ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 13, 2006
Attending: John Benca, Max Guerrera, Pete Konenkamp, Marty Ledenham, Monica Kucher Mueller, Rosemary Risse, Todd Story and Evelyn Tejada
Excused absences: John Timmons and Terry Trotochaud and Father David McGuiness
Absent: Charles Dolan
Guest speaker from the Capital Campaign Committee Frank Milward
Pete opened the meeting with the Our Father.
Minutes from the July meeting were distributed, reviewed and approved.
This was a specially called meeting without committee reports as usual. The agenda included reports on the Revised Site Plan and the Capital Campaign.
REVISED SITE PLAN
John Benca reported that the previously unobtainable ‘five acres’ is now under contract.
The new site plan that included the ‘five acres’ was reviewed by the council. John said that the projected total for church and school was now estimated at $25-30 Million. This would be a multi-phased building plan executed over several years.
He said that the initial phase of the building campaign will be dedicated to the purchase of the land, grading the site, establishing utilities, building roads, recreational fields and a ‘multi-use’ facility. A pavilion may also be added. The facility will serve as an activity center with many rooms that could accommodate various groups such as the Boy Scouts, the Knights of Columbus, the Hispanic mass, the Women’s Council, a regular weekly mass, sport programs and religious ed meetings to name a few.
There are two houses on the property. One is located on a flood plain and the plan is to move it to the rear of the property and use it as a temporary rectory. The other is in disrepair but has potential to be renovated and also utilized for pressing needs. This would free up space at the 134 Prince Ave Rectory.
John said that our proposal to build a bridge has met the approval of the two businesses (Kohl’s and Park Ave Bank) and Developer across McNutt’s Creek. The proposed amendment to the Kohls permit has been submitted (Friday, August 11th was the deadline for submission in order to be put before the Oconee Co Planning Commission). This approval must be obtained before the St. Joseph Special Use Permit may be submitted to the Athens Clarke Co Planning Commission.
John said that we are still interested in the remaining ‘ten acres’. However, at this time the owners of that property are proceeding with their own alternate plans to get approval for building a church.
There was discussion about the plan and both John and Frank emphasized the importance of the foundational phase that will allow and encourage optimal future growth in the most economic way for both the Church and the Catholic school. Frank said the new revised site plan will go public at the Capital Campaign meetings.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Frank Milward began by clarifying that the parish income and the capital campaign pledges are very separate entities. For those concerned with present and future needs of the Church property on Prince Ave he gave assurance that the Offertory collections are not expected to decline during the campaign and that these monies will continue to be directed towards the needs of our physical church through the management of the Finance Committee.
Frank re-emphasized that the Initial Capital Campaign’s goal is ‘foundational’ i.e. land procurement but he acknowledged that parishioners desire ‘deliverables’ i.e. multi-use facility. He reminded us that the Committee has had professional help with the campaign design and that earlier this year in the planning phase, there were 90 interviews of parishioners and school parents that revealed very positive responses to moving ahead. He encouraged us to read the results of these surveys because of their positive nature.
Darren Moore is the director of Guidance and Giving and for two weeks he has been in the ‘campaign office’ in the basement assisting in the direction of the campaign. He has much experience in the field and has managed several campaigns. Frank said that at the heart of the pledge drive is getting parishioners together to meet and discuss with one another. To facilitate this there will be several receptions: some at parishioners homes, some at the Cobb House and some in the parish hall. There should be at least 12-14 receptions in September. Each will be approximately 2 hours including presentations and questions. He encouraged all present to attend as many as possible. There will be a leadership reception on September 12th. The committee’s goals are to have parishioners leave with a clear message of the plan and to gather information as well as pledges from the parishioners. They will ask all to prayerfully reflect on how to best support the project.
Frank said that 50% of the campaign will come from 20% of the people. He said that a successful campaign involves 50% of the people but they will be aiming for 100% participation. They anticipate a good follow through with pledges due to the work and plans of the campaign.
He reviewed the four phases of the campaign: 1) Begin with ‘one on one’ interviews with Father David. 2) Send invitations for the receptions. 3) After the receptions there will be a large volunteer involvement going door to door to both the parish and school community and 4) Follow up after Guidance and Giving leaves.
Frank addressed our large Hispanic population and said that history bears that this group has poor response to the concept of pledges; however, good responses are anticipated with grass roots intervention on a more regularly scheduled basis.
Frank reminded us that we can only succeed with the help of God and encouraged us to pray and to place our efforts in God’s hands. There will be a special liturgy for the intention of the campaign and the future of our church, which will be announced soon.
Pete thanked Frank and John for all of their work and for their presentations to us.
Hank announced that the Men’s CRHP retreat in Gainesville has been rescheduled to avoid conflict with the Church picnic on October 15th.
Marty suggested that the Parish Council have a mass said for the intention of Jim Altmiller, past parish council member who just recently resigned his leadership on the Grounds Committee due to sudden poor health. All were supportive and the date will be announced.
The next scheduled parish council meeting is September 10th at 7:30 pm.
Pete closed the meeting with a prayer.
Submitted by Marty Ledenham