SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL
The Salem Lutheran Church Council met January 10, 2007.

The board members present were Don Aamodt, Tami Alphs, Scott Helgeson, Jerry Hoffman, Deb Kingland, Rick Orban, Bob Peterson, Wanda Playter, Gaye Sletten, Pastor Weeg and David Kingland, Call Committee Chairman/Staff Management Chairman.
Missing: Carolyn Swanson, Jennifer McGrady
Guests: 21

Call to Order by Deb Kingland
Devotions were given by Pastor Weeg.

Secretary's Report: Each council member individually read the secretary's report. Motion to accept the minutes was made by Scott Helgeson and seconded by Don Aamodt. All Approved.
Correspondence: Gaye Sletten shared letters of thanks for contributions given by Salem. There were letters from Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp, Waldorf College and Lutheran Services in Iowa.
Treasurer's Report: Scott Helgeson reported the following balances as of December 31: MBT checking $91,781.39, MBT Principal $50,299.47, General Fund Balance $68,086.64 and Total Fund Balance $142,080.86.
Financial Secretary's Report: Tami Alphs reported that the General Fund Income for December was $49,950.91, with the total income for December being $54,231.57. Tami also reported that the Board and Council members need to sign up for picking up the offering following each service for 2007. Motion to accept the treasurer's report and the financial secretary's report was made by Rick Orban and seconded by Don Aamodt. All approved.

Deb Kingland expressed her appreciation and thanked Don Aamodt for his service on the Board of Stewardship and Social Ministry and his work on the Council as he is finishing his term in a couple of weeks. Don has been a wonderful Council member and will definitely be missed!

BOARD REPORTS:
Board of Worship and Music:
Bill Georgia reported in Carolyn Swanson's absence. He reported that their board is setting up some new training for ushers and communion servers. They want to ask for very specific duties for volunteers in the Worship and Music area. Deb Kingland pointed out that they will need to work together with the Board of Stewardship in organizing that.
Board of Stewardship and Social Ministry:
Don Aamodt reported that a year ago this time we had received 274 pledges for a total of $274,000. This year we have only received 199 pledges for a total of $247,000. The good news is those that have turned in their pledges are giving more, but the number of pledges turned in is down. It is not too late to turn in your pledge; there are pledge sheets in the back of the sanctuary or in the office if you need a new one.
Board of Education:
Bob Peterson reported their Board met with Pastor Weeg to set dates for the 3rd graders and their parents to meet with Pastor Weeg to discuss their new bibles. This will be 1/27/07 and 2/3/07 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. They also set up Maundy Thursday for the 5th graders to take first communion. Pastor Weeg will meet with these 5th graders on 3/24/07 and 3/31/07. They are in need of some rotation teachers from 02/11/07 - 03/11/07 and 3/18/07 - 04/22/07. They set the prayer pal meeting 3/18/07 - 4/22/07 during Sunday School. Prayer Pals will receive letters telling them when to meet with their pals. Lisa Nelson, daughter of Gary and Julie Nelson, will be coming to talk to the 4 - 8th grade classes about her experience at Bible camp, hoping to promote more interest in youth attending Bible camps next summer.
Board of Youth:
Wanda Playter reported that their board has not yet met this month; they will be meeting next Sunday afternoon. She reported that the pizza lunches are going very well. She also reported that Katie will be gone from 04/28/07 - 05/21/07. They are planning the 30 hour famine for 2/23/07 - 2/24/07. Katie will be starting a Wednesday night Bible study. Katie is working with Pastor Peters on mission trips. Wanda reported that an email that had been mentioned at the follow up forum meeting had never been received by Katie Zenk but Katie did follow up with the individual as soon as she found out about it after that meeting.
Board of Life and Growth:
Jennifer McGrady was absent so there was no report.
Board of Property and Management:
Jerry Hoffman came in late so there was no report.
Call Committee Report:
David Kingland reported that the Synod has not had any candidates to interview for an associate pastor yet but will be notified as soon as a candidate becomes available.
Pastor's Report:
Pastor Weeg reported that Pastor Norris took the month of December off.
Motion was made by Scott Helgeson and seconded by Tami Alphs to accept these reports. All approved.

OLD BUSINESS:
Deb Kingland reminded all boards again that they need to have an agenda for their board meetings and it would be preferable if the board members got them before their meeting. The boards also should appoint a secretary who will be taking minutes to be shared at the council level. The procedural manuals and time lines for 2007 along with how your plans relate to your goals and objectives should be completed with copies given to all board members and also put in Deb's mailbox in the office before our next council meeting. Every board member should also have received a copy of the constitution.

NEW BUSINESS:
A motion was made by Don Aamodt to give Pastor Weeg every 6th weekend off from preaching, schedule permitting, until we have an associate pastor hired. The motion was seconded by Rick Orban and all approved.
Scott Helgeson presented a letter from Roger Haugo. The letter asked if Salem would be interesting in handling a few small scholarships for college or vocational school students who are High School graduates or who have GED's, who are members of Salem and wish to pursue further education. These scholarships would be the Abraham and Elizabeth Haugo scholarships. There was a motion by Scott Helgeson and seconded by Wanda Playter to agree to work with Roger Haugo on implementing these scholarships. All approved. Scott will contact them and accept their offer.
Next was a discussion with the group of concerned members. This was in regards to the new staffing model at Salem and the Budget for 2007. First, everyone who hadn't had a chance to voice their concerns or feelings on Monday night were given the opportunity to do so. The Board of Worship and Music came in with new numbers for the budget in regards to their area. Those numbers were given to David Kingland to work into the 2007 budget. There was no addition of dollars, just some changes in how the money will be dispersed. The Board of Youth talked about some new numbers needed for the full time Youth Director position. After much discussion it was decided to place the Church Administrator position on hold for now. Pastor Weeg scheduled a meeting with Helen and will assess her job duties. The Staff Management Committee and the Finance Committee will both have to meet again and discuss how to cover all the things that need to be done and make the appropriate changes to the budget. They will present these modifications to the Council at a special meeting, date and time to be announced later, for a vote before the congregational meeting. There was a request from the floor to have the new budget available at the forum between services on Sunday, Jan. 21st. Deb Kingland reported that we would try to get them together by then, but could not make any promises at this time.
Transfers away: Justin Helgeson to Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines, IA
Motion to adjourn was made by Scott Helgeson and seconded by Wanda Playter. All approved.
Meeting was closed with the Lord's Prayer.
Gaye Sletten, Recording Secretary