Members Absent: Jeff Thoma, Janelle Jolley, Barbara Nelson

Others Present: Blair Aas, Justin Devine, Sister Judy Donovan

June called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Pastor Todd presented a devotion based on Ephesians 1:15-23, and he offered a prayer.

Old Business - Church-based Community Organizing
Pastor Todd introduced Sister Judy Donovan, who gave a short presentation about church-based community organizing and answered questions about her organization, the IAF, which is currently inviting area churches to join its organizing network. (See Attachment A.) Member congregations choose their own agenda. For example, she told about how she had worked with churches and other non-profits in Salinas to reduce gang violence in their community. Churches in Marin County had worked together to help the homeless in their area. Several churches in Solano/Napa/Sonoma have signed on, including several Lutheran churches. She explained that each member congregation pays dues based on the church’s income. Grace Episcopal, e.g., pays $2,400 per year.

Finance Report - Budget - Reducing Deficit
Budget Committee Chair Blair Aas submitted a Finance Report (Attachment B). He explained that our deficit has been growing because one of the congregations that has been using our facility has been unable to keep up with its payments, our maintenance costs have been higher than expected, utilities have been higher than expected, etc. The General Fund now has approximately $30,000 in it, but we are spending more than we are taking in. In 2010 we borrowed $100,000 to remodel the church buildings. We obtained a loan at 6.5% for 7 years, with monthly payments of $1,500. We have been making monthly payments of $2,500 in order to pay down the loan early. These payments have been coming from the General Fund. In order to shore up the General Fund, Blair recommended that we cancel the October, November, and December transfers from the General Fund to the Building Fund for these payments and that we reduce the payments to $1,500 per month as of November. June so moved, the motion was seconded and was passed. Blair also recommended that we move the year-to-date Non-designated Memorial Fund (approximately $2,750) into the General Fund. June so moved, the motion was seconded and was passed. 

Blair further recommended that members who are significantly behind in meeting their pledges be reminded of their obligation. It was agreed that this should be done. Blair intends to prepare a PowerPoint presentation on a preliminary plan and to present it for discussion after each service on December 4. This preliminary plan will be a modification of the plan that was presented to the Council in October. The preliminary plan will include salary adjustments. The Council declined to make a recommendation on salaries at this time. Council will vote on the proposed 2012 budget in December, and the congregation will vote on the budget at its annual meeting in January 2012.

Office Administrator Erin Ruml submitted a report on our income from facilities use. (Attachment C) She recommended that we not renew our facilities use agreement with the congregation that has not been making its payments. June stated that this is a matter to be decided by the Property Management Committee. There was a discussion about who was using our facilities without paying a fee. June will ask Erin to give us a report on this.

Erin also submitted a report on the cost of leasing a new copier for the office. (Attachment D) It was agreed to delay action on this and to direct Erin to submit a report on the cost of purchasing a copier for the office.

There was a discussion about a fund-raiser in January to enable us to pay off our building improvement loan faster.

Director of Youth and Education Justin Devine suggested that the proceeds from the Youth Group’s annual crab feed be split, with half going to fund the Mexico Mission Trip and half going toward other ministries. It was agreed that this would increase participation in the crab feed.

Bette informed the Council that the Food Pantry will not be receiving the federal grants it usually gets, so we will have to find other ways to fund the Pantry in 2012.

There was a short discussion about whether we had given more money to Heather House than we had collected for that purpose and about whether we have funds available for the Christmas food baskets. It was agreed that our current bookkeeping system needs improvement. (The Council minutes for February 17, 2011 reflect that we had $1120 left over from funds raised for Christmas baskets in 2011 and that the Council voted that we hold these funds over and use them for Christmas baskets in 2011. It also voted that when we raise additional funds for Christmas baskets in 2011, we tell donors that if there is any money left over in the fund after Christmas, the money will be put into the Good Samaritan Fund.)

Minutes
June moved that we approve the minutes from the October 20, 2011 meeting. The motion was seconded and was passed.

Preschool Report and Personnel Report
Diane Metz submitted reports from the Preschool Board (Attachment E) and from the Personnel Committee (Attachment F) She reported that the Preschool -Youth Sunday held on November 13 was a great success. Children of the congregation are invited to attend the Preschool’s Advent Fair Friday and Cookies with Santa on December 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. Personnel had conducted its annual evaluation of Music Director Semyon Lohss and they had agreed on a new job description for him that better describes his current duties. He will now be the Choir Director, Organist, and Pianist He will be expected to work 15 hours per week. (Attachment G) June moved that we approve the new job description. The motion was seconded and was passed.

Personnel reported that all of the annual staff evaluations had been completed and that all evaluations showed excellent evidence of outstanding work effort in the past 12 months. 

Pastor’s Report
Pastor Todd submitted a Pastor’s Report. (Attachment H). He will ask Erin to send out an e mail reminder about the Ministry Fair and the potluck lunch on Sunday, November 20. He said that he wants the Council to vote next month on whether to join Sister Judy’s organization. If Council approves, the issue will be presented to the congregation.

Pastor Todd reported that Mission Solano will not be having its Thanksgiving dinner at St. Mark’s this year, but they welcome donations and volunteers for the event.

New members will be welcomed on Sunday, December 11. June offered to host a brunch for them at her home at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 10.

Pastor Todd led the Lord’s Prayer, and the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carole Greeley, Secretary