Technology Committee Report

 

Next Meeting:

Date: 08.10.05 Time: 7pm

 

 

General Agenda Items (discussion points, action items, follow-up items, etc.)

 

            Members able to attend – Laurie Gartner, Mark Manges

 

            1) Discuss Folwer projector system proposal – expensive system but a very detailed proposal.  Other bids certainly needed before any action can be taken.

           

            2) ‘Clean up’ old computers for give away – 3 system units available … contact Mark Manges or Pastor Chris for more information.

 

            3) Discuss problems with Shepherd Staff 7.4 upgrade – Finance committee and secretary are having problems with the upgrade.  Finance committee has chosen going back to version 3.0 without contacting Shepherd Staff to resolve 7.4 problems.  Going back to 3.0 is against the advice of the technology committee.  Tech committee suggested Shepherd Staff Support be contacted and given a chance to resolve the problems first.  Then, if Shepherd Staff Support is unable to resolve, move back to 3.0.

 

            Finance committee plans to perform the down grade steps against tech committee advice.  Tech committee made the 3.0 media available to Finance committee 07.18.2005 PM.  Finance committee will also need to contact Shepherd Staff for a refund on 7.4 purchase.

 

 

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

 

            1) Nothing at this time.

 

 

Status Report on GSLC Visioning Implementation Plan (use this space to share with council current status, accomplishments, new developments, or outstanding issues relevant to the goals your committee is tasked with as one of the champions)

 

            1)  Bid on worship projection system available and provided to technology and worship committees.  This ties in with getting youth involved and providing more visual aids during worship.

 

 

 

Does your committee need assistance from the Long Range Planning Committee at this time to proceed with implementation of the GSLC Visioning Plan?

 

            Not at this time.

 

Date submitted: 07.18.05

Council Liaison: Mark Manges

 

 

Long Range Planning Committee Report

 

Next Meeting: 

Date:   August 8          

Time:  7:00 PM

 

Present:  Duane Grosz, Barb Misselt, and Doug Tollefson

 

General Agenda Items (discussion points, action items, follow-up items, etc.)

 

1.)   We met with Education and Property Committees to see how they were doing on reaching their goals of the Visioning plan, and to see if any assistance was needed from the LRP Committee.  Both Committees were doing a great job, and did not need any assistance from Long Range Planning at this time.

     

2)   We decided not to hold a meeting in July.  Our next Long Range Planning meeting will be August 8.

 

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

 

None

Worship Committee Report 07/11/2005

Present: George Price, Pastor Chris, Cynthia McLaren, Brenda Booth, John Kopp, Bruce Larson

 

                                                                                                                                Next Meeting:

                                                                                                                                Date:  8/08/05  Time: 5:30 pm

General Agenda Items

 

1)  Youth Committee -  Youth Committee representative, Becky Fluegel, requested dates for youth-led services for next year.  Cynthia will investigate and provide possible dates at the August meeting.  George will speak with Becky on the types of services the youth would like to do.

 

2)  Policy Procedures-  Church Council asked each committee to present all policies their committee may have.  PC believed the only policy for Worship Committee would be the wedding guideline policy.   More discussion at next Council meeting as to what detail is needed.

 

3)  Concert Piano Bench - A recent suggestion was received to have the church purchase a new concert piano bench, as the current bench is too tall.   George called both Schmitt Music & Hamilton Music and found price range $600-$1,000.   Bruce saw a bench online for approx. $300 and he’ll recheck on the exact info.   When the appropriate bench is found and funding is discussed, the bench will be purchased.  (George or PC will speak with Grant C. on memorial fund usage.)

 

4)  Sanctuary Chairs- John stated the check has been sent to purchase 60 new chairs.  Delivery date is not known, as Mary Jones was not available.   At next Worship meeting, more discussion on stability of the old chairs.

 

5)  Organ Dedication -  Cynthia discussed possible ideas of organ dedication (i.e., recital, A.G.O. organists, done during worship, hold special event, etc.)   More discussion at next meeting.

 

6)  Organ Console / Piano Switch -  Cynthia asked to move the organ console to where the piano is now, in order to hear the organ better.   Switch will require only one cable, which has already been paid for.  Committee agreed this was ok to do.  Before switching, Cynthia will speak with Michelle S. about chimes interference. 

 

7)  Communion Intinction vs. Cups -  Worship Committee has agreed to commune with cups at both Sunday services starting this fall.   The change will be reassessed by the group after a few months.

 

8)  Eternal Candle -  The Eternal Candle has not been working or lit during past few services.  This could be due to either using too much oil, the wrong type of oil, or the difficulty in filling the candle with oil.   PC will discuss possible pulley system with Zack Klaus to lower/raise candle for filling.   Committee will also need to look into oil issues.  

 

9)  Renewing Worship -  Cynthia shared documentation of new worship & hymns that will be coming out fall 2006 (currently available online).   More discussion next month. 

 

Agenda Items Needing Assistance from Council

 

1)  None at this time

 

Council Liaison:   George Price

Date Submitted:   07/14/2005

 

 

Volunteer Coordinator’s Report to GSC Council

July 13, 2005

 

 

Activities Completed:

1)      Greeter survey

2)      Help Education Comm. contact potential Sunday School teachers

 

Activities in Progress:

1)      Plan training sessions for volunteers to use sanitizer for communion cups

2)      Plan training sessions for sound system operators

3)      Process information from Time and Talent forms

4)      Fill open spots in June – August worship assistant schedules – no sound operator for 9:30am service after July 3

 

 

 

Vicky Mulvihill

Volunteer Coordinator

Finance Committee

 

Next Meeting:

Date: August 8, 2005

Time: 7 p.m.

 

Present: Grant Christiansen, Joleen Mainz, Tim Olson, Wayne Peterson, Molly Schmidt, Sue Titus. Michele Saack, unable to attend the meeting, provided a detailed written report

 

General Agenda Items (discussion points, action items, follow-up items, etc.)

 

1)      Reviewed Financial Summary for June. Expenses exceeded income by $2,386, but there is a year-to-date balance of $4,807.

 

2) Reviewed audit committee report (5/5/05) regarding items to be addressed by Finance Committee:

• Property – land value is now listed as cost at purchase, not assessed value

• Tellers – Grant is trying to recruit additional volunteers so at least 2 tellers are counting the offering at any given time.

• Organ – a final report of donations/expenditures will be prepared and submitted with the 2005 Annual Report

 

3)  Budget worksheets – Michelle will hand out forms to committee Chairs at the next Council meeting.

 

4)  Savings – The Council approved placing a portion of savings into CDs. Michelle submitted the appropriate paperwork on 7/1/05.

 

5) Shepherd Staff Software – Unfortunately, the recently installed upgraded software has been fraught with problems including: a) the finance module does not balance accounts properly, b) the membership module requires additional manual processing, and c) the export batches to diskette function in the contributions module does not work, giving an error message. There was concern about ensuring backup of existing data and the potential need to reenter new financial data if the problems cannot be rectified. Application of all available “patches” has not seemed to help. After much discussion about potential solutions, it was decided to ask the Technology Committee to assist in reverting back to the old version, requesting a refund from the company, and finding out what financial software other local congregations are using and are happy with.   

 

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

Item #3 – budget worksheets to formulate 2006 budget.

 

Date submitted: 7/20/05 (meeting held on 7/11/05)

Council Liaison: Tim Olson

 

REPORT TO CHURCH COUNCIL JULY,  2005

Cynthia

 

 

It’s good to be back after my 3 month sabbatical!  It was a wonderful time for study and travel and I want to thank all of you once again for your support.  You can find a brief report of my experiences on the Council bulletin board.  However, I would be happy to visit with any of you if you would like to know more of the details.

 

July and August are busy months as plans are made for another year of programming.  The Ed. Committee is working hard on filling several teaching vacancies in our S.S. and on scheduling activities for Rally Day.  We are still in need of teachers for grades 4 and 6 as well as for volunteers to assist about 6 Sundays during the year in the computer lab.

 

Fenris Organ continues to work on voicing the organ.  It is very close to being completed. 

 

A couple of years ago, the Synod put together a 5 year plan to strengthen congregations in a variety of ways.  This year, the focus is on worship.  I am part of a Synod team that will be exploring ways to increase and maintain vitality in worship in congregations across our Synod.  We will be working to find creative ways to teach hymns old and new as well as ways to introduce the Renewing Worship resources which will be published by fall of 2006. 

 

As you and your families plan your fall schedules, please save time for involvement in one of our many musical groups.  We have excellent leadership and good resources and we can accommodate a variety of schedules!  It is so important to continue singing the hymns of our faith and to teach our children to carry this tradition!  See you in choir!  Thanks for your support!!