Council Members Present:  President June Johnsen,  Bob Evans,  MaryAnne Jordan, Carole Greeley, Pastor Todd Bertani,  Justin Devine,  Barbara Patterson,  Bette Noll Council Members Absent:  Tom Turner,  Austin Jansen,  Stu Reid

Others Present: Toni MacCallum,  Les Johnsen

June called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and offered a prayer. Bob moved to approve the minutes from the August meeting;  the motion was seconded and passed.

Nominating Committee Report

Toni gave a report from the Nominating Committee.  The committee is publishing an announcement that it is seeking volunteers to run for the various elected positions that will be voted on at the January 2011 congregational meeting.  They hope to have each election be contested this year. The committee asked to be placed on the agenda for the October 3 congregational meeting. 

Financial Report

MaryAnne submitted a report from the Finance Committee.  (Attachment A.) She reported that the fund-raising effort to pay for the repair to the organ had been successful.  The cost had been approximately $1,800, and we had raised $1,835. The cost of the remodeling now totals $90,043.99. The deficit has been growing.  The Budget Committee will be meeting on Saturday,  September 25.

Pastor Todd’s Report

Pastor Todd submitted a report. (Attachment B)  He reported that 22 kids are active in youth group,  25 people are participating in the new Bethel series, and  attendance has been good for the Wednesday Family Night. He has invited the ministry team leaders to meet with him on Monday, September 27,  to discuss long-term goals and strategy.  He will invite them to join the Council members at their retreat in Aptos in late October. 

The synod is forming a new mission church in American Canyon.  The congregation will be led by a husband and wife team who are recent seminary graduates, David and Arianna Arends.  They will visit St. Mark’s this Sunday.  We will host a fund-raising concert for them called Spirit in the Canyon at 4 p.m. on Sunday,  November 14. 

Liaison Reports

Justin submitted a report for Youth and Education. (Attachment C)  He announced that the Survivor trip will be at the same place as last year.

Bette reported that the food pantry is doing well and that everyone is pleased

with the new location.  She has purchased some fans to make the pantry more

comfortable. 

Barbara reported that Olan Mills Photography has approached her about

publishing a new church directory. 

Justin reported that Christa Sweeney has volunteered to organize the dinners for Wednesday Family Night and that teams or individuals can sign up to cook a meal or to pay for a meal that Christa will cook. 

June reported that two new WELCA circles have been formed this fall. One will meet in the morning on the first Tuesday of the month and the other will meet in the evening on the third Wednesday of the month.  Hope Circle continues to meet on Tuesday afternoons. 

June reported on the remodeling for the Property Committee.  Light sensors have been installed in the rest rooms. Carole had suggested that we ask the City to pay for installing a fence on the Travis side of the church property, which is adjacent to the municipal parking lot.  June had made this request, and the City agreed to pay for a black fence similar to the fence around the columbarium. 

Old Business

Carole reported that the congregation will vote on the revised constitution and bylaws on October 3.  On September 8, Diane Metz led a forum to explain the revisions.  She will lead a second forum after the late service on September 26. 

Justin reported that the information has been compiled for the Directory of Resources.  The directory will be published soon. 

June reported that the signs warning about our security cameras are ready to be installed.  She said that vandalism and other criminal conduct has gone down this month and she believes that this is due to the cameras. 

MaryAnne reported that we have hired Mike’s Janitorial Service for our maintenance. They will clean the Worship Center and the Community Center twice a week and the Preschool five times a week.  She is very pleased with their performance.

Les reported that the property committee recommends that we use the current fencing from the Preschool yard to protect our property line on Union Street.  He said that the only cost would be the cost of labor.  Pastor Todd said that he was in favor of this, if the fence meanders through the shrubbery and is not a straight line along the sidewalk.  Bette moved that we approve putting the old Preschool fence on Union Street and that it be concealed in the shrubbery. The motion was seconded and was passed.

Pastor Todd reported that he had talked to Lisa Buringrud and that she will be holding a concert at St. Mark’s.  She will not sell cd’s at the concert, but they will be available for a suggested donation. 

New Business

Justin reported that he had created pew cards that can be used to obtain information from visitors, but some members had complained about one of the inquiries on the cards.  He provided cards for comment, and several changes were suggested.  June said that she was willing to print replacement cards at her expense.

The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m.  so members could attend the Bethel class or the Jesse Woodside concert that was being held at the church.

Submitted by Carole Greeley, Secretary