Building Relationships with People in Christ

March 19, 2021 Finance Committee Meeting     (H)

 

Items to be included in Session's consent agenda – none

Items to be voted upon or needing discussion by Session – none

Items for information only – none

 Members present – Ed Ingram, Don Pine, Bill Melewski, Sandy Moore, Linda Schumacher, & Don Young.  Pastor Elizabeth was also present, and Paul Luce joined us via speaker phone.

Members absent – Barry Holmes

This meeting was held at BRPC – hooray!

 Don Young began our meeting with a devotional and prayer.

1.  March Minutes were approved

 2.  Financial Secretary Report

·         Linda plans to reorder bank deposit slips from Costco rather than the bank because it is less expensive.

·         Linda reported that information received from Bettie Forbach’s attorneys regarding her trust of which BRPC is one beneficiary.  Anticipated distribution of her estate will be by August 2021 “barring any unexpected issues”.

 

3.  Treasurer's Report (see March 2021 reports in Drop Box) –

·         Paul reviewed the March reports with the committee.  Thankfully, our finances are still in relatively good condition considering the circumstances.

·         March Treasurer’s Reports were approved.

·         Sandy made sure New Covenant Funds has our PO Box so we should receive statements in a timely manner now.

 

4.  Joy Scholarship

·         Sandy received a little more information from Meagan Berry regarding her request for additional assistance from the Joy Scholarship.  Meagan is no longer a student.  She is asking for help paying for books which she paid for with her personal credit card.  The committee reiterated that the criteria established for the Joy Scholarship is for current educational expenses and we are only allowed to send the funds directly to the school, not the individual.

·         As discussed last month, the class in which Celeste was enrolled was cancelled.  Since no refund of the $500 sent to Celeste’s school has been received, the Finance Committee authorized Sandy to check with Celeste and find out if she intends to attend in the fall.  If that is the case, the committee agreed that the funds could be kept by the school for to be used for the fall semester.

 

5.  Heartland Presbytery request for Mission Support

·         There is $1000 in Mission’s budget for this and $500 has been paid.

·         Pastor Elizabeth texted Presbytery to let them know this.

 

6.  Survey from Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program

·         Sandy completed the survey and let them know that we are not in need of any of their services at this time.

 

7.  Finance Information for new BRPC Website

·         The committee reviewed/revised the draft Linda had prepared and the agreed upon wording will be sent to Mary Ziegenhorn for use on the upcoming new BRPC website.

 

8. Heartland Presbytery Camp Scholarship

·         A request for assistance with camp expenses was discussed and the decision was made that this request should go to the Christian Education Committee first and then if additional funds are needed, the Finance Committee will consider designating some memorial funds for this purpose.

 Next meeting will be 1:00 PM on May 10, 2021.  

 Opening devotional/prayer will be given by Ed Ingram.

 Don Pine ended our meeting with a prayer.

 

Building Relationships with People in Christ

 March 8, 2021 Finance Committee Meeting     (H)

 

 

Items to be included in Session's consent agenda – none

Items to be voted upon or needing discussion by Session – none

Items for information only – none

 Members present – Barry Holmes, Ed Ingram, Don Pine, Bill Melewski, Sandy Moore, and Linda Schumacher.  Pastor Elizabeth and Paul Luce were also present.

 Members absent – Don Young

 This meeting was held via Zoom.

 Sandy Moore began our meeting with a devotional appropriate for the times about persistence.

 1.  January Minutes were approved. (no meeting in February)

 2.  Financial Secretary Report

·         Nothing to report.

 

3.  Treasurer's Report (see December 2020 reports in Drop Box) –

·         Paul reviewed the February reports with the committee.  So far, our finances are doing fine.

·         February Treasurer’s Reports were approved.

 

4.  Joy Scholarship

·         Sandy reported that Meagan Berry, who has been a prior Joy Scholarship recipient, has requested funds for non-education expenses.  The committee agreed with Sandy that the criteria established for the Joy Scholarship only allows payment for educational expenses.

·         Sandy has also been notified that the scholarship money awarded to Celeste Cummins will be refunded to BRPC because the class in which Celeste was enrolled has been cancelled.

·         We received a nice thank you letter from Owen Lockwood expressing his gratitude for help in pursuing a degree in business with an emphasis on non-profit management.

 

5.  Carbonite replacement

·         Session approved Finance Committee’s suggestion that we cancel Carbonite and replace with our own hard drive and software.

·         Bill Melewski has purchased the hard drive and software and will be contacting Rick for assistance in getting them to work together.

·         Sandy will ask Karen A to go ahead and cancel Carbonite.  We should then receive a refund of the prorated amount that has already been paid for this product.

 

6.  Insurance for new lighting in sanctuary

·         Bill suggested that someone should check to be sure that BRPC has enough insurance coverage to cover the new lighting that has been installed.

·         Sandy will check on this also.

 Next meeting will be 1:00 PM on APRIL 19TH, 2021.  NOTE – CHANGED TO THIRD MONDAY for this month to accommodate Finance Committee members’ schedules.

 

Opening devotional/prayer will be given by Don Young.

 

Pastor Elizabeth ended our meeting with a prayer.

 

Building Relationships with People in Christ

DRAFT - JANUARY 11, 2021 Finance Committee Meeting     (H)

 

Items to be included in Session's consent agenda – none

Items to be voted upon or needing discussion by Session – M & O’s 2021 Fund Raising Request – see 10 below.

Items for information only – see below –

 

Members present - Ed Ingram, Don Pine, Bill Melewski, Sandy Moore, Linda Schumacher, and Don Young.  Pastor Elizabeth and Paul Luce were also present.

 

Members absent – Barry Holmes

 

This meeting was held via Zoom.

 

Ed Ingram began our meeting with a devotional and prayer.

 

1.  December Minutes were approved.

 

2.  Financial Secretary Report

·         2020 Statements will be sent out sometime this week.

 

3.  Treasurer's Report (see December 2020 reports in Drop Box) –

·         Paul reviewed the December reports with the committee remarking that, all things considered, we ended the year in good shape.

·         December Treasurer’s Reports were approved.

·         Paul has completed his financial review for fiscal year 2020 and determined that “the records and documents support the amounts listed on the financial reports”.  He emailed a copy of his review letter to Sandy, Linda S, Karen A, Kim Scheerer, & Pastor Elizabeth and mailed the original to the church office.

·         Paul gave Karen A the updated 2021 salary amounts based on the approved budget so that the correct amounts can be paid beginning in January 2021.

·         Account # 28402 (MIS – Deacons) has been deleted and the funds that were in it have been moved to Account 28115 (DEA – Deacons).  Missions and Outreach were not aware of the 28402 account and were not using it.  Eliminating 28402 will avoid future confusion about these two accounts.  The funds that are currently in that account are the donations received for the Deacons to purchase meals for first responders.

·         After discussion, Sandy moved that the total of the amounts in non-designated memorial fund account numbers 28315 – Ann Wiltfang, 28318 – Genevieve Lentz, and 28322 – Barbara Gregory be split equally between Account # 28000 – Special Events (Food & Supplies) and Account # 29000 – Funeral Meals.  Motion carried. This will reduce the number of memorial funds on our records as well as providing some funds for events once we are once again able to gather at the church.

·         We once again decided not to move any funds from savings.  Don Pine moved that if the checking account gets near or below $5000.00, Treasurer, Sandy Moore, will email the Finance Committee and a decision will be made as to whether funds need to be transferred.

 

4.  2020 Per Capita

·         Final payment for 2020 of $788.41 was sent to Presbytery in December 2020

·         It was the consensus of those present that we will pay $500.00 per month to Presbytery each month to pay BRPC’s per capita for 2021.  We are anticipating that the total amount owed will be $5254.54 ($43.07 X 122 members in 2020)

 

5.  2021 Proposed Budget

·      Paul emailed Session-approved version to Finance Committee 12/17/20 (it is also in drop box)

 

6.  Joy Scholarship

·         Linda S filled out Expense Vouchers (with Sandy’s permission) to send $500 to the schools of each of the 3 recipients.

·         It was the consensus of those present that Linda instruct Karen A to go ahead and send these checks.

 

7.  BRPC Sams Club Card

·         Per our decision last month, Mike Schumacher is now set up as the primary on this card.

·         Connie Oliver still has a BRPC Sam’s card also.

 

8.  Deacon’s Flower Fund

·         Sandy reported that Arlene was thrilled that Karl’s memorial funds are going to be used in this way.

·         If this fund becomes depleted, Arlene is willing to contribute more to it.

·         Linda S will send Arlene a thank you note.

 

9.  Schumacher Cleaning

·         Mike does not want to continue to be paid at least until we are once again using the church building.

·         We only budgeted to pay him for a portion of 2021.

·         Sandy will notify Karen A to stop paying Mike Schumacher until further notice.

 

10.  Mission and Outreach Fund Raising Request (attached)

·         Don Young made a motion to recommend to the Session that M & O’s request be approved.  Motion carried.

 

 

11.  Congregational Meeting 01/24/21

·         Paul will not be able to be with us this year since the meeting will be during his church’s worship service.

·         Sandy and other members of the Finance Committee will be present to answer any questions from the congregation.

 

Next meeting will be 1:00 PM on February 8, 2021.  via ZOOM

 

Opening devotional/prayer will be given by Sandy Moore.

 

Pastor Elizabeth ended our meeting with a prayer.

 

Building Relationships with People in Christ

December 14 2020- Finance Committee Meeting     (H)

 

Items to be included in Session's consent agenda – none

Items to be voted upon or needing discussion by Session – 2021 Proposed Budget – see 5 below

Items for information only – see below –

Members present - Barry Holmes, Ed Ingram, Don Pine, Bill Melewski, Linda Schumacher, and Don Young.  Pastor Elizabeth and Paul Luce were also present.

 Members absent – Sandy Moore

 This meeting was held via Zoom.

 Bill Melewski began our meeting with a devotional and prayer.

1.  November Minutes were approved

 2.  Financial Secretary Report

·         Information about availability of 2021 offering envelopes and deadline for giving in 2020 is being printed in BRPC weekly newsletter each week in December

·         Linda’s goal is to mail out 2020 Contribution Statements in mid-January 2021

 

3.  Treasurer's Report (see November 2020 reports in Drop Box) –

·         Paul reviewed the November reports with the committee

·         We are still in good shape considering that we have not had to withdraw any savings

·         As recommended by the Finance Committee and approved by session, new account number 28120 – Deacon Flower Fund was created and the $610 that was previously in Karl Welch’s memorial has been transferred to it

·         Treasurer Reports were approved

 

4.  2020 Per Capita

·         Balance due is $788.41.

·         Based on our current financial picture, the Finance Committee approved making this final payment.

 

5.  2021 Proposed Budget

·      Ed made some suggested reductions in the prior budget draft taking into consideration what was spent in 2020 and the probability that we will not have in-person services for the first few months of 2021

·      Don P made a motion that we budget for a 1 percent increase for all staff except Pastor Elizabeth (at her request) and Schumacher Cleaning (at Mike’s request).  Don Young seconded.  Motion carried.

·      With the approval of the Finance Committee, Paul created a revised 2021 Proposed Budget with the proposed reductions and staff increase.

·      Revised proposal was sent to the Finance Committee and will be sent to Session members

·      Pastor will call chairs of the committees whose budgets were reduced to give them a heads up and explanation

·      Ed agreed attend this week’s Session meeting to help answer any questions about the proposed reductions

 

6.  Joy Scholarship

·         Linda will check with Sandy to find out when the $500 to each applicant as approved last month will be paid

 

7.  BRPC Sams Club Card

·         Previously, Paul Vance was the primary card holder ($45) with an additional card for Connie Oliver ($40)

·         The consensus of the committee was: Mike Schumacher be issued a BRPC Sams Card as the primary card holder

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,     Linda Schumacher

Next meeting will be 1:00 PM on January 11, 2021.  via ZOOM

 

Opening devotional/prayer will be given by Ed Ingram

 

Pastor Elizabeth ended our meeting with a prayer.

 

Building Relationships with People in Christ

November 9, 2020- Finance Committee Meeting     (H)

 

Items to be included in Session's consent agenda – none

Items to be voted upon or needing discussion by Session – Deacon’s request to use memorial funds - see 7 below

Items for information only – see below –

 

Members present -  Ed Ingram, Don Pine, Bill Melewski, Sandy Moore, Linda Schumacher, and Don Young.  Pastor Elizabeth and Paul Luce were also present.

 

Members absent – Barry Holmes

 

This meeting was held via Zoom.

 

Ed Ingram began our meeting with a devotional and prayer about stewardship.

 

1.  Financial Secretary Report

·         2021 Pledges are being collected – see below

 2.  October Minutes were approved

 

3.  Treasurer's Report (see October 2020 reports in Drop Box) –

·         Paul reviewed the October reports with the committee

·         Treasurer Reports were approved

·         We’ve still managed to not withdraw anything from savings so, all things considered, so we are still doing well.

 

4.  Per Capita

·         $1000.00 payment will be made this month which leaves about $700.00 to be paid in December.

·         We are proud to have met our goal of paying all our per capita this year

·         2021 per capita amount should be available from Presbytery by 11/17 – it will be going up less than 10 cents.

 

5.  2021 Stewardship Campaign/Budget

·      As of today, we’ve received 32 pledges totaling $103,460.00.  Linda will send some reminder emails and will send a total amount of pledges received and best guess of non-pledged contributions for 2021 to Paul by 11/16.

·      The committee discussed and reduced the projected Income amounts for Loose Offering, Building Use, and Per Capita in the draft 2021 budget since we don’t know when we will be able to begin in-person services

·      Paul will prepare a draft budget for the November Session meeting using the Income amounts referenced above and the Expense amounts provided by the committees (most of which are the same as 2020)

 

6.  Joy Scholarship

·         3 previous Joy Scholarship recipients have requested them again for the spring semester

·         The consensus of the committee is that we will grant each applicant $500.00

 

7.  Deacons requested the use of some non-designated funds to send flowers to BRPC folks in times of illness and mourning since we are unable to show our love and concern in person due to the current pandemic.

·         It was the consensus of the committee to recommend to the Session to transfer the $610.00 from account# 28324-Karl Welch Memorial – to a new account# 28210 that Paul will set up for this purpose

 

8.  Worship Committee requested funds to purchase Christmas ornaments to be included in the packets that are being put together for each BRPC family for Advent.

·         Total cost for the ornaments will be $85.00

·         Pastor Elizabeth would like to use some of her Continuing Education funds for this

·         It was the consensus of the Finance Committee to approve this request

 Next meeting will be 1:00 PM on December 14, 2020.  via ZOOM (note, the link we received for this meeting will now be the one we use for all future Finance meetings)

 Opening devotional/prayer will be given by Bill Melewski

 Pastor Elizabeth ended our meeting with a prayer.

Respectfully Submitted,

                                                                                  Linda Schumacher