STEWARDSHIP and FINANCE COMMITTEE

2010 Committee Members:

          Dave Kretzmann, chairman & council rep

          Gary Wolfe, council representative

          Pat Mitchell, treasurer

          Gary Goade, financial secretary

          Chris Jensen, teller coordinator

          Tim Friederichs, risk manager

2010 Accomplishments:

1. Continued to communicate, primarily via the newsletter, how our benevolence gifts make a difference in the lives of real people.
2. Sponsored and coordinated our fourth annual Christian Service Fair in August, highlighting volunteer needs and opportunities within the congregation.
3. Conducted a financial stewardship emphasis in October, culminating in a congregational meal and the receipt of commitments of time, talent, and treasure.
4. Coordinated the counting of Sunday offerings and the distribution of individual contribution statements.
5. Planned, announced, and began new program to mail offering envelopes directly to members' homes on a bi-monthly basis.
6. Kept the council and congregation informed, on a monthly basis, of the financial status of the congregation.
7. Implemented a financial contingency plan in April to keep our total spending within projected means.  Despite a significant decline in total giving, ended the year with a net positive gain.
8. Received a financial audit report and coordinated implementation of all applicable recommendations.  (Much thanks to Audit Committee members: Ron Lundquist, Vic Davis, and Pat Alexander.)
9. Established policy, via continuing resolution, regarding designated funds.  Eliminated unnecessary designated funds and fully documented those remaining.
10. Switched the congregation's property and liability insurance to a group plan which provides better coverage at a lower cost.
11. Converted benevolence budgeting and execution from fixed dollars to proportional percentages of monthly income.
12. Coordinated the 2011 budget development process, resulting in congregational approval of a balanced budget for next year.

Current Concerns:

1. Several congregational members are unemployed or underemployed, and even working families struggle with expenses and debt.  How can we hold one another up in difficult economic times?
2. Regular envelope giving may continue to decline, due to the pressures of the economic recession and compounded by anxiety about pastoral transition and ELCA ministerial policies.  How can we best align available resources with our mission?

2011 Goals:

1. Continue sharing stories about the positive impact of our benevolence funding.
2. Facilitate on-going awareness of volunteer opportunities in all facets of the congregation's ministry.
3. Coordinate a financial stewardship emphasis in October, with periodic reminders throughout the year.
4. Monitor closely the congregation's income and expenses, and make any adjustments necessary to balance expenses with available resources.
5. Coordinate the development of a balanced budget for 2012.
6. Expand the pool of Sunday tellers and update written teller procedures.
7. Increase member participation in the Simply Giving electronic fund transfer program.
8. Distribute quarterly individual contribution statements by mail or electronic delivery.
9. Increase member awareness regarding wills, trusts, charitable remainder annuities, and other estate planning tools.