Annual Parish Meeting 2012

On January 15th the annual parish meeting was held in the Russell building. The meeting began with a potluck lunch. After Fr. Dave blessed the food and everyone had made it through the first round filling their plates Fr. Dave opened the meeting in prayer. The first item on the agenda was to review the qualification to be a vestry member. The nominations were then opened for the election of three new vestry members to replace those who were rotating off their three year term. This year there were only three candidates, Peggy Klamm, Janice Mueller, and Pam Reed and there were no nominations from the floor. With a move and a second the nomination were closed and the three candidate were elected to the vestry.
The meeting also had reports from the various ministries; ECW, Men’s Fellowship, Choir, the Senior and Junior warden. Deacon Lori presented a report on the LEM/LEV’s, Sunday School, and her activities. Fr. Dave’s presentation highlighted the many activities that occurred at St. Elizabeth’s over the past year. The emphasis was building families, building relationships, and being visible in the community through our various outreach programs. He also shared his vision to focus on our current ministries and our need to strengthen them. He did not rule out new ministries which could be initiated if there was a leader who incorporated new members and met the mission and vision of the church.
Following the reports came the 2011 financial report on the budget vs. actual, the profit and loss statement, and the budget for 2012. On the whole 2011 was a year that saw pledges down and without the roof income it was a year that ended in the red. This is in spite of holding spending to a minimum and cutting cost in all categories. The balanced budget proposed for 2012 also sees spending cuts and the elimination of a budget line for a youth leader.
The meeting ended with Fr. Dave showing a montage video representing most of the things we did over the year. The video demonstrated that for our size church we are very active church enhancing our fellowship and our awareness in the community. St. Elizabeth has a strong future when we trust in God and reach out to those around us.