Wednesday September 9,
2009
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Call to order by Dan & the Stewardship Prayer was led by Fr. Tom
Election of Officers: Chair: Pat Saum, Vice Chair: Paul Doherty, Secretary: Patrice Hohn
Roll Call: Present: Dan Nath, Norma Stewart, Patrice Hohn, Dick Smook, Pat Saum, Jeff Wieneke, Rosie Paquette, Tom Nelson, Paul Doherty, Mike Smith, Fr. Tom, and Mary McLaughlin. Guest - John Oksness. Members Absent & Excused: Deb Goebel, & George Langford
Approval of minutes from May, 13 Motion by Jeff / Tom Passed.
Approval of Agenda: Motion by Greg / Paul Passed.
Welcome new members: Tom Nelson, Rosie Paquette, Paul Doherty & Mike Smith
Old Business - None
New Business
Report from John Oksness on Finance Council recommendation to use Marie Wiegel’s gift to pay off our Parish Debt: Parish Debt is $140,000; $60,000 has been collected, and $80,000 from Marie Wiegel’s gift would pay off the debt. We would receive 2% interest on the remaining $140,000. We are paying 4% Interest on our Loan. There were 4 areas looked at by the Finance Council.
1. What would have Marie wanted?
2. Should members of the parish step up to finish paying debt?
3. Finance Council feels we can not move forward on other projects until this debt is taken care of.
4. Frequent response from parishioners is, “Now hopefully we can pay off the parish debt.” (Using Marie’s gift.)
Discussion: Diocese receives 6% of all church taxable revenue. There was a major donor (Blanford) who gave the church a gift ($120,000) in 2003 and we spent most of it for start-up money for the gathering space and now that person is not frequently remembered. The Wiegel gift could be put into an endowment and earn an undetermined % of interest. Fr. Tom suggests investing all or the remaining money and using the interest for future projects. By doing this we would continue to acknowledge the gift. Spend 90% of the interest and return 10% to the endowment to keep it growing. Marie had a passion for education; it would be nice to have 50% of interest income given each year to our parish education programs. The reason the debt increased recently is any Seeds of Faith pledges with no activity in over 2 years are considered uncollectable A question was raised on the outstanding Seeds of Faith Pledges: the estimated balance as of 6/30/09 is $5,680. After much discussion, a motion was made by Paul / Jeff to table the decision on our gift until we have Deacon Fuller come from the diocese and do a presentation for both councils.
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Recipients for 1% Charitable Giving – 4th Qrt. were Second Harvest and Children’s Home Society. Suggestions were made for the 1st Quarter. A Pine Ridge group and SW Crisis Center. Mary will compile a list of where we have given and of places that have been suggested. No decision at this time.
Reports
Liturgy: Sept. 24 decorating of church for autumn; Aug. 14 outdoor Harvest Mass was a success; there will be Mass prayer re-translations in the next two years starting sometime in 2011 (go to usccb.org/romanmissal); there will be training of new Ministers next Thursday; we will not offer Communion Cup due to the H1N1 flu for now; possibility of hand sanitizer available in the gathering space.
Faith Formation: Sept. 22, Acts Bible Study resumes; a new forum Open Mic. will be offered monthly on Wednesdays; FF is all ready to go; Wed night is registration and NCYC supper, and classes start the next week.
Knights of Columbus: A donation was made to Pine Ridge Mission trip; servers’ trip to a Canaries game in Sioux Fall; there was a work day at the Cemetery; and Fish Fry and breakfast schedule
LCCW: started last week; Bingo at the Vets the 3rd Sat. of the month; Anointing Mass chairs still needed; Sept 23-27 is the National Council meeting in Jacksonville FL. Norma and Harveen will attend.
Finance Council: Blue Mound Learning Center is renting space. McClure Plumbing has given a bid on furnaces and we will go ahead and purchase 6 furnaces for classrooms. The money from the rent will used to pay for the furnaces.
Social Ministry Committee: The minutes were passed out.
Administrator: Fallfest planning is going very well; the Big tickets are being printed; donations of baskets are being sought; there will be a Polka Mass and 2 hours of music after provided by Peter & Paul Wendinger Band. A grilled Pork loin Dinner will be served from 11:00 -1:30.
Pastor: Stewardship handout from the Wichita Conference in Aug; the Stewardship Council is still looking for new members and will be starting soon; handout on stewardship from Our Sunday Visitor; handout on Healthcare debate; RCIA will start in Oct or Nov; classrooms have been painted in the rectory. Stewardship Renewal will be Nov. 7-8
The Next Meeting will be Wed. November 11, 8:00 pm.
The closing prayer was led by Fr. Tom
The meeting was adjourned
Respectfully submitted, Patrice Hohn, Secretary
NB: A Combined PC –FC meeting will be scheduled with Deacon Leonard Fuller from DOW to discuss stewardship of Marie Wiegel’s gift.