President’s Letter - February 2009
Just a short note to let you know some issues presently pending before your Board of Trustees.
Although the weather was . . . “wintery” (it is winter after all), about 20 or so members/friends/visitors attended the first “mid-year budget forum” on January 18. This was a new Board initiative to explain some of the details that dictate the budget process and schedule and involve you, members and friends, more deeply in the budget process. Our Treasurer, Greg Kullberg, gave an excellent overview of the current budget (printed in your Handbook/Directory), and an insightful analysis of our income and expenses. Did you know that the annual cost to operate our Fellowship is about $1,250 per member/friend? Or that the cost for each Sunday service averages about $3,300? The numbers are quite sobering and Greg’s presentation was detailed, intelligible and insightful. If you missed the meeting, but are interested in budget issues, the handouts that Greg prepared are available for your review; I encourage every member/friend to look at these materials as we prepare for the 2009/10 pledge drive. Our pledge drive this year is headed by Nenette Kress who will be providing many more budget details in the near future. For those who missed this January meeting, there will be a second meeting after the conclusion of the pledge drive. In early May, the Board will release a tentative, draft budget for 2009/10 and convene a second forum to discuss priorities, alternatives and options. I hope that many of you will participate in this new process, share your feelings about budget issues and learn more about the many, many competing demands on our finances.
A big part of the budget is utilities, commonly referred to as “energy” costs. Spurred by the higher energy costs, global warming and a moral imperative to husband resources, the Green Sanctuary Committee has taken the initiative of performing an “energy audit” on our religious home. The results of the audit are quite interesting: the data indicates that the church can save approximately $690 a year on electric costs by investing $2,000 in upgrading the lighting fixtures-that is a 35% rate-of-return and a “pay back” of less than three years. Green Sanctuary is coordinating this initiative with B&G and the Board will be carefully reviewing the numbers and weighing this investment as part of the 2009/10 budget process. If you are interested in knowing more about the energy costs of the Fellowship, contact Daria Gregg or Carl Grimm.
In other news, I regret to report that our long (long) time tenant, Ward Morehouse, will be closing his publishing business this Spring. Ward’s book business has been operating out of the basement of the church for many, many years. And, as many of you may know, Ward was one of the original founding members of this Fellowship and has contributed much over the years. The Fellowship Hall is formerly known as the Morehouse Fellowship Hall in honor of Ward’s late wife, Cynthia Morehouse.
Lastly, the Board welcomes Stacey Hunter as the new interim Director of Religious Education. We are very fortunate to have Stacey Hunter step forward as the new interim Director of Religious Education and are confident that she will be terrific in this role. Stacey is a member of the Fellowship and a former teacher. I encourage members and friends to introduce yourselves to Stacey, whether you have children in RE or not, and if possible, get involved in RE -providing our children with a wholesome, intelligent religious education is part of our mission.
Rick Turner, President