Mid-Year Leadership Planning Meeting

Mid-Year Leadership Planning Meeting
June 11, 2011

Present - Kate Anderson, Betty Boyer, Marty Brownlie, Shirley Cooper, Mindy Dague, Eric Folkerth, , Marlene Haskell, Joe Hilbun, Terry Lowery, Mary Clair Lowrance, Susie Marshall, Connie Marshall, Jim McBride, Sherry Meeks, Randall Oxford, Chris Reed, Laurie Reichenbach, Stephanie Rhoades, Betsy Schenck, Dotti Timmins, Tom Timmins, Dick Weaver, Elaine Wiant, Ken Benson, and Karen Marshall

Coffee & Snacks

Opening Prayer - Eric Folkerth

Group Introductions - Betty Boyer

Housekeeping - Betty Boyer, Eric Folkerth and Mindy Dague
The Big Picture - Moving to a Program Council Church and Northaven History - Ken Benson and Tom Timmins
Tom has spent the past several months working on a history of Northaven and he gave the group some highlights. There was a suggestion that we consider having an official historian to continue archiving the good works of Northaven. Ken gave the group information about moving from a relationship church to a program size church.

RDS - What the database can do for you and what you can do for the database- Tom Timmins
Tom talked about the importance of being sure the information in our database is accurate. He will print each committee list for the various chairs to correct. Betty requested that correct information be returned to Tom by July 15th.

Website - The New Look - Randall Oxford
Randall walked the group through the major changes in the website and gave some insight into why changes were made. Betty asked that each committee review and edit their web pages by July 15. E-mail corrections and changes should be sent to Nancy Kincaid and/or Bob Meeks.
The goal is to give each committee the ability to update their web pages as needed.

Leadership Council Committees –What we do and why you should care - Betty Boyer
(The HDF is still looking for someone to Chair their committee and the position needs to be filled by September, 2011)
Committees reported to the group on the purpose of each individual committee: Lay Leader, Covenant Funds, Finance, Stewardship, Staff Parish, Human Development Fund, Trustees, Lay Member of Annual Conference, Co-op Representative, Lay Speaker, Black Tie, Loan Committee, Newsletter, Program Council Chair, and Leadership Council Chair

Program Council - What we have done since January and our goals moving forward - Marlene Haskell
The following Committees reported to the group:
Communications - There is a new church website; an update to the current church directory is in progress with plans to include photographs of new members; there are plans to discuss a branding campaign; there are plans for discussing the permanent installation of Northaven’s new projectors; the committee is working on developing a future crisis communications plan for the church.
Adult Education - There are continued spiritual growth opportunities with a first time summer booklet that has been made available to visitors and members; the committee is currently working on the fall Adult Education brochure; the Rueben Habito Retreat is scheduled for October 14-16; there will be upcoming 3rd Thursday discussions about adult education issues, small group webinars, etc.
Youth Education - Fundraising efforts have continued all year, including a Pancake Dinner and the continued selling of Youth bonds. The Youth Mission trip to San Marcos is June 12-18. There will be monthly socials due to increased budget. The goal is to have 2 socials per month going forward. A Youth retreat is being planned for Youth to attend before school starts.
Children’s Education – (Karen Marshall reported for Kristen Brandt-James) VBS is intergenerational again this year and will continue being offered in the evening, August 1-5; a reminder was given that Sunday School is every week all year long; the committee is still struggling with curriculum issues and is wanting outside help at this time; there is a need for additional summer school teachers this year.
Membership - (Marlene reported for Janice Henderson) The Great Day of Joining and quarterly New Member Desserts have been featured this year; Marlene expressed the need for better follow-up with new members; a shepherding program began a few years ago but is not currently active; Marlene expressed concern that the committee hasn’t been meeting regularly and really needs to.
Church in Society - There was an Offering of Letters held during Lent; the This I Know group has been promoting the DVD film and study and would like the congregational members to take their program and each graduate will receive a This I Know sticker on their Northaven Church name tag; the Journey-Coming Out Workshop was offered in the spring and had great attendance and will be offered again in the fall; the Straight Spouse Network is now being offered; there are two international mission trips scheduled this year going to Guatemala and El Salvador; there is a continued covenant relationship with the Christ Foundry and Mike Pybas has continued to be the liaison for Northaven; Northaven signed up for one month of taking meals to the Christ Foundry’s meetings in February; the Faith Voices of Justice series, successfully led by Bill McElvaney, has been offered this year; the Reconciling Ministries was trained by the Reconciling Network and over 30 people wore their rainbow stoles at the Annual Conference this summer; a position was created for a liaison between CIS and Parents Reconciling Network; the Pride Parade will be Sept. 18 and the Alternative Christmas Giving will be offered again in December.

Lunch - Thanks to Rita Clarke and Kaye Warrick

Continuation of Program Council - Marlene Haskell
Worship - Stephanie is now the new Minister of Music and the Arts and is looking for people to attend the Hymn Festival, honoring Jane Marshall, on Sunday, October 23; an Ecumenical Thanksgiving service will be offered at Northaven that is involving 4 outside churches; a church survey will be conducted that is focusing on Music and the Arts to help shape our future direction with Stephanie’s involvement.
Arts – (Connie Marshall reported for Donna Wiles) The Shower of Stoles exhibit was featured at Northaven in May; the Women’s Retreat was offered in the spring and 26 women attended.
Care Team – (Mary Clair Lowrance reported for Lynette Hendricks) The committee decided to have less meetings this year and to focus more on taking action; a Tuesday note goes out with prayer concerns each week; prayer blankets have been given to several members and special requests have been honored throughout the year.
Special Events - The Feast of Friendship is on Saturday this year, June 25 with a planned reception afterwards; the Youth will be feeding the Russian Dancers dinner; Dance classes are being offered this year; a bridge group has formed;
Kitchen/Hospitality - More people are active on the committee this year and there is now a back-up group; the committee is encouraging the whole church to be aware of the “No Nuts” policy regarding food products that are brought to the church; there is a standing request for committees to alert Sherry Meeks as soon as possible when materials in the kitchen have been used, so she can restock supplies by Sunday each week.

Additional remarks –
Dotti Timmins reminded the group that the trustees will be sponsoring a Wills and Estate Seminar on July 31 that will include lunch.
Connie Marshall requested that the church consider the possibility of purchasing a dishwasher and promoting the use of permanent kitchenware instead of using paper plates, cutlery and cups.
Susie Marshall raised the concern of honey bees and their importance to the food chain. Perhaps Northaven can be part of the solution.
Karen Marshall raised the suggestion of having a community garden.
Eric gave special thanks to Betty and Marlene for organizing the planning meeting. Eric expressed appreciation that Betty has been attending committee meetings as Leadership Chair to see how each committee works.

Closing Prayer- Mary Clair Lowrance