Council Meeting Minutes
3/8/11
Attending: Susie Futrell, Chuck Baker, Blain Harris, Tim Howard, Pastor Dave Bertolini, Annette Anderson, Pastor Guy Basso, Daniel Porter
Tim opened in prayer.
February minutes were approved.
Pastor’s Update
Since his return from Sabbatical, Pastor Guy has continued to spend quality time in prayer, seeking spiritual guidance. He expressed his heart of concern for some of the challenges facing those in our body; including illnesses, financial burdens, and the loss of loved ones.
In addition to general Church management issues, home visitation and funeral service participation have been among of the needs Pastor Guy’s been attending to.
The Pastors have received great feedback regarding The Bible in 90 Days program. The B90 Sunday school class is generating interesting discussion and the Pastors are likewise impressed with the accompanying video series.
There was discussion about the upcoming Easter season, including service times for Easter Sunday, Easter Breakfast coordination for the Fellowship Hall, children’s participation in the Palm Sunday service, and some details for our Good Friday service, with the following conclusions:
4-17 9:30am Palm Sunday Service
4-17 6:30pm Palm Sunday Evening Service: Jews for Jesus presentation
4-22 pending Good Friday Worship and Communion Service
4-24 9:00am Easter Service (8:00am Breakfast)
4-24 11:00am Easter Service (10:00am Breakfast)
Additionally, Pastor Dave introduced details for the upcoming Marriage Seminar. GCC will host the Focus on the Family series: Who Did You Really Marry? Friday, April 8th (6:30-8:30pm), and Saturday, April 9th (8:30am-12:30pm).
*Note—Due to the timing of the Marriage Seminar, Pastor Dave has scheduled the Father/Daughter Dessert for July. Details will be forthcoming.
Bus Use Policy
Pastor Dave passed out a revised version of the Bus Use Policy that he introduced in last month’s Council Meeting.
Council discussed some of the wording on the draft and agreed that a few additional changes were still necessary. Specifically, revisions are needed regarding the necessity to run DMV checks on a bi-annual basis, as well as a need to distinguish between local vs. extended trip protocol.
Council was also notified that Church Mutual’s background checks are run randomly, which does not meet GCC safety standards, therefore all background and DMV checks will go through Village Missions.
Action: Dave will make the additional form changes, and upon approval, will separate the forms to be stored and dispensed appropriately. Potential Bus drivers may obtain the forms from the church office. Jody and Tara will manage the background checks.
*Note—Kerry Hanson has installed the remaining Bus seats. Total seating capacity is now at 15, including driver. There is also has one spare seat in storage.
Church Pictorial Directory
As a result of their research on the topic of a new church pictorial directory, Jody and Tara recommend the services of Signature Images, the same company we’ve used in the past. Although the church was displeased with their previous production delay, Signature Images has assured us that they’ve remedied the issues which caused the delay, and are capable of delivering us a quality product in a timely manner.
Photography session sign-ups will begin June 12th. These sessions will run the week of June 14th-18th, and tentatively July 12-16 and July 19-30th.
Production of the directories is scheduled for August, with a delivery date of September 1st.
Action: Moriah Harris and Allison Person will assist Tara and Jody with the management of photography scheduling. Dave and Jody will verify individual listing details for all church attendees included in the directory.
*Note—An updated pocket directory will be made, in conjunction with the pictorial directory.
Church Fundraising
Youth
With the youth’s Montana Mission Trip on the horizon, Council discussed different methods of fundraising for the youth group.
As a church policy, mission support letters should only be sent to people within the church whom the support raiser has a personal relationship with. A focused effort on raising support through family and friends, both within and outside of the church, is strongly advised.
Ben is planning several upcoming group fundraisers:
· Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction: Tickets will be sold for an all church spaghetti dinner and silent auction. The youth mission team will prepare and serve the meal, while Angela and Ben coordinate community donations for the silent auction.
· Marriage Seminar Childcare: The youth mission team will manage childcare during the upcoming marriage seminar. Donations are suggested.
· Ugo’s Pizza Night: On a yet to be determined date, a percentage of the proceeds from Ugo’s Pizza will be donated to the youth mission team (this fundraiser is pending).
Action: In accordance with our policy, Pastor Ben will meet with The Elders to gain
final approval for all church fundraising activity.
*Note—Random fundraising is against GCC policy. All fundraising activity, for any
ministry, must meet the approval of the Elders.
Amazon.com
Pastor Dave told the council about a church income opportunity through the
Amazon.com Associate Program.
The program works by placing an Amazon.com badge, with link, onto our church
website. Once a person clicks through the link to Amazon.com, GCC will receive
4% cash from the total purchases made by the individual.
Appropriately, this Amazon badge will be placed near a recommended reading list on
our website, while the 4% kick back applies to any purchase and is not exclusive to
books.
Action: Council approved Dave to register our church for the program and to place
the Amazon.com badge on our website.
Capital Improvements Update
Fellowship Hall/Artist Rendering
Linda Shryer and Kenya Tichenor, along with Angela and Denise, our interior designer, selected a color scheme for the Fellowship Hall renovation. The women also discussed other design elements, such as a mural, to be painted on the east wall of the room, relocation of the large water filter and drinking fountain, and a restorative treatment for the room’s wood paneling. Additionally, the group considered painting the Fellowship Hall pews, as well as some general kitchen updates including surface material and flooring improvements.
Action: Once Denise completes a color board, Angela will present a budget and timeline to the council for review.
Council also discussed the following:
· Fireplace removal vs. covering
· Fluorescent lighting
· Ceiling height
· Projector/screen angle
· Sound deadening panels
Council also discussed that in order to be
Concerns regarding proper asbestos encapsulation were also discussed with recognition of our need to defer to the expertise of a professional in this area as we move forward with our project.
Building Exterior
Council stood outside the north wall of the Fellowship Hall as Chuck described necessary improvements to the cement wheel chair ramp, exterior railings, doors, and awnings.
Action: Chuck will obtain bids from both Fowler Construction and CD Redding for the major construction work.
*Note—The parking lot lights have been turned to better illuminate the youth house, and other dark areas on the church property. Council was pleased with the results. Bill White has offered to further reposition/enhance the parking lot lights, and to wire them with lockable switches. Council graciously accepts this offer.
Financial Update:
Daniel informed the Council that church giving is on track for the first time in three years. He identified consistent giving as the reason for the positive trend.
Round Table
Misc. Maintenance Issues
Pastor Ben notified Chuck about a problem with the plumbing in the youth house restroom. Steve Forbes, of Priority Plumbing, ran a power snake through the sewer line to identify the problem.
*Note—It’s since been determined that there was in fact a break in the sewer line. Council approved the cost of repair.
Chuck informed the Council that the heat in the modular isn’t working.
Action: Someone will be out to fix the heat within a few days.
Chuck notified the council about a mice issue in the church’s kitchen pantry.
Action: Outdated food has been discarded and traps have been set.
Kitchen/Social Committee
Yvonne Basso is currently filling the volunteer position of Social Committee Coordinator.
In light of the upcoming Easter breakfasts, council discussed the need to communicate to our church body that both male and female kitchen helpers are appreciated and help greatly in the efficient function of social events.
Council discussed the old, heavy tables in the Church basement. Chuck asked if we could replace these tables with lightweight, plastic tables, which would be much easier for Women’s Ministries to set up.
Action: Council approved Chuck to purchase of 2-4 plastic tables. The church will store the old tables in the shed until further notice.
General Misc.
It was noted that the church office hours are not listed on the GCC website.
Action: Dave will post the office hours on our website.
Chuck told the council that Grace Christian Preschool has donated their large plastic play structure to the Goodwill.
Council discussed the offer of several people who’ve recently volunteered for various help ministries. Chuck has a list of individuals and will call upon them as needed.
Pastor Dave closed in prayer.
The next meeting is April 12th, 2011 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the Conference Room.
