IN GENERAL: it’s clear that by the end of the nearly two-hour meeting, when it was past 1:30 pm and nobody had eaten lunch, that few of us were functioning as our best selves. The Corporation is actively seeking suggestions for how to improve this situation – do we change the usual time? Encourage folks to bring a lunch (which of course is always an option)?
REGARDING THE KITCHEN: the Kitchen Steering Committee as currently constituted consists of Trevor Smith, Ross Hamilton, Eileen Hussey, and Laura Hill, with me (Grace) serving as a tie-breaking vote if necessary. Laura Lunt will serve as project manager, which is a role separate from the committee; she will coordinate with the designers, contractors, and other players and oversee the progress of the project. Going forward, the committee intends to be as transparent as it possibly can with the congregation. Sometimes, decisions will need to be made on a fairly tight schedule; and of course, we rely on you to read what we put out and be present to hear the announcements! As of today (October 26) we would still consider an addition to the committee if someone is very passionate about getting involved.
REGARDING THE COFFEE HOUR JAR: I acknowledge that, as a last-minute addition to the Parish Meeting agenda that was then taken up near the end of a grueling agenda, this item was not handled as well as it should have been, and I apologize to those who were and are upset. I should not have pushed so hard for a decision at the meeting. However, the fact remains that the status quo (putting out a jar and collecting cash) is unsatisfactory for several reasons. It is not hospitable to new folks and to those who may not be able to afford even a token contribution. It has, in the past, led to more than one embarrassing confrontation when the coffee hour hosts have been over-eager to make sure that everyone was contributing their share. And perhaps most importantly, it is far from best practice as far as church accounting; it blurs the distinction between the personal funds of the coffee hour hosts and the church’s income and expenditures. It should, like any other parish program, be funded and accounted for through the parish budget. All this being the case, we will not make changes immediately but will definitely plan to have a better and clearer procedure in place by the new year, after consultation with the current coffee hour hosts.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me or anyone else on the Corporation, as always.
Peace,
Grace+
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