Trustees Busy Maintaining

The trustees have had a busy summer getting some items completed. One item carried over from last year was the painting of the northeast windows. This was not completed last year because of the rainy weather. It became a more involved project because there was a lot deterioration of the window frames and sills.

Other items completed include:

*Office counter, sink & faucet replaced

*Lobby monitor installed

*Otterbein stool replaced in women’s bathroom

*Purchased new kitchen freezer

*Otterbein carpet cleaned

*Chapel A/C repaired

*Gas fireplace set and doors were  installed in parsonage fireplace

*planning a parsonage workday

*Approved bid for remodeling of    parsonage master bathroom

*Reglued carpet on Otterbein poles

*Purchasing emergency lighting for Otterbein Hall

*Developing property plot and plan

*Studying purchasing plastic round tables for Otterbein

*Setup new computer system for the financial secretary

*Expressed thanks to Brett Yoder for tuck pointing concrete window sills and mud jacking sidewalks

Have You Seen the New TV Monitor?

 The trustees purchased and installed a TV monitor in the lobby from memorial funds. This completes a project from the MAP Plan for a welcome center.  A video presentation will be developed to continually play greeting newcomers. We have already found an unexpected use for the monitor. Before Virginia  Page’s memorial service, Stackhouse-Moore played a video of her life. We look forward to using this new communication tool.

The following projects have been approved by the Trustees Committee and are in the process of being completed.

· Church work day Saturday, April 30

· Kitchen screen door replaced

· Replacement freezer purchased from Village Home Appliances

· New computers for the office purchased from Hazel Shoemaker memorial

· Replace office counter & sink

· Office building roof to be replaced

· TV monitor purchased for lobby from memorial funds

· Choir chimes to be purchased from memorial funds

· Pew by sanctuary sound system to be removed for handicap seating

· Conducting a survey of Sunday school teachers of needed classroom & equipment improvements

· Bad sections of north & west entrance sidewalks to be replaced

· Developing a long range site plan

· Plan to paint outside window trim on north side of building this summer

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Hammond Henry Hospital has requested the use of Grace UMC’s west parking lot during their 2 year expansion project 2010-2012.

HHH’s request is to use 40 spaces,  7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday

GUMC’s parking lot capacity is 6 rows * 11 spaces = 66 cars.  Remaining spaces during the weekdays for church parking would be 26,  plus the 11 south and 10 north lots and the street. 

Trustees recommendation & stipulations:

1. HHH would be restricted to south row and the west end of the main parking lot to the west of the church to minimize impact on GUMC member parking.  

2. HHH would make alternative parking arrangement on the days there would be a need for the church to utilize the parking lot e.g. large funerals and be responsible for notifying  their employees of the change.

3. HHH would be responsible for snow removal for the entire west lot during weekdays.

4. HHH would mark their designated parking spaces with  either signs, striping    and/or cones.

5. HHH would provide a letter of liability coverage for this special usage.

6. HHH would provide a monthly stipend of $150 to Grace UMC for this use.

7. HHH would have the right to cancel this agreement if employee usage doesn’t warrant.

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Safe Haven Policy - update

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference requires every church to have what is called a Sexual Harassment Policy for employees and volunteers. Grace Church developed a policy in 2002 called Safe Haven which included a child protection policy. We have contracted with Inquirehire of Davenport to do background checks for us. The cost is $8 which the church is willing to pay.

All volunteers who will be working with children at Grace Church will be asked to consent for these required background checks. The consent forms are available in the office for Sunday School Teachers, Youth leaders, and Pathfinder staff who have not completed one yet.

These background checks cover all 50 states and will be a criminal/ sex offender check. I know discussing this issue makes some of us uncomfortable but most of the churches in Geneseo already require this.

The reality is the church is an easy target for sexual predators. Recent studies report an alarming rise in sexual predators targeting churches because of their warm and accepting welcome. Jesus said we must be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

We should first and foremost want to do this to protect our children. No child should have to experience something which could scar them for life.