ASLC Council Meeting
October 17, 2024
7:00 p.m. Adix Room
Attendees:
Pastor Hellemo, Mary Rosas, Libby Lindstrom, John Barnes, Donald Scheeler, Bev Byers and Marc
Funderburk. We were joined by Sue Brant, Dana Collins, and Julia Bessler (they are our 2025
council nominees).
Opening Prayer/ Devotion:
Pastor Hellemo led us in the opening prayer. Marc Funderburk led our devotion.
Approval of pervious minutes:
The motion was made by John Barnes to accept the minutes as written for September 2024.
Donald Sheeler seconded. Vote taken and all approved.
Reports:
Ministry Board:
John Barnes reported the following:
Ginya Anderson is continuing with the Sunday Children’s Fellowship. She is working on the
Pumpkin Patch and Trunk R Treat events for October. The mowing teams are working on an as
needed basis through the fall and the SDA is helping with this. The Men’s and Women’s monthly
breakfasts continue. Adult Sunday School has resumed. Mission Monday meets every other week
this fall. The scouts have resumed meeting, and we have 2 Eagle Scouts planning their ceremonies
in October and November. The Youth Room Refresh 2.1 is mostly finished. Final touches and
cleaning are being done. We are working on a date for the Water to Thrive representative to come
present the program to us.
Trustee Boards:
Donald Scheeler reported the following:
ALC and Santisma leases have been renewed for the next year. We must approve their renewal at
our October meeting. The photocell was installed in the Kelly Elliott sign. It is now working
properly. We need to establish a facility usage fee as several interested people have asked when
touring the facility for future usage (for the November council meeting). Steve is coordinating with
SDA regarding the Sanctuary lighting. We have a quote for $1800.00 but it may be more. The
lawnmower battery was cleaned and charged and currently working. The AC system had to have the
capacitor on one of the units replaced. It is working now. We are currently working on getting bids
regarding the leaks in classroom 23 and the Sanctuary wall. Santisma is still working on getting
liability insurance. Youth room remodel looks good. Robert from SDA is working on getting the
portable ice machine donated by John Barnes up and running. We will need an electrician to
disconnect the 220 line and add a 110 line instead. We will get a quote for this. Once complete,
Mary would like to post the old ice machine on FB to see if we can sell it.
Finance Board:
We will discuss the benevolence at town hall. It is split into 4 instead of 5 for our international
benevolence since we lost one of our Wycliff participants. The budget to be handed out shows a
deficit of $30000.00 for the year. We will show the budget and a profit and loss statement. Sue
suggested we highlight the net income number for the congregational meeting, so it is easier to see.
Queston was asked if we will need to adjust the budget for the utilities for 2025 due to the increase
in cost? We are off by $1000.00 for this year due to the increase in utility pricing. The biggest part of
the budget deficit is Joe’s salary. It was recommended that Bev pull Joe’s salary out separately from
the budget for easier discussion at the annual congregational meeting. We will still be in a deficit,
but it will be easier to discuss at the meeting with the congregation. We are hoping to discuss the
budget at the town hall prior to the annual meeting to alleviate a lengthy discussion at the annual
meeting.
Pastor’s Report:
Pastor Hellemo reported the following:
I have visited Dwight Schoneweis, Lucy Priola, Leonard Gunpat and Cheryl and Bill Anderson. I
have continued to reach out to our members via the phone and participated in church activities
other than our Sunday worship service.
We will be celebrating our Thanksgiving Eve Service on November 27th at 7 pm with Holy
Communion. He encourages everyone to invite friends and family to attend.
Quarterly Goals-July to September:
Church Newsletter-On hold.
Issues and Opportunities:
Update/Communication/Website, Etc.
Sue wants to link the Facebook page on our website. She would like to create a Facebook team that
will share with the website. This will probably be a younger group to work on this and steer it more
youth-friendly look.
Facebook Coordination
We are currently working on the ability to post on Facebook. Currently, Lois Ballard Stephenson is
the only person with access to our Facebook administration. Sue is working with her on this issue.
She would like to create a new administrator for our Facebook but this will take time.
Praise and Worship Service-Pastor and Art
Our Praise and Worship Service is scheduled for the first and third Saturdays of each month this
Fall and the Praise Team will provide music. The praise team will also play the 5th Sundays going
forward.
Insurance
Liability Certificates:
Santisma still missing their liability insurance certificate.
Policy Review:
Marc reviewed it and it looks good.
October Town Hall: 3
rd Sunday October 20, 2024
A. Financial Review:
Review Finance Report
Pledge Cards (due at August town hall meeting) and Budget Preparation (in September)
Budget Number for November Congregational Meeting
B. Nomination Committee:
They met on August 5th
. Listed below is the possible slate for the ballot in November. We
are waiting on several people to respond to inquiries to serve. Marc suggested Pastor
Hellemo participate on the nominating committee as an advisor. Bev suggested they (the
nominating committee) ask him at their discretion. We are still missing any candidates for
the nominating committee. We need to ask at the town hall for volunteers.
2025 Council Slate
President-John Barnes
President Elect-Sue Brant
Treasurer-Mary Rosas
Treasurer Elect-Marc Funderburk
Secretary-Dana Collins
Secretary Elect
Board of Ministries-Julia Bessler
Board of Trustees-Richard Giltner
The council is bringing an amendment to the Constitution regarding the serving of
immediate family members simultaneously on the church council.
It currently reads:
C12.03. The members of the Council, except the pastor(s), shall be elected by written ballot at the
November meeting to serve one-year terms as defined by C10.01.01(b) of the bylaws or until their successors
are selected. Such members shall be eligible to serve no more than two full terms consecutively in the same
office. No members shall be eligible to serve more than four full consecutive years on the Council. Their
terms shall begin in January of the following calendar year and will be evidenced by installation at a Sunday
worship service. Immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, in-laws, siblings) shall not serve
simultaneously on the Council.
Requested Change:
C12.03. The members of the Council, except the pastor(s), shall be elected by written ballot at the November
meeting to serve one-year terms as defined by C10.01.01(b) of the bylaws or until their successors are
selected. Such members shall be eligible to serve no more than two full terms consecutively in the same
office. No members shall be eligible to serve more than four full consecutive years on the Council. Their
terms shall begin in January of the following calendar year and will be evidenced by installation at a Sunday
worship service.
We are requesting the removal of the wording regarding immediate family members serving on council
simultaneously due to the size of our congregation.
C. Audit Committee:
The congregation needs to provide input on going forward. With DJ stepping down, we do
not have a chairman. Council would like a person with accounting experience to join the
audit committee. We are going to ask for volunteers at the town hall.
D. Benevolence Committee:
Update from Lynn and Kim.
Membership care:
No update to date. We need someone to step up and coordinate this effort but do not have any
candidates at this time. Currently, Pastor Hellemo does this by reaching out to all members by
phone sporadically. He also contacts members if someone mentions they need contacting. We
will discuss this at the town hall and ask that someone think about volunteering to do this ministry.
The 2025 council will begin working on this issue in January.
Sign Messaging:
Review of the Cost provided by Fast Signs. Recommend getting additional quotes given current
costs. Marc to spearhead this project. This will be a fundraiser event.
SDA Health Fair:
Currently, SDA is looking for a date that will fit within the ASLC calendar since the prior suggested
date had a conflict.
Marketing Advertising:
Facebook
Instagram-possibly make a reel with Pastor Hellemo for posting
Sue suggested we use the email list with an opt in option and begin a newsletter
sporadically to members and non-members. We can set the perimeters to pull information. We
currently do the focus on the word with MailChimp which DJ does each week. Sue will create a plan
to begin the process going forward.
New Issues and Opportunities:
Building Insurance
Currently do not have property insurance. Too expensive
Ministry Goals and Objectives
We do not have the planning in place for many of our events.
State of the Congregation
Letter Marc wrote to be handed out prior to the town hall on October 20,2024.
Lease Extensions
Santisma and Abundant Life Church had exercised their right to extend the lease through
next year (January to December 2025).
John Barnes made a motion to accept the renewal of the leases for Santisma and
Abundant Life Church through December 2025. Donald Sheeler seconded. Approved
by all.
Facility Usage Fee
The council feels we need to review our facility usage fees currently listed in the form. We
need to edit this form so we can begin using it in the future. How do we handle the deposit
fees for the usage? The council has asked Mary to prepare the form for the next council
meeting (November) for further discussion.
Building Mortgage
How can we use our investment in our building to our advantage? Think about this for the
future.
Council To Do’s
Town hall for November and December to be discussed at the October town hall.
November 17th will be the pie social after the service in the atrium.
December 13th, Christmas social for council and incoming council at the Funderburk’s.
Congregational meeting Prep:
Notify the congregation by October 21st via email/mail. Base agenda to be on mailing. Pull last
year’s agenda. Libby to print out reports and agenda. Mary and Bev sent Libby the roster/mailing
list. Mary to print the ballots and post cards for mailing. Amendment must have separate vote
(raised hands). 10% quorum for attendance and vote which is 20 people based on voting roster.
All reports are due 14 days prior to the meeting (due October 20th). Budget and financial statements
go out 1 week ahead of meeting. Budget to be given at town hall. Very basic reports with a normal
income statement through September. Balance sheet as of September.
If we have names for 2025 nominating committee, we vote, if not we vote that council may appoint
them later.
We must also vote on a lay delegate to attend the convocation if available if not, vote for council to
appoint the lay delegate later.
As for ballot, it must be published 1 week ahead of meeting.
We need to go over several people on the voting roster to see about moving them to inactive
membership roster prior to next year’s congregational meeting.
Prayer Concerns:
Pastor’s health, Carl’s job and Leon’s health, John’s sister-in-law, Donald’s mom and the church
community in general.
The meeting ended at 8:39 pm with Bev leading us in prayer.
Next Council meeting is scheduled for November 21, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Adix room.