Organizational Meeting: March 24, 2007

 

Present:  Joe, Golden, Emilie, Hans, Marilyn, Sean, Cheryl, Kitty, Ruby, Terri, Hollis, Tammy and Grace

 

Meeting began at 11:30 a.m at the Spiritual Center.

 

Financial

Joe discussed the financial reports since January 2007.  He expressed concerns that members are not sustaining the Center, rather the renters fees are paying a portion of the expenses. If we did not have renters, we would not be able to cover the expenses at A Spiritual Center.  There will be a letter that will be going out shortly that will discuss how members can tithe to the center.  Some methods offered can be donating monthly, direct withdrawals out of members accounts, etc…

 

Also, the lease for the Center will be up October 2007 with a possible increase in rent, if renewed.

 

Joe also discussed that there is a possibility that the building might sell and we may need to relocate.  There is a concern that the renters who now sustain a large portion of our expenses at the Center would possibly not  follow us if we need to move.

 

 

Grace asked if the City Market card is still being made available to the members.  Many who were present did not know that a portion of your monies spent at City Market can go to their choice of organization.  If you are not already signed up, there is a sign-up sheet at the Spiritual Center.  Our rebate for the last quarter from City Market was $83.00.

 

Joe announced that he will be stepping down from the Treasurer position December 2007, as well as the Newsletter position.   So, we will need a new treasurer and newsletter person to take over before January 2008.

 

It was suggested by Hollis that we put expenses and income on each newsletter to let members be aware of our profit and loss. Nothing was determined at the meeting if we want to integrate this idea.

 

Any member of the Center can ask Joe Goodman regarding the findings in the quarterly 2007 Financial Report.

 

Social Calendar

Emily has agreed to put together a monthly hiking schedule for members to participate if they are interested.

 

We have had good attendance social gatherings in past but not well attended in last 6 to12 months.  Ideas were movies at the Center, dances, free music in the valley, an art class at the Center where members can participate in creating a vision board for A Spiritual Center, cook-outs.  Marilyn and Sean stated that they would be interested in holding a cook-out at their house soon.

 

New Business

Members present suggested a steering committee that could handle some of the responsibilities at the Spiritual Center.  Anyone could be a part of the Steering Committee.  No decision was made whether to form a Steering Committee at this meeting.

 

Grace made a 1-year commitment to take minutes. Not all members attend the bi-yearly organizational meetings, so Grace agreed to take minutes for the next year at these meetings.  The minutes will then be e-mailed to all on our list, so the information is disseminated to all.

 

Our facilitators for the next 6 months are as follows:  April-Emilie, May-Sean, June-Ruby, July-Cheryl, August-Marilyn and September-Grace.

 

Emily has been our housekeeper since January 2007.  Hans volunteered to take over that position.

 

Cheryl has agreed to switch artificial flowers for springtime to be displayed in the Center. (DONE).

 

There is a coffee pot that is wanting to be donated to a good, coffee-drinkin’ home.

Cheryl requested that the “hug” song be placed at the end of service because as the group has gotten larger, it is more difficult to bring back members to conclude our gathering.  It was unanimous to try this approach to see if this concept works.

 

Good quotes to Joe Goodman. 
You can e-mail to Joe at joegoodmn@aol.com.

 

It was also suggested that we try to only have the two songs at the beginning of service and the hug song at the end, which eliminates the third song we sing at the very end of service.

 

The following members have agreed to supply statements for the next newsletter of what the Spiritual Center means to them: Emilie, Terri and Hans.

 

Old Business

It was stated the organizational meetings have been held twice a year, these will be changed to quarterly. 

 

We have replaced our TV, VCR and DVD player with an all-in-one unit.

 

Our website is www.aspiritualcenter.org

 

Meeting adjourned at 1:45 pm.

 

Next meeting is scheduled for June 24, 2007.

 

PS: Thanks to all those who participate in our organizational meetings. We all make the center great.