Northwestern Ohio Synodical Women’s
Organization
Women of the ELCA
First Lutheran Church, Findlay, Ohio
January 26,
2002 9:40 a.m.
Present: President - Pat
Hirschfeld; Vice-President - Mary Satterfield; Secretary - Linda
Tooman; Treasurer - Kris Johnson; Board Members - Jacquie Fritz
(SW), Marilyn Lee (SE), Jeanne Matthews (NC), Joyce Nelson (T),
Corrine Hurni (MV); Pastoral Advisor - Julie Beitelschees; Son Light
- Cora Kettler
Absent: Wanda Straub
(Treas.-elect), Gayle Guernsey (C), Nancy Sander (E)
Opening: The meeting was opened by President Pat Hirschfeld with the call to order by introductions of board members. Members then read the purpose and mission statements. Prayer was led by Kris Johnson. Installation of new board members, Joyce Nelson and Corrine Hurni, was led by Pastor Julie Beitelschees. Jeanne Matthews led a review and concluded our unfinished discussion from our fall retreat "Embracing Self and Others."
Minutes: The minutes from
November 2 & 3 were
approved with the following changes:
- Nancy Sander was omitted from those listed as present.
- Lynda Tidemann, Churchwide Global Mission, East Africa/Papua New
Guinea.
- A suggestion was made to put page numbers and date of minutes on
each page.
Treasurer’s Report: The current
balance in the checking account is $11,542.30 ($8,409.14 designated funds and
$3,133.16 undesignated funds). We are still holding $5,783.20 in the checking
account for the Dodoma Women and Children Project. It has not been put into a CD
as it might need to be sent soon. Pat will keep an update on the progress of the
project. At this point, until the people in Dodoma hires someone to help them
put together the project proposal for Lutheran World Relief, we will keep the
$5,000 that will cover the cost.
Discussion was heard concerning the increase of expenses for the "Sonlight"mailing.
Discussion was also heard concerning expenses incurred by the board. To help
offset these expenses, Mary Satterfield made a motion that the Spiritual
Gathering Funds of $368.37 be used for board expenses.
The motion carried.
Juanita Billeg, treasurer of SE Conference, sent a letter requesting that
they manage their own conference money, as the board had requested them to do
from our last meeting. The funds were returned to them.
Our Synodical website is up and running again. Suzanne Wagner, Diane Kashmer,
and Kris are working on maintaining the site. The webside is: http://www.nwos-elca.org/nwos-wo/index.html
Correspondence: Thank you's were received from:
- Health Links for People/B.A.B.Y. Project, Lima, for $30 from Synodical
Convention
- From Women of the ELCA for October and November offerings
Christmas greetings were received from:
- Family Crisis Network, Celina
- Bethel Ministries - Pregnancy Center, Upper Sandusky
- Heartbeat Pregnancy Center of Ottawa County
- Dennis Asp, Capital University
President's Report:
Pat reported that she attended the "Get R.E.a.L"
Task Force committee meeting at Betty McDonald's home in Sandusky, Ohio, on
November 5, 2001.
Pat corresponded with Asenath Omwega and Solomon Kingu, LWR Regional
Managers in Africa, by email. She also corresponded with Elizabeth Ringo
concerning their Assembly in Africa, but has not heard back from her about final
details. Holiday greetings were sent to all 13 visitors from Tanzania.
Conversations were held with Frank Conlan, LWR Interim Director in
Africa. LWR's new headquarters is now in Baltimore, Maryland. Pat suggested that
we should all have new up-to-date pamphlets on LWR so we can be more
knowledgeable in case we are asked.
Pat talked with Florence Swanson who is a delegate to the Triennial
Gathering and is not able to attend because of an injury.
The Conference of Presidents will be held in Chicago on Feb. 22-24, 2002,
and she will be attending.
Linda Chinnia, Churchwide President of the Women of the ELCA, sent her
evaluation of our Synodical Convention held in July. We received very good
remarks.
Conference Reports:
Central: No report
Eastern: Their last meeting was held on January 20th. Plans were discussed for their Spring Assembly to be held at Grace Lutheran, Fremont, on April 13. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the cost is $7.00 (includes coffee hour and lunch). The speaker will be Pastor Julie Beitelschees who will talk on the theme verse, Jeremiah 31:31-34. The love offering will be given to: 1/2 Huron County Domestic Violence and Assistance Program, and 1/2 to the Liberty Center in Fremont. It was voted that application be made for the $300 grant to go to The Home of Hope in Sandusky. This program assists women leaving jail to get the right start after being incarcerated.
Maumee Valley: April 13 is the date of their Spring Assembly to be held at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Napoleon. Final planning meeting will be held on January 31st. Corrine is requesting an outline of duties and responsibilities.
North Central: The Spring Assembly will be held on April 27 at Zion Lutheran, Luckey. They are still looking for a speaker. Their fall retreat will be held on a Friday and Saturday in September to include those who work during the week. Discussion was held on how to choose their Nominating Committee.
Southeastern: The Southeastern Conference President's Meeting will be held at Trinity Lutheran, Galion on Feb. 2. At this meeting, they will vote on where conference assembly money will be sent; recommend agency to receive grant money; and discuss other assembly items. The Spring Assembly will be held on April 13 at Peace, Galion, and the speaker will be author, Dandi Mackall.
Southwestern: The last conference board meeting was held on January 16. Their Spring Assembly will be held on April 13 at St. John's Lutheran, Hopewell, Celina. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. The speaker, Nancy Recker, will speak on "Laughter." Special projects will be food staples to be given to Agape in St. Mary's and God's Store House in Wapakoneta. The Women's Crisis Center in Wapakoneta is our special concern this year.
Toledo: The conference will have a special gathering for their women on February 9 at St. James Lutheran, Toledo. The event entitled "WDWD - What Do Women DO?" is a round table discussion with it's purpose being to discuss specific speakers to use for programs and organizations that each of us support, including LWR. Their Spring Assembly will be held on May 4. Bishop Chilstrom will be attending, as he is in Toledo for the 150 Anniversary of Salem Lutheran.
Mission Reports: As Synodical Mission/Community Chairperson, Marilyn Lee has sent out letters to all conference Community Chairpersons concerning the $300 Grant from the Synodical for agencies for women and children. These applications need to be back to Marilyn by May 1, 2002.
Son Light: Our new editor, Cora Kettler, met with the previous editor, Diane Kashmer, in Findlay to go over the job description. She is eager to start her first issue. Board members are to have their articles to Cora by February 10. Her email is kettler@bright.net. There was a discussion on the length of the newsletter. Cora will have editorial privilege as to how many pages it will contain.
Old Business:
Triennial Gathering:
We continuted our tabled discussion concerning the use of the grant
monies for the Triennial Gathering. Churchwide provided us with a promotional
grant of $300 to be used as we deem appropriate and necessary - i.e., to help
with Triennial Gathering attendance expenses, to support promotional efforts, to
establish or contribute to SWO scholarships, to support others, etc. We also
have $500 in the 2002 budget for expenses. Mary Satterfield made a motion that
the board approve $250 for Carmen Hogrefe for Triennial Gathering expenses as
Gathering Coordinator for the NWOSWO. The motion carried.
Florence Swanson is not able to attend as delegate to the Gathering
because of an injury. A replacement is needed. The constitution states the
person with next highest amount of votes from the Synodical Convention elections
would attend as delegate. Maxine Hagemyer from North Central Conference is next
in line. She will be contacted about her availability.
Carmen Hogrefe is recommending two hotels in Philadelphia for those
attending from Northwest Ohio. The 1st choice is Hawthorn Suites, with the cost
of $109 for 1 to 2 persons, and $119 for 3 to 4 persons. The 2nd choice is
Hampton Inn, with the cost of $115 for 1 to 4 persons.
Registration cards were sent to unit presidents in January. In order to
receive registration materials for the gathering, the card must be completed and
sent to churchwide.
Three scholarships are available to each SWO to attend the Triennial
Gathering. Two $200 scholarships for July 11-13 will waiver the registration fee
of $200. One of these scholarships must be a participant in the "Young
Women Seeing Visions" program which is weaved throughout the Gathering from
July 11-13. There is also a scholarship of $250 for the "Women of
Color" even on July 8-10, and the Gathering from July 11-13. Mary
Satterfield, Jacquie Fritz, and Linda Tooman will work as a committee to set
qualifications for the above scholarship recipients.
The offering will be divided into two halves: 1/2 will be given to the
Women of the ELCA, and 1/2 will be distributed to ELCA endorsed international
programs and projects. These projects are currently unfunded and have been
initiated by churches around the world in support of education, work skill
development, and leadership empowerment for women. Units will need to send an
offering for the gathering to the synodical treasurer, Wanda Straub. Look in the
"Son Light" and Lutheran Woman Today magazine for more information on
the offerings. A list of "In-Kind" gifts was published in the last
issue of the "Son Light," so please refer to your Winter 2001 issue.
Pat received information about all the activities at the Gathering. Each
unit is to produce a 1 minute video to be shown at the gathering. The
"Unity Village" will be the gathering place for all women. During the
convention, there will be a "Unit Night," in which participants can
share about their church unit. There will also be a "Synodical Night,"
in which each synodical organization can share about their women's group. Mary
Satterfield will be in charge of that program. There is space provided for each
SWO to set up a display to promote their organization. Linda Tooman will take
charge of this. Also, each SWO is to bring a banner to display. More information
will be printed in future "Son Light."
Tanzania Project: Solomon Kingu,
LWR Representative in Kenya, met with the women of the Dodoma Diocese again in
December. She gave them a grant to fill out that would have them apply for a
consultant to help them implement a workable plan for their Hostel Project or to
see if some other project might be more feasible.
Pat talked with Frank Conlan, LWR Interim Director of Africa
Representatives, concerning our Dodoma Project. He has emailed Elizabeth Ringo,
but has not received a response as of January 26, 2002. We will do nothing with
the $5000 facilitation grant until we hear more.
New Business:
Spring Assembly Assignments:
Assignments were divided as follows for the Synodical Spring
Assemblies. Letters will be sent to conference presidents to inform
them who will be attending:
CENTRAL - St. John's Dola, April 6 - Mary Satterfield and Gayle
Guernsey
EASTERN- Grace, Fremont, April 13 - Linda Tooman and Nancy Sander
MAUMEE VALLEY - Emanuel, Napoleon, April 13 - Corrine Hurni and
Joyce Nelson
NORTH CENTRAL - Zion, Luckey, April 27 - Jacquie Fritz and Jeanne
Matthews
SOUTHEASTERN - Peace, Galion, April 13 - Marilyn Lee and Wanda
Straub
SOUTHWESTERN - St. John's, Hopewell, Celina, April 13 - Cora Kettler
and Jacquie Fritz
TOLEDO - May 4 (location is still undecided) - Betty Kozak and Kris
Johnson
Leadership Training Event:
The Leadership Training Event for our conference officers will be held on
Saturday, May 4, at First Lutheran, Findlay, beginning at 9:30
a.m. Registration and mixer will be handled by Linda Tooman; Corrine Hurni
will be in charge of coffee and rolls; and Jeanne Matthews, Nancy Sander,
Jacquie Fritz, and Pat Hirschfeld will be our Bible study and program leaders.
The board members will provide the lunch. A short board meeting will be held
immediately following the training event.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held on Saturday, March 9, at First Lutheran, Findlay. We will meet from 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon to discuss Triennial Gathering items, Pat's attendance at the President's Meeting in February, and final details for Leadership Training.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m. We closed with a prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Tooman
Secretary