MINUTES - December VESTRY MEETING
St. Peter’s Church - December 3, 2007

Fr George Young opened the meeting at 6pm. Present: The Rev. Kimberly Still, Neil Blalock, Ed Grissom, Ben Stephens, Cheryl Smith, Francis Flood, Cathy Kaltenbach, Early McCall, Neil Frink. Absent: Trey Warren, Norma Norris and David Lott. Also present: all newly selected members (seated Jan, ‘08): Dolores Lord, Lena Watson, Jon Lasserre, Asa Gillette and Bob White.

Next Meeting MOVED: Jan 28, 2008 @ 6 pm (previously, Jan 14)

Treasurer’s Report:

Jim Carpenter succinctly reviewed the 11-month financials and an update of the ‘08 Budget. (Part of the reason for moving the January meeting is to provide opportunity to incorporate December’s receipts into the ‘08 Budget and submit a revised, final Budget for Vestry approval before the Jan 30 Annual Meeting). December’s receipts will be especially important this year because: 1) we are approximately $10K below budget in our revenues going into December; and 2) we budgeted a very “generous” December (over $100K) - there are 5 Sundays and Christmas is on Tuesday. So, while our total expenses for the 11months through November are slightly under budget, we need a big revenue month to honor unfunded commitments and to craft the ‘08 Budget that provides for the exciting agenda we’ve planned in/for our Sesquicentennial.

Jim confirmed that receipts from the capital campaign are being received quite as anticipated, at the rate of more than $5 thousand per month. All work underway and planned is proceeding quite satisfactorily.

Brian Moody, Youth Director:

Brian was back at the request which arose at the November meeting that the Vestry consider moving the bus acquisition into ‘08. In collaboration with Ben Stephens, Brian has researched several opportunities in the market that he feels would meet the needs of the youth group; there are other groups (Founders, Vestry, etc) that would undoubtedly find the bus a useful addition.
There is a 25-passenger bus being offered by a Yulee church but it’s 12 years old. A similar bus only 3 years old is being offered at about twice as much. There are several folks “in the business” who have offered advice and assistance.

Fr George asked Ben & Brian to develop a recommendation for the Vestry to review at its Jan meeting, including matters pertaining to insurance, maintenance expense, warranty, residual value/replacement cost.

Vestry “Thank You’s”:

1) Those who helped organize (and all who participated in) the Bereaved Parents’ Service and reception. Special thanks to: Joe Demille, Jerry Kawecki, Liz & Early McCall, Joanne & Dan Roach, Nancy & Jim Carpenter, Ed Grissom, Mary Hay, Jean Buatti, and Rich Smith.

2) All who had a part in Wicked Pete’s (highly succesful) Irish Wake, including the memorable role played by the Rev Kimberly Still as Pete’s weeping widow: other notable organizers/contributors (and there were dozens) include Beth Thornton, Pat Burns, Rich Smith…..and of course Ben Stephens who saw to it that the event more was than fully subscribed. Special thanks to Karen Miller and her catering team who served a fabulous meal to a multitude of hungry souls.

3) Nancy Carpenter and all who assisted and participated in the Alternative Gift Market - the biggest and best ever!

Minutes of the November 12 meeting were approved with one correction (Parlor renovation expense/budget).

Rector’s Report:

0 Jan Smith’s appointment as our new Parish Music Director becomes effective in Feb; Martha Skirven’s last Sunday will be Jan 27 and honors will be bestowed at the Annual Meeting. Details as well as Jan’s CV are attached.

0 Neil Blalock has accepted Fr George’s invitation to serve as Senior Warden in the coming year.

0 The initial round of Vestry Initiative assignments and Pente Group discussions are well along. A synopsis of those assigments is as follows:

1. Mary Lynn Torchia - Continued Education/Implementation - MDGs
2. Dave Lott - Community & national outreach projects
3. Dolores Lord - year-round congregational development/Christian life/stewardship
4. Neil Frink - Continued education (racism)/celebrate diversity - study circles
5. Bob White - environmental stewardship - what one church can do
6. Jon Lasserre - “radical hospitality” at St. Peter’s
7. Lena Watson - develop community identity/leadership for young adults (21-35)
8. Norma Norris; Francis Flood - community identity/leadership, ongoing care & activities for adults 60 and over
9. Asa Gillette - explore possibilities for Episcopal school, eastern Nassau county

0 REMINDER: Jan 11 & 12, 2008, Staff & Vestry Retreat, Camp Weed. Invited Guest/Facilitator: The Rev Ann Broomell, Associate Rector, Christ Church, Ponte Vedre.

NO REPORT: Assistant Rector, Senior Warden

Junior Warden’s Report: Great West doors refinishing is complete; clerestory windows will be finished in Feb; exterior and a/c work nearly complete.

Vestry Initiatives:

Neil Frink (Diversity) presented Fr George and Early McCall with Resolutions of Appreciation for their active and enthusiastic efforts on the Study Circles. Positive feedback from all quarters suggests that another round in ‘08 would attract broader participation both from St Peter’s and from the larger community.

Ben Stephens (Stewardship) thanked all who participated in the evening now known as Wicked Pete’s Highly Successful & Over Subscribed Irish Wake.

Other Business: A motion to elect Ed Grissom Junior Warden for the year ahead was approved with enthusiastic unanimity. Cheryl Smith mentioned the work that Daughters of the King is doing in collecting Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in the community. And Lena Watson announced an MDG presentation to be made Dec 18 at the Yulee elementary school.

Resolutions for ‘08 Clergy Housing Allowance: Fr George proposed that the same resolutions the Vestry approved for 2007 be adopted for 2008. A motion was made and unanimously approved - the text is annexed to these Minutes.

Fr George then gave a Closing Prayer and the meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

John C. Train, Clerk

ANNEX To MINUTES of Vestry Meeting of December 3, 2007: Resolutions regarding the allocation of a portion of salary for the Rector and for the Assistant Rector toward housing allowance
The following resolutions were duly adopted by the Vestry of St. Peter’s Church at its regularly scheduled meeting on December 3, 2007, a quorum being present:
Whereas section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code specifies that the amount of ministers’ compensation that is designated in advance by their employing church as a housing allowance is not taxable in computing federal income taxes to the extent that it is used to pay for actual expenses incurred in owning or renting a home or apartment, and in the case of ministers who own their home, does not exceed the fair rental value of the home; and
Whereas Rev. George D. Young, III is compensated by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida, exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas St. Peter’s does not provide a parsonage for him; therefore, it is
Resolved, that of the total compensation paid to Rev. George D. Young, III for calendar year 2008, $36,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code.
And, whereas Rev. Kimberly L. Still is compensated by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida, exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas St. Peter’s does not a provide a parsonage for her; therefore, it is
Resolved, that of the total compensation paid to Rev. Kimberly L. Sill for calendar year 2008, $20,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Letter from Fr George Young to the Parish reagarding Martha Skirven’s Retirement & Jan Smith’s appointment as Director/Parish Music, December, 2007:

Dear St. Peter’s Parish Family,

Martha Skirven reminded me the other day of the story of when she first came to St. Peter’s. She “filled in” for a time beginning in October 2001 after Donny Papenbrock moved to St. Louis. Then, through those autumn months, we shared a discernment process that led to her becoming our permanent Parish Musician in January 2002. She and Jim immediately became deeply loved members of our parish family, and have been so for these almost 6 years.

Two factors have come together recently. One of those is our 2005 Strategic Plan to move toward a full time Parish Musician at St. Peter’s, and the second is Martha’s plan to retire (again). We have been working on this – talking and planning for several months, and have just now decided that Martha will retire from St. Peter’s at the end of January 2008. Her last Sunday will be January 27, 2008, and we will toast her and formally thank her – in classic St. Peter’s style – at our Parish Meeting on Wednesday, January 30. Look for more details coming.

The Skirvens have been a precious gift to us, and we wish them joy and peace in this retirement adventure. They will remain living here in paradise, though we will likely not see much of them for a season.

I am happy to announce that I have invited Janet Pitts Smith to become our new Parish Musician. Jan moved to Fernandina Beach this past winter, and has served as Interim Organist at Church of Our Saviour in Mandarin these past six months. Prior to that, she was at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wytheville, VA, and before that at churches in Virginia, Minnesota, and North Carolina. Jan became a widow last December when her husband of 25 years, the Rev. Leland Smith died suddenly. Our friends at Church of Our Saviour came to love and appreciate her greatly, and we were fortunate to pry her away to come to St. Peter’s.

Our plan is to gradually increase the Parish Musician position to full time over a three-year period, and devote the resources to our music program that this great parish deserves. We’ll share more of that vision over the coming months. In the meantime, Martha will continue to lead us in music and worship through the Season of Epiphany, and we’ll begin preparing for Jan’s arrival soon. God bless you all!

Janet Pitts Smith (Jan)
2140 Captain Kidd Drive Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
904.310.6639 janetsmith2140@comcast.net

Objective: To teach and spread the joy of learning and sharing God’s love through music.

Summary: Experienced music therapist and music teacher with expansion of music programs in a variety of settings. I am proficient in teaching and performing on pipe organ, piano, handbells and guitar. Church employment has frequently involved programs for children in addition to using the talents of both the congregation and the community with the incorporation of additional instruments to organ.

Current
Employment: • Interim Director of music: The Episcopal Church of Our Savior, Mandarin, Florida August 2007-ongoing (concludes January 2008) Director of adult and children’s choirs including singing and handbells, organist & pianist
• Special Arts and Private piano teacher: Amelia Arts Academy, Fernandina Beach, Florida. July 2007-ongoing Teach both private and group piano lessons with Music Education. With Musikgarten and Music therapy, work with Nassau ARC and Headstart.

Previous
Employment: Church Musician 1976-2007
• Director of music: St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wytheville, Virginia 2001-June 2007 Director of adult and children’s choirs including Musikgarten, organist & pianist, part of leadership team. Program grew from adult choir only to music programs for all ages.

Music Director: Adult programs Christ Episcopal, Pulaski Virginia; Peace UMC, Shoreview, Minnesota; St. Matthew’s Episcopal, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Youth Music Director: In both places focused on beginning and maintaining programs for children and youth including choral and handbell programs. Church of the Holy Innocents, Henderson North Carolina; St. Mary’s Episcopal, Kinston North Carolina.
Substitute Organist/Director: Denominations including Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and funeral homes in Minnesota, North Carolina and Virginia.

Music Teacher 1970-2007
• Private music teacher: 1970-2007 Taught piano, guitar, recorder, pipe organ, voice. Instruction includes theory, composition and performance

Small Church Leadership Training SWVA Diocese Taught use of alternative instruments (guitar, vocal and instrumental soloists to diocesan music leaders.
Substitute teacher Wythe county Virginia
Kerr-Vance Academy and Preschool Learning Center Preschool through 6th grades. Henderson North Carolina
Arendell Parrott Academy K through 12th grades. Kinston North Carolina.

Human Services 1977-2007
English as a Second Language Instructor: 2007 By increasing ease with English the self esteem is improved with these K through 4th grade public school children.

Caring Connection Coordinator Hospice of Southwest Virginia.
Music therapy/Recreation Therapy Consultant: Group Homes in Louisburg and Oxford North Carolina and Area Mental Health Clinic, Henderson, North Carolina.
Music Therapist: John Umstead Psychiatric Hospital, Butner, North Carolina; Caswell Center for Mental Retardation Kinston, North Carolina, LaSalle/Bloomington Convalescent Homes, Minneapolis Minnesota

Primary Volunteer
Activities:
First director of Wythe County Agape Food Pantry
Part of Play Fund Performances, Learning & Arts for Youth
St. Johns Episcopal Church
Smith Cottage at Grace House on the Mountain; a part of Diocese of SWVA
Past member of St. John’s Preschool board and school volunteer
Past foreign exchange host family
Personal
Information:
In December 2006 my husband of 25 years died suddenly. Leland, an Episcopal priest, and I planned to move to the Episcopal Diocese of Florida when we retired. We have traveled in Canada, England, Italy, Germany, Scotland and the United States but we have always particularly enjoyed Northeast Florida. Our adult child lives in Georgia. For these reasons I have moved to Fernandina Beach. I am looking for employment in what has been a life-long experience. (My grandfather was a priest in England and Canada and my father was a priest in Canada and United States.) Born in Innisfail, Alberta Canada I have been a naturalized American citizen since 1965.

Education:

Musikgarten Certification Birth through age 7.
Various short term training courses including: Handbell Ringing/Directing, Choral directing, Music Therapy and Psychology, Orff-Schulwerk, Remotivation, American Sign Language, Awareness of harassment and abuse, worship and music workshops. Masters coursework in Special Education and Organizational Management University of Minnesota, East Carolina University and University of Phoenix
Music Therapy Clinical Internship Cherry Hospital, Goldsboro North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy/School of Music Education 1976 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

References:
Mrs. Frances Barton St. John’s Senior Warden and member of adult choir
276. 228.3244 barton@naxs.com
Mr. John Perona Parent of past music students and children’s choir members 276.620.0122 jbperona@earthlink.net
The Rt. Rev. F. Neff Powell Current Bishop of Diocese of Southwestern Virginia 800.346.7982 npowell@dioswva.org
The Rev. John Palarine Priest in charge Church of our Savior current interim position 904.268.9457 jejpal@aol.com