2013-11-12 Support Committee Minutes

11-12-13—MVS Unit Support Committee 

(Fellowship of Hope & Prairie Street Mennonite Church)

Meeting at the home of Mary Kathryn Miller

(Couldn’t help list the date as it appears rather than 2013-12-October)

Present: Margaret DeLucenay, Dale Ritchie, Mary Miller, Barb Fridley, John Bender

Excused: Art Stolzfus, Suella Gerber, Nelson Kraybill

1.     Mary read Jesus’ words from Luke 4:18.19 from the MVS Handbook, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, . . .,” closing with a prayer.

2.     Mary welcomed Barb Fridley to her first meeting as a member of the Support Committee from Fellowship of Hope. Mary provided corrections of MVSer contact information and asked for updates of Support Committee contact information, to be added as attachments to the minutes.

3.     The list for Support Committee interaction with MVSers at their Sunday evening meal and meeting, 5:30-8:30, was filled out. The meal is served alternatively at Jubilee House and Becky’s apartment 35 at AMBS. Schedule: Nov. 17 (JH) Dale; Nov. 24 (A35) Art; Dec. 1 (JH) Suella; Dec. 8, (A35), John;  Dec. 15 (JH) Mary; Dec. 22 (A35) Margaret; Dec. 29 (JH) Dale; Jan. 5 (A35) Barb; Jan. 12 (JH) John; Jan. 19 (A35) Mary; Jan. 26 (JH) open; Feb. 2 (A35) Barb.

4.     The MVS retreat report was deferred to December. Art and Suella attended part-time.

5.     Agreed that John will confer with Everence Advocate Al Longenecker and Elder Carolyn Smith on seeking matching funds from Everence on PSMC contributions toward MVSer losses (additional to FOH contribution).  

6.     Agreed that Dale will buy the 1992 Chevrolet Lumina van for $300. Also agreed that Dale will look to buy a suitable replacement vehicle at an upcoming auction in a price range up to $3000. A church member has agreed to help with the cost of a different vehicle.

(Nov. 13 breaking news: Rex Hooley contacted Prairie Street today to offer a 2005 Chevy Cobalt LS in response to a note he saw somewhere “that the MVS unit is looking for a small car.” PTL!  He and his wife, Marty Lehman, are willing to donate the car in exchange for a tax receipt.  Transfer of title for the gift is projected for next week when Marty returns from a business trip).

7.     Mary reviewed the financial report. In the past 11 months the budget has improved from a negative balance of almost $9,000 to a positive balance of some $5,000. Agreed to designate $400 annually for vehicle maintenance for the car and white van. If the number seems low it’s because Dale keeps good tabs on what needs to be done and gets it done at low or no cost to the MVS budget (meaning he graciously covers some of the cost.)

8.     Covenant review. John presented a revised draft of a document to guide both aspirations and accountability of MVSers each year. The revised title is “MVSer commitment as part of the Elkhart MVS Unit.” The Elkhart MVS Support structure chart for 2013-14 further illumines the function and roles of Support Committee members.

9.     Joy Detweiler, administrative assistant at PSMC, has a list of households ready to host the unit for a meal once a month.

10.  Next meeting: Potluck meal with unit on Monday, Dec. 9 at 6pm. Future meals and Support Committee meetings are proposed, given that the schedule is clear, for the second Tuesday of the month.

Minutes respectfully submitted, John Bender