IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
February 7, 2005

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:13 p.m.  Orv (Outreach Committee) provided devotions.

Preparing

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

Approval of the January 3, 2005 minutes:

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Bob Carter:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 3, AND JANUARY 16, 2005 COUNCIL MEETINGS AS WRITTEN.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Treasurer's Report:

MOTION by Bob Carter, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy

TO APPROVE THE TREASURER'S REPORT OF JANUARY 2005 AS SUBMITTED. 

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Committee Reports:

Health Ministries: No Council action required.

Management:  No Council action required, but they are concerned with the continually growing deficit.  We are under-spending the budget, but contributions are not keeping up with our expenses and attendance is decreasing.  John asked that each committee bring ideas to the Council next month for ideas to bring the awareness of our “situation” to the congregation.

Outreach: No Council action required.

Parish Education: No Council action required.

Property: No Council action required.  They requested that users be more cautious about locking the church as well as the office when they are done with the building.  On more than one occasion, they were both found unlocked.

Stewardship: No Council action required.

Youth: No Council action required.

Worship: No Council action required.

Memorial & Special Gifts: No Council action required.

Pastor Rick: No Council action required.

Serving

Correspondence:

Lynne Erickson, Barb Roush, Jan Martinich have requested the use of Fellowship Hall for a fundraising event in March or April, with proceeds to be going towards the Road Rulz youth trip this year.

            MOTION by Dan Landry, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO ALLOW LYNNE ERICKSON, BARB ROUSH, AND JAN MARTINICH TO USE FELLOWSHIP HALL ON A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE SATURDAY IN MARCH OR APRIL 2005 AS A FUND RAISING EVENT FOR THE ROAD RULZ YOUTH TRIP IN 2005.

            UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Lutheran Marriage Encounter would like to use church on April 2, 2005.

            MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO ALLOW LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER TO USE THE CHURCH AND KITCHEN ON APRIL 2, 2005.

            UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Other Discussion Items:

Nathan Flanders introduced himself and provided a brief overview of his career and experience.

MOTION by Orv Erickson, SECONDED by Bob Carter:

TO ACCEPT NATHAN FLANDERS AS TREASURER FOR IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH TO BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Committee Membership: We reviewed the slate of committee members, and made the appropriate updates.  After further discussion, it was noted that the committees for 2005 are as follows (note that * designates Council representative):

Health Ministry: Bob Carter*, Jackie Fedewa, Jean Folk, Donna Gibbons, Jan Martinich, Charlene Pahl, Nicole Sullenberger, Pr. Paul Pretzlaff, Sandra Bair, Karen Eichelberger, Shari Burg

Management: Bob Kenworthy, Sherry Wellman, Larry Kruth, Nathan Flanders*, Wayne Christiansen, Fred Koos

Outreach: Den Graeber, Bob Buckley, Ruth Buckley, Orv Erickson*, Marlaine Teahan

Parish Education: Chris Frysinger, Lyn Danes, Denise Lund*, Mitzie Ward, Sue Schnarr

Property: Tony Holland*, Ernie Zakrajsek, Fred Gehlhaar, Russ Riggs, Heath Buckley*, Mary Gehlhaar, Bob Carter*

Stewardship: Gregg Vicary, Matt Cermak*, Jim Teahan, Carl Malkewitz

Youth: Dan Landry*, Lisa Baptista, Teresa Barcy*

Worship: Lisa Baptista, Carol Espie, Jim Espie, Hanna Espie, Jane Goebel, Barb Paulins*, Bill Paulins*, Ellen McKenzie, Mary Matzke, Nick Morrall

Memorial & Special Gifts: Bev Becker, Dorothy Foltyn, Marge Galvin, Eileen LaCombe, Barb Roush

Memorial Garden: Bev Becker, Dorothy Foltyn, Marge Galvin, Eileen LaComb, Roush, John Oswill, Tony Holland, Ernie Zakrajsek

Audit: Pat Anderson, Gary Lass

Tellers: Bev Becker (as backup), George Ryan (as backup), Bev Lass, Denise Proper

Building & Property Evaluation Task Force: Bob Carter, Larry Kruth, Alan Goschka, Dennis Martinich, Denise Lund*, Fred Gehlhaar

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

TO ACCEPT THE MEMBERS OF EACH COMMITTEE AS LISTED ABOVE.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Property Evaluation Task Force: Bob Carter provided an overview of the progress to date from this committee.  They are looking for suggestions from anyone as to what they would like to see happen with the properties.  Initially, re-landscaping will need to be completed for all properties, as the water continues to seep in the building.  Also, while no recommendation has been completed yet, it appears that they may be suggesting that the parsonage be demolished.  He is concerned that while we have approved the fund raising for the Sound System, we will have to go back to the congregation for the money necessary for some of these items.

Conversation included giving the house away, or using the house for a “controlled burn” for the fire department, and then the debris would go into the basement foundation, and all we have to is cover it.  What about if we elected to build at a later date, what would that affect be?  Also, the landscaping needs were addressed – how, what, where, how much?  Initially they are anticipating $6,000 for landscaping.  Bob advised that they are in the investigation stages, and will get the answers to these questions and present them with their final recommendations.  He anticipates that they won’t have a recommendation to bring to the Council for at least 2 – 3 months.

John reviewed again the potential fund raising efforts that we have upcoming (sound system parts 1 & 2, grand piano and now landscaping).  We need to advise the Sound System Task Force how far they can go in their presentation this Sunday.  Consensus was that we advise the Sound System Task Force that they can proceed with fund raising efforts toward step 1 (sound system only, not the video portion).  At the same time, we need to advise the congregation of the upcoming potential expenditures on the parsonage & church building itself – “there will be more requests for money coming down the road.” 

A reminder that committees aren’t required to complete tasks if nobody else volunteers (i.e., coffee hour).  Advise John and he will let the congregation know that we need more volunteers – be inviting.

Denise distributed a packet of updated information from the retreat.

Also, a reminder that we need to develop a “task sheet” for how to accomplish this transition.  It was decided that we will meet in two weeks (February 21) to continue working on the transition program at 7:00 p.m.

Reference to church planning calendar for February and March 2005.  The Outreach Committee has Council devotions and announcements at the 10:30 service on communion Sundays and communion assistants for February, and the Property Committee has the same responsibilities in March.

It was decided that we will meet in two weeks (February 21) to continue working on the transition program at 7:00 p.m.

Our next regular meeting is on March 7, 2005.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Teresa Barcy:

            TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Note: Copies of committee minutes and reports, as referred to in the Council Minutes, can be obtained in the church office.