February 2004
Vestry Report

Annual Parish Meeting January 25, 2004

Congratulations to those who were elected by the parish to serve on the Vestry: Churchwarden Pam Brown, Vestry members Tim Boos, Doug Smith, Nancy Warfield, and Ellen Wagner. The Vestry met briefly after the APM to elect these officers: Lorraine Burns (Clerk of the Vestry), Doug Smith (Treasurer), and Fred Bohen (Trustee of the St. John’s Colony Trust).

We are grateful to these seven parishioners for making this additional commitment of their time and talent to the parish.

Our thanks also to: All the committee chairs and program heads for their informative reports. All of you whose contributions of entrees, salads, side dishes, desserts, drinks, etc. made for a delicious meal. The parish staff–Patricia, Nelson, and Emerson–whose hard work made it all happen smoothly.

Why We Ran a Slate
The following quotation is from a lecture presented by William H. Herrman at the Diocesan Wardens Conference, April 5, 2003:

. . . Another electoral issue is whether congregations should have multiple
candidates for each vestry position. Vestries are not congresses, and vestry
people are not delegates representing constituencies. What is most needed
are people with specific skills and abilities. Those individuals may not be
either well-known or the most popular. A careful blend of the required
talents most probably will come through a responsible Nominating Committee’s
lengthy and thoughtful deliberations rather than from a popularity vote.
Needless to say, I passionately oppose having more than one person stand
for each vestry slot.

This past APM was the second year that the Nominating Committee has proposed a slate rather than multiple candidates for vestry positions. Among other recommendations made at various diocesan leadership conferences, and adopted in 2002 by St. John’s Vestry, is the concept of term limits for wardens and vestry.

Episcopal New Yorker Subscriptions
In order to balance the 2004 budget, it was necessary to make some sacrifices. One of the budgetary items which was eliminated were individual parishioner subscriptions to The Episcopal New Yorker, which St. John’s has paid for in the past. However, the good news is that you will continue to receive The Episcopal New Yorker at no charge. A generous parishioner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has ensured that parishioner subscriptions will continue uninterrupted.

Mardi Gras Pancake Supper
The First Annual Mardi Gras Pancake Supper will be held on Shrove Tuesday, February 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, following the 6:15 p.m. liturgy (February 24 is also St. Matthias’ Day).

Admission will be $5.00 per person and includes all the pancakes and sausage you can eat. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Vestry on Call table at Sunday coffee hours, or at the Pancake Supper. We expect to break even but proceeds, if there are any, will go to the Tuesday Street Youth Ministry.

This party will also honor parish newcomers, who have been invited as our guests. Invited guests also include the teens from the Tuesday evening Street Youth Ministry. The rector will also have some guest tickets.

This promises to be an enjoyable evening for socializing on the evening before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Name Tags by Popular Demand
Numerous people have suggested that name tags make it easier to greet one another at coffee hour and potlucks. In response, we have ordered printed name tags, which will be available for parishioners (also for newcomers and for guests).

While we cannot guarantee that the printed name tags will be received in time for the Mardi Gras pancake supper, at least handwritten ones will be!

Vestry Meetings
The Vestry will continue to meet on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall.

Vestry Planning Conference
On Saturday, February 28 the Vestry will hold a one-day planning conference beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall. The conference will address issues of parish growth and development. At this conference we will also explore some of the ideas presented at the October Doing Church conference, which several parishioners attended.

As you may remember, the May 2003 planning conference, covered parish governance, organization and structure.

Your ideas for parish growth and development are welcome. If you have any suggestions in these areas, please bring them to wardens Pam Brown or Margot Shields, who are preparing the conference agenda together with the rector.