2006 ANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
  1. I.Moderator’s Report
  2. II.Pastor’s Report
  3. III.Deacons Report
  4. IV.Trustees Report
  5. V.Treasurer’s Report
  6. VI.Auditor’s Report
  7. VII.Religious Education Report
  8. VIII.Missions Report
  9. IX.Music and Art Report
  10. X.Skyland Womens’ Report
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Moderators Report 2006
 
  1. 1.Our Church organization year began with emphasis on improving our organizational efficiency. Our Church web site has been continuously improved during the year to make it the visible center of all our church data. New capabilities added to the site during the year include;
    1. a.Committee membership lists and photos
    2. b.Online committee minutes
    3. c.Online audio files of Sunday sermons
    4. d.A user modified Church Calendar
    5. e.A high speed Internet connection installed at the church which is open to the use of all the members.
  2. 2.During March and April the committees developed detailed plans and the budget requirements to actualize these plans... During this period the decision was made to move the Church bookkeeping to Quick books with the intension of improving visibility and reducing the effort required to develop the annual budget. In May our Church pledging process began.  Much was learned during this time and was helpful in modifying our Church calendar for future years. This year, 2007, the fiscal budgets will be essentially completed by the beginning on the new administration year, January 28th 2007 and Pledging can begin in February. The intent is to reduce the effort required to develop the budget and make the financial requirements of the church visible to the membership before the pledging begins.
  3. 3.During June a most exciting project the Kitchen remodel got underway. It was truly an all church activity. While lead by construction project leader Fern Thompson, all members gave generously of their time and money and their expertise to see this major project through to a very beautiful conclusion.
  4. 4.The Church Council has revised its meeting schedule to correspond to the school year. Meeting are held the third Tuesday of each month October through May
  5. 5.In November a major effort was launched to update our church bylaws. The need for these revisions has been recognized for several years. The major changes are required by the changing reality of our church and to insure the continued primacy of our membership in determining the direction of the church. The proposals drafted by four church members who have served as Moderator have made their way through unanimous approval by the church council and go to the congregation for a membership vote at the annual meeting on January 28th, 2007. The proposed changes are posted on the web site.
  6. 6.Challenges for the next year include;
    1. a.Making available training for any church member who wishes access to our web site.
    2. b.Further improvements in our day to day operations. In Skyland church the member are in charge of the detailed operation of the church. The more “efficiently” we administer our church the more time we have for other important matters.
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    3. c.Improving all our outreach programs.
 
On a personal level I wish to thank each and every member of the Skyland Church Community. I have loved getting to know all of you during the last year serving as your moderator. We all clearly work hard to practice openness, loving kindness and service and in my view we do a good job. I am proud to be a member of this church and this community.
 
Larry Lopp
Skyland Community Church Moderator
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Annual Report 2006                Stephen Glauz-Todrank
 
Much of the work of the church tends to be ephemeral. We share worship services, special events like the Harvest Festival and the Skyland Run. All of these events take preparation and then they come and go.
 
This year we have something unusually tangible to show for all our hard work: a new kitchen and storage room. You must see to believe the remarkable change that has transformed the upper level of Whitaker Hall. Not since its initial construction in the early sixties, has the hall undergone such a dramatic change.
 
Almost every active member had some role in the project but two people put heart and soul into this from start to finish. Fern Thompson, a member of the Trustees, was the project manager and spent many, many hours on the scene and off making plans and getting them executed. We would not have gotten it done in such a timely way without her loving care day by day, month by month.
 
 Joan Law led the kitchen committee whose job was to solicit ideas and synthesize them into a plan for how the kitchen would work and how it would look.  The kitchen would not look nearly as elegant nor be so well integrated both with the interior of the hall and the beauty of nature outside without Joan and her committee. Thank you, Fern and Joan, and everyone who participated. This kitchen will be part of our ministry of hospitality for decades to come. It is functional and beautiful, a credit to our vision and hard work.
 
I think that 2006 was a successful year for our church in many ways. Moderator Larry Lopp has led us into a creative period of envisioning how we can communicate amongst ourselves more efficiently. John Wetherill has developed the website to include an interactive calendar which makes it easy to find accurate and up to the minute information about what is happening at the church. The Deacons have been working very diligently on a policy to guide us in managing our church’s relationships with all the members in various forms of ministry and preparation for ministry. A group of moderators led by Larry Cooke have proposed possible changes to the bylaws to help us bring our guidelines in line with our activities.
 
All this and other activities took place along with all our usual events through the year. I enjoyed my mentoring work with our seminary intern, Eileen Altman, which concluded last June and had a wonderful day recently at Pacific School of Religion where I attended worship she prepared along with Skyland Church member, Patricia Wood, a new student at the seminary. That afternoon, I heard another Skyland member, Kristen Pratt, preach beautifully for her seminary class. As I grow in years of ministry, I find myself taking particular delight in the growth in ministry of others who I have been a part of our church’s life. We are indeed all connected in significant and mysterious ways.  
 
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    May God bless our continued ministry together in 2007.         Stephen
    
 
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DEACONS  REPORT  FOR 2006
 
 
The deacon’s normal business was done which includes providing liturgists for each Sunday service and communion on the first of the month.  This year we added the liturgist would pick the people to collect offering and in the welcome to congregation would include the invitation to coffee hour and who is sponsoring it. We also added later in the year the delivery of communion to people who would rather not walk up.
 
Carolyn Glauz-Todrank has continued to lead the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  Over 40 shawls have been given out since the program began.  This group meets the second Tuesday of the month from 7:30 to 9.  If you enjoy knitting or want to learn you are welcome to join this wonderful circle of knitters.
 
2007 a series of meditations and communion will be served during Lent on Thursdays ending on Maundy Thursday.  Open to everyone.
 
Mike Mahrle worked on the history project.  He made a digital version of the centennial history book with the help of John Gaffney.  This is now on line for people to read.
 
The deacons worked all year on forming a policy that gives guidelines to our 4 way covenant ministers, in care relationships and interns. There has been lots of discussion regarding roles of lay member, interns and ministers. We have come up with a policy and will bring it before the council and members. The deacons met with our intern, some of our 4 way covenant ministers and in care people to help us with the policy.
 
The deacons revised the information to new people in the pews.   Nancy Jo, Julie (from deacons) and Pippa and Maire (from trustees) collaborated and developed a welcome package to be sent to new people moving to the area.   A stack will be left with Steven and Paula Leary will hand them out to new people.   Some of this welcome package was given out at the 5 K run and Harvest Festival.  
 
The Deacons supplied the Ministerial substitutions during Stevens’s holiday.
 
Richard Lyness volunteered to get the sermons on line.  The deacons are now in charge of this service.  Richard needs help when he is not at the service.
 
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After walking the property the deacons are recommending that the memorial walk/garden should be on the hillside beneath the nursery.
 
The deacons sponsored New Member Sunday on November 19th.  Tables were set up for each deacon and people in their neighborhood.  This was a lively and informative potluck.
 
Respectfully Submitted
Nancy Jo Lopp – Deacons Chair
 
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TREASURER’S REPORT FOR 2006 CALENDAR YEAR
 
Thanks to your generous financial and personal support and the success of the 10K run, Skyland Church continues its generous mission outreach. The $7011 proceeds from the 10K Run have been distributed to organizations selected by your Mission board. Special fund raisers and planned giving resulted in $13638 of additional outreach. Total outreach is 14% of our general operating budget. See Missions report for details.
 
Your generosity in time and talents resulted in a joyous and successful Harvest Festival with net proceeds of $15,853. This revenue supports 11% of our general operating budget.
 
Thanks to your response to keep pledges current, pledge support is ahead of target. Other giving and receipts are also at their combined budget projections.
 
A big challenge for Jan Swayne and myself has been converting our financial database to QuickBooks. The reports generated are more inline with general accounting practices.
 
One of my mistakes was trying to use the same funds twice, both as initial funds and later as additional money, for the kitchen remodel project. After hopefully correcting for all remodel funds the project is only $219 over allocated funds and donations.
 
Following is a quick summary of our finances at the start and almost end of 2006 and the start of our current 06/07 fiscal year.
 
Year 2006
January 1
June 1
December 27
General fund Balance
7210
-3849
17796
Special Funds
162492
158971
115014
Total Assets
169702
155122
132810
       
Earthquake rebuild loan
39547
38623
37314
 
Change in assets from Jan 1, 2006 to Dec 27, 2006 is $(-36892).
 
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A summary of our June through December income and isbursements along with year-to-date and annual budget is presented on the next page. Our special fund balances are shown on the succeeding pages.    
                                     
Gerald J. Alonzo
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Skyland Community Church
          
8:49 PM
Profit & Loss Budget Performance
          
12/27/2006
December 2006
          
Cash Basis
               
     
Jun - Dec 06
  
YTD Budget
  
Annual Budget
Income
            
 
Pledges
  
76414
  
74784
  
112129
 
Pledge Last Year
  
2050
        
 
Offerings
  
11069
  
13142
  
18958
 
Other gifts, income & surplus
  
102
        
 
Hall Rental
  
695
  
805
  
1380
 
Harvest Festival
  
15921
  
15000
  
15000
Total Income
  
106251
  
103731
  
147467
               
Disbursements
            
 
Council
  
-43
        
 
Deacons
  
-930
  
-887
  
-1400
 
Education
  
-1617
  
-2150
  
-3367
 
Human Resources
  
-66904
  
-68733
  
-109953
 
Mission
  
-3512
  
-3500
  
-7000
 
Trustee
  
-10318
  
-16922
  
-28530
 
Womens' group
  
16
        
Total Disbursements
  
-83309
  
-92192
  
-150250
               
Net Operating Cash Flow
  
22942
  
11539
  
-2783
 
 
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Skyland Community Church
7:08 PM
Special Funds
12/27/2006
As of December 27, 2006
Cash Basis
             
Dec 27, 06
       
Board Designated Reserves
  
         
Address Book Fund
95
         
Buildings Fund
85
         
Capital Improvement Fund
461
         
Child Care Fund
15
         
Choir Fund
2271
         
Deacon Retreat Fund
-59
         
Emergency Fund
31
         
Endowment Fund
35277
         
Hand Bells Fund
1100
         
History Project Fund
3000
         
Internet
450
         
Kitchen Remodel Fund
-219
         
Music & Arts Fund
770
         
Pastor Discretionary Fund
1970
         
Pastor Educational/Prof. Fund
6433
         
Pastor Search Fund
4559
         
Pastor Substitute Fund
-325
         
Seminary Student Fund
2350
       
Total Board Designated Reserves
58263
               
       
Memorials
  
         
Chamberlain
300
         
E. Jackson
7100
         
Hancock
300
         
M. Folden
610
         
Milberry
47788
         
Roberts, Alan
525
         
unnamed
128
       
Total Memorials
56751
               
   
Total Special Funds
115014
               
   
Long Term Liabilities
  
       
SBA Loan
37314
 
 
 
 
 
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Auditor’s Report
 
The audit for 2004-2005 is complete. The books accurately reflect the financial activities of the church. The work done was complete and understandable. 
 
The audit for 2005-2006 is in process and will be complete in January. Preliminary review indicates these numbers will also be complete and accurate. 
 
Both Gerry Alonzo and Jan Swayne have done an excellent job.
 
 
James Bowen, December 30th, 2006
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Religious Education
Annual Report 2006
 
Members:
Holly Reed, Peggy Johnson, T’Shala Olivieri, Del Mahrle, Jeremy Cole, Will Clark, Janis Smith (inactive)
terms expiring end of 2006( not returning), Del Mahrle
nominees 2007, Kim Gautho (term end 2009/10)
 
Meetings
Our meetings take place the first Sunday of each month except during the summer.
Sunday School
Patricia Wood is superintendent. Patricia will end her term as superintendent in June and we are recruiting for another superintendent. Attendance continues to be low with just 2-4 children on Sundays and sometimes none. We continue to be satisfied with the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum and have been working with it for two years now. This is $160/quarter and we will purchase three or four quarters this budget year (ending May 2007). We still team teach with 4 teachers alternating Sundays. Holly Reed 1st Sunday, Sarah Beauchamp 2nd Sunday, Terry Clark 3rd Sunday, Jeremy Cole 4th Sunday, Del Mahrle 5th Sunday.
Nursery
T’Shala Olivieri coordinates the nursery. Kelly Leary and T’Shala alternate weeks providing nursery care. We pay Kelly and T’Shala donates her time. Since T’Shala’s schedule is very full and getting more so, she will see if Kelly can work more often. This, of course, will increase our budget.
Youth Group
Jeremy Cole and Will Clark were planning to lead the youth but found it difficult to engage the few high-schoolers we have. Kim Gautho and Peggy Johnson have worked with Jeremy and Will to lead our youth for Easter, Mother’s Day, a UCC dance in Berkeley, booth at Harvest Festival and special tablecloths for the Advent Family Workshop. Stephen is working with us to investigate the possibility of hiring a part time person ($15,000/year) to plan and start up a new youth program for Skyland. There will be a meeting in January to discuss our options.
Adult Education
There was no adult education in 2006.
Events presented by RBE in 2006:
Youth Group purchased, filled and hid Easter eggs and acted as Easter bunny for the children’s delight on Easter Sunday.
Youth Group planned and led the Mother’s Day service.
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RBE led the student and teacher appreciation service on June 11.
4th of July service picnic: On July 2nd, we had a great picnic with burgers, sausages/hot dogs cooked by Gerry Alonzo and team, with pot luck side dishes followed by ice cream sundaes served by Missions board. Jeremy Cole and Will Clark led games for children and adults.
Advent Sunday activities: RBE coordinated this traditional family activity including cookie decorating,  ornament making, box making, and custom gift tags.
Christmas pageant: RBE coordinated the speaking roles with Stephen and helped with costumes on Christmas Sunday, December 24th as everyone in the congregation was invited to participate in a wonderful pageant experience this year.
We are looking forward to 2007 but have a reduced committee membership. We hope for increased Sunday School attendance and participation as well as a new plan to engage our youth. We would like to work on creating a Sunday School and Youth portion of the Skyland web site this spring.
 
Holly Reed – Chairperson    
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Mission Committee Annual Report – 2006
 
The Missions Committee has had a very busy year not only raising money for worthwhile causes but also: 1) raising awareness of the devastating affects of AIDs/HIV in Africa, 2) motivating participation in political action on behalf of the poor and hungry through Bread for the World campaign, 3) presenting information about the organizations that we donate to and work with in the Missions Giving booklet, 4) providing information/connections for members of our church community who would like to be involved with volunteer organizations, and 5) researching charitable organizations to assure that those organizations we affiliate with use the money primarily to assist those in need rather than fund the organizational structure.  
This year the Skyland Run was so successful that we were able to fund two additional projects recommended by former Skyland Church members—the Fuji High School Student assistance fund and Building a Kenya Classroom project.  
Projects and Contributions for 2006 –
UCC Share    $6876
Blanket Sunday    $1918
Heifer Offering    $133
One Great Hour of Sharing    $1430
10 K Race    $7011
Global Strategies    $1239
Orphan Babies in Siberia    $473
India Student Ed. Fund    $500
Valley Churches United    $25
Bibles for Fuji    $55
Conf. Christmas Fund    $75
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Pastor Discretionary Fund     $400
Bread for the World    90 Letters
Hygiene kits for Migrant Families
I.    Toothbrushes 36
II.    Toothpaste 15
III.    Deodorant 18
IV.    Mouthwash 8
V.    Hair Conditioner 6
VI.     Body Lotion 14
VII.    Hand Sanitizer 18
VIII.    Bar Soap 42
IX.    Razors 62
X.    Combs21
XI.    Hairbrushes 8
XII.    Dental Floss 27
XIII.    Chapstick 9
XIV.    Shaving Cream 7
XV.    Shampoo 10
  1. XVI.Body Wash 9
Total                                $20,615.00
Expenses – 2006
Covers for booklet                         $12.00
Postage for Bread for the World Letters            $34.32.
Total                                 $46.32
 
Submitted by Jackie Seymour
 
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Board of Music and Arts
2006 Summary Report
 
Description
 
The Church Bylaws creates five Boards, one of which is the Board of Music and Arts:  
 
    This board shall consist of six members elected by the membership for a two year term.  Each year three of the members, who have completed their term shall retire. Incumbents may serve two consecutive terms and are then ineligible for election to this office for one year.  The Choir Director, Organist, and Pianist will be ex-officio members of this board.  Duties:
  1. •Provide programs for the church community in the area of music and the arts.
  2. •Select and encourage paid and volunteer staff persons.
  3. •Recruit and encourage members for the church choir.
  4. •Prepare budget requests each year to support its programs.
 
Duties
 
During the church year, the Board of Music and Arts is responsible for the following:
  1. •Music entertainment at the Skyland Run
  2. •Music entertainment at the Harvest Festival
  3. •After-service refreshments in May and June
 
Other informal activities performed by Board members in past years:
  1. •Arranging music entertainment for potlucks
  2. •Sponsoring concerts at church
  3. •Holding art classes at church
  4. •Designing T-shirts for church events
  5. •Showing videos of recorded musical performances
 
Elected Members in 2006
 
Sue Marvin            2nd term, 2nd year (ineligible in 2007)
Brenda Jatho            2nd term, 1st year
Paula Leary            2nd term, 1st year
John Gaffney (Chair)        1st term, 2nd year
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Christina Schwabecher    1st term, 2nd year
Joyce Haworth        1st term, 1st year
Ex-officio Members in 2006
 
Margretta Dollard, Choir Director
Gerald Alonzo, Pianist
 
Activities in 2006
 
  1. •Christina Schwabecher, the Board’s Chair in 2005, opted out of being Chair for 2006. Larry Lopp “recruited” me for the position, and since no one objected, I became Chair for 2006. There was very little written down about the Board’s duties, and to be honest I didn’t really know what I was supposed to do. I learned quickly.
  2. •The only budget item I submitted was for entertainment at Skyland Run, but we decided that that expense should be charged to the Skyland Run itself. Our net budget ended up at $-0-.
  3. •I worked with John Wetherill to update the email distribution list for the members.
  4. •I organized the Board’s refreshments schedule for May and June and distributed a list of suggested refreshments to the members.
  5. •We had our one and only formal meeting in May when we got our group picture taken. All other communications during the year were by email and occasional face-to-face discussions after church.
  6. •Sue Marvin recommended and hired a Celtic Group called CeleDe for the Skyland Run in July. (Unfortunately, I have never been able to attend Skyland Run because it always coincides with a regularly scheduled 10-day family vacation in mid-July.)
  7. •In August, Dana Scoby and her students gave a violin concert during and after a church service.
  8. •With John Wetherill pointing me in the right direction, I scheduled the music entertainment for the Harvest Festival in September:
    1. oDana Scoby & Julia Selfridge (violin)
    2. oGerry Alonzo (piano)
    3. oDana Scoby Quartet (violin)
    4. oT’Shala & Dan Olivieri (vocals, flute, and guitar)
    5. oSue Marvin’s “Double Standard” Jazz Combo (vocals, piano, guitar, sax, bass, drums)
    6. oStephen Glauz-Todrank (vocals, guitar)
    7. oGlenda McCalla (hammer dulcimer)
  9. •In October I contacted Carmen Hermosillo who had written Margretta about performing a piano recital at Skyland Church. Carmen and I agreed it would be better to wait until early 2007 to do the performance. Carmen would like John Fairweather to accompany her on violin. These arrangements are still pending.
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  10. •Other miscellaneous music recommendations received during the year: Susan Zerweck (by John Wetherill), Ken Waldman “Alaska’s Fiddling Poet” (by Erica Goss), Asylum’s Way (by Gina Wetherill).
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Annual Report Skyland Church Women's Group - 2006 
The Skyland Church Women's Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00AM, during the months of October, November, and January through June.  Meeting locales are rotated among the members' homes.  All Skyland women are encouraged and invited to attend Womens' Group meetings.
The purpose of the group is to offer fellowship to Skyland Women, consider the needs of our church and global community, and assist with either works or financial contributions as we are able. Meetings have an informal format and decisions are made by consensus. Our officers begin their terms in the fall. The following activities are part of our ongoing agenda each year: 
  1. •Sponsoring an American Indian boy
  2. •Helping to stock Valley Churches United's Food Bank, and donating Harvest Festival leftover items to Carroll's Alternatives, a shelter for women.  We often donate money to both charities during the Holidays.
  3. •Holding a number of arts, cooking and crafts classes open to the community at large.  Profits from the classes are returned to the Women's Group treasury and used to support our programs, or church-specific programs.
  4. •Sponsoring the Christmas potluck dinner and the Giving Tree.
  5. •Sending Sunshine cards to Skyland members needing support and encouragement.
  6. •Making and selling an annual church directory.
  7. •Coordinating both Easter and Christmas potlucks.
  8. •Make ongoing donations to the church kitchen.
During the '06-'07 period to date we completed the following in addition to our standard activities:
  1. •Donated $1,000 to the Skyland Kitchen Remodel fund.
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  2. •Voted to hold a Skyland Women's Spiritual Retreat event in February of '07.
  3. •Planned for a family spaghetti dinner event in January '07.
  4. •Announced a balance in the Women's Group account of $538.77 at the close of '06.
Women's Group officers serving in the '06-'07 period are:
  1. •Leader:  Mary Ellen McTamaney
  2. •Secretary: Del Mahrle
  3. •Treasurer:  Diane Cooke
  4. •Sunshine Cards:  Mary Skillicorn
  5. •Meeting Reminder Caller:  Dorothy Ellis
 
Submitted by Mary Ellen McTamaney
 
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