SHENANDOAH ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MINUTES

for Thursday, April 16, 2009

(Meeting held via conference call)

PRESENT: Rev. Jim Bundy, Rev. Marilyn Heishman, Willard Lutz, Melinda Loeblich, Leslie Nickel, Rev. Barbara Rhodes, Rev. Richard Vaught.

Barbara provided the opening prayer.

The Minutes from the March Council meeting were APPROVED by consensus.

Treasurer’s Report – Marilyn reported that we have received 46% of anticipated 2009 dues payments and have a current balance of $3,054.78. Marilyn noted that we have $2,000 budgeted for General Synod. Richard suggested that we send $400 each to the following attendees to help defray their travel expenses: Greg Griffey, Barbara and Peggy Kennedy.

Budget Report -- The budget report was accepted by consensus.

ACM Report – St. Paul’s Edinburg closed on Easter. Its funds were transferred to the Edinburg Historical Society, which will maintain the property and make it available for weddings and other events. St. John’s Middlebrook is receiving profiles. Centenary has reactivated its search process. Mt. Olivet is leaving the Association. Regarding Church and Ministry, Don has resigned as Chair. He will stay on until after the Spring meeting. Further, 150 of the 425 Conference clergy members subject to the new boundary training requirement have received the training thus far.

2009 Association Spring Meeting – Jim Bundy will provide an overview of the Conference budget at the meeting. The following elections will be held:

o Council member Willard Lutz (reelection)

o Church and Ministry Chair (Barbara will see if Tom Arner or Jeannie

Hornberg are interested in serving)

o Church and Ministry reelections: (Alex Adjei, Bob Harmon and Lorna Lutz)

o Association Secretary (Barbara will see if Ellen Markel is interested)

o Association representative to the Conference (replacing Archie Thornton; Barbara will check with Karen Locke, Dorothy White, Susan Littan)

Interim Appointment to Church and Ministry – The Council APPROVED the appointment of Ellie Sturgis to fill Sara Kohr’s seat.

Annual Meeting Task Force – The task force will decide whether to provide travel expenses for Mari Castellanos and the representative from greenfaith.org up to $500 in total.

Fall Association Meeting – Holding the meeting at Stonewall Jackson High School will cost $249 for the space and $44 for the custodian if we use the kitchen. If we cater the event and do not use the kitchen, we will only be charged for the custodian. Barbara noted that the school waived the room charge for the John Ware event. Barbara will ask if they will waive the charge for the Fall meeting. If not, we will plan to cater the meal and not use the kitchen. Willard will check with Shaeffer’s to see if they are interested in catering the meeting. Barbara suggested that representative(s) of the Council meet with the Disciples next month to begin planning the meeting.

Keo’s Polity Course – St. Stephen’s has agreed to allow its space to be used for this course on Tuesday evenings. Melinda will send out notices the second week of May and prepare a flyer for distribution at the Spring meeting.

Summer/Early Fall Fun Event. Barbara suggested that the Council organize a summer fun event tied to a mission project. Marilyn noted that the Council sponsored an old fashioned Sunday school picnic at a local park about 15 years ago that was very well received. The Council will discuss this idea at the May meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm.

Next Meeting: The meeting will be held on May 21 at 6 pm at St. Stephen’s.

Respectfully submitted,

Leslie Nickel, Secretary