Vestry Meeting Notes – March 11, 2008

The meeting began with the Liturgy of the Word and spiritual direction offered by Sue Tinnin. It was moved and unanimously voted that Clifford Davis be appointed Clerk of the Vestry. Art Julier will be invited to fill the open slot created by Cliff’s move to that position.

A follow-up discussion on the Leadership Retreat affirmed that it was a great weekend on many fronts. Dave McBee spoke of his heartfelt concerns regarding the health of the parish in light of current tensions regarding our direction. Fr. Chip responded by reviewing some of the things we learned at the Vestry retreat last weekend — for example, that conflicts tend to revolve around one or more of the “three P’s”: people, problems, and process; that there are skills to be learned to teach us how we can have respectful and constructive conversations, despite differences; and that conflict, depending on how it’s handled, can either divide community, or become an opportunity to bring it together.

Lisa Anderson appeared before the Vestry to lay out preliminary plans for this summer’s Peach Festival. Saturday, Aug.16 is the projected date. Lisa will seek to increase our production of goods (e.g., pies) by 25%, as everything sold out quickly last year. She indicated that most of last year’s chairmen are again on board for this year. The issue of people who show up early to buy goods is seen as a problem; we will now insist that they wait until the official starting time to begin selling.

The Chouinards and Murphys presented a brief summary of Workcamp activities and fundraisers. The budget has been reviewed with new ideas for raising money having been discussed, including the possibility of putting the COOS name, logo, and inspirational scripture verses on merchandise (mugs, T-shirts, etc.). Such goods could be sold at the Peach Festival, for example. A motion to grant permission for Workcamp to proceed with this idea was approved.

Our Capital Campaign funds now stand at around $485,000; anticipated April gifts will very likely put us over the $500,000 mark, and some celebratory notice should be proffered, perhaps during the 13 April visit of the Bishop.

Action Items:

bullet Our Sexton has expressed a desire to be relieved of his outdoor duties (snow removal, lawn care, landscaping, etc.), which take time away from his indoor duties. We will explore paying the youth to do this work. Perhaps they can do some of it, but snow removal needs are unpredictable. Summer duties are more easily scheduled.
bullet Ceiling tiles have recently fallen and the water that was backed up there spilled into the building. We will pursue having insurance cover it.
bullet Recent parent brainstorming meetings regarding getting more people into the children’s and youth program were very productive. Ads we placed for a nursery attendant produced one inquiry that did not pan out. We have an interim offer from Leslie McCann to handle the nursery on an as-needed basis. A motion to request $1,000 from the Charitable Trust toward VBS start up costs was approved.
bullet Suzanne Cleverdon’s impending retirement was greeted with sadness. A search committee is being formed. An interim organist will be with us for the summer, with a permanent successor expected to be named in the fall.
bullet Outreach grants for the 1st quarter were approved as presented.
bullet The Women’s Group is asking for $2,500 of their funds to be placed in an interest-bearing CD. A vote to approve funding passed with one nay. The group also outlined its plans for an altar piece, chasuble and stole for our companion parish, St. Andre’s, Ondjiva, Angola.

Bishop Robinson’s episcopal visit to the parish will occur on April 13. Seven young people will be confirmed; another seven are in the communion class.

As no volunteers stepped forward to organize this spring’s Rummage Sale after Sunday’s announcement, the event was shelved until someone takes leadership.

      The meeting concluded with an informal Eucharist at 9:30. All Vestry meetings are open, and minutes and financial statements are posted in the Akerman Room.

— condensed from minutes submitted by Clifford Davis, Parish Clerk 

From a Vestry member…

As a family

    

          Having been a member of Church of Our Saviour for just a short period of time, about five years, and a Vestry member for just one and one half years I realize that compared to others in the parish my vested time is but a drop in the bucket. I still consider the members of Church of Our Saviour to be family. Not only in the spiritual sense but also in a personal sense, like any family there are members that I am closer to than others. That just means that there is more work for me to do in fulfilling family obligations of inclusiveness and camaraderie.

          It was this sense of an open and welcoming family that convinced me in the beginning to become a member of Church of Our Saviour. As I began to settle in and become comfortable with the parish I, along with my two sons, began to avail ourselves of the opportunities that were offered to us in the way of the church school, baptism, and first communion rites that I had not up until this date done. At the same time I tried giving back to the parish by ushering, altar flower delivery and helping out by volunteering my time mainly as a body to help out with various functions around the parish, and eventually becoming a member of the Vestry. Admittedly I still feel inadequate at times in this department compared to others, but while raising two sons on my own I try to do what I can.

          Upon becoming a Vestry member I was initiated or rather introduced to the various under currents and personalities that make up the pulse of the parish. Up until this point I was blissfully unaware of what it takes for the parish to operate. There were the budgets, committees the different ministries that make up and form the character of the parish, much like the different siblings of a family. As in any family they were all jockeying for their own particular seat and voice to be heard at the table. Throw into this mix the Capital Campaign for the new church and some fault lines within the parish have been exposed.

          It is said that moving is the least liked task that any adult likes to do. It disturbs comfortable surroundings and routines. It introduces a huge dose of the unknown or unease that no one can predict what will become of it. I can attest to all of this since I have just gone through a move and I am still sifting through and allowing the dust to settle. Like any family though some of the siblings are for the move and some are not. This has given rise to family squabbling that to me has been a bit unsettling, but aren’t all family arguments that way?

          Perhaps the Vestry as parents haven’t quite communicated or perhaps arbitrated between the siblings as well as we should have, but I think after the latest Vestry retreat a new focus has been achieved that will allow the Vestry in the near future to better present and lay out all options and proposals. This will allow the parish as a family to better discuss and choose the path that is best to follow. Everyone must enter into this discussion though with an open mind and put the parish first rather than begin the debate from entrenched positions that seem to have caused a great deal of divisiveness.

          I feel that once this decision or hurdle has been dealt with, some of the other issues the parish is dealing with can be better addressed, because a clear and present direction for the parish’s future will allow things to better fall in place. I know this can be achieved because this family has the character to achieve anything it wants to achieve once we unite as a family.

                             David Cady

Vestry 2008   
(Terms expire in January of the year indicated;
call the church office at (603) 673-3309 for contact information) 

Officers

Senior Warden
Peter Ten Broeck (2010)

Junior Warden
Elizabeth Rotch (2009)

Treasurer
Kim Bock (2009)

Clerk
Clifford Davis (2010)

Vestry

Frank Manley, Karl Norwood, Robert Treadwell (2011)
David Cady, Stephen Uurtamo, Peter Wolczko (2010)
Susan Tinnin, Diane Babb, Arthur Julier (2009)
Joey Abis, Camden Bock (youth representatives)
 

Delegates  to Convention & Southern Convocation

Bill Andrews, Martha Manley (2010)
Joyce McGuire. Elizabeth Rotch (2009)


Alternates

Bill Marot, Brian McGuire (2010)
Mabel Durrell (2009)

 

 

Return to Church of Our Saviour Home Page