April 15, 2025Attending: Pastor Seaton, Andrea Zimmerman, Mallika Rodriguez, Elizabeth Hrncir, Chris Reffett, Victoria Hamilton, David Sandridge, David Evans, Sherry Lambert and Mandy Wilson.Elect Secretary (Mandy) Opening Devotion and Prayer (Sherry) Life is short, be quick to love and reach out to others HighlightsYouth to Mack’s for labyrinthConfirmation this coming Sun and David E looking forward to seeing Andrea’s father-in-law who is visiting for confirmation and was his pastor in PennsylvaniaNehemiah Action had 54 from WMUMC and several of us volunteered for counting and kidsChurch workdayReview, Updates, and Discussion Ongoing Projects Choir director positionworking group will revisit job description 1st Sun in MayWhen will website be up? Unsure. Giving page is down. The transition to Breeze has been more difficult than expected.Green Campaign, Roof Repairs, and Solar panels:We have been talking for some time about installing Solar Panels on the roof of the Education building. We have been coordinating with Tiger Solar, and there is an anonymous donor who might be willing to pay for the solar panels (with the understanding that we would pay her back over 10 years). However, before we can install solar panels, we need to replace the roof, and we don’t have the funds in hand for that.Potential sources for funding could include the Green Campaign or a bank loan, but we feel strange asking the congregation for funds for the roof replacement (Green Campaign) when our 2025 budget is underwater.The roof is functional right now, but it is reaching the end of its useful life (was at 22 years of a 25-year roof when evaluated three years ago.)We are also not sure that this is a good time to be incurring debt.However, we are also not sure that this offer of a loan from the anonymous sponsor for the Solar Panels will last forever – sooner or later, she will likely move on to another sponsor.The Green Campaign does not have to cover the roof – it would be about “Greening of the Church”, and the roof is not currently part of that budget. It currently includes:LightingHeat, air conditioningRecyclingWe agreed that we need to come up with a list of what our ongoing needs are, and what we anticipate are our upcoming needs in the next 5 years, and share it with the congregation.Andrea was going to talk to Aidan Workman about this and see what his thoughts are on this, and to get the trustee items.Building Policy:Mallika has made significant updates to the building policy and we should review it this month and we will discuss at the May 13th meeting.Employee Handbook updates: Mallika has updated these and we should review and be prepared to discuss in May’s meeting.Working Group Reports and Discussion (Expenses/Budget review and recommendations):Our current 2025 budget has a $68K deficit relative to the total pledged offerings. Dave Evans, David Sandridge, Pastor Seaton have reviewed the budget and come up with the following recommendations:No new choir director: Linda will continue as Interim Choir Director under December. She has agreed to this, and will receive an increase in her salary as organist to cover the additional workload.Reduced position for Office Manager: the office manager position would go from the current 32 hours per week to 24 hours per week, commensurate with the position needs.Some outreach commitments would be reduced.Some reductions in the children’s ministry budgetImplementation of a reduced cleaning scheduleRaising the rent on the cottage, preschool, and IMPACTThese changes would reduce the deficit from $68K to $14K.An article is being drafted to go in the newsletter to explain the budget shortfall to lay the groundwork for fundraising and perhaps more volunteering.Chris moved to approve the proposed revised budget, and Mandy seconded; the board approved the proposed revised budget.Pastoral & Congregational Care Concerns:There will be Confirmation of church youth at the 9am service on Easter Sunday.There are several new members attending church.Prayers were requested for Carolyn Walker and (unnamed) members of the congregation.Mallika suggested that we have a refresher course on how to safely take Communion (e.g., don’t touch the server’s fingers.)Approval of Report Packet & Consent Calendar Items: All artifacts were approved.Closing & PrayerNext meeting is May 13, 7:00-8:30 pm (need devotion/prayer-David S, secretary-Mandy, staff acknowledgement-Mallika)