Minutes 3-24-2007

A SPIRITUAL CENTER

Minutes of Organizational Meeting: September 30, 2007 -- plus updates

Present: Joe, Golden, Fran, Cheryl, Barbara, Grace, Tammy, Marie

Meeting began at 11:30AM at ASC

New Business

Our facilitators for the next six months are as follows:

October Emilie

November Tammy

December Marie

January Golden

February Cheryl

March Bob

It was suggested we have greeters each Sunday for newcomers and to be more aware in general to acknowledge and greet new people. Also it was suggested we have written words for the songs. Contact Tammy to help with this project.

We're not getting new volunteers for the housekeeping duties at the center. Joe will contact Toni Cerise to determine costs of the building housekeeper who comes every Tuesday to clean the outer halls and bathrooms. This may be a route we will have to take if we continue to have low volunteer enrollment for the housekeeping job. Barbara volunteered to take the 1st week of every month and Cheryl volunteered to clean the last week. Dolly has also committed her time to take a week each month for this job. We still need two more volunteers for the current coverage and some for later in 2008. The housekeeping job takes 1-1/2 hours just once a month and the schedule is quite flexible. For eight years we have always had volunteers step up to serve our center in this way. We need everyone to do their share to make this center run effectively. Please contact Cheryl 618-3152. If we can't get helpers to give an hour once a month, we will have to use our funds to hire a housekeeper.

A huge thank you to Cheryl for making our space beautiful with the addition of fall flowers.

Golden suggested that for the holidays we adopt deserving families, providing gifts to them from our folks plus a $200 gift card (that will come out of the coffers of ASC). As a group we particularly want to make an extension and a bridge of kindness across cultural lines to our Hispanic neighbors in this valley. Marie and Tammy will find families through their school and counseling connection. Golden will contact our renter Johnny, a local counselor, for another referal for a deserving family.

Through the connections made by Tammy and Johnny we have two families to whom we are gifting this Christmas. The names have already been selected at the center and we are so grateful for those of you who are now shopping for a gift for the "angel" you selected. Please bring your wrapped gift, tagged with the name of your receiver to the center on Sunday December 9th. We will collect all the gifts then and distribute them the following week. Have fun shopping knowing your gift will brighten the holiday for these two families.

Our lease ended Oct. 1. We are month to month because the building is for sale.

Ruby and Fran are looking into our center as a non-profit 501c3

Marketing and Public Relations

We need a volunteer to submit PSA's in the local papers announcing our speakers. It was also suggested to put our website in the PSA. Contact Joe or Golden if you can help with this.

Joe stated that it is important to AJ, our website person, to go to the site to increase hits on our website. We are also looking for someone to maintain our website. Please contact Joe if you can give AJ a break and take on this job for our center.

Financial

Joe said that Carbondale cashed our deposit of $500 for the "possible" new space. Joe will contact them soon to look at the space there.

Good news. Tithing has increased in the last quarter. Our continued goal is to have donations sustain this center and not have to rely on our tenants monies to help pay the bills. Cheryl suggested we put comments from our folks in the newsletters on the topic of giving/donating.

We received $67 from City Market proceeds. Be sure your city market card is registered at the center so we can receive rebates from you normal purchases for groceries. It helps us!

Commitment cards for contributions in 2008 will finally be mailed out in December. We hope this voluntary intention to support thASC will help us get a clearer picture of our financial future.

Meeting Adjourned at 1:45PM

Next meeting is scheduled for Sunday March 30th immediately following service.

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Organizational Meeting: June 24, 2007

Present: Bob, Barbara, Judy, Rick, Jacquetta, Marilyn, Sean, Carl, Cheryl, Golden, Marie, Grace, Emily, Kitty and Joe

Joe reported that May tithing brought in $676.00 and expenses were $851.00. We ran short $175.00, which our renters covered. He also reported that in addition to the rent at the center, we pay expenses for the gas, electricity and $25 for housekeeping fees on the bathrooms in the foyer every month.

Although, the rentals are currently good, we have no long-term leases. The renters pay rent at the center regardless if they have low participation or no participation. The times that the center is available for rentals are Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:30 pm, daily and evenings after 5:30 pm, both for $40. Joe reported that when the Science of Mind foundation classes are being taught at the center, the rent is covered.

Joe also reminded everyone again that the building is for sale and our lease expires in November. We are looking at other possible venues like the Carbondale Middle School and Town of Carbondale properties.

Once again, the goal at the Spiritual Center is to be self-sustaining. Center members should not only be committed to the philosophy, but also the financial needs.

Our expenses continue to exceed our income. Cheryl commented that we have been talking about this issue for a year now and nothing has been really resolved. Suggestions included that the income vs. expenses be put in the newsletter, that we increase our abundance thinking, we all commit to monthly tithing, and/or a section be included in the newsletter entitled “Why I tithe.” Also, there will be a letter and a commitment card going out to all members. The hope is that there will be good results from this.

It was also suggested by Kitty to re-word “donation” to “love offering” or “participation donation”. There was no resolution on this suggestion.

Ruby also suggested turning the Center into a non-profit. Ruby works for a lawyer who specializes in non-profits.   Kitty recommended that Ruby bring more information on this at the next organization meeting.

Golden reported that Hans has been our housekeeper for 3 months and we are in need of a new housekeeper for another 3 months. The housekeeper waters the plants, sweeps, mops, cleans the bathrooms, etc… It is an 1.5 hr commitment each week. Cheryl volunteered to take the “housekeeper” position for the next 3 months.   Also, both Jane and Suzanne have been acting as librarians and it is time for another volunteer to step up and take this position. Barbara O. volunteered for this position.

The keyboard gift has not been used. Kitty offered to bring it to her “musician” roommate in hopes that he can use it, buy it or that he knows of someone who can use it.

It was reported that the “hug” song at the end of service is working well for everyone.

The meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm.

Next organization meeting is Sunday, September 30^th immediately after service.

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