Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Gathering UCC, 1431 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Co-Dean Kay Young called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. Also present: Pam DeFusco, Rudy Gruenke, Jim Hill, Jim Korpik, and Stuart Blersch.
Announcements:
* Kay Young announced a Sunday, May 4 Interfaith Youth Core event involving young Jews, Muslims, and Christians aged 13-18, tentatively set for the Plum Street Temple.
* Crystal Drag, who was picking up some items for Stand Up For Kids, told us about the local group of the nonprofit organization that helps homeless children and teenagers. They are using The Gathering as their local home base. Her email address: crystald@standupforkids.com
Old Business:
* Mission statement: to initiate our revising process, we decided to email everyone affiliated with the cluster, asking for ideas, with reply to all. Here's our current mission statement: http://rivervalleycovenantcluster.org/Vision.htm
* High Point property: Pam announced that during a cold snap, the High Point pipes froze and burst. The interior is now moldy, and it is clearly beyond the RVCC to tackle this project. Presently, the cell phone tower pays the mortgage. Since this part of northern Kentucky is growing rapidly, the UCC may want to hold on to this property for future use. Jim will draft a letter to the Association explaining our thoughts on the property. He will bring the draft to our May meeting for discussion and approval.
* How to open our meetings: Should we begin with a roundtable for sharing congregational issues? It would help us stay informed about each other's churches, which used to happen at monthly ministerium suppers for clergy and families. There also used to be retreats for pastors and Christian educators. Since such roundtables can take up the whole hour, we decided to take 3 minutes each at the beginning of the next meeting.
* Along the same line: Jim Hill mentioned that his church has joined with three others for a dart baseball game. A UCC corn hole league was suggested. Pam and Kay will brainstorm for a women's cluster retreat, "Spring Lantern" (whatever that means).
The meeting adjourned at noon.
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 7, at Pilgrim Chapel, 1222 Ida St. in Mt. Adams
Respectfully submitted
Stuart Blersch, secy.
