Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Present at meeting:
Don Schendt, Charlotte Richert, Brent Forth, Bill Bryan, Joan Hayes, Rick Wright, Lesa Clark, Monsignor Gaalaas and Sharon Lechtenberg, staff

Absent from meeting:
Ronda Spears,Bud Kehew,Butch Borchers, Brian Tiernan and Sarah Alsdorf

President Joan Hayes called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

Bill Bryan led the opening prayer.

Brent Forth motioned that the minutes from the February 26, 2008 meeting be approved. Don Schendt seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.

Pastor’s Report:
Monsignor Gaalaas reported that all the arrangements went very smoothly with the Easter Triduum celebrations. 18 new members were accepted welcomed into the church on Holy Saturday.

Pictures are in the process of being taken for the pictorial directory. The goal is to have the new directories available by the 30th anniversary in August.

Michael John Poirier will be at St. Bernard’s at 6:45 to lead an hour of adoration and benediction. Confirmation candidates will be participating but others are encouraged to attend as well.

Staff and Ministry Reports:
Reports were reviewed with no changes or additional actions identified.

Old Business:
Parish Survey: Chairman of the survey subcommittee, Rick Wright, reported hat Rick Bahlenger had been contacted and will allow us to use questions from his previous parish-wide survey. Additionally, Mr. Bahlenger will allow the use of his software to assimilate the data. St. Gregory’s students have agreed to undertake collation of the survey data as a class project starting the in June timeframe. A pilot test of the on-line survey with 20 participants will be run prior to the presenting the survey to the entire parish. Joan Hayes reported that the third draft of the survey would be e-mailed to parish council members in the next week with the request that council members get back to her prior to the April council meeting with any corrections or suggestions.
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Estate Planning Seminar(s): Don Schendt talked with Bob Giesler who has agreed to coordinate the presentation of a 6-part seminar on estate planning. After some discussion is was agreed that perhaps the parish should undertake only 2 of these sessions in the first year. Depending on response, the remaining sessions could be scheduled in subsequent years.

Leadership/Spiritual Retreat: The retreat was discussed but decisions or recommendations were reached. Various options will be evaluated at the next parish council meeting.

Homeless Meal: Lesa Clark reminded council members that we were scheduled prepare and serve the meal for the homeless on Sunday, April 27th. Approximate cost to each council member will be $50-55. All are asked to bring checkbooks to the next council meeting to settle up. Volunteers will be reminded of when they are helping with this service.

30th Anniversary Celebration: Lesa Clark reported that the steering committee had held its 1st meeting in March. Dates for the celebration have been approved as Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24. The annual day of caring will be held the previous weekend on Saturday, August 16. Bernardfest activities are planned to be included with anniversary celebration. Bulletin announcements will begin showing up in the next couple of weeks. Several activities were discussed with plans to finalize these at the April meeting.

Brent Forth volunteered to do the opening devotional for the next meeting.

The next parish council meeting will be Tuesday, April 22nd at 7:30 PM in the community room.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:38.

Respectfully submitted,
Lesa Clark

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