Notes from Monday's Membership Meeting

After Monday's meeting of the Membership Committee, I promised to put together some resources for:

1. Public Relations
2. Outreach Programs
3. Hospitality/Welcoming Strategies

We agreed to start this Sunday using the "You are welcome at this Church!" cards for first-time visitors. They'll be in the pew racks. I'll explain them during announcements.

I also agreed to look in the by-laws to see if there's a definition of the tasks of Membership. The answer is: No. All it says is:
     Section 6.9 Committees. There shall be a personnel committee and such other committees as the Session may authorize. The personnel committee shall consist of at least three members of Session as well as at least two members of the Board of Trustees. The other committees shall include at least two members of Session and one member of the Congregation.
     Section 6.10 Committee rules. Each committee shall determine its officers and elect them from among its members. Each committee may fix the time and place of its regular meetings. A Special Meeting of any committee may be called by its chief officer.
The rules, officers, and general scope of activities of all committees shall be subject to the review of Session.

I'll work with Stephanie Boorman to see what we have in the files and take a look in Session minutes to see what I can find.

We made plans for the Saturday, Nov. 6, Progressive Dinner. (I hope you'll all sign up this Sunday!) We spoke of making a special invitation to newer members of our community to attend the dinner.

We talked about ways to recognize our volunteers, beginning with silk flowers for greeters and ushers (Roe Gift will research this), and perhaps a "Volunteer Sunday" when we recognize all our helpers.

We agreed that a letter would go out over my signature to visitors. It could become the "welcome letter" in a packet of newcomer information.

We also spoke of coordinating with the deacons around routine fellowship activities like the coffee hour. We will promote use of nametags, train our greeters, prepare a packet of info for visitors, set up a "welcome table" in the narthex and/or Great Hall, etc.

There's a lot for us to do, and I look forward to working with the committee to help our church become an even friendlier and more welcoming community of faith.

--Jack Lohr, Interim Pastor