St. Stanislaus Parish

Finance Council Meeting Minutes

January 27, 2009 – 4:00 pm

Council Members Present: Fr. Allen Jakubowski, Rita Borski, Bill Boylan, Jackson Case, Bob Hollar,

Marg Ostrowski, Shirley Berger-SPACS Commission Rep and Beverly Wasieleski-Financial Secretary.

Council Members Excused: Bill Boston, John Clifford, Dave Fletcher, Phyllis Lepak.

Guests: Sandy Retzki and Lori Stoltz.

1. Opening Prayer: Jackson Case

2. Gift Card Review-Sandy Retzki and Lori Stoltz gave presentation. SPACS trying to create

awareness for gift card program among parishioners to earn additional revenue which is credited

directly to our school subsidy. Encouraged members of Pastoral and Finance Council, committees

and fundraising events to use gift cards whenever possible for their purchases. When idea catches on,

parish could take over managing gift cards in-house to realize 100% of credit earned from sales. In the

future, will also try to schedule selling gift cards before Mass.

3. Minutes of Finance Council Meeting November 25, 2008 approved as presented.

4. Liaison Reports-*Beginning in February, written reports will be emailed to Council members

one week prior to meeting.

a. Pastoral Council – Phyllis Lepak-written report for meeting

*Council members encouraged to use gift card program to raise additional income for parish.

*Catholic Education-(1)Little Black Prayer Books available during Lent; (2)Youth Group prepared

and delivered 32 college care packages; and (3)The first Post-Confirmation series, Angels,

Demons and Cults, well received, more to follow.

*Family Life-(1)Fr. Michael Weldon, this year’s mission presenter, will visit Jan. 25^th and do

8:00am Mass; (2)Christmas dinner success-90 people served.

*Justice and Peace-(1)A steering/planning committee to consider parish mission project; (2)January

food collection went to Operation Bootstrap.

*Pilgrimage for Lent being planned by Women’s Deanery.

*Catholics Coming Home program theme for 2009.

*Pastor Report-(1)Handicap accessible doors installed at north entrance; (2)First Reconciliation

Retreat, January 10^th, well attended; (3)Anniversary of Baptism Mass, January 18^th, for those

baptized in 2007-08, coordinated by JoAnn Liss; (4)Wedding workshop held January 17^th.

*Postcard Campaign opposing FOCA organized by Avis Pings.

b. Staff – Dave Fletcher-No report-Dave is on mission trip.

c. SPACS Commission – Shirley Berger

*Focus of HR this year is to set up guidelines and procedures for athletic personnel.

*Catholic Schools Week-January 26-February 1-registration for 2009-10 school year.

*New policy will dictate spokesperson for school system to address press.

*Recent commitment from Sentry to donate five million towards technical support for public and

private schools-private school share will be one million, will include progressive training for

teachers and students learning process.

*Proposed 2% increase in tuition for next school year.

*Need to address financial impact on St. Bron’s space issue.

*Discussed format to make board more effective-will focus on one major topic for discussion to

analyze, come up with possible solutions.

*SPACS Strategic Plan Meeting scheduled for February 17, asking St. Stan’s parish for their input

on: (1)Schools, parishes and Catholic community; (2)Curriculum and programming;

(3)Resource development; (4)Recruitment, retention and marketing.

d. SPACS Finance – John Clifford

*Preliminary budget projections for 2009-10 submitted to diocese, with parish subsidies at the same

level as 2008-09.

*Jim Dyer received notification from the diocese that the 2009-10 budget has been approved.

5. Sub-Committee Reports -*Beginning in February, written reports will be emailed to Council members

one week prior to meeting.

a. Financial Report/Budget – John Clifford

*Collections through January 25, 2009 total $412,488, which is about 4% ahead of last year, but

behind the estimated $435,000 we need to balance the budget. Currently, behind in school

subsidy payment $20,000.

*At the end of December, revenues are slightly behind what is needed and expenses slightly ahead

of budget, it looks like we are going to run a deficit this year unless something special is done.

b. Building & Grounds – Bob Hollar

*Handicap Accessible doors will be installed at the north entrance of church using Memorial money

at a total cost of $4,200.

*Ice problem in rectory parking lot due to drainage problem. Contacted Eugene Kluck who is

proposing to dig trench across parking lot to front grassy area to install French drain. Will meet

with city engineer for plan approval. Cost estimate for project $5,000.

*Jim Dyer attended Building & Grounds sub-committee meeting prior to Finance meeting.

Discussed summer asbestos removal project in basement level and pipes behind bathrooms on

first and second floors of school. Total estimated cost of project is $58,300. Jim Dyer has

committed SPACS to pay one half of project cost. At the end of this project, St. Stan’s school

building will be completely free of asbestos.

*Looking into Focus on Energy rebates before proceeding with insulation in church ceiling.

*Discussed feasibility of moving ahead on landscaping project at this time.

*Handout history on Maintenance Costs for St. Stanislaus Parish from 1997-2008.

c. Memorials – Bill Boston

*Handout preliminary brochure outlining Memorial program at St. Stan’s to be used at time of

funeral planning and possibly for All Souls Day and located at church doors. Suggestion made

to include explanation on Memorial wish list projects.

d. Diocesan Annual Appeal – Bill Boylan

*Our target goal is $76,334. To date we are $4,081 under target in total pledged;

and $8,376 under target in total cash received. Participation is at 31%.

*Under current economic situation, let Appeal run its course, will hold off until April

with future plans.

e. Fundraising – Marg Ostrowski; Jackson Case

*Winter Carnival this year will have 10:30 Mass with polka music, food, games and Rosary

bake sale. New this year will be a swap meet and ending the event at 4:00pm.

Current plans have eliminated the silent auction and giving out of liquor for prizes.

6. Major Topic for Discussion

a. Members discussed effect of Christmas letter with regards to mailing date, presentation, financial

response to parish. Members have decided to follow similar format for Easter letter. Rita Borski

prepared rough draft letter for starting discussion, which lead into a very lively, good exchange

of ideas. Because of time restrictions and several members being absent, discussion will continue

at next meeting, with all members being asked to bring rough draft letter for a starting point

to draft final copy.

7. New Business – No time for discussion

a. Contribution Statement to Givers-How Do We Address Zero Givers?

8. Old Business

a. Newsletter Article

*Next newsletter will come out end of March-Each sub-committee can report on current projects.

b. Agenda Items for Major Discussion

*Gift Card Program

*Memorial Pamphlet and It’s Use

*Bulletin “Bullets”

*Weekly Giving/Direct Payment Plan

9. Closing Prayer – Jackson Case

NEXT MEETING DATE: February 24, 2009

PRAYER LEADER: John Clifford