NORTHWESTERN OHIO SYNODICAL WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION -
Board Meeting
March 9, 2002 9:45 a.m.
First Lutheran Church, Findlay, Ohio
Present: Vice-President - Mary Satterfield; Secretary - Linda Tooman; Treasurer
- Wanda Straub; Board Members - Marilyn Lee (SE), Joyce Nelson (T), Corrine
Hurni (MV), Nancy Sander (E), Gayle Guernsey (C); Cora Kettler (Sonlight)
Absent: Pat Hirschfeld (pres.), Jacquie Fritz (SW), Jeanne Matthews (NC), Julie
Beitelschees (pastoral advisor)
Opening:
The meeting
was called to order by Vice-President Mary Satterfield who led us in devotions.
Minutes:
The minutes
from the January 26, 2002, meeting were approved with no corrections.
Treasurer's Report:
The balance
in the checking account as of 2/1/02 was $ 9,418.15. We collected
$1,400.10 in regular offerings during the month, so the balance as of 3/9/02 is
$ 10,818.25 ($ 7,082.65 designated funds and $3,765.60 undesignated funds.) The
books are currently being audited.
Wanda Straub is going to check into the ELCA Mission Investment Fund for investment of the Tanzanian Visitors Fund until we receive instructions on how the money will be used.
There was
discussion on the printing of the "Sonlight." It is currently being
printed at Staples, but Wanda Straub will contact Office Max concerning a credit
card for the NWOSWO. Office Max is located near our current editor, Cora Kettler,
and will be more convenient for her to take the newsletter to be printed.
Correspondence:
A letter was
received from Wittenberg University to inform us of their choice for recipient
of the $600 Scholarship from the Women's Synodical Organization for the
2002-2003 year. Andrea Rebecca Schultz will receive the scholarship.
President's Report:
President Pat was unable to attend the board meeting, but sent her report.
It was reported at the recent President's Meeting she attended in February that Augsburg/Fortress will no longer have a store at Synodical Conventions. Order forms will be available for anyone who would like to purchase items.
SWO
presidents and a S.A.L. T. (Synodical Advanced Leadership Training)
representative will have a training session at the Triennial Convention on July
10th. Our S.A.L.T. representatives will decide who will attend. Churchwide is
obtaining a grant to help pay any expenses that are incurred due to this
pre-gathering meeting. However, they are asking SWO's to supplement the expense
until the grant is OK'd.
Conference Reports:
CENTRAL
- Gayle Guernsey reported that their Spring Assembly will be held at St. John's,
Dola, on April 6. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. with registration and refreshments.
They will be electing Vice-President, Secretary, Mission Action and Community.
One half of their offerings will be given to the synodical and one half will be
given to The Rock in Dunkirk. Wanda Straub and Gayle will be attending their
spring assembly as board representatives. Their fall retreat will be held at
Hope, Fostoria.
TOLEDO - Joyce Nelson gave a
report that a round table discussion "WDWD" (What Do Women Do) was
held at St. James on February 16. Sixteen women attended and there was great
discussion. Programs and speakers were suggested for us all. It was an excellent
event. Their Spring Assembly will be held at Faith Lutheran on South Ave. in
Toledo on May 4. Bishop-Emeritus Chilstrom will be the keynote speaker. Betty
Kozak, past board representative, will represent us on May 4th since this is the
same day as our Leadership Training Workshop.
EASTERN - Everything is in order for their Spring Assembly at Grace,
Fremont, on April 13. Pastor Julie Beitelschees will be their keynote speaker.
The cost is $7.00. Board representatives will be Linda Tooman, who will give the
update on the synodical activities, and Nancy Sander will be responsible for the
installation service.
MAUMEE VALLEY - Officers met
in Napoleon to finalize plans for their Spring Assembly at Emmanuel, Napoleon,
on April 13. The speaker, Pastor Bob Hamilton, has been confirmed. Their Men's
group will be preparing the lunch. Joyce Nelson from the SWO board will make
synodical announcements, and Corrine Hurni will do installation. Conference
officers will meet at 7:30 a.m. to put packets together.
NORTH CENTRAL - No report.
SOUTHWESTERN - No report. Pat Hirschfeld will give announcements from the
board, and Jacquie Fritz will be responsible for installation.
SOUTHEASTERN - New decisions concerning the Spring Assembly on April 13
were that the regular offering will be divided with one-half going to Synodical;
one-fourth to LWR shipping; and one-fourth to the Tanzania Scholarship Project.
Gifts for the Love offering can be monies/or food and health care items for the
Community Action Agency in Galion. Concerns discussed were why the Synod would
plan an event (Synod Family Life Seminar) on April 13 when many of the
conferences are having their Spring Assemblies on that date. It was decided that
our women's organization needs to make sure our events be put on the synod
calendar so the two organizations are not scheduling events at the same time.
The Southeastern board also has concern as to where the Thankoffering money goes
once it is sent to churchwide. Marilyn Lee made a phone call to churchwide, and
was sent a pamphlet that describes where our money is being distributed. It
basically states that the money is used to support Women of the ELCA projects.
The SWO board will make this pamphlet available at the Leadership Training Event
on May 4th for all conference officers.
Mission Reports:
Mission/Community
- Marilyn Lee reported she received four out of seven applications for the $300
grant money for Women/Children in Poverty Grants. Those needed yet are from the
Central, North Central, and Toledo conferences. These applications need to be
back to Marilyn by May 1, 2002.
"Sonlight" Report:
Cora Kettler
reported that the next edition is ready to print. The next deadline for articles
from the board members will be May 1st. Currently, the annual cost is $ 3.00 for
four issues. Since the cost of printing and mailing has increased, a motion was
made by Joyce Nelson that the subscription cost for the "Sonlight" be
raised to $5.00 per year effective July 1,2002. The motion carried. It was also
decided that anyone who would like to renew their subscription at the $ 3.00
cost may only renew it for two years.
OLD BUSINESS:
Spring Assembly:
The outline
for announcements of Synodical events and activities to be read at the Spring
Assemblies will be prepared by Mary Satterfield and will be mailed to board
representatives.
Leadership Training Event:
More
discussion was heard concerning the Leadership Training Event for conference
officers on May 4th. It will be held at First Lutheran in Findlay. Nancy Sander
gave a report of the agenda for the day. It will begin with registration,
followed by a mixer, Bible Study, and S.A.L.T. training. Possibly we will have
some members of the "Get R.E.a.L" Task Force be involved. Instead of
breakout groups for each office, the board discussed the possibility of staying
together as a group and having each synodical officer speak for 5 minutes on the
responsibility of their office. At the end, we will have a question and answer
period. The organizing committee will have a final agenda soon. Treasurer Wanda
Straub will not be in attendance, as she will be in Chicago for a churchwide
treasurer's meeting. Kris Johnson will take her place.
Triennial Gathering:
More information about transportation from northwest Ohio will be in the "Sonlight," so be looking for it in the next edition.
Our NWO Convention Coordinator, Carmen Hogrefe, is not able to attend the Triennial, so the $ 250 that was approved for her expenses may be used in another area. It was mentioned that since we need to make a banner to represent our synodical organization, the money could be used for materials. Churchwide has sent a list of specifications on the size and type of fabric that can be used. Marilyn Lee and Mary Satterfield will investigate the possibility of having it made professionally. Marilyn Lee made a motion that we set aside up to $ 250 to make the banner for the Triennial Gathering from the Convention Coordinator's Fund. The motion carried.
Also, synodical organizations may set up a display in the Unity Village at the Gathering.
Specifications have also been sent on the making of the display. Linda Tooman and Elaine Harklau will be in charge of collecting items together to make up the display. These items must be shipped prior to the Gathering, and put up on July 10, a day before the convention convenes. The banner and a floating lily will be part of the display. Corrine Hurni will provide the container for the lily. The lily can then be brought back to our synod to use at our events during the triennium.
Each SWO will be host during a day of the convention, so volunteers will be needed to help usher or perform other roles during the mass gathering. More information on this will be given during announcements made at the Spring Assemblies.
Pat will meet
with delegates to the gathering prior to leaving. She will contact them as to a
date and a time.
NEW BUSINESS:
Next Meeting:
The next board meeting will be held following the
Leadership Training Event on May 4th.
Announcement:
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m. We closed with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Tooman, Secretary