WCA Executive Committee Agenda

November 15, 2007, 3:30 p.m.

National Association Office, Oak Creek

 

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Call to Order

            Sue called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.

EC Members in attendance were Bob Noble, Rae-Ellen Preuss, Rob Brink, Sue Le Feber, Cindy Bacon and Ardie Johnson

Interested party Louise Noble was also present.

           Those absent were Jarl Petterson, Cheryl Stapleton and Pam Roble.

 

Opening Prayer

            Rob Brink offered our opening prayer.

 

Approval of August Minutes

No corrections were offered, and by consensus the minutes were approved.

 

Reports

  • Treasurer

Bob Noble offered his report.  Our current balance is $2560.16. 

A camp summary was offered as well, including camp fees and snacks as income, with camp fees and miscellaneous expenses made up the expense line.  It was noted that we needed to indicate the income from the Wakefield Fund as well.  Bob will make this addition to the report. 

Donations from churches are $3845 year to date, which is down approximately $350 from last year.

Rob Brink moved and Ardie Johnson seconded that the Treasurer’s Report be approved.  It was approved unanimously.

 

  • Youth and Camp

Rob Brink gave his report.  The Junior High Rally was just completed, at the St. Jacobi church, with Rev. Hillary Bowser as gracious host.  Kayla Roble was the director and did a wonderful program.  She recruited an excellent staff.  She engaged the kids in developmentally appropriate “Jesus talk”, including the seven “Cs”.  Expenses and income will be forthcoming.

The Senior High Rally was hosted by First Congregational of Beloit.  There were good reports from the kids.  The youth leaders did an excellent program on “Taking off your mask”.  Shawn was the host.  The food was great.  The adults there thought it was one of the best led Senior High Rallies in recent memory.  A service project at Caritas was a part of the weekend.

Camp—the Junior High Camp is going well in its planning.  They have their counselors.  Becky Grigsby has arranged the nursing staff.  Julie will be doing Mini-Kamp and Bob Moynihan will do Senior High  Camp.  Rob will be in touch with them to see how it is going.  Mini-Kamp has been extended through Thursday.  A committee was established to look at guidelines for Skit Night.

Rob is in conversation with Mt. Morris to get the dates two years out, rather than one, so that we can always have the second full week in July.

Rae Ellen suggested that we look at the 2009 ICF meeting in July and see how we might work around/together with those two activities.

Bob asked about the deposit to Mt. Morris and the insurance, just to make sure he and Rob were communicating well.

      Bob also asked about a check to Ryan Starmer on May 3, which has not yet been cashed.  Bob will try to

      check with Cheryl to see if she was able to contact him.  If she has not, Rob will contact Ryan via

      Facebook.

 

  • Letters to churches

Rae Ellen Preuss was reimbursed for postage for the letter she sent to the WCA churches.  Everyone thought the letter was beautiful.  We are hoping that churches will read/post/publish when they receive it.  Rae Ellen expressed her desire to reach out to all WCA churches, both active and inactive.  She will write another letter and mail before Christmas, giving an overview of the meeting and wishing them a Merry Christmas.  Sue thanked Rae Ellen for her efforts.

We are hoping for a total of four letters a year, the last being to spark interest in attending the Annual Meeting in April.

 

  • Resource Person

Cheryl Stapleton’s report was accepted as received.

 

  • NACCC Annual Meeting 2009

Sue LeFeber reported that Jim Benz has agreed to be the Host Committee Chair.  He has already begun working with Carrie Dahm of the NA office and Lottie Jones Hood, Moderator of the meeting.  Tom Richard reported that Jim is already on board.  The next step will be the setting up the side trips/excursions.  June 27-30 are the dates of the meeting.  The Visitors Bureau has been very helpful.  Sue has talked to Jim about the budget, comparing it to the Florida meeting’s budget.   Jim is trying to get the money donated for all meeting expenses.  The WCA will probably still have some expenses, even if his efforts are successful.  We are hoping he will be able to come to our next meeting and offer a report.

The 2010 meeting will be held in Anchorage, AK.  They are looking into working with the airlines to give better deals for families, so that attendees might incorporate a family vacation with the meeting.

 

  • WCMA, WCTS

WCMA—Rob Brink was in attendance at yesterday’s meeting, hosted by Glenn Lawson at Plymouth Racine.  Hillary is the new chair of the group.

WCTS is meeting tonight, with Doug Gray offering the paper.  It has been decided that on alternate months that interested people will meet to discuss “Pilgrim Papers”.  The first of those meetings will be in Madison in December.

 

  • Consolidation with WCMA

Sue LeFeber reported that the first meeting of this committee was held.  Sue Le Feber, Rae Ellen Preuss, Sam Schaal, Steven Peay, Hillary Bowser, Rick Hartley and Les Schultz were in attendance.  They are looking at church and minister association constitutions for review and will meet again November 28 in Wauwatosa.  Each person is working on suggestions individually which will be offered at that meeting.  The consensus is that this idea is worth examining.  They may not be able to offer a motion at the next Annual Meeting, but will keep working with that goal in mind.

 

Action Items

  • Set January EC meeting date and location

The next meeting will be held on January 14 at 10 a.m. in Wauwatosa.

 

  • Discussion of Resource Person (Executive Session)

The contract was reviewed.  Monetary and other concerns were discussed.  We also spoke about what might happen to some of the duties now completed by the Resource Person if the position were ended, specifically the Wisconsin Congregationalist and the WCA Website.  Options were discussed.                                          

 

            Motion:  We regretfully move that the position of Resource Person for the WCA be terminated, effective

   Dec. 31, 2007, due to lack of funding.  The Executive Committee wishes to thank Cheryl for

   her devoted service.

Vote—five in favor, one abstention 

Cheryl will be called to inform her of the decision, and that a letter will be following.  EC members will be copied on the letter.  Sue will ask Cheryl to forward her work, that it might be continued by the EC and volunteers.  Sue will write a cover article for the Dec. Congregationalist speaking of the decision and asking for volunteers.  Jobs to find volunteers/solutions for include the WCA Website and the Wisconsin Congregationalist.  More discussion will be held in January. 

 

  • WCA Annual Meeting 2008 theme, plans, and publicity

Sue spoke with the Hayward church.  The pastor took it to the church council, and the council voted ‘no’ to host the meeting.  The meeting will be held at North Shore Congregational April 25 and 26.

 

Rob suggested the theme, “How to…”--the WCA’s best Moderator, Youth Ministers, Sunday School Teachers, Church Treasurer, Administrative Assistants/Secretaries, Worship Leaders, Caregivers, Preaching, Stewardship, Evangelism/Church Growth, Confirmation, Congregational, Church Member- sharing best practices from the WCA member churches.  Ardie added the idea of adding New Testament images (from Paul Medier’s book) to this concept—how to be the church together.

All EC members will look at this list and come up with ideas for the meeting, brainstorming areas of interest to be offered as well as individuals to lead the sessions.  These ideas will be brought to our January meeting.  Everyone liked the theme idea and it was decided to move ahead with it.

 

  • The idea of a secret worshiper program was offered by Rob Brink.  Like a secret shopper program, participating individuals would visit churches incognito and then evaluate via a prefab form, offering specific/concrete feedback.  Each pastor would invite the program to come, but wouldn’t know who would be visiting or when.  The goal is to help churches become more welcoming and hospitable.  The Wauwatosa church has offered to assemble such a team, and Rob Brink will write an article for the Wisconsin Congregationalist.  A form will be completed and a training session developed.

 

Closing Prayer

            The closing prayer was offered.

 

Adjournment

            The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

 

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