Chapter Meeting Minutes
November 9^th, 2004

Members Present-Robert Black, Ralph Blackman, John Bross, John Clarke, Marianne Culver, Tom Eley (ex-officio), Pamela Lightcap, Doug Lyons, Ann Meuse, Cecilia Mowatt, Christopher Plotner.

Absent-Anne Tuohy (excused), Jerry Ness (excused), Elsa Vaintzettel (excused, ex-officio), Philip Mantle.

Also Present-Bruce Barber, Scott Bruner, Duncan Moore, Tom Paterson, The Rev. Peter Siwek and Lyle Roebuck.

A very nice supper was provided by Chris Plotner, for which the Chapter and those attending were very grateful.

Meeting began at 5:43 with the blessing of the food and opening prayer.

On motion made, seconded and carried, the minutes of the meeting held October 12^th were approved.

Tom Eley gave the month’s financial synopsis. Pledge income remains slightly behind year-to-date and it was suggested we might call to remind people of their pledged obligation during the month of December. “The Financial Statements for the years ended December 31^st, 2003 and 2002” was presented to Chapter, who will be asked to vote on officially receiving it at the December meeting. The pros and cons of switching auditors were again discussed in general terms. It is difficult to obtain bids within our cost structure.  We will ask Knutte & Associates to assign a new partner for the 2003-04 audit to obtain a new perspective and satisfy new regulations. 

Dean’s report.The Dean gave a Sunday attendance update (for the first 44 Sundays of 2004 the average attendance is 232.9) and some comparative numbers on pledges received. As of Dec. 9, 2003we had received 120 pledges totaling $242,633. As of this meeting, November 9, 2004, we have received 117 pledges totaling $233,744. The Dean then reviewed materials pertaining to the upcoming Diocesan Convention and packets were passed out to the Cathedral delegates. All of the anticipated resolutions were briefly previewed and an opportunity was given for Chapter to ask questions of the cathedral delegates.

Buildings & Grounds. Dean Blackman, John Bross and Tom Patterson led a presentation of the redevelopment plans as they stand including architectural drawings of what will be new diocesan and cathedral space. It was made clear that no financial resolutions would be sought this evening and that the presentation was first and foremost informational. A steering committee has been formed to oversee cathedral interests during the redevelopment. It consists of the Dean, John Bross, Tom Eley, Doug Lyons, Ann Meuse, Cecilia Mowatt, Tom Patterson and Chris Plotner. Tom Patterson gave an overview of the history of the redevelopment project from its inception. One of the questions Chapter will (at some point) need to decide is where Sunday School will be held. Other question to consider: how much will others pay for space on the fourteenth floor, which will be the cathedral’s. There will need to be a “transition timeline” formed, which will take into account the cathedral staff’s vacating the property at 65, moving into temporary space and finally moving into the new building. The move to transition space should come in the spring of 2006. On motion made, seconded and carried, a liaison sub-committee was formed to negotiate with the Cathedral Counseling Center and initiate a dialogue regarding proposals for use of the west end space. Tom Patterson made it clear that no one was suggesting we evict the Counseling Center. The liaison sub-committee will include: The Dean, John Bross, Tom Eley, Ann Meuse, Cecilia Mowatt and Tom Paterson. According to the drawings there would be the potential for ‘bottlenecks’ between the two buildings. A potential solution which most seemed excited about was to move the organ and pipes in the south transept, creating a southern portico and cathedral entrance there (in addition to the Wabash Street entrance). On motion made, seconded and carried, the steering committee was authorized to commission architectural drawings of the undercroft for use permanently and as transition space and of a covered south garden & necessary/potential changes to the Cathedral.

Following prayer, on motion made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

L. T. Roebuck

for

Pamela Lightcap, Chapter Secretary