Church Council Meeting - July 10, 2002

Cheryl Patrick called the church council meeting for July 10, 2002 to order at 7:40 P.M. at the home of Church Mgr. Cheryl Patrick. The meeting opened with a prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. Greg Schmidt. A quorum [6] was met, with 9 being present [P] and 6 being absent [A].

The minutes from the June 19, 2002 meeting were reviewed and accepted with one correction noted. Part of the fundraising report was missing. Cheryl Patrick then called on the officers and committee members for their reports.

MINISTER- [Rev. Dr. Greg Schmidt] Greg reported Safe House children attending our Sunday School has been slow starting. This Sunday (July 14) children would be attending for the first time. They would go directly downstairs. He also said that we would celebrate National Children's Sabbath on October 18, 2002. Greg reported that he has received a letter from a Mr. Emil Walcek, President of the S.H.S. Class of 1942. Because they held their Baccalaureat Service in our church 60 years ago, they would like to hold a memorial service on September 22, 2002 at the 10 A.M. worship service. The council unanimously approved. He also reported that he had received literature from You Promise. An insurance company sponsoring a scholastic savings program for children. Did we want to do anything with it? Council decided that we had no interest.

TREASURER- [Bruce Nichols] Bill Barker reported that during the month of June the church had expenses of $13,096.35 and income of $6,029.45 for a net deficit of $7,066.90. At the end of June the net worth for the church was $282,377.06. This is down $48,627.64 from the January 1st, 2002 total of $331,004.70. Much of the net worth change is due to a decrease in the Vanguard funds from $117,337.69 on January 1st 2002 to $90,870.57 on July 10th, 2002.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION- [Jan Wells-Betty Ogden] Jan reported that CE recently had a Sunday School clean up. All supplies were sorted, cleaned and put in the cabinets. All unusable supplies were discarded. She also reported that others were using our school supplies and we may need to lock them up. It was also reported that the youth group profited $83.00 from the food tent at the church tag sale.

TRUSTEES- [Glenn Wells] Glenn reported the June 22 workday as successful. There are still many projects to do. Paint the parish house posts and steps. Install sub flooring in the basement youth group room in the parish house. Trustees hopes to have the floor done by October. He also reported the parish house basement had been broken into within the past 10 days. A sub committee is being formed to evaluate our present investment portfolio. The need to reimburse members in a timely manner for out of pocket expenses was addressed. Council decided that a petty cash fund would held in the office and maintained by the church secretary for this purpose. The next trustees meeting will be held on August 21, 2002 at 6:30 P.M.

OUTREACH- [Lesley Barker] Lesley reported the Annual I.V.C. dues of $200.00 has paid. She didn't have any updated information on the Spooner House application
for housing on Cots Street.

DEACONS- [Gene Ogden] Gene reported that two youth group members, Sadie Patrick and Amanda McDonald served Communion on July 7, 2002. They did an excellent job. In August Josh Conklin and Kevin Hasiotis would serve communion.

MEMBERSHIP- [Walt Crosby-Leigh Schultz] Walt reported that no meeting has been held. The committee is looking at possible candidates for church membership A letter or personal conversations will be held with these candidates. This would be done by October 6, 2002. Walter expressed concerns that our church membership is down to 162. Tony Unger is drafting a letter to be sent out to inactive church members. Leigh Shultz is working on a post card campaign inviting people who have married or baptized their children in our church to return on the anniversary of the event. No date was given for their next meeting.

PERSONELL- [Bill Barker] Bill reported that no meeting has been held and asked that the survey discussion be deferred for another month.

FUNDRAISING- [Betty Ogden] Betty handed out a list of upcoming fundraising projects and discussed some of the fundraising offers made by church members. She also reported that the committee has purchased 2 soup pots for use at Shelton Day. The pots were purchased at the same cost of renting them.

The next council meeting will be held on August 21, 2002 at 7:30 PM in the Shelton Congregational Church Library. Cheryl then led the council in saying " The Lord's Prayer". The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted
Betty Ogden, Clerk