November 18, 2014 Vestry Minutes Charles Edmonson, senior warden, called the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish to order at 6:30 pm November 18, 2014. Present were Linda Curtis, treasurer; Doug Miller; Ann Templeman; Valerie Bowen; Sylvia Edgar; Vestal Lewis; and the Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander. Absent were Kevin Eley, George Cornwell, Dan Clark, junior warden, and Kay Olson, registrar. Doug Miller opened with the reading of Psalm 139 and reflections. Parishioner Bill Saunders was present and gave the vestry a presentation on the Southern Virginia Diocesesan Foundation. Bill is one of ten trustees of the Foundation, which was set up in the 1950s and is contributed to by 25 of the 118 parishes in the diocese. In September of 2014 the Foundation had approximately $23,202,000.00. An explanation of the distribution of investments can be obtained after each quarterly meeting by going to www.diosova.org. Each church has it’s own parameters as to what a distribution can be used for. Doug Miller moved to approve the minutes of the October meeting with a second by Ann Templeman and the minutes were approved. Linda Curtis presented the Treasurer’s Report. The 2014 pledge to the diocese has been completed. St. John’s also received $200.00 from the Crawlin Crab Race. Taxes for the Hoffman House are due in November, and pledges for October were less than expected. The Vestry agreed to skip the vestry committee discussion and report for November. Rector’s Report: Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander recommended we give a presentation to the congregation about the relocation of pews in the sanctuary in order to accommodate the piano. She suggested that the presentation be at the annual meeting in January and that photographs be included in the presentation. Linda Curtis gave a stewardship campaign update and we are ahead of were we were last year at this time. Samantha met with Greta Harrison and Ann Bane and it was decided that the school ministry program would partner with Hunter Andrew’s School instead of Tyler Elementary. Senior Warden’s Report: Charles Edmonson recognized all those who worked on the stage. The Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander’s picture is now hanging.
January 25, 2015 is the date of the annual meeting. Three vestry candidate nominations are needed. Vestry terms are ending for Charlie, Kay, Vestal and Sylvia. New Business: 1-4-15 In Reach will be hosting a reception to welcome Jan Brown. After a discussion, Linda Curtis made a motion to pledge $25,000.00 to the Diocese for 2015. Sylvia Edgar seconded the motion and the motion passed. After a discussion, Linda Curtis made a motion that we accept in general Q Design’s revised proposals for future projects and maintenance and submit them for funding to the Endowment Board and the Mary Williams Trust. Doug Miller seconded the motion and the motion passed. The December meeting will be held at Samantha’s home on December 16, 2014 at 6:30. Night’s Welcome will be held in March and the suggestion was made that we put an announcement in the bulletin regarding the March date. The meeting was adjourned with prayer. Submitted by Valerie Bowen obo Kay Olson