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Fifty-five members of the NACC board met Sunday evening for a very spirited and positive meeting with many items of business for consideration. The following highlights represent a summary of that agenda and a report to the congregation’s membership:

1. Treasurer Susan Wheeler presented the 2007 year-end financial report, it being filled with much good news, the best of which is we ended the year "in the black." Members being generous with year-end gifts and many catching up their pledges, combined with committees being extra-conservative in their spending, enabled this to happen in this year of difficult transition. While we were able to fulfill 11/12ths of our outreach goals, we were unable to pay them in November from a lack of funds. Dependent upon how the cash flow is in January, we hope to make that month up early in 2008.

2. Other financial transactions included announcing the receipt of a bequest gift notice for the Property Unitrust account, the establishment of a designated funds account for legal fees, and a policy on "stop payment and replacing lost checks." The Senior Minister’s annual housing allowance designation was also made in accordance with IRS regulations.

3. Results from the 115 votes cast at the two congregational meetings that morning regarding options for covering the $105,000 shortfall in the 2008 budget’s income were announced as: Option 1 (30% cuts) = 49; Option 2 (borrow the whole amount) = 1; Option 3 (make significant cuts and borrow the balance) = 64; and there was one abstention not liking any of the options. The committees will bring "bare bones" proposals to the cabinet meeting in February and a 2008 budget will be finalized for presentation to the March board meeting.

4. Tina Stillwell, Personnel Committee chair, announced a search process has been completed for the hiring of part-time personnel for Director of Children and Youth Ministries. This position will be paid out of the Sherrow trust fund and not have budget impact. It is intended to cover these vital ministries and programs until such time as we are able once again to hire a full-time Associate Minister. Names were not announced as everything is still not finalized. A proposal on how to resolve some problems on unpaid pension fund dues was also discussed, but was tabled as several questions were raised about important issues still needing further attention.

5. Neil Guion, Chair of the Unitrust Committee, announced the Unitrust fund ended 2007 at a value of $1,677,941; from which, an annual draw of 4.5% for earning distribution in 2008 was declared as follows: $ 15,461.92 to Property; $34,901.77 to Outreach; and $25,143.69 for Memorial Fund grants. For 2008, memorials received $48, 540 in grant requests. The proposals to be funded were as follows and approved by the board for payment: $ 5,040 computer system upgrades; $803.69 for web site upgrades; $1,000 UMHE Mystery Play underwriting; $2,000 for special music in worship; $100 for large print Bibles for use in the elders communion ministry with shut-ins; $3,000 for a new floor scrubber on the first floor [and current one to be moved to the second floor]; and $13,200 to cover the rental housing expense for our interim minister. The unfunded proposals related to an energy audit of our facilities and its resulting suggestions. This important issue will still get attention, but just not funded in this manner this year.

6. The new Property Committee chair David Whitson announced All-Church Work Days are planned for April 19 and October 18 from 9:00 a.m. to noon to handle several big projects needing attention. The committee has also identified several issues of need and will be developing a five-year plan for board consideration. Discussion was also held about updating and upgrading the sign on National Avenue which will get immediate attention.