WCA Executive Committee Minutes

January 14, 10:00 a.m.

First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa

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Call to Order—The meeting was called to order by Moderator Sue LeFeber at 10:07 a.m.

In attendance were EC members Sue LeFeber, Bob Noble, Rae-Ellen Preuss, Jim Benz, Rob Brink and Pam Roble.  Also in attendance were Louise Noble and Jim Benz.

 

Opening Prayer – Sue offered prayer at 10:07 a.m.

 

Introduction of Guest: Jim Benz spoke about what progress had been made on the NACCC 2009 Annual Meeting.  October 25 Jim and Lottie Jones Hood met with the Visitor’s Bureau, with which Jim has extensive experience.  The Bureau’s purpose is to welcome conventions and offer services to those who hold meetings in the city of Milwaukee.  The facility we have reserved for the meeting has a given us a good rate, though the location is not convenient for traveling on our own.  It is a great facility, and the management is very cooperative.  Our room rate is $79.  Jim proposes that we add $5-$10 to that rate for transportation costs. 

 

Also, Jim proposes we not hold the communion service in the ballroom of the Wyndham on Sunday afternoon, because of the surrounding bars.  He would like us to explore the possibility of St. Josephat and Lottie agrees. 

We discussed the possibility of St. Josephat for the communion service.  Some of the objections were noted. 

 

Another thing that has been talked about is holding our opening reception at the Milwaukee Art Museum.  Visits also to Harley Davidson Museum, Discovery World on the Lakefront, Sommerfest, Miller Brewery are being considered.  A shopping and restaurant trip to Water Street was also explored.

 

A possible location for NAPF/HOPE would be State Fair Park in the dorms.  Jim feels it would be an ideal place.  They are very new and quite reasonable.  MSOE is another option that would be good for the youth to consider.

 

The EC felt that it would be a wonderful opportunity for us to worship and celebrate communion at St. Josephat and have asked Jim to speak to the priest about the possibility.

 

Jim also would like to get the schedule from Lottie, so we would know about the entertainment we need to secure.  Laura Snider, a bass player with MSO, who does a concert with voice, and her husband on piano and her son playing cello.  All agreed this would be a wonderful choice for an entertainment slot in the schedule.

 

Sue mentioned that John Carson asked her to let us know that the ICF will be meeting in Milwaukee just a few weeks after this meeting, and all the missionaries will be staying in the area for the time in-between.  Cindy suggested that Jo and Larry Sommers be contacted about what to offer them in regards to some time spent together, perhaps a week, during that time.

 

We need to have a table at the Plymouth meeting with information about 2009, plus offer a short presentation near the conclusion of the meeting there.  Possible approaches are a DVD, pamphlets to some of the side trips, etc.

 

Sue will contact Lottie about the schedule. 

 

Approval of November Minutes – Cindy Bacon

Emailed corrections made.  Rob Brink moved and Bob Noble seconded that they be approved.  Passed.

 

 

 

Reports

  • Treasurer – Bob Noble

Bob offered the report, which is very similar to last meeting’s report.  We have had some additional donations.  The total is now $5,195.   Our income balance is now $25,779.44.  

 

Expenses have been accrued for the Congregationalist, the JH Rally, Conflict Resolution seminar and the Resource Person.

 

Our expenses have stayed about the same, and our income has increased slightly.

 

We checked the expenses on the Congregationalist, and tried to determine how many copies were made. 

 

The corrected report will be emailed, and we can approve by email vote.

 

  • Youth and Camp – Rob Brink

The next meeting is coming up January 26.  The skit night subcommittee is meeting separately prior to the meeting.  The Camp Directors are pulling together their counseling teams.  The Spring JH Rally will be April 18 and 19.  SH has a date, but we do not have it yet. 

 

  • Letters to churches – Rae-Ellen Preuss

The last letter was very well received.  Churches are publishing the letter in their newsletter, reading it from the pulpit and posting it on their bulletin boards.  We have received some donations because of the letter.

 

Rae-Ellen asked about the out of state churches and if they really want to be part of the WCA.  Sue assured her that they all do.  In addition, Jim Jupin brought forward the name of another church who would like to participate during our WCMA meeting in December.  It was brought up that Rick might make the directory available and updatable on line.

 

  • Resource Person – Sue LeFeber

Cheryl was given her severance pay, and is now finished with her duties.

  • Status of Newsletter, Website – Sue LeFeber, Rae-Ellen Preuss

Rick Hartley is working on the website, and Judi Weyer, Administrative Assistant at Mukwonago, is doing the newsletter. 

  • WCMA, WCTS – Sue LeFeber

The WCMA met at Pilgrim last week.  The next meeting will be in Gurnee.

WCTS met last week.  Chris Bryan presented and Bob Noble reported that they had an excellent discussion.

  • Consolidation with WCMA – Sue LeFeber

From what has been discussed on this topic, possibilities include:

1)      the Ministers having separate governance and finances from the whole group

2)      The ministers would have a representative on the EC

3)      the ministers would be listed as a committee, much like Youth and Camp 

4)      Lay Representatives would become Ambassadors, taking on more responsibility for contacting local churches. 

Another meeting has been set for Feb. 4 at 10:00 a.m. in Wauwatosa.

 

Action Items

  • Set March/April EC meeting date and location

The next EC meeting will be on February 27 at 10:00 a.m. in Wauwatosa.

  • WCA Annual Meeting 2008 theme, plans, and publicity

Registration form on website and in newsletter, and should go to Sue at North Shore. 

Keynote address?  Sue suggested Rev. Dr. Les Longden, Professor of Evangelism, Mission and Leadership at UDTS.  If he is not available, we might consider Lyle VanderBroek.  Sue will contact Les, to see if he can speak Friday night and Saturday.

 

Theme- “How to…”

We need to get this meeting and WCA involvement back in the pews.  We had a good discussion about how to present a small number of specialized workshops.  It was decided to focus on four areas, Sunday School, Treasurers/Trustees, Church Marketing/Growth and Congregational Care, and offer a longer workshop time (2-2 ˝ hours) for each area, with a scheduled/prepared presenter, as well as predetermined questions for discussion.  There would also be enough time for flexibility in each session.  Cindy will contact the churches to see who they might suggest to be leaders for each of the four workshops.

 

The schedule will stay the same, with Session I and II being replaced by the 2 hour workshops.

 

We are keeping Ardie’s suggestion for 2009, and continuing with the same theme, offer other discussion/presentation workshops on other specialized topics.

 

New Business

  • Mailing of newsletters
  • Begin budget process—The budget process will begin at the next meeting.

 

Closing Prayer

 

Adjournment

 

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