Mission and Outreach

Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2010
Recorder: Maureen Clancy

Attendance: Sandy Dyer, Co-chair, Sarah Randall, Co-chair, Laurie Carey, Elsa Peters, Mike Kasputes, Kristen Silva, Richard Parker, Maureen Clancy

Opening Meditation - Mike Kasputes provided the opening reflection.

Review Minutes – The September minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report - Mike Kasputes provided the Treasurer’s report which was approved as written. The quarterly dispersements and One Great Hour of Sharing were included.

Minister’s Moment - Elsa Peters informed the group about the summer retreat plans for the Downeast Coast of Maine with the Maine Coast Mission. Tthere will be room for 50-100 people, teens are welcome, no skills necessary and more to come. A member of Maine Coast Mission will be the guest speaker on Mission Sunday. Elsa also mentioned the next Micah Project - the fall clean up at the Pilgrim Lodge scheduled for October 30.The Pilgrim Lodge is also fundraising for the cost to repair the boardwalk. The Mission Team approved a $400 donation from the discretionary funds.

New Business:
• Laurie reported that the Mission Mall will need gift cards, the Team agreed to $200-250 from the discretionary fund of the budget. Laurie will let Linda know to order the cards.

• Sandy reported that we are short 1 team member. Should we try to recruit or go forward with the existing team? Since we will be losing 4 members in June, the team agreed it would be advisable to seek a new member. Laurie agreed to call Tom and Suzanne Linder to inquire about membership.

• Sarah reported that she met with Greg about a connection with the Fair Trade Coffee and Holy Joe’s. Greg agreed to seek more information and get back to us. Any fundraising effort will need to be cleared through Council before we can proceed. The question was also asked about Maine based efforts to support the troops and if that would be an easier outlet. Elsa will look into. Mike asked if the Maine National Guard had a regular Chaplin and if there might be a fundraising need on this end, Elsa agreed to ask about active duty Chaplains.

• We agreed to hold more discussion on Mission Sunday until the December meeting.

• Sandy inquired about the Maine State Prison Pastoral Fund. This was a group on our list of groups supported but it had been awhile. Jan had agreed to check; we will put this on next month’s agenda.

• Sarah reported that 2 thank you notes were received from Habitat and Iris Network.

• On November 7 Mission will be hosting the coffee hour. We also agreed to host on Jan. 9 and 16 as well. This involves set up at 9 a.m., baking, making coffee, and clean up. We will also sell Fair Trade coffee that day and put out any information we wish to promote. Mike, Sarah, Laurie and Kristen agreed to bring something or bake. Richard will bring cider. Sandy will bring munchkins. Sarah and Sandy agreed to make up a board or display to promote the Mission Trip, to inform on the groups we support, and to ask for feedback on groups members think we should support.

Other Business:
• Laurie reported that Kendra Palmer said she would do the Thanksgiving Baskets again this year. Sandy agreed to follow up with her - her number is 523-9010. We agreed it was OK for Jen to start taking names for baskets.

• We decided to drop Rethinking Christmas for now, without Carol we had lost steam on this idea.

• Recipients of the Christmas Offering would be determined next meeting.

• Mike reported that budget requests will be coming up soon. The team agreed to ask for flat funding.

• Sandy agreed to contact Jenn Hardin and Bob Morse to confirm the Christmas Giving Tree and Mitten Tree projects.

• Maureen agreed to do the Beacon article for the Christmas Offering. That will be due November 15.

Closing – Mike Kasputes provided the closing reflection. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Next meeting:
Thursday, November 4
Co-chair – Sarah Randall
Meditations – Kristen Silva
Recorder - Richard Parker