Vestry Meeting Minutes for July
St. James’ Episcopal Church
(Preliminary -- to be approved at August meeting)

Sunday, July 15, 2007 @ 11:30 am
 
Present: Junior Warden Bob Rennels, Jane Acord, Suzanne Tourtelot, David Vanselow, Kay Wayman, the Rev. Edie Bird, the Rev. Betsy Porter, and Clerk Susan Walter.

The Rev. Edie Bird called the meeting to order with prayer at 11:30 am after a short period of stillness and quiet.

Approval of Minutes
After review of the June minutes, Suzanne moved the minutes be approved.  The motion was seconded.  All voted aye.
Treasurer's Reports
The Treasurer's Report for June and the second quarter Assets and Liabilities report were presented and approved with a motion by Bob.  The motion was seconded and all voted aye.

A short discussion followed concerning the Wiggins’ and Uganda bank accounts.  Bob moved that the Wiggins account be closed and proceeds deposited in the organ fund.  The motion was seconded and all voted aye.  Bob then moved that the Uganda account be closed as the organizers felt the money was not being used wisely.  He also moved that the proceeds be deposited in the outreach fund.  The motion was seconded and all voted aye.

Clerk Susan Walter will see that the funds are moved and the accounts at the Bank of Eureka Springs are closed.
Old Business:
1. Update on the SchoolHouse - Edie reported that with the scheduled August class, St. James’ has offered 5 classes this summer.  Plans for fall will see at least 7 more classes offered to both children and adults in this evangelical and outreach ministry.

2. Purchase of Christian Education materials.  Edie purchased six more lessons for Godly Play and materials to make 8 more lessons (this saves about $1500), and also purchased curriculum for ECC class this fall.  Second Godly Play room is setting up downstairs at SJH.  We will share the lessons between SJH and MorningStar classrooms.
 
3. Inquirers' Class at MorningStar – Edie currently has 4 adults in an inquirers’ class and there will possibly be more baptisms and confirmations.
 
4. Update on plans for MDG Yard Sale – Betsy said the yard sale plans are shaping up with promised donations, volunteers, and organization of sale sections including antiques and jewelry.  Set up for the yard sale on August 3 & 4 will begin after church on Sunday, July 29.  Everyone is invited to help with this fundraiser.  Every penny of the proceeds will go to outreach.
 
5. Sale of aluminum from old storm windows – The sale of aluminum left after windowpanes were removed from the old storm windows at the SJH, resulted in $140.75.  Bob moved to give the proceeds to the organ fund.  The motion was seconded and all voted aye.
 
6. Update on insurance coverage – David is working on updating appraisals for the church, (including the organ) and St. James’ House to be sure we are adequately covered.
 New Business:
1. Stewardship campaign – Edie reported that Judy Montgomery has agreed to be the chair for this year's stewardship campaign.  Judy and Edie are working on ways to pare down and streamline this yearly drive.
 
2. New Sunday service to start in September – Edie has been meeting with families this summer and asking if a child-friendly service at 5 pm will work for them.  She's decided to make this a chanted service and the families are very enthusiastic.  There will be classes in music and history, as well as prayer and history, to go along with this service, classes for both children and adults.  Most music for this service will come from the 1982 Hymnal, and be sung a capella, as was the tradition in the old days.  We will start with the simplest forms and work our way up to more complex singing.
 
3. Dehumidifier for St. James' House – Jane will check with Liberty Service, the company that provided our heating and air conditioning, for a solution to the dampness and mugginess in the SJH basement.
 
4. Re-training and re-deploying Celeste as childcare worker – Edie plans to train Celeste for the doorkeeper position during the Godly Play program.
 
5. 120th Church Anniversary – St. James’ 120th anniversary is next year. Jane moved that we allow funds to put a picture of St. James’ and the church dates on canvas bags as one way to commemorate the occasion. Suzanne and Bob will be co-chairs of the event and will begin looking at ways to celebrate.
 
6. One-year CD  – The one-year CD at the Bank of Eureka Springs matures 8/10. After discussion, the vestry members felt the money could be renewed for another one-year period.
Next meeting date and time: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 4:30 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 pm.

Submitted by: Susan Walter


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