February 12th, 2024

United Church of Ludlow
Executive Board Meeting
Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at 6:15 PM

MINUTES

United Church of Ludlow, 48 Pleasant St, Ludlow, VT 05149
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Present by Zoom: Laura Creaser, Michelle Fountain, Andy Otnicky, Lisa Hamm-Greenawalt, Dean Alexander, Bret Harlow, Bob Malecki
Absent: None

1. Call Meeting to Order – The meeting was called to order by Laura Creaser at 603 PM. Michelle led an opening prayer.

 

1. Minutes – Board Clerk Lisa Hamm-Greenawalt presented the minutes from the Jan. 15 meeting for approval. Bret made a motion to accept, Laura seconded, motion was approved unanimously. 

 

1. Pastor’s Report – Sent to the Board via email and attached below. Bret asked what boundary training is; Michelle said it’s a way for pastors to know when there is abuse in case it needs to be reported. The Mission and Vision will be voted on as part of the Annual Meeting.

 

1. Treasurer’s Report – Lisha submitted the November and December financial reports by email. Highlights:
   1. Annual Report – Lisha will print out 35 copies of the Annual Report and add Mission and Vision. Sent email to Dean regarding façade cost. Updated slate of officers. With new treasurer Bob Malecki. We will be looking for new deacon. She sent the proposed budget as of December 2024 with updated figures and December Treasurers Report. People are being mailed their 1099Cs. No online version for people to access on Zoom. Karey can mail to anyone who wants a copy. Lisha will be the moderator. Dean will discuss the capital campaign. We also have to vote in the entire slate of officers, including the new treasurer. Have the secretary cast one vote for the slate if there’s no opposition.
   2. Laura asked Lisha to help with the transition to Bob Malecki as incoming treasurer, in conjunction with the other account signatory, George Thomson. She mentioned that she cannot find the second key to the safety deposit box at the bank, which she hasn’t used for years; George Thomson has the other. She will pay for a new copy. Dean suggests they open the safe deposit box to see the contents, make a report, and get a second key. Lisha will drop the treasurer’s materials at church by Jan. 28. Andy will make sure Bob has a key to the church.

 

1. Deacon’s Report

None

1. Capital Campaign
   1. Dean – church bell and sound system projects. Need deposits of $405 to initiate, the total, including foundation façade, will by $45-50k. We have $13,150 in the account, designated toward the foundation, and one of the major donors had no problem if the money were used elsewhere.
   2. Other funds include two entities with suggestions for matching funds grants, $10k and $2,500. This brings us to over $25k, more than halfway to completing all 3 projects. He suggested we use additional monies in the building fund and nest egg if we don’t raise the money. He proposed we move ahead. He suggests we use money from the building fund to make a down payment for repairing the bell and PA system – $17-$18k. Once projects are completed, we will have started a capital fund drive, to see if there’s other grant money available through UCC. 
   3. Lisha suggested that our account at VSECU still contains $90K from the sale of the parsonage, which could be tapped for some of this work. She feels the congregation should approve any expenditures of this nature. Laura suggests we do that at the Annual Meeting, that Dean presents this to the congregation, and we will take a vote to move forward. Lisha also suggested asking the congregation their priorities among bell, sound system, and façade. There was some discussion about who would do the façade/masonry work, since the contractor Dean had found has fallen through. Andy saw an ad for a mason in a local paper and offered to make a phone call, which Dean endorsed. Lisha said Jim Peplau has also mentioned that the church was painted years ago, and wondered if we need to repaint. Andy pointed out that the paint is in good shape, was good quality, and has not peeled.

 

1. Other Business

1. Use of Building – George Thomson sent an email today that WCYS wants to use the fellowship hall next Thu and Fri for their training. Windsor County Youth Services, which works with at-risk students, lost their house in Ludlow. Laura proposed that motion. Dean seconded. All in favor. Passed unanimously.
2. Office Equipment – Lisa ended the Canon contract and discovered we were paying for maintenance, but own the old printer. We need to find a worthy donation recipient or sell it, or ask Matt if he knows anyone who could use the printer. If he knows anyone we could donate it, to we could donate.
3. Coffee hour signups –Lisa redid the calendar to add cleanup. 
4. Shoveling – Dean’s shoveler bagged out in late November. James Kilgus from Chester has been hired to shovel. He charges the same rate as Adam, $15 for the first half hour, $30 an hour.

 

1. Next Meeting Dates – 
   1. The Annual Meeting will be held Jan. 28, 2024, after church.
   2. As meetings are now quarterly, we set the next meeting date for Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 6 PM. Laura will run the meeting.

 

1. Meeting Adjourned by Laura Creaser at 7:06 PM

Minutes submitted by Lisa Hamm-Greenawalt, Clerk