Peabody Room
Present: Jeanne Cassin, Dick
Dabrowski, Dwight Harshbarger,
Linda Kaferle, Mark Louttit,
Fr. Alan MacKillop, Mary Medieros,
Yvette Nasworthy, Marianne Welton
Parishioners
Present: Nicola Barlow, John Ferrillo, Carolyn Smith
Absent: Sue Hildreth, Don Ulsch
I.
Opening
Devotions and Prayer
II.
Priest-in-Residence
Report (Fr. Alan)
A.
Planning an
Adult Ed Program in the Fall assisted by Phil Welton
using two books that Fr. Alan is currently reading
B.
Organist
Contract
1.
Organist
Ad-hoc Committee on Compensation headed by John Ferrillo
(members: Judy Adams, Leslie Harrower,
Mark Loutitt, Nicola Barlow)
2.
Arranged a
successful trial rehearsal between Kyle Bertoulli and
the choir
a.
Good support
for Kyle
i.
Currently an
undergrad student at UMASS Lowell
ii.
This is
Kyle’s first experience as a choir director
iii.
Has had two
positions as organist
iv.
Has good
attitude and work ethic and will have to grow into the job
v.
Sees this as
an ancillary position on the road to becoming music director of a high school
3.
Committee
recommends a starting salary of [confidental] with a review in 6 months
a.
A positive
review at that time would likely result in an increase in his salary.
b.
REVIEW
DATE:
4.
Mark used
the standard AGO contract as the primary model upon which Michael Smith’s
contract was based and made some tweaks here and there resulting in Kyle Bertulli’s contract
a.
Successful CORI check
b.
Successful completion
of
c.
ACTION ITEM: Mark to make small changes discussed at
Vestry meeting and e-mail to members
d.
MOTION: Accept contract prepared by Mark as amended
at meeting – passed unanimously
5. Michael Smith would like to stay involved
possibly by
organizing a Children’s
Community Choir
C.
1.
Scheduled
for August 11 – August 15
2.
Carolyn
Smith distributed VBS brochure she created and will be providing posters to be
put in other local churches
3.
Carolyn and
Erica Scattergood are working on the curriculum which has an environmental
stewardship theme
4.
Substantial
morning snack to be provided at
5.
Fr. Alan to
lead chapel from 9-9:30
6.
Looking for
3 age appropriate groupings
7.
Looking for
volunteers (sign up on back of registration form)
D.
Search
1.
Fr. Alan
requested that discussion be tabled until Sue Hildreth
and Don Ulsch could be present
a.
ACTION
ITEM: Fr. Alan to contact Sue about a
time she could be present – possibly during the daytime since night-time
meetings are difficult for her because of effects from chemo
2.
Fr. Alan feels
there needs to be development of proportionate giving (tithing) before we have
the ability to afford a priest with a family
a.
Some members
did not feel that tithing would become a reality for the majority of
parishioners at St. Andrew’s
i.
Dick felt
that by defining Stewardship in biblical terms was too narrow a definition and
would “paint us into a corner”
3.
Fr. Alan
recommended that we spend time with a consultant on determining who we are as a
parish before we proceed with a Profile Committee
a.
Dwight did
not agree that a consultant was a wise use of our limited funds unless he/she
helped us mobilized our resources towards calling a rector
4.
Fr. Alan
said that the Wardens and he would be meeting with the Bishop in August to
discuss his proposal of staying two additional years as Priest-in-Residence
(other Vestry Members are welcome to come)
5.
Mark said
that people of the parish would like to see some kind of action – a concrete
timeline
6.
After some
discussion, it was decided that we would hold a Parish Meeting on Sunday,
September 7th to have a conversation about the “next step”
7.
Fr. Alan
suggested we schedule another meeting to continue this conversation
a.
ACTION
ITEM: Fr. Alan to send out an e-mail
setting a time for a subsequent Vestry discussion after contacting Sue about
her schedule
III.
Outreach
Commission
A.
Fr. Alan
reported that Katherine Black (priest in diocese who’s husband is a doctor) is
looking for 3 or 4 parishes to be involved in helping with the opening of a
hospital in
1.
Fr. Alan
expressed his desire for St. Andrew’s to consider being one of these parishes
B.
MOTION: Dick moved that we spend $3600 as proposed by
the Outreach Commission for the first and second quarters of 2008 to meet our
Outreach obligations; Jeanne seconded – unanimously approved
C.
A discussion
ensued about what kind of return on investment we should expect from certain
Outreach organizations – in particular, Young Life as far as bringing new
members to the church
1.
It was
suggested that Eric Stoltz come to a Vestry meeting
periodically to give us an update on Young Life
2.
Carolyn
suggested that if we do a better a job of telling the community what we do for
our Outreach programs that we are more likely to attract people to come to St.
Andrew’s who are interested in helping other people
3.
Fr. Alan
suggested we sponsor an after-school art program for children in the community
to be taught by artists in the parish that will give the church additional
exposure in the town as well as help community youth
IV.
Treasurer’s
Report
A.
Because of
the high expense of Lawn Care/Snow Removal, Dick proposed bringing lawn and
shrub cutting “in house” by having a volunteer sheet for those responsibilities
B.
Dick
reported on 4 things being done to help with fuel consumption
1.
Alan Rogers
has been working with Jim Western’s son-in-law who is an expert in the field of
efficient heating methods to improve the church furnace’s efficiency
2.
Installation
of insulation in the Rectory
3.
Installation
of programmable thermostat in Parish Hall
4.
ACTION
ITEM: Dick to check in with John Haynes
– St. Andrew’s “Energy Czar” about buying fuel cooperatively with the other 4
churches of the “Tri-Parish”
V.
Commission
Reports
A.
Written
reports for the following Commissions were distributed:
1.
Membership
a.
Event related
postcards are produced and mailed to St. Andrew’s mailing list
b.
Updated
Family & Friends Directory in production
c.
Judy Adams
continuing to coordinate rides for those unable to drive to church or church
functions
d.
Mailing list
is kept up-to-date and provided for use for church mailings
e.
St. Andrew’s
had its first booth at the Ayer 4th of July Celebration under Faith
Salter’s leadership
i.
Working on
plans for similar participation in Grotonfest on
September 20th and Harvard Flea Market on October 11th
f.
Town of
g.
Produced a
new brochure called “Kids Welcome Here” that highlights youth activities and
participation at St. Andrew’s
2.
Parish Life
(Erica Scattergood)
a.
Hosted the
Annual Parish Historians’ Meeting
i.
Wonderful
goodies provided by committee members and parish volunteers
ii.
Meal served
by terrific team of parishioners
b.
Possible
church picnic on tap this summer
c.
Planning to
help with the Outreach concert on Sept. 21st
3.
Communications
(Erica MacKillop)
a.
Working on
the monthly X-Press
b.
New signage
around the church campus almost completed
c.
Dick Dabrowski and Carolyn Smith have produced three new church
brochures
d.
Louise
Rogers is investigating a post card mailing to our various communities in
preparation for the beginning of Sunday School
e.
Still to
come is a full-year calendar to be posted in a prominent place to help event
planners avoid conflicts and help get publicity going well in advance of
activities
B.
Christian
Formation Update
1.
Some of the
Sunday School children and their families attended Barbara Harris Camp in June
for its 5th anniversary celebration and had a wonderful time
VI.
Next Meeting
– August 26th (subsequently changed to September 2nd),
VII.
Closing
Prayer
VIII.
Adjourn
Meeting –
Respectfully
submitted, Linda Kaferle