Parish Council Minutes

St. Vincent DePaul Parish

Parish Council Minutes

September 09, 2009

Members Present: Dennis Wells, Mary Ann Gerbin, Rich Gerbin, Barb Thomas, Dennis Turek, Linda McCracken, Jackie Hittner, Craig Adams, Tish Hanewinkel, & Chris Hanewinkel.

Guests Present: None

Opening Prayer: Jackie Hittner

Minutes: Minutes of the previous meeting of June 10, 2009 were accepted as written.

Pastor’s Report:

  • Meals program continues to serve more guests during the financial recovery
  • 341 meals during one evening is the recent high
  • “The generosity of our parishioners keeps the meals program going”
  • Molly Skiljan is the new director of the After School Program.
  • There will be a noon dinner served to celebrate the Feast Of St. Vincent De Paul Sunday September 27, 2009. The parish members will also be asked to being a dish to share. Father is providing the main course of Rustic Chicken over pasta and the drinks.

Financial Report:

Jim Lammers President of the Parish Finance Council provided a detailed report of the parish’s finances for fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. It was sobering. Expense control for the year was good as expenses were $3000 less than the previous year. But revenue had declined $8974 for the year ended June 2009. With the loss of the donation from The Taste of Clayton in 2010 there is an urgency to find new sources of donations.

Jim’s report led to a discussion about raising money. Ideas included:

  • Asking other parishes for help.
  • Writing more grant requests.
  • Becoming a 501C3 Nonprofit Corporation separate from the church.
  • Involving more people in our social ministries through the Just Faith program.
  • Video production of what we do to inform potential donors through a direct mail campaign and You Tube.

After spending an hour on this subject Dennis Turek suggested a group from the Parish Council, and the Finance Council get together to discuss these ideas and others. Dennis Turek will set this meeting up. Also the group was reminded of the Ad Hoc Fund Raising Committee. Dennis Wells indicated that the staff would discuss this subject at their meeting tomorrow.

Follow-up on action items from last meeting (June 10):

  • Dennis Wells reported that the ad was submitted for the Lafayette Square Neighborhood Directory & provided a copy of the ad for all to see.
  • Craig Adams presented his design for the proposed sign for the corner of 10th and Park.
  • The members accepted his design and authorization was given to proceed with the City of St. Louis permit application. Craig is anticipating approval for erection of the new sign by early spring 2010.
  • Jackie Hittner & Dennis Wells explained that the printed Directory of Parish Committees and Organizations was in the process of being published. Once complete it will be added to the new parish web site.
  • Dennis provided an update on the new website:

Will be ready for launch in October 2009.

Will allow each committee to update their area of the site.

It was the recommendation of the council to proceed with the plan to invite the parish committees to the October meeting.

Next meeting – October 14, 2009

Dennis Turek will contact a member to provide an opening prayer.

The meeting was completed with a prayer from Father Otto.