NORTHWESTERN OHIO
SYNODICAL
WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION
Board Meeting
May 4, 2002 2:25 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran
Church, Findlay, Ohio
Present:
President – Pat Hirschfeld; Vice-President – Mary Satterfield;
Secretary – Linda Tooman; Past Treasurer – Kris Johnson (substituting
for Wanda Straub as approved by the
board); Board Members Gayle Guernsey
(C), Nancy Sander (E), Corrine Hurni (MV), Jeanne Matthews (NC), Jacquie Fritz
(SW); Joyce Nelson (T); Son Light Editor – Cora
Kettler; Pastor Advisor – Julie Beitelschees.
Absent:
Wanda Straub (Treas.), Marilyn Lee
(SE)
Opening:
President Pat Hirschfeld opened the
meeting with prayer.
Treasurer’s
Report:
Treasurer Wanda Straub was absent due to a Treasurer’s Training
Meeting in Chicago. Former treasurer, Kris
Johnson, read a
previous treasurer’s
report, as a
current report was not available.
Kris reported
a balance of $9,418.15 in the checking account, as of
January 31,
2002.
Motion: Kris Johnson made the motion to approve this treasurer’s report, and Mary Satterfield seconded. The motion carried.
There was discussion on the conference monies being
handled by
the Synodical
treasurer. Our
policy is to continue to encourage
funds to flow
through the synodical treasury or unit treasurers.
Minutes: The minutes from the March 9, 2002, meeting was approved with the following correction: The minutes stated that the “Son Light” was being printed at Staples. For the past year it has been printed at Office Max, not at Staples.
Correspondence:
A letter was received form the Great Lakes Consortium, who will be hosting a
Tanzanian Women’s Local Government Delegation from May 25 – June 11, 2002.
They have invited Pat Hirschfeld to a planning meeting to help schedule
activities for the visitors.
Conference Reports:
EASTERN – Nancy Sander attended a circle meeting at Trinity, Monroeville, as a guest/observer/source of information person. She encouraged the sending of the Love Offering to the treasurer and talked up the Spring Assembly and Triennial Gathering.
Nancy will check with the secretary of the conference and try to
contact those units who did not send delegates to the Spring
Assembly, and to arrange a visit in the fall.
MAUMEE VALLEY – Their spring assembly was held on April
13, 2002, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Napoleon. 103 ladies from Maumee Valley
registered, and a continental breakfast was served prior to the agenda with the
theme “Under Eagles’ Wings.” The guest speaker was Pastor Bob Hamilton
from Sulphur Springs/Bucyrus congregations. His combination of music,
philosophy, poetry, and interpretation of doctrine was an inspiration to those
present. The Men of the Church favored the group with several handbell numbers
as well as preparing and serving the dinner. Carol Dille presented the Triennial
Gathering information; Joyce Nelson, synodical representative from Toledo,
summarized upcoming events and brought greetings from the NOW Synodical Board.
Corrine Hurni, Maumee Valley board representative, thanked retiring President,
Sue McKibben; and installed Carol Dille, president; Brenda Schibler,
vice-president; Carolyn Richards, secretary; Shirley Hamilton, treasurer; Mary
Barnes, Mission/Growth; and Carolyn Schlade, Mission/Action.
On Tuesday, April 30, the officers met in Napoleon for dinner and decided
to meet again on July 31, 2002, in Defiance to make plans for their Fall
Conference at St. Paul Lutheran.
NORTH CENTRAL – April 27th was the date for
their spring assembly at Zion Lutheran, Luckey. Barb & Carl Dierksheide
spoke on their trip to the Phoebe Compound in Liberia, and it was very well
received. They were gone 2-3 months – Barb helped organize their library, and
Carl repaired broken generators and did other mechanical work. $253.00 was given
in regular offerings; $973.00 was given to Special Projects.
Their fall retreat will be held a month later than usual (October) in
response to past concerns. It will be held on Friday and Saturday, October
18-19, 2002. Pastor Bill Diehm, St. John’s, Oak Harbor, will present a
Bible study and program on his recent travels to Greece entitled, “Following
the Footsteps of Paul.”
The LWR truck pick-up will be on October 19 & 20, 2002.
SOUTHEASTERN – 92 women were present for their Spring
Assembly at Peace, Galion, on April 13. We had an excellent speaker, author
Dandi Mackall, from West Salem. She would make an excellent speaker for the
Synodical Convention. The buffet was catered from KFC for only $4.95 a plate,
and it worked out very well, as this was able to let the host church women free
to attend sessions. Our regular offering collected was $1,056.36 (1/2 –
Synodical; ¼ LWR - shipping; ¼ - Tanzania Scholarships). Our love offering of
$219.00, plus tangible gifts went to Community Action of Galion.
Our Fall Retreat/Officer Training will be held on October 5, 2002, at North Woodbury.
SOUTHWESTERN – Their conference spring assembly was held on April 13 at Hopewell/Celina with 65 women present. Rev. Joy Miller had the Bible study. The speaker was Nancy Recker, O.S.U. Extension Agent, who gave a program on “Laughter.”
TOLEDO – No report at this time.
OLD
BUSINESS:
Leadership Training:
The Leadership Training Event went well and we had good
comments on the S.A.L.T. training presented by the planning
committee of Jacquie Fritz, Jeanne Matthews, and Nancy Sander.
Programs such as these are available from Churchwide. The board
expressed their appreciation and thanks to the planning committee
for their work and presentation. Also noted was the participation of
the conference officers who attended. We discussed that in future
leadership training sessions, we should have more displays, and
also provide more information on how participants may order these
programs or resources for their use.
Synodical Grants:
Marilyn Lee received the following “Women in Trouble” grant application
Forms from each conference:
-
Eastern: Home of Hope, Sandusky, Ohio
o A Christian home for women to give them hope, love, and positive outlook on life.
- Maumee Valley: Rape Crisis Center of Women & Family Services, Defiance, Ohio
o The center provides support to clients of sexual assault and domestic violence.
- North Central: Shared Bounty Thrift Shop, Stony Ridge, Ohio
o An on-going clothes/household bank for families in need of these items.
- Southeastern: Turning Point, Marion, Ohio
o Responds to the needs of victims of domestic violence by providing shelter, counseling, and general support.
- Southwestern: Auglaize County Crisis Center, Wapakoneta, Ohio
o A coordinated family intervention service to provide help to families dealing with long term effects from family violence.
- Toledo: Focus Homeless Shelter, Toledo, Ohio
o
Assists families to gain skills and become self-sufficient.
Motion:
Mary Satterfield moved to accept the grants as
reported. The
motion carried.
Motion:
Mary Satterfield also moved to
tentatively accept a “Women in Trouble” grant from Central Conference if
received in a timely fashion. The motion carried.
Tanzania Trip:
Pat Hirschfeld received a letter of invitation from Elizabeth Ringo to speak at the Christian Women’s Assembly in the Dodoma Diocese of Tanzania, Africa, in October. She and her husband plan to attend along with 8-9 women who have had a close connection to the Tanzania women while they were visiting in our synod.
Since President Pat Hirschfeld will be representing our Northwestern Ohio
Synodical Organization, it was suggested that we help with her trip cost. The
discussion was tabled until the next meeting when our treasurer will be in
attendance to report what funding is available.
Pat Hirschfeld received two letters from our visitors from Tanzania. Joy
Makala wrote that she was in the United States until December visiting
relatives. Sarah Nkya wrote asking for our help to financially sponsor her to
come to the United States and receive training in making crafts. She would then
take what she was taught back to Tanzania to teach others. It was decided that
we are not able to sponsor her at this time.
Triennial Gathering:
Pat announced the scholarship recipients to the Triennial Gathering:
- Judy Kaufman (Southeastern) will be awarded a general scholarship of $200 to attend.
- Jessica Lee (Southwestern) will be awarded the “Women of Color” scholarship of $225.
The board is still looking into the possibility of a
candidate for the “Young Women See Visions” scholarship.
There are 53 women so far who have
signed-up to take the bus from Northwest Ohio. Carol Dille is currently working
on a gathering for our NWO women in Philadelphia. More details will be
forthcoming when the plans have been finalized.
Mary Ellen Gotfried from Woodville
has made the banner to be taken to Philadelphia. She has been working very hard,
and the design for the banner looks great.
Linda Tooman and Elaine Harklau
are currently preparing items from our synodical organization to be displayed in
the Unity Village at the gathering.
NEW
BUSINESS:
College Scholarships:
The following scholarship recipients from Trinity Seminary, Capital, and Wittenberg, were announced. Each recipient receives $600 to be used towards their education.
- Trinity Seminary: Katherine Kolodziejcyk is a Master of Divinity student at Trinity Seminary. She is from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Swanton, Ohio. She is a mother of four children, ages 26, 24, 21, and 15. She commutes each week to Columbus for her studies. “Leading worship when her pastor was away on vacation solidified her decision to become a pastor.”
- Capital: Angela Dumke, Pemberville, Ohio, is a sophomore management and human resources major. She is active in the Lutheran campus ministry program, and a member of the Student Outreach Evangelism Team that leads retreats and lock-ins.
-
Wittenberg: Rebecca Schultz, Galion,
Ohio, is a junior biology major. She is an accomplished organist and pianist who
serves as student organist for worship services. She is active in the Weaver
Chapel Association and the Lutheran Student Movement Organization.
Capital University Money for Africa Seminar:
Dennis Asp of Capital
University has asked for our
financial assistance for
a project to help send students
to Africa for missionary work.
Previous
students have written a book,
“Peace
Building in Africa,” which documents
their
mission. Excerpts from the book will be printed in a
future issue of the
“Son Light.”
This
discussion will be tabled until the next meeting when
Treasurer Wanda Straub is
present.
Synod Assembly:
Pat Hirschfeld will attend the NOW Synod Assembly in Bowling Green
on May 31 – June 1, 2002. Our Women’s Organization will have a
display set up with a new synodical pamphlet and information about the Triennial
Gathering.
Son Light:
Cora Kettler reported that the next edition of the “Son Light” will
be going out soon. She is going to edit articles already submitted and keep the
ones that are still current. Since the spring issue wasn’t able to be
published, she will continue by sending out the summer issue. All paid
subscriptions will be extended another quarter. A suggestion was made about
possibly putting the “Son Light” on the website or sending it by e-mail.
Jacquie Fritz has been checking into the cost of printing the newsletter
at Office Max and at a print shop in Delphos, Ohio. It might be cheaper to print
the “Son Light” on 11” x 17” size paper instead of 8 ½” x 11” size
paper. Also discussed was the possibility of having the Lima Correctional
Institute or a technical school to do the printing. These places may print at
little or no cost. Jacquie will continue to research these suggestions.
Son Light articles for the summer issue should be sent to Cora Kettler as
soon as possible. You may e-mail or fax your article to her.
2003 Synodical Convention:
The next Synodical Convention will be held in the summer of 2003. Pat Hirshfeld has been checking into locations. She has checked with the French Quarter in Perrysburg, Ohio, which will charge the women’s organization $500 a day for three meeting rooms. Also, the cost of a hotel room is $85 per room for 1-4 persons. Jeanne Matthews mentioned that Bowling Green State University now has a new Student Union which would be very suitable for our convention. There are also numerous hotels close by. She is going to check with the university as to its availability. Possible dates for the convention are June 27 & 28, 2003, or July 11 & 12, 2003. Mary Satterfield, Jeanne Matthews, and Pat Hirschfeld will look further into locations and dates, and will have a report at our next board meeting.
Next Board Meeting:
The next meeting of the board will be held on Saturday, August 17, at First Lutheran, Findlay, Ohio. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. Please bring a sack lunch.
Adjournment:
The meeting was closed by saying The Lord’s Prayer.
Submitted,
Linda Tooman, Secretary