- The Vestry met on February 13. The Very Reverend Donna-Mae Siderius presided. All nine members were present, plus the Reverend Skip Hutton. Greg Brauer and Kay Olson, previous Vestry members, also attended.
- Vestry reviewed the document “How We Live and Work Together in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia”, created by the Transition Team and adopted by the Standing Committee and Executive Board in 2006.
- Vestry Changes: Our thanks to vestry members who served the parish well and rotated off: Greg Brauer, Nelson Durden, Bill Forinash, Bob Harper and Kay Olson.
- Our welcome to new vestry members: Betsy Clark, Kevin Eley and Sandy Smith
- Our congratulations and thanks to those elected to vestry positions:
- Senior Warden: Bettyrene Pope
- Junior Warden: John Chiasson
- Registrar: Sandy Smith
- Treasurer: Connie Heath
- Each Vestry member was assigned a Care Group (list of parishioners). Vestry was encouraged to call their Care Group throughout the year and invite them to various functions. This is an important ministry.
- Vestry voted to allow the use of our colonial silver at the June 24 Eucharist in Jamestown. The service will commemorate 400 years of Episcopal presence in Virginia.
- Thanks to Jack Pope for helping the Junior Warden with her duties; to the Vestry for their hospitality at the Annual Meeting; and for new leaders desiring to serve.
Annual Council: Greg Brauer, Whit McKinney, and Bettyrene Pope attended as delegates. Kay Olson and Sanford Pankin attended as alternates. Donna-Mae and Skip also attended. Bishop Buchanan brought calmness to the meeting. There was a sense of optimism, with achievable goals. It was blissfully non-tense, orderly, and structured. The search for a new Bishop will begin, with election in May 2008 and consecration in October 2008. A balanced budget was presented, as canonically required. Funding for some areas, such as Boys Home, Jackson Field, and St. Paul’s College was cut. Diocesan properties, such as Camp Chanco, can be rented by private entities. Mandatory diocesan giving was discussed. The resolution regarding support of the Windsor Report as a diocesan norm was rejected. Anti-Racism training will be held in April at St. John’s.
Treasurer’s Report – Connie Heath:
- Checking account balance – $43,504.99.
- January income was $91,056.99 and expenses were $49,950.68.
- The Ann Duncan Fund of First Presbyterian Church donated $800 for Nights Welcome.
- Parish Improvement Fund received $1,500, which will be repaid to the individual who loaned money for the completion of the parking lot.
- Christmas collection was $2,532.52, split between Youth Challenge and HELP.
- The Heifer Project received donations of $1,490, which was used to purchase two llamas, a goat, and two flocks of chickens.
- Two undesignated bequests of $9,812.50 and $1,000 were received. Vestry approved deposit of $7,000 into the Parish Improvement Fund and the remaining $3,812.50 into the Memorial Fund. $3,500 of the monies in the Parish Improvement Fund will be used to repay in full the balance due on the loan from the parishioner for the parking lot.
- Bill Boyer will publish an article in the Epistle regarding the IRS rule change regarding charitable donations. Property and Grounds Report – Bettyrene Pope: The hot water relay was repaired. Waiting for estimates on installing a small hot water heater near the main sink in the kitchen due to delay in hot water getting to the sink. Still waiting for estimates for repairs and painting to outside of Hoffman House. Two opossums were removed from under Williams Hall and relocated in Hampton. Various repairs and routine maintenance were performed. Donna-Mae noted that it is a morale booster to staff and parishioners to see that someone cares about more than just keeping the building going. Associate Rector’s Report – Skip Hutton: Over 100 people came to the first lecture on the history of St. John’s. If you missed it, you can purchase a CD for $5.00. Skip is enjoying preparing for the next two lectures, the second of which is scheduled for February 20, after the Pancake Supper. Rector’s Report – Donna-Mae Siderius: Six month planning calendar distributed. Annual Meeting had a good turnout. Donna-Mae will publish her address in the next Epistle. Thirty leaders attended the second Leadership event, including all but one retiring Vestry member. Vestry retreat will be at Camp Chanco, beginning at 5:30 on Friday, March 23 and ending at 4:00 on Saturday, March 24. Claire Poole, Christian Education Director, St. Aidens, Norfolk, will facilitate. Bishop’s Day with Vestries will be held Saturday, March 3 in Powhatan. Tacky Light Awards: Donna-Mae will keep praying for the Vestry for another month whenever she sees the Vestry Tacky Light. The Mission Tacky Light was passed from John Chiasson to Betsy Clark. Sandy Smith, Registrar