Vestry met in Serson Hall with a call to order at 6:30 p.m. There was a quorum. Fr Tom opened the meeting with a prayer.

 Members Present: Fr. Tom Thoeni, Rector; Steve Carnell, Sr. Warden; Paul Nelson, Jr. Warden; Tom Connolly, Mary Lou Dogoloff, Rose Porembo, Jeannie Smith, and Murray Smith. Peter Lund was listening to the meeting remotely and Judy Martin was absent.

Motion to approve vestry minutes:   Fr. Tom asked for a motion to approve the July 17, 2024 minutes. Steve C pointed out that the July 17 minutes incorrectly stated that window replacements in the rectory would be put off until next year.  Paul N confirmed that window replacements are being included in the current plan with the replacement of rectory air ducts and the purchase a new rider mower.   Rose P added that the sum of money being retained in our Truist Bank Brokerage Account be corrected to read $72,576.21 instead of $7,000.00 as reported in the July17, 2024.   Rose P made the motion of correction stating that rectory windows will be purchased and Truist Bank Brokerage Account balance will be reported as $72,576.21. Mary Lou seconded the motion and the motion was adopted by acclamation. 

Fr Tom asked for a motion to approve the amended July 17, 2024 minutes.  Rose P made a motion and Tom C seconded.  This motion was adopted unanimously. 

 Fr Tom thanked Rose P for her diligence as treasurer. Rose announced that laundry Love outreach will transfer from Rich Shea to parishioner Steve Augustus.  St. Paul’s received a grant for two years from the diocese while asking parishioners for donations to help needy people pay for personal washer and dryer loads at a local laundromat.   Laundry Love will continue one afternoon a month with Steve A and other volunteers.

On October 31, 2024 mailings will start for our Pledge Campaign 2025. Finally, Rose P thanked Murray S and Carol O’Connell for their help finishing the Audit Committee Report which was due September 1st. 

Old Business:

Development Project Update:   Fr Tom said the contract with the diocese for potential land development is waiting to be signed by Lang Lowery.   He said it probably will take six months or more to see the possibilities and learn from Collier County what would be possible regarding zoning. 

T-Coil Technology and Sound System:   Tom C reported the main sound system speaker is repaired and will be installed before start of season.  Secondly, a Hearing Loop, a technology designed to help those with telecoils in their hearing aid, will be installed this year.  Bluetooth, a newer technology, will help those with that kind of hearing aid.  Tom C will prepare a survey for hearing aid wearers to report what technology is built into their hearing aids. Many people are not aware of whether their hearing aids have.

Solar Panel Project:   Paul N will have more information next month.

Shadowlawn School Volunteers:   Jeannie S was thanked for preparing a statement in the weekly UPDATE encouraging volunteers to call Shadowlawn Elementary or E Naples Middle School.  No responses were recorded.

Rectory Update:   Steve C suggested that we get on a contractor’s calendar to proceed with window replacement and ductwork replacement in the rectory. 

Capital Projects Update:   Sr. Warden Steve C and his committee proposed a plan to move ahead to ask the diocese for funds from our SOSP endowment fund. Vestry was given a breakdown of costs.

Steve C made a motion to request $56,000 to be transferred from our SOSP Endowment at the diocese to St. Paul’s to be used for three capital improvement projects: rectory windows, rectory ductwork and a rider mower replacement.   Paul Nelson seconded the motion and the motion was adopted unanimously.

Stewardship Event August 24, 2024:   Driving to our diocese property called DaySpring Episcopal Camp in Parrish, FL on Saturday August 24 will be Steve C and Tom C.   The stewardship event will be from 9 am to 4 pm.

Diocese Convention Oct. 11 and 12, 2024:   This year St. Paul’s has registered Rose Porembo, Jeannie Smith and Paul Nelson as delegates and Gary Porembo as an alternate to the upcoming convention in Punta Gorda, FL.   On Saturday the delegates engage in the annual diocese business meeting.   Seventy-eight churches from southwest Florida are represented.   Tom C particpates as a member of the Bishop’s Council. On Friday October 11 ten seminars are offered to inform delegates and visitors about the Episcopal church. On September 3, a convocation meeting offers the priests, deacons and delegates a meeting to hear Bishop Scharf, his canons and DaySpring employees introduce what will be discussed and voted on at the convention.  The diocese offers by-weekly emails addressing current news to inform anyone who is interested.

Recruiting vestry members:   A few members are completing their terms on vestry this coming February.   All were asked to think about proposing new candidates to fill those seats.

Fr. Tom closed the meeting with a prayer at 8 p.m.

 The next vestry meeting will be September 25, 2024

Respectfully Submitted, 

 Charlene Connolly, Recording Secretary

 Nora Broszeit, Clerk of the Vestry