Financial Committee Minutes
March 11, 2008
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Majority of meeting spent on discussion of “Miracle” or “Other Pockets” Sunday and the presentation on Monday, March 10 by Solid Ground Stewardship.
In attendance: Donald B, Bill B, Joe B, Carole and Paul B, John O, Pastor David Newhouse, Carol W, and Susan C.
Approval of Minutes: Don moved, and Paul seconded, that we approve the minutes of the last meeting. Approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Income is down although we have not had any of our extra collections yet. This will change since Easter is in March this year. Expenses are up, too, in part due to the excess of snow removal expenses as well as an increase in the cost of utilities. Pastor David requested that monthly income and expense figures be provided as they have been previously. Susan and Paul will get those together before the April meeting.
Capital Campaign: This discussion had several parts. Joe, Susan and Pastor David briefly reported on some of the companies with whom each had spoken regarding our Capital Campaign needs. This will be revisited at a later meeting with more details.
The majority of the discussion centered on the presentation on Monday, March 10, by Kevin Gowdy and Ann Coon of Solid Ground Stewardship Services. They were invited to present because of a stewardship option they had put forward to Pastor David during a conference call he’d had with them. The presentation included a 2 pronged approach to our Capital Campaign needs that avoids a conflict with either our annual fall stewardship campaign or our fall 2008 campaign for new members.
As an initial step, Solid Ground recommended an “Other Pockets” or “Miracle Sunday” campaign where our congregants are asked to look elsewhere, outside of their finances, to make a one time donation. Examples given were: a boat, jewelry, cars, stocks or bonds etc. This could be done in the spring of 2008 as a short term, 4-5 weeks, campaign that would let us begin working on some of the renovation projects slated for Epworth. They would help us prepare mailings and presentations for this. We will be responsible for organizing a group of 8-10 persons to work with Solid Ground.
The second step would be a full scale Capital Campaign in spring 2009. This would allow us more time to plan properly for the campaign and also to look at other companies that work with churches on capital campaigns. If we use Solid Ground for both, the fee charged to us for “Miracle Sunday” will be deducted from the fee for the full scale capital campaign held in spring 2009.
One concern is that a “Miracle Sunday” not dilute future contributions members will consider making during the spring 2009 campaign. Another is that we not put off any new members by beginning our Capital Campaign just after they have begun attending.
The committee voted unanimously to hire Solid Ground to work with us on a “Miracle Sunday” campaign. We agreed to kick off the campaign on Sunday, April 27, and to have our wrap up on Sunday, June 1. Susan will contact Kevin Gowdy and Ann Coon to be sure these dates will work for them, too.
Annual Garage Sale: Susan confirmed with Janis Denman that she is chairing the Annual Garage Sale. No date has been set yet because the calendar is full, but it should be the first or second weekend in June. (May 31 or June 7?)
Adjourned at 8:43 P.M. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 8 at 7:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Collins, Chair
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