BLLC Council Meeting Minutes

June 15, 2015

Present: Greg Lowe, Leslie Shank, Lenette Bauer, Nancy Young, Donis Kassen, Deb Houtkooper, Jim Dockendorf, Pastor Mike Peterson

  1. Guest speaker: Mary Apuli, Director from Achieve Language Academy

She shared these details with us:

  • Children who attend come from all over St Paul, Maplewood and North St Paul.
  • 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch(working poor), and they do have students who are homeless and/or undocumented
  • Health and wellness is always a big concern for students, especially dental and wellness checks
  • Maplewood Lion’s Club helps with glasses
  • 65% of students are ELL (English Language Learners)
  • There is a school nurse 6 hrs/day and a fulltime social worker
  • Some parents are not literate in any language
  • There are not a lot of volunteers because parents (either 1 or 2 parent families) are working
  • It is a great community!
  • Enrollment is ~ 450, pre-K->8, with max size classrooms of 24 (they have 2 sections of each grade)
  • They have a high retention rate of students and a low (8%) mobility rate
  • School values: Work – Respect – Belong
  • Annual project on Earth Day every year, school cleans up around Beaver Lake

When asked her thoughts about the biggest needs:

  • School supplies in the fall
  • Ongoing relationships and 1:1 time with adults; kids love to read with someone
  1. Opening Prayer and Devotion, Pastor Mike
  2. Behavioral Covenant read by Greg
  3. Operational Discussion

Greg: We need to ask each committee to send a calendar (out for at least 3 months) with dates, times, events to the Council, and then add a month each month so we stay at least 3 months ahead. We also need a list and contact information for each committee chair. We need this information from Calvary’s Cross and God Be Lifted Up Church as well, so we can manage logistics. Send info to Leslie, she will collate and communicate. REMINDER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS – HAVE YOUR COMMITTEES SEND LESLIE THEIR CONTACT INFO AND THREE MONTH CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

  • Admin, Jim

$6,500 off target YTD, better than 2014, which was off target $8,300

Continuing to make additional principal payment each month; total remaining mortgage is $68,064

Not aware of any needs from this committee

Our lack of professional Administration staff is being noticed by pastor candidates

We will look at Rod’s assessment of Admin needs

Admin will look at affordability of part time tech/admin person

Mike will research what Holy Cross is doing

  • Property, Pastor Mike

Calvary’s Cross is putting in new carpet

They have invited our Council and people of BLLC to an Open House next Sunday, the 21st and to join them in worship and take part in lunch after that service

  • Worship & Music

Lenette and Mike will work out details of celebration for Deb Schoenberger

To celebrate all volunteers at BLLC, everyone in the congregation puts their name on a paper leaf – we have a cookout to honor everyone – fall event?

  • Youth and Family, Pastor Mike

VBS will be held in conjunction with Holy Cross, details are being worked out

More info will be coming about white water rafting near Duluth; cancelled – may be a Twins game instead

Ideas for Sunday school for next year are being discussed

Movie night is coming up

We need to replace Julie on the Council; Greg and Deb will work on this

Bulletin announcement thanking Julie; Leslie will do this

  • Outreach, Stewardship, Evangelism, Donis & Nancy

Block party will be held on Aug 15th: Jim asked us to consider NOT having a “Free Will Offering” sign at the beginning of the line; some simply cannot afford. Could do away with whole idea of Free Will Offering or have sign at the end of the line with a note to explain how the funds in the offering will be used. This will be a more welcoming atmosphere. No decision was made

We will not be giving out backpacks this year; instead only school supplies to be given to Richardson Elementary

Joint Service will be held on Aug 16th

Jan Pedersen who has been sending out birthday cards to the congregation is moving out of town. List is not updated. Need a new person to update and carry on.

Stewardship: the committee is checking on the ELCA website so we have the beginnings of our campaign in place before our new pastor arrives

Discussing “mini-Kingdom assignments”. Mike will get additional details

Leslie wondered if the date of the Pet Blessing could be changed

  • Health & Wellness / Parish Nurse ministry, Deb

Presented options for magnetic reusable name tags and voted to choose the larger $5 one; how many to order was not decided; request for funds will go to Enduring gifts; need a place/way to store them

Greeter training (Lenette and Deb) – developing a short curriculum and making a roster (this would be a good way for leaders to be more visible); promote with article in the Crossways

Komen for the Cure walk on August 23 from 9-11:30am; about 600-700 walkers; God’s Work, Our Hands shirts being ordered (also through Enduring Gifts).

  • Pastor’s Report, Mike

What was: Pastoral acts, last Bible Study of the season, went to Holy Cross with Deb H to discuss cooperative ideas; high school graduates recognized; leader at Via de Christo

What is: Wednesday evening worship services going well, hosts and music still needed; our intern Linda will be done at BLLC the first week in July and moving on to St Paul’s in Stillwater in the fall.

To come: vacation planned July 2-22 and substitutes are arranged; be faithful to the call process as his time with us is getting shorter

  1. Future Planning
  2. Greg reviewed retreat goals:
  3. Leslie: Communications team meeting soon to develop ideas & intern (Lindsey) is making progress researching what we should add to our website and making posters and flyers for events; visitor flyers and brochures have been updated; council photos on the bulletin board have been updated; may want to look into something more permanent than the tri-fold board for display purposes
  4. For Outreach, Jim talked about Enduring Gifts and interpreted a much broader usage for the funds than currently assumed; pointed out that this is a pivotal time to use it and invest in the community; suggested rewriting the bylaws of the Enduring Gifts Fund; have someone from Enduring Gifts come to a Council Meeting and discuss options?
  5. Income discussion: “3040”; expenses are down; we are just writing about our finances but we need to actually talk to people and bring the congregation into the discussion
  6. Council visibility: Greg would like to have Council do the volunteer recognition event as a cook out; summer or early fall? Greg and Leslie will work on ideas.

Respectfully submitted by Deb Houtkooper and Leslie Shank

Next meeting July 20, 2015