Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church 7:36 pm
In Attendance: Maxine Calamos, Michael Euripides, Christine Fulmore, Steve Giannopoulos, George Kartoudi, Daniela Langa, Robert Morrison, Nicholas Pappas, Sandy Winkler, Pauline Gorton
Absent: John Manolis
Motion Summary:
Motion #1: Motion to approve the minutes from 13 January 2009 made by Maxine Calamos, seconded by Pauline Gorton and passed with a unanimous voice vote.
Motion #2: Motion that Sandy Winkler and Steve Giannopoulos inventory the deposit box and present a list of inventory to the Parish Council made by Nicholas Pappas, seconded by Pauline Gorton and passed with a unanimous voice vote.
Motion #3: Motion that Steve Giannopoulos will give an update to the Parish Council within 30 days regarding the reactivation of the alarm system made by Nicholas Pappas seconded by Sandy Winkler and passed with a unanimous voice vote.
Motion #4: Motion made by Michael Euripides, seconded by George Kartoudi for the treasurer to continue to spend funds in the identical fashion as approved by the previous General Assembly (2008) with the addition of a full time priest along with benefits and his activities until March 1 until Parish Council can take new budget to General Assembly. All in favor except for Nicholas Pappas who opposed the motion because UPR (Article 29 Section 1 J) requires that a budget be approved by beginning of the New Year and this was not completed.
Motion #5: Motion to adjourn was made by Michael Euripides seconded by Maxine Calamos and passed with a unanimous voice vote at 10:00 p.m.1. Meeting Called to Order
Steve Giannopoulos (SG) called meeting to order at 7:36 pm.
Father John opened with a prayer.
Oath administered to Pauline Gorton to become the Parish Councilˇ¦s 11th member.
SG asks that all Parish Council meetings begin on time at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. George Kartoudi suggested that PC. Meetings begin earlier at 7:00 p.m. but many council members cannot commit to that time.2.
Maxine Calamos suggested that minutes reflect those members absent at meetings as well as in attendance. Suggestion noted.
SG requests that a Summary of the Motions of each meeting be placed at the beginning of the Minutes as well as keeping them in the body of the minutes.
Suggestion noted.
After a discussion regarding corrections on minutes, it was decided that minutes have corrections listed for documentation purposes.
A motion (motion 1) to approve the minutes was made by Maxine Calamos, seconded by Pauline Gorton and passed with a unanimous voice vote.3. Old Business
a. Financial record transition
- Maxine Calamos and Sandy Winkler are having a good start with the treasurer transition.
- The budget cannot be finalized at this time.
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b. Narthex Schedule
- All Parish Council members confirmed receipt of Narthex schedule spreadsheet prepared by George Kartoudi
- Schedule for weekday services will be scheduled for Narthex schedule
- George Kartoudi asked for a description of duties and responsibilities for Parish Council members while serving in the Narthex.
- SG will prepare a synopsis of guidelines and protocol (reviewed by Father) and will provide a short session on these guidelines.
c. Budget
- Budget tabled until next meeting with majority of meeting devoted to budget.
- Maxine Calamos passed out budget spreadsheets that we will discuss at our next meeting.
d. Stewardship Weekend
- Michael Euripides discussed the stewardship weekend; he had a spreadsheet with the expense and activity breakdown as well as the leadership dinner attendance. Most of the items listed have been donated. Expense to date is $1038.00 with $800.00 cash donated thus far.
- Spreadsheets are attached and made part of these Minutes.
- Stewardship weekend agenda finalized.
- Tanya Pappas volunteered to take photos over the weekend.
- Parish Council members are sponsoring the luncheon and will be serving the parishioners after the Liturgy on Sunday.
- Suggestions for Talking Points have been forwarded to Father Nick.
- Parish Council Certificates will be presented to outgoing Parish Council members at the luncheon.
- Stewardship cards will be placed in the ballot box for privacy and the information cards will be placed in a basket. There will be extra cards at the table in the hall if needed.
- There have been 189 Stewardship letters sent (both stewards and non-stewards). Nick Pappas asked how people are being contacted. The stewardship committee has divided the list and contacted by phone (if phone number is listed) as a follow-up to the letters.
- Father John previously agreed to contact the “inactive” names (appx. 100). Father John only spoke with 15-20 people. SG asked Father John what the general response was from those inactive calls. Father John responded that the general response was not positive. Nick Pappas then asked Father John if he kept a list of those individuals whom he contacted and Father John said he did keep a list. Nick Pappas asked if Father John could provide Parish Council with list of names contacted and Father John agreed to provide this list.
- Michael Euripides said that the church database is not current so many phone numbers are not listed.
- Nick Pappas suggested that we maintain documentation/record of whom and when we contacted individuals so we can track and help build up the stewardship list.
- Michael Euripides says our church has a steward data system and would contact Anna Vassilopoulos from Saint Catherine to come here and train someone to use the software.
- Michael Euripides says there will be a follow up note to those we sent invitations to attend Stewardship Sunday. (Either a thank-you note or haven’t heard from you note.)
d. Resolve election tie : Winkler- Giannopoulos
- Tabled until next meeting.4. New Business
a. Father John Workshop Update and Associated Costs
- There is mandatory meeting for clergy by Metropolis in
- Church expenditures include $ 400.00 registration fee which includes hotel and various expense, and a separate $160.00 airline ticket.
- Previous (out-going) Parish Council approved expenditures. There are no other funds needed.
- Father will have a contact person for Steve Giannopoulos to call if there is an emergency while father is away and a note will be put in the bulletin regarding this.
b. P.O.Box /Safety Deposit Box
- Sandy Winkler has a key to the Security Deposit Box and wants to inventory the items. A suggestion was made for someone to go with
- A motion (motion 2) that Sandy Winkler and Steve Giannopoulos inventory the deposit box and provide a list of inventory to the Parish Council was made by Nicholas Pappas, seconded by Pauline Gorton and passed with a unanimous voice vote.
- Christine Fulmore received the key for the P.O. Box. She will check the mail a few times a week and will date stamp and create a mail log.
- Steve Giannopoulos has the 2nd key.
c. Keys
- Steve Giannopoulos will gather all the keys of the church from prior Parish Council members for doors to church and offices. He wants to establish a key roster which will account for who has the church keys.
d. Security System
- The church pays a monthly fee for the security system because it is tied in with the fire alarm system. It is not being utilized to its full potential and the monitoring system is not being used. We can reactivate the system once again by reactivating the codes once again.
- A motion (motion 3) that within 30 days Steve Giannopoulos will give an update to the Parish Council regarding the reactivation of the alarm system, was made by Nicholas Pappas, seconded by Sandy Winkler and passed with a unanimous voice vote.
e. General Assembly Dates
- The By-Laws General Assembly will be February 15, 2009.
- Nick Pappas reminded the Parish Council that it could not have General Assembly meetings during weeknights because the hall is rented out Monday - Friday to the Fencing Club.
- The tentative date for the Budget Assembly is March 1, 2009.
- Michael Euripides asked if a motion is needed to continue to spend money without a budget approved by the General Assembly per the UPR.
- A motion (motion 4) was made by Michael Euripides, seconded by George Kartoudi for the treasurer to continue to spend funds in the identical fashion as approved by the previous General Assembly (2008) with the addition of a full time priest along with benefits and his activities until March 1 until Parish Council can take new budget to General Assembly. All in favor except for Nicholas Pappas who opposed the motion. He opposes the Motion because UPR (Article 29 Section 1 J) requires that a budget be approved by beginning of the New Year and this was not completed.
- Steve Giannopoulos wants to have a 3rd General Assembly in 2009 so the Parish Council can give updates to the parishioners. Michael Euripides asked if we can have a “State of the Parish” meeting versus an entire General Assembly meeting which should last approximately an hour.
- After discussion, the Parish Council agreed to a tentative schedule as follows:
June 28, 2009: State of the Parish Meeting
October 18, 2009: General Assembly
December 13, 2009: General Assembly
November 8, 2009: Elections
November 22, 2009: Stewardship Sunday
f. 2009 Parish Council Goals
- Steve Giannopoulos asked the Parish Council Members to bring some ideas and goals to the next meeting on goals along with plans in order to better the church.
g. By-Law Committee Update
- Nicholas Pappas reported for the bylaw committee. He reminded the PC that at the last scheduled General Assembly in October, 2008, a motion was passed that the by-law report prepared by Bill Kaltsounis and Nick Pappas be sent out to parishioners by mail (postage to be paid by Bill Winkler) and posted on the church website and in the church hall.
- The bylaw report would be reviewed at a General Assembly which is 15 February 2009.
- Pappas says that the UPR requires that Notice of the General Assembly be sent 10 days before the meeting so parishioners have ample time to review the Report.
- Sandy Winkler asked who served on the bylaw committee. Nick Pappas replied that Bill Kaltsounis and he were co-chairs. Sandy Winkler said she thought Mrs. Theodore was on the committee. Nick Pappas replied that her facts were not correct. Nick Pappas said that he and Bill Kaltsounis did consider a third person but it was not Mrs. Theodore. Nick Pappas said that he never spoke with Bill Kaltsounis or Mrs. Theodore regarding her membership. Nick Pappas said Mrs. Theodore never called or emailed him about joining the bylaw committee. Nick Pappas also said that Mrs. Theodore lived in the local area only six months of the year and resided the other six months of the year in
h. Oratorical Festival
- The Oratorical Festival needs a chairperson. Districts are in
- Father John reported that Erin Dooley could not serve as chairperson because of time constraints.
- It was agreed that this is a wonderful activity for our children and it would be a shame if we could not have a festival this year as we have had the past 2 years.
- Nick Pappas asked Father John when he learned that Erin Dooley could not be chairperson. Father John said it was three weeks earlier or maybe before Christmas.
- It was decided that leadership of this event should fall under the Sunday School Department.5. Adjournment
- A motion (motion 5) to adjourn was made by Michael Euripides, seconded by Maxine Calamos and passed with a unanimous voice vote at 10:00 pm.
- Father said closing prayer.6. Next Meeting Date and Time
- Thursday, February 5, 2009 7:30 p.m
Fr John Katsoulis, Parish Priest
Steve Giannopoulos, Parish Council President
Christine Fulmore, Parish Council Secretary
