St. Chad’s Building Committee

Meeting #2

5/10/07

Attendees – Bob Gough, Merri Jean Jones, Larry Babineaux, Debra Kincaid, Bob Kingsbury, Jan Kingsbury, Rich Lehoucq, Hal DeHoff, Kitsie Hilaire 

Members  Absent – Susan Carson, Bo Keith, Eileen Simpson, Richard Simpson, Paul Apodaca, Father Brian Winter 

Bob Gough welcomed the committee members and Merri Jean began the meeting with a prayer.

The committee approved the agenda for this meeting and the minutes from BC3-1 meeting on 4/29/07, submitted by Eileen.

Status of Action Items:

1. Timeline (AI 1-1) – The committee reviewed the preliminary three-year outline prepared by Bob G.  The move-in date would be first quarter 2010, with construction in the summer and fall of 2009.  The timeline backs up from these dates.  Key tasks to be completed in the near future include the expansion feasibility study, with an anticipated report date of 6/17; the prioritization of ministries, with a report date of 8/5, and the survey of Albuquerque churches, with a report date of 7/15.

The approval of the design by the congregation is scheduled for October 2008 on the timeline, following by choosing a builder and construction.  The pledge drive is scheduled to begin in January 2008, with a three-year horizon, payable through December 2010.

The committee discussed the timing of involving professionals in the design phase, now scheduled for November 2007 in the timeline.  Early involvement with design professionals may provide meaningful input to the process; however, the committee decided that it was our mission to define the ministry needs, obtain approval from the vestry in August 2007, and approval from the congregation thereafter.  At that point (September or October 2007) it would be appropriate to involve design professionals, and so this item will be moved up on the timeline.

The committee also agreed to use the term “facility requirements” rather than “design features,” to more effectively communicate the need to solve ministry issues and challenges with our building process.

2. Ministries prioritization (AI 1-2) – In an earlier meeting, Hal, Bob K. and Bob G. reviewed the timeline in light of ministry prioritization and concluded it was reasonable.  The group agreed to build on the efforts of the Building Feasibility Committee, by gathering additional information, and present to the congregation in two larger “town hall” type meetings in early July.  A preliminary survey was distributed to the committee for review, with a number of questions.  The survey will be distributed to the congregation and is intended to focus on the ministries of the church.  The committee suggested a distilled, one-page survey of general ministry questions, with additional questions for those with the time/desire to complete them, including open-ended questions.  Bob G. asked the committee to review the questions and forward comments to Hal, with copies to Bob G. and Bob K.

3. Feasibility of expansion of current worship space (AI 1-3) – Rich has scheduled a meeting of this subcommittee on 5/16 at 3:00 p.m.

4. Outline of funding program (AI 1-4) – Paul, Susan, Kitsie, Jan and Bob G. met to discuss an overall funding structure.  Their proposal for a 3-pronged funding plan -- a pledging drive, quarterly fundraising activities, and borrowing as necessary (an internal bond program, loans from diocesan or national church organizations, and commercial loans) -- was accepted as a working plan, with details to be fleshed out in due course.  The group recommends kicking off the pledge drive in January 2008, once we have concrete plans to present to the congregation, but well before the building phase.  Quarterly fundraising activities are planned, as much to build ownership of the process among all areas of the church, as well as to raise funds.  The first meeting is scheduled for July and will tentatively be an ice cream social, with the help of the youth group.  The next fundraising activity is scheduled for October 2007.

5. Questions to survey other churches (AI 1-5) – Merri Jean, Jan and Debra met to develop a preliminary list of questions to ask in surveying other churches, as well as a list of prospective churches.  The committee reviewed the questions and the church list.  Questions to be added included those of fact-finding, i.e., how many does the sanctuary seat, etc .  Churches to be added to the list include Prince of Peace Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church on Wyoming near Academy.  Calvary was taken off the list, as the congregation has been clear about its desire to not achieve “megachurch” status.  Suggestions and ideas should be communicated directly to Merri Jean, Debra or Jan.

6. Background information (AI 1-6) – Bob K. has distributed copies of the parish profile and the recommendations of the BFC.  Bob G. will make copies of “lessons learned” from BC1 and BC2 for those who were unable to read the pdf files sent by email.

7. Publicity/Archives/Minutes (AI 1-7, AI 1-8 and AI 1-9) – Eileen will work with the structure of the archives, and Debra has agreed to take notes for those meetings when Eileen is absent.  The committee is encouraged to give feedback to Eileen for publicity to the congregation about BF3.

8. Contact list (AI 1-10) – The committee received a contact list; Jan K. requested her cell phone number be changed to 269-0809, and Hal added his cell phone (363-0194).

9. Inform Diocese about BC3 (AI 1-11) – Father Brian sent an email to Bishop Jeffrey about the formation of the building committee and its charge.  Bishop Jeffrey responded with encouragement.

Other old business – the committee had no further questions on the charter & clarifications, or the method of operating.  Although there is not widespread support of the theme, “Mortar for our Ministries” or “Building on Success” no other ideas for themes were presented.  The committee will try to think creatively over the next few weeks on the theme and will discuss at a future meeting.

It will be some time before the archived notes from BC1 and BC2 are retrieved.  The “lessons learned” distributed earlier by Bob G. have the gist of those efforts and have been circulated.

Susan has been charged with looking at the possibility of a bridging loan from a commercial source.  Debra will also call a contact in the banking industry and report any findings back to Susan.

With no new business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00.

The next meeting will be Thursday, 5/24/07 at 8:00 p.m. (2000 hours), followed by a meeting on Sunday 6/3 at 11:30 a.m. and Sunday 6/17 at 11:30 a.m.