Seekers Stewards Minutes
December 1, 2013
All 13 Stewards were Present: Marjory Bankson (notetaker), Peter Bankson, Ken Burton, Pat Conover, Cynthia Dahlin, David Lloyd, Sandra Miller (worship), Trish Nemore, Brenda Seat (angel), Keith Seat (angel), Margreta Silverstone, Deborah Sokolove (moderator), Jacqie Wallen.
Visitors: Michele Frome, Judy Lance, Vince Shepherd.
Housekeeping: Stewards will next meet on January 5, 5:00pm, at Seekers.
Moderator: Keith Worship: Peter
Notetaker: Dave Angels: Cynthia & Sandra
Worship was offered by Sandra reading a poem by Pablo Neruda, followed by silence.
1)Brenda’s Review: Cynthia
In addition to Cynthia, Deborah, Ken and Mary Carol Dragoo met with Brenda to review her call to the Servant Leadership Team at Seekers. Cynthia noted Brenda’s good level of self-care, given her challenging work for Seekers as well as her professional responsibilities; her joy at the number of new leaders emerging at Seekers; her affirmation of the team aspect of the SLT and finally, that Brenda still feels called to her special role at Seekers.
Cynthia offered copies of Brenda’s written response to their questions. That is generally not circulated within the wider community.
2) 2014 Budget: Marjory
On behalf of the Financial Oversight Group (FOG), Marjory went over the current operating budget as of the end of November, answered questions, and then noted the few changes in the 2014 budget which were suggested at the November meeting. Pat asked about the disposition of any remaining funds at the end of the year. Noting that in former years, we used net income to pay down the building loan, Marjory said that FOG might be able to bring a proposal by the January meeting. Our policy has been to carry-over restricted funds from year to year, but to use all of the operating funds in each calendar year.
3) Having More Fun at Seekers: Keith
Recalling some earlier times when we had clowning in worship, overnights for informal connections with our children and picnics for Stewards instead of the August meeting, Keith divided us into four groups of four and asked us to talk about 1) our history of fun vs. joy in church; 2) fun events in the past at Seekers; 3) possibilities for fun in the future.
When we regathered, we generated the following list of fun activities at Seekers (noting that fun for others always involves planning and organizing work for somebody):
Dance parties
Clowning/alternative worship
Christmas meeting/party
Singalongs
Children’s Sunday school
Overnights
Biking
Build fun into meetings (teambuilding, participation)
Activities that engage more people (pumpkin carving, mosaic)
Dinner parties (off site)
Have fun in routine things (hold things lightly)
Coffee hour
Demolition party
Mission group activities (retreats)
Outings (e.g. beach, baseball game, pool party)
Book club
Poetry nights
Game nights (board/card/poker)
Tour of Japan!
Stillpoint (nature/camping)
Making quilts/sewing days
Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter meals
Carroll Café
Garden party at Judy’s house
White elephant gift exchange
Art/craft projects in mission groups & Stewards
Men/women’s retreats & breakfasts (lingering conversations)
New Year’s Eve event for Year 2000
Dressing up for SCL class in OT
Big TV – sporting events?
Need to balance family/neighbors/co-workers w/ Seekers
Quarterly lunches at Seekers
Coffee hour in conference room?
Seekers in nature
Let people know if you are doing something and would like company (e.g. jazz nights, movies
Want low or no cost so everyone can be included
Report back during Circle Time, so we make it part of the whole community
That completed our formal meeting time. Then we turned our attention to the activities which Cynthia had planned for our Christmas revels.
Submitted by Marjory Bankson Dec 2, 2013
