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 which is a psalm.

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

Motion to approve vestry minutes: Fr. Tom asked for a motion to approve the August 21, 2024 minutes. Judy M made the motion and Rose P seconded. This motion was adopted unanimously. 

Treasurer’s Report: Rose P had a handout from which she presented the August monthly budget, year to date budget and actual income. St. Paul’s Money Market account from Truist Bank has $41,048.04 yet to be withdrawn and deposited into Bank of America. 

Laundry Love: A Laundry Love Money Collection form has been created for dispersing and holding donations in a restricted petty cash account. Laundry Love ministry will continue one afternoon a month with Steve Augustas and other volunteers offering to pay for loads of washing and drying of clothes at a nearby laundromat. 

Statement of contributions: Rose P reported that a third-quarter statement will be mailed to help 2024 pledgers compare their donations to the treasurer’s recorded statement. Discrepancies can be solved before the year end statements are mailed. Newly prepared 2025 pledge campaign cards will be mailed October 20 to all parishioners. Returned pledge cards will be expected the week of December 18. 

Stewardship dates/committee: Tom C volunteered to be one of three members of the stewardship committee. They will compile ideas and intentions from last year’s outreach donations. Outreach donations are given from St. Paul’s three shops which are managed by our volunteers during the farmer’s market ministry from November to April. 

Old Business:

Land Development Update: Fr. Tom said the land development signing has been completed with Lang Lowrey. During October and November Austin Lowrey, Lang's son and project manager, will be searching for developers to work on leveraging our land for development. 

T-Coil Technology: T-coil technology when built into a hearing aid will greatly improve each person's hearing in the church. Bluetooth as a part of a hearing aid will also block out unwanted sound.  Tom C declared that we would have the hearing loop completed this year.

Sound System: Vestry learned from Tom C that the sound system in the church has been restored. The Tannoy speaker was repaired and rehung. A sound check was completed and the smaller speaker was turned in the direction of the choir seats. The Tannoy speaker was still under warranty but an installation bill is expected. 

Solar Panel Project: Paul N provided cost estimates for solar panels for the rectory and the church for the vestry to study. 

Rectory Windows/HVAC: Vestry voted last month to go forward with a capital project for rectory windows, rectory ductwork and a rider mower replacement. Funding will be transferred from our SOSP endowment held by the diocese. Fr. Tom said he expects a check for $56,000 to be received soon. Plans are to hold the funds in a restricted account. St. Paul’s will cut a check to order rectory windows which will take two to three months to manufacture. When the windows arrive installation will take three days. HVAC installation will occur when it will be cooler to complete ductwork in the rectory attic. 

Convention attendees Oct. 11 and 12, 2024: Our delegate lineup needed to be revised before this year’s convention. Paul Nelson will not be able to attend representing St. Paul’s voting members. Fr. Tom asked for conversation to fill Paul’s position. Gary Porembo was the alternate so he was chosen to be a delegate. Charlene Connolly volunteered to be the alternate. Jeannie Smith and Rose Porembo are the delegates attending as planned. The office administrator will be asked to change the names on the diocesan roster.

God’s Gardeners: Peter Lund told vestry he has been volunteering as a God’s gardener for 10 years.

He said at least ­fourteen men and five women were faithfully contributing as mowers, sprinkler technicians, small repair experts, master gardeners, gutter cleaners, weeders, bush trimmers, bush purchasers and planters, painters, assemblers of creche scenes, roadside sign tenders, tree limb reducers, Christmas decorators and hurricane shutter installers. Mary Lou D brought a message of frustration to this vestry meeting asking why a handful of summer volunteers and a few added seasonal volunteers should not be valued more equitably. Mary Lou is asking for St. Paul's to hire help such as a landscaper to eliminate what has become an overwhelming burden to our current volunteers. 

Recruiting Vestry Members:  Vestry was reminded by Fr. Tom that Judy Martin, Rose Porembo, Steve Carnell, and Peter Lund will finish their terms at the annual meeting in late January 2025. Four new candidates are required to be named by December 2024.

Fr. Tom closed the meeting with a prayer at 7:40 p.m.

 The next vestry meeting will be October 16, 2024

Respectfully Submitted, 

 Charlene Connolly, Recording Secretary

 Nora Broszeit, Clerk of the Vestry