Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes

January 16, 2012 – 6:30 PM

GOD’S FAMILY SERVING CHRIST WITH LOVE

Present:  Pastor Dick, Todd Lentz, Jim Crawford, Deb Weber, Tony Hess, Fran Nelson, Jean Mohr, Kari Johnson & Judy Hernkind

Absent:  Dan Kucksdorf, Max Jenatscheck & Jeanette Gessner

Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Todd Lentz

Welcome / Opening Prayer – Pastor
 
Roles: 
President – Todd Lentz; Vice President – Max Jenatscheck; Secretary – Judy Hernkind; Christian Ed – Jeanette Gessner; Finance – Deb Weber; Personnel – Fran Nelson; Property – Tony Hess; Stewardship – Jim Crawford; Worship & Music – Dan Kucksdorf; Local & Global Missions – Max Jenatscheck

-A motion was made by Deb to accept the December 2011 minutes as presented.  The motion was seconded by Tony.  Motion carried.

Guest Appearance
 None

Treasurer’s Report –
-Kari went over the financial report stating that our cash flow has been holding its own.  The offering income is mostly flat with a minimal increase. 
-Kari will have final numbers available for the annual reports.
-Tony made a motion to accept the Financial Report as presented.  The motion was seconded by Fran.  Motion carried.
 
Pastor’s Report –
-Status of our council vacancies – also need bio for new people.  Those who have expressed interest are:  Stacy Macomber, Lynn Holmes, Deb Smith and Gordy Benson. 
-Habitat for Humanity - $1 per week per giving member.  (That could be $15,000 per year!)  Jim will direct stewardship to promote.
-Annual meeting particulars
-Energy Efficiency Report (will be in annual meeting report booklet)
-Stained Glass Window report
 -Loan Certificate Interest Rate
-Fran made a motion that council approve a 3% interest rate on new loan certificates with 75% being applied to mortgage principal and 25% being reserved for repayment.  The motion was seconded by Tony.  Motion carried.
-Jim will research to see if a line of credit is available through Thrivent to be used to repay loan certificates should the need arise.
 -The moveable partition in the fellowship hall is very helpful.

Christian Ed – reported by Jean
-There will be a large group project making pine cone bird feeders in the fellowship hall during the annual meeting.   
-February 12 the children will sing in church
-February 26th Jeff will start First Communion Classes
 -March 7th the kids will be doing the Lenten Supper
Christian Ed Cont.
 -There was some discussion about what to do for the end of year celebration
 -Starting to work on garden curriculum.

Finance – Deb
 -No Report
 -Thank you Deb for your service!

Local & Global Ministries – Max
 -No Report
 
Property – Tony
-Dean proposed doing more salting in the parking lot.  Dean may use his own discretion. 
-The fire extinguisher project is still being looked into.  The person taking care of them in the past will charge $89 each.  Tony is working on another quote of $45 each.  This must be done every 6 years.
 -Tony does not have dates for the 2012 Rummage Sale yet.
-The moveable partition is working well.  More may be needed if two of the Sunday school classes are moved to the fellowship hall.

Personnel – Fran
 -Annual Review dates need to be set.

Stewardship – Jim
-This group plans to meet after the Annual Meeting.  Committee will move forth with projects after conversation with the congregation regarding direction to be taken in fund drives.
 
Worship & Music – Dan
 -No report.

Youth
 -Sweetheart Dinner will be held on January 29th.
-Youth trip to New Orleans will be July 17th – 22nd, 2012.  17-18 people will go with 13-14 being youth.

Past Concerns
 Open Tasks / Discussions
  Church Council Manual – Roles and Responsibilities
 Long Term Goals
  Additional space
  Additional clergy
 River of Life – keeping in contact/revisit discounted sale if conventional loan obtained.

New Business
 -Annual Meeting will be held on February 5th at 9:00 a.m.
 -Annual Report:  Reports for Annual Report booklet
 -Annual Meeting – Who will be there?  Who needs to be there?
 -2012 Initiatives:
  ◦Building Fund reduction fundraising
  ◦Associate Pastor/Intern?
  ◦Work with other Churches – Shared Minister?
  ◦Other
 -Jean would like us to see what she has done with the new website.  She welcomes your thoughts.
 To review go to:  www.bethlehemportage.com

Next Meeting: 
Annual Meeting:  February 5, 2012  9:00 a.m.
Next Monthly Meeting:  February 20, 2012  6:30 p.m.

A motion was made by Deb to adjourn at 8:00 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Judy.  Motion carried.

Lord’s Prayer

Council Calendar

Annual Meeting   Sun. 2/5/12 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Ash Wednesday   Wed. 2/22/12 5:30 p.m.
Lent     Wed. 2/22/12 5:30 p.m.

Lenten Suppers:  1st – Choir; 2nd – Confirmation / Youth; 3rd – Sunday school; 4th Loss Support Group; 5th – Council; 6th – Confirmation / Youth.  All proceeds will be put together and divided equally.

Church Council Lenten Supper Wed. 3/21/12 5:30 p.m.
Easter    Sun. 4/8/12 8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
All Committee Night  Mon. 4/30/12 6:30 p.m.
Mother’s Day    Sun. 5/13/12 8:00 a.m.
Last day of Sunday school  Sun. 5/20/12 9:00 a.m.
Single Service – Summer Worship Sun. 5/27/12 9:00 a.m.
New Orleans Mission Trip  Tues. 7/17/12 12:00 p.m. – Sun. 7/22/12 12:00 p.m.
VBS    
All Committee Night  Mon. 8/20/12 6:30 p.m.
Last Single Service Sunday Sun. 9/2/12 9:00 a.m.
Discuss Council Seats  Mon. 9/17/12 6:30 p.m.
Consecration Sunday  Sun. 10/14/12 8:00 a.m. – Noon
Budget Workpapers Received Mon. 10/15/12 6:30 p.m.
Craft Fair   Sat. 10/20/12 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Polka Service   Sun. 10/21/12 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Confirmation   Sun. 10/28/12 10:30 a.m.
Budget Workpapers Returned Tue. 11/1/12 6:30 p.m.
Budget Received Disc/Approval Mon. 11/19/12 6:30 p.m. 
All Committee Night  Mon. 12/3/12 6:30 p.m.
Annual Booklet Reports Due Mon. 12/17/12 6:30 p.m.
 

 Questions on past council meetings, follow the links below.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
June 5, 2011
Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Facilitator:  Pastor Dick

Opening Prayer

Following the review of options available for the ‘Stain Glass Window Project’, the options were discussed.  There is a quote of $9500 which includes LED lighting, encasement and relocation of windows. 

After discussion, Mary Inglett made a motion that we do the two stain glass windows that will be placed in the front of the church and the four in the narthex first.  The motion was seconded by Joan Cassellius.  After further discussion there was a secondary amendment.  The motion is to encase the 4 stain glass windows in the narthex and light with LED lighting, and to encase the other two and move them in front of the windows.  This is to be done with existing funds designated for this project.  The stewardship committee will start fundraising to complete the project with approval from council.  The motion was unanimously approved.  Motion carried.

The options regarding Solar Energy/Energy Efficiency Project were discussed.  Following much discussion Duane Meister made a motion that we enter into a contract with H&H Solar Energy Services at the rate of $60 per hour, not to exceed $3000 for an energy audit.  After the audit is complete the results will be brought to the congregation to vote on again.  The motion was seconded by Dean Traut.  Motion Carried.

60 people in attendance at this meeting.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Annual Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2011

Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 9:15 a.m. by John Denhartigh.

Opening Prayer:
Opening Devotions were led by Pastor Dick.

There were 94 people in attendance.

Approval of 2010 Annual Meeting Minutes:
A motion was made by Fran Nelson and seconded by Bobbie Goodman to approve the 2010 Annual Meeting Minutes.  Motion Carried.

Introduction of Council Members:
The current Church Council members in attendance were introduced.  Debbie Weber,  Jeanette Gessner, Todd Lentz, Brian Kjorlie, John Denhartigh & Judy Hernkind. 

Max Jenatscheck, Jim Lauth & Tony Hess were not in attendance. 

Nominations for Council Members:
There are three vacant openings.  John Denhartigh & Brian Kjorlie have finished their terms and Jim Lauth cannot fulfill his term.  Jim Crawford, Dan Kucksdorf and Fran Nelson were nominated to be on Church Council. A motion was made by Marge Margelowsky and seconded by Dan Pulsfus that the unanimous cast for council members is Jim Crawford, Dan Kucksdorf & Fran Nelson.  Motion carried. 

Committee Reports:
Jeanette Gessner, representing Christian Ed has her report printed in the annual meeting book.  32 lbs. of aluminum pop tops were turned in for the Ronald McDonald House.  A calendar is being put together and any pictures you have of church related items are welcomed.  You can scan and email them to Denise at the church office.  The calendars will be for sale next fall.

Deb Weber, representing Worship & Music has her report printed in annual meeting book.  This group is meeting on Wednesday, 1/26/11 at 6:30 p.m. and new members are urged to join.  Joan Cassellius mentioned that she is the Communion Assistant Chair.

Tony, representing property has his report in the annual meeting book and was unable to attend the meeting.

Pastor Dick spoke on behalf of the Youth.  
Monthly activities are planned as well as a mission trip to Leach Lake in July.  The National youth gathering in New Orleans will be in 2012.

Social Ministries has a report in the annual meeting book.

Janice Peterson is our Parish Nurse and is starting a ‘healthy eating’ class and all are welcome.

Brian Kjorlie, representing Stewardship had no written report in the annual meeting book but spoke of two accomplishments this year.  One was the Mission Endowment Fund they started this year and also of the Consecration Sunday Drive which was successful which brought in nearly the same amount of pledges as the previous year.

Stacy Macomber and Lisa Zellmer represents Shared Ministries. 
Stacy represented Global Missions and said their group is meeting Wednesday, January 26th at 5:30 if anyone is interested in joining them.  This group is trying to gain new strength because it is getting quite small.  The Lenten calendar will be worked on as well as plans for selling chocolates for Easter.  If anyone has requests of Stacy or Lisa, feel free to contact them.

Kari Johnson was not available to give the Treasurer’s report.  Todd Lentz went over the treasurer’s report.  Comparisons of operating expenses for 2009, 2010 were shown as well as the projected budget for 2011 and he explained the differences from year to year and why.  He went over the balance sheet and also talked about the interest rates being offered on the loan certificates.  It was decided that we will continue to pay 3% interest on all new loan certificates.  25% of loan certificates will be set aside for repayment of loan certificates.  Financial information will continue to be put in the weekly bulletins.

A motion was made by Dennis Benson to receive the 2010 Financial Report and 2011 spending plan.  The motion was seconded by Betty Ring.  Motion carried.

Thank you Kari for your efforts and for all you have done.

John Denhartigh talked about a project that the congregations’ direction is needed.   That is in regards to the stained glass windows.  We need to know if there is interest in doing more with the 10 windows from our old church that are still in storage and to put better lighting in the ones we have up.  Mary Cupery made a motion that more be done with the windows and the motion was seconded by Marie Rohrbacher.  Motion carried. 

Travis has volunteered to make frames to hang some.  A committee needs to be formed to work on this project.  Patrick Strain feels the first priority with them should be to get lighting on the windows we already have framed and then move forth with doing more with the additional windows.

Council Presidents Report by John Denhartigh is in the annual meeting book.
A bit of “food for thought” that John wants all to think about for the upcoming years is looking into the possibility of expansion of our building.  John believes that with the growth of our church, somewhere down the road we will need to look into expanding our building to better serve our congregation.

“God’s Family Serving Christ with Love” . . . THAT’S US!

Pastor’s Report is printed in the annual meeting book.
There are sign up sheets to help with various things within the church if any are interested.  He talked about the interest of doing another church directory since there are many new members since the last directory was done. If anyone is interested in helping with this project, please let someone know.

The staned glass window project wa already discussed, as well as the Give Back Garden.  Lots of people will be needed to help with the garden where the produce grown goes back to community. 

We need to form a Personnel Committee.  Ed Rohrbacher, Debbie Weber and Nicky Cross are connected to that and a couple more people will be needed for that as well.  

Mike Kvalo spoke on the information their group gathered regarding solar energy.  Focus on Energy came in and did a site assessment for solar.  A proposal was given to us by H & H Electric for photovoltaic solar energy.  These are cells that convert the sunlight directly to electricity. The proposal for 80 sharp solar panels on the roof would cost about $110,000 and after available incentives it would still cost us about $55,000 to put in place and the payback would be approximately 15 years.  The group will look more into hot air boxes that will heat panels and circulate the heat.  Heat is our most expensive utility so this is something we might look into.  Liz Gauger asked about wind power.  That has low payback and there is a significant amount of maintenance involved with them.  Geothermal was talked about but we don’t have the radiant coils in our slab so that would be too expensive.  Geothermal was discussed at the time our building was put up and the architects said that would not be feasible for our building.  Tom Steinhaus talked about starting with the smaller items such as more energy efficient bulbs, etc.  Jeff Johnson explained what they are currently doing with the lights we have as they get replaced. 

Other Business:
Marge Margelowsky would like more members to “get involved”.

A huge THANK YOU to Bob & Chloe Rehdantz for all they do!

A motion was made by Dan Pulsfus and seconded by Fran Nelson to adjourn.  Motion carried.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.