financial Reports were presented by Don Kepler, showing pledges down about $4,000, but budget not as much in deficit as was expected.  Some financial rearranging was done, moving three CD’s to different banks, as well as $100,000 moved to Platte Valley Bank for the Building Fund.  Reports regarding the Foundation Fund, and the recent stock market downfall, were also presented and discussed.  Concerns raised regarding the Mutual Funds vulnerability, and lack of having a professional watching over these funds, were discussed.  Motion to require the Foundation Board to look into getting better guidance for this fund and report back to vestry before the next vestry meeting, was made by Gina, seconded by Greg, and approved.

Motion to accept the Financial Report was made by Greg, seconded by Pati, and approved.

• Annual pledge cards will be mailing out later this month.  Fr. Kelsey will focus the October sermons on stewardship.  Because of the state of the economy at present, he does not plan an extensive pledge drive, hoping that as many people in the congregation will fill out pledge cards as possible, considering increasing current pledges.  The goal this year is to increase the base of pledging units, as well as overall amount.  Cards should be returned by Thanksgiving.

• The Wednesday night suppers and Children’s Chapel were discussed.  There has been a good turnout so far, with people enjoying the fellowship at the suppers.  Brief programs will continue to be conducted.  Free-will offerings are so far covering abut 50% of the cost of the meals.  If it is decided to continue the suppers into next year, vestry may need to enter the costs as a line item in next year’s budget.  The hope is to have Wednesday nights become a “church night”.  This week the program will be a 40 minute radio interview with Bishop Catherine.  Steve Trickler, from the Council on Aging, has volunteered to do a presentation in November on providers of Medicare Pt. D.

The Children’s Chapel had eight in attendance the first week, and 13 last week, also increasing the number of parents attending church service.  Fr. Kelsey expressed he is pleased with the good results. 

• St. Francis will again host the Thanksgiving Day meal, providing the turkey, and members bringing the side dishes.  The last two years have been a great success.  Kelsey and Debbie will also hold their annual Christmas Open House on December 14^th, from 2 – 6 pm.

• Vestry nominations were discussed, with Fr. Kelsey noting that all the men are cycling off this year, and urged the Canons and Wardens form a committee to find qualified nominees.

• November & December Vestry meetings were discussed.  Fr. Kelsey will be visiting his mother next month, so will not be in attendance for the Nov. meeting.  Members agreed to not have a December meeting, unless one is needed for some un-seeable reason.

• St. Mary’s College Choir, from Omaha, directed by Marty Burnett, will be here the end of April ‘09, and would like to have us host a concert.  A meal will be needed before the concert, as well as a reception following.  Help is needed booking hotel reservations at a reduced group-rate, 20 to 30 people.  Karen will check with the Hampton Inn to see if they can accommodate.  Members agreed it best to hold the concert in the St. Francis facility, and it will be open to the public. 

• Habitat for Humanity project work is scheduled for this Sat., Oct. 18^th from 8 a.m. to noon, at the house in Gering.  There is landscaping to be done, walls to frame, and decks to build.  At least 6 people are needed, as well as appropriate tools to do the jobs.  People can contact Sheryl Spath, the coordinator for volunteers, for instructions.

• Jr. Warden’s Report was given by Don Eigenberg, reporting that the bids for the concrete work should be in tomorrow, and work completed in the next couple of weeks.  A concrete channel, with a metal tread plate at sidewalk level, will replace the current drain-type system currently in the front sidewalk.  The back walk-way will also be redone, eliminating the sunken area that collects water & freezes.  The roof has also been re-inspected, scuffers reflashed, and open fronts on the downspouts.  Dan Ramsey will provide an estimate on winterizing the roof.

• In Other Business, the church website now has a nice slide show of Gina & Darcy painting the Parish Hall.  Ken Scheidt is preparing the leaves for the memorial tree.  Brad & Joyce were reminded to register for the Annual Council.  There will be a “Jazz Vespers” event at 7:30 pm Friday night, Nov. 7^th, during council.  St. Francis will be closed, and services moved to the Gering Event Center Nov. 9^th.  Mark Selvey has been called to serve the church in Elkhorn NE, end of November.  Al Williams acquired a new “Octavia” program to help with listings for Prairied Treasures, which costs less and works much better than the former program.

Before closing, Brad thanked the retiring members, Terry, Greg, and Al for their service to the vestry.

With no further business, the meeting was closed with prayer at 8:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Sayre

Secretary to the Vestry