The Vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish, Hampton, Virginia met on September 1, 2007. The Reverend Skip Hutton opened the meeting at 7:10 p.m. Present were John Chiasson-Junior Warden, Betsy Clark, Scott Curtis, Connie Heath-Treasurer, Whit McKinney, Sanford Pankin, Sandy Smith-Registrar and Bob Wind. Absent were Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius, Charlie Edmonson, Kevin Eley, and Bettyrene Pope-Senior Warden.
Chuck Zimmerman was memorialized by the Vestry, following his untimely death on September 1. He will be greatly missed. Connie Heath read a wonderful poem about life and death entitled How Did You Spend Your Dash?
Minutes
The August Vestry minutes were approved with two corrections.
Treasurer’s Report
Connie Heath reviewed the August Income and Expense Statement, Special Accounts Report, and the Balances of Designated Offerings Report.
The checking account balance as of September 11 is approximately $8,500. A deposit will be made on September 12. August income was $25,908.15 and expenses were $36,030.63. With 66.40% of the year complete, total pledge and plate income is at 64.49%. Pledge income is down, at 56%. Bill Boyer will be sending pledge statements to parishioners the week of September 17.
There was an expense from the Cemetery Tree Special Account for a commemorative plaque, for which Connie planned to get details from Bill Boyer, since she did not know the answers to the who, what or where Vestry questions. The only other large expense was for lunch supplies for the neighborhood summer lunch program from the Feeding Ministries account.
The report of the 2006 financial audit, conducted by Moses and Smith, PLC, was distributed. There were no deficiencies.
Action: The Vestry accepted the Audit Report.
Senior Warden Report
John Chiasson provided the report for Bettyrene Pope.
Bettyrene Pope recruited John Chiasson, Frank Edgar, and Bill Forinash to help paint the Sunday School wing. She and the Nursery Committee cleaned the nursery and sanitized the toys. Bettyrene conducted classroom management training at the Christian Education Teacher Orientation on September 5. She met with Greta Harrison to discuss the Faith and School Partnership Initiative.
Junior Warden Report
John Chiasson gave a presentation to St. Anne’s Guild on the role of the Junior Warden. He took care of routine maintenance and participated in the painting of the Sunday School wing. John helped Harper Lewis and Caroline Black, Diocese, clean rooms and purge items in the Sunday School wing. Kevin Eley and Ray Kelly helped John clean the basement under the stage. Jack Pope obtained a large dumpster for us at no cost. The basement under the Sunday School wing will be cleaned next.
Rector’s Report
There was no report as Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius was on vacation.
Associate Rector’s Report
Reverend Skip Hutton is working on his History of St. John’s lecture series, which resumes on September 18, and the confirmation course, Foundations of Faith, he is conducting with Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius, beginning September 23.
New Business
Vestry Executive Board approved the purchase of two $500 TV/DVD combinations for use in the elementary school curriculum, Live B.I.G., which includes a video presentation. We did not have the equipment needed to support this curriculum.
Vestry Executive Board requested approval of a $500 stipend for Harper Lewis, Director or Christian Education and Youth Ministries, to compensate her for overtime previously worked to train the interim Parish Administrator and the anticipated overtime to train the permanent Parish Administrator. Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius is hiring Jennifer Brown to serve as the new Parish Administrator.
Kick-off for Christian Education and the fall season is Sunday, September 16. Vestry was reminded to call their Care Team. Registration forms for Christian Education were distributed.
Harper Lewis would like to refurbish the Sunday School wing, including the purchase of new tables and chairs for some classrooms, at an approximate cost of $3500. The Vestry asked for a comprehensive plan for all refurbishing, including total cost and a funding proposal. There may not be enough money in the Christian Education budget and Harper plans to discuss funding options with Bill Boyer, Financial Administrator.
Due to Chuck Zimmerman’s death, there is a vacancy on the Vestry. There was discussion about how the vacancy will be filled. Since Vestry elections are in January, the unexpired term may be filled at that time. No decision was made at this meeting.
Action: The Vestry approved the payment of a $500 stipend to Harper Lewis.
Good of the Order
The Vestry expressed a need for keeping more abreast of parishioner deaths and illnesses; with the understanding some parishioners may not want anyone to know of their illness or hospitalization. This will be discussed at the next Vestry meeting.
Tacky Light Awards
In honor of Chuck Zimmerman, the Vestry Tacky Light passed from Chuck to Connie Heath in August was renamed the Dr. Chuck Light. Connie passed this light, with the poem Chuck had composed for her, to Scott Curtis. The Dr. Chuck Light will be passed along at each Vestry meeting to remind us that Chuck is always with us. A new Vestry Tacky Light was purchased by Connie and passed to Skip Hutton, who like Donna-Mae, had never received a Tacky Light. Donna-Mae will keep the Mission Tacky Light and pray for mission for one more month.
Closing
The Reverend Skip Hutton closed the meeting with prayer at 8:00 p.m.
Sandy Smith
Registrar