Present:        Randy Fleming                    Scott Avery                Gary Spivey

                        Bill Stambaugh                    Charlie Walcutt        Ted Black

                        Earnest Shields                   Terry Abram              Craig Nordaker

Opening Prayer: Gary Spivey

Old business:

            Previous meeting notes

            Carry-over action items (see below)

New business:

            Treasurers Report:

§       $1,080.20 balance in checking account. New account is now setup as approved at Union Bank.

§       Gary agreed to research and compile a general spending history to use as input to a draft 2007 district UMMen budget.

§       Each board member is requested to bring their own ‘wish list’ or ‘top 3’ suggested spending items to the next board meeting as further input to a draft 2007 district UMMen budget.

o       Suggestions so far include quadrennial, district and conference UMMen Rally scholarships; 100 Club annual contribution; discretionary fund for ad-hoc requests.

o       Various ‘giving levels’ have suggested- consider names for various ‘levels’; along with potential income sources

Roundtable comments:

§    Bill S. has UMMen packets available now. Ron D. will likely utilize these during local group visits.

§    Several recommended participating at the upcoming Annual Conference activities June 5-9. Bill S. can use some set-up help with the UMMen booth on June 5 in the morning. 5:30pm UMMen dinner & auction at St.Paul-Lincoln. 9:30am Friday, June 8^th- UMMen report and scholarship awards by Bill S. to the full conference at the Marriott- Lincoln. Check the conference web site for agenda details.

§    Approved motion by Gary, seconded by Charlie, to conduct a Missouri River District Fall Rally in September or October using Man in the Mirror theme (or similar). Gary will compile a draft Rally topic and plan for consideration at the next meeting.

§    Gary shared the needs of a friend who is struggling very hard with living arrangements. A discretionary offering of $90 was collected and approved by Scott and Ted, to reimburse Gary for selected living arrangement donations.

§    Bill shared that Dave Mendyk will be transferring with his wife, Nora, to the West Point congregation effective in July. Best wishes and deepest thanks expressed to Dave for his very significant contributions to the Omaha (Missouri River) District UMMen.

§    Bill S. suggested that business cards be made available to the Board members to hand out to interested parties in local congregations. Items to consider including on the cards would be District and Conference telephone and web contact information, UMMen logo, abbreviated purpose or similar, blank line for personalized telephone number or name contact, etc. This will be added to the action items list for future follow-up.

§    Thanks offered to Union Memorial for the hospitality of providing the location for this meeting.

§    Those able to attend the Winter Rally at Camp Fontanelle shared a summary of their experience and memories. A very meaningful fellowship was shared by all.

Closing Prayer:    Bill Stambaugh

Carry-over action items:

1. Suggestion was made to solicit some level of funding from local congregations in the District. Further discussion resulted in the suggestion to develop a funding source strategy and also to develop and publish a District ‘use of funds’ policy or guidelines. Reviewed the draft Financial Policy distributed earlier. Discussion, motion by Craig N., second by Bill S., and approval by those present (with one typographical error corrected). Attached is the new, approved, policy. COMPLETE
2. Randy suggested that the District consider coming up with a structure of ‘giving levels’ or categories to help motivate contributors to UMMen. An example might be $100+ would be the ‘Kingdom’ level of donation, etc. Discussion, tabled for further future discussion.$$
3. It was agreed that the District would provide a ‘speaker bureau’ service to the congregations in the District regarding UMMen topics, organization, testimonials, etc. Initially, Randy, Dave, Ron and Charlie will be available. General discussion and further support expressed by all present. To continue development at future meetings, with input from Ron D. Scott will assist with assembling the ‘package’.
4. Craig suggested this Board investigate how it can engage with, promote or support the conferences recently announced UMC conference Discipleship Plan. Tabled for future consideration and discussion.
5. Ron reiterated his goal to begin contacting those congregations without a chartered UMMen group regarding the feasibility of either chartering, or at least forming some type of men’s group.
6. Gary volunteered to look into developing a short ‘Who are we’ type powerpoint presentation for use by Board members and others to describe our District, examples of past projects, typical activities, our goals, etc. He’ll draw on some of the many pictures he has compiled over the years. As our new ‘vision’ is completed, that would be incorporated also. No action as yet.
7. A request to get an update from Paul Bryan regarding the current status of Wesley House came forward. Terry Abram volunteered to follow-up with Paul Bryan and report back at a future board meeting.
8. Ron shared some thoughts about how valuable some trend and demographic information would be for this Board. For example, it is estimated that about 1/3 of the congregations have a UMMen group of some type. This isn’t confirmed, but could be. Whatever the number is, a goal of improving that to, say, ½ within 5 years (or whatever) could be an action for the District Board to consider taking on. Ron volunteered to research what information might be available either from the conference (state level), District (maybe from the District Superintendent, Randy Sailors) or national UMM (maybe Dave Adams). No action as yet.
9. Discussion about the value of a ‘new UMMen group start-up package’. Charlie expanded with the need the launch new groups at congregations without a UMMen group. This sounds like something this Board, or a sub-committee, will want to develop and make available.
10. Bill S. also recommended that this group consider some form of fund-raiser to help support the work of the Nebraska Conference UMMen. Tabled until a draft District budget is compiled.
11. Dennis Edwards shared his vision that the UMMen emphasis on fatherhood be a focus for consideration. No action as yet.
12. Charlie suggested that this group consider identifying and publishing near-term and longer-term goals at an upcoming Board meeting. Initial suggestions from Charlie included figuring out how we can best focus effort toward forming new UMMen groups in congregations where they don’t already exist and also increasing the number of younger participants. Ron D. has indicated he would like to lead this effort and has collected some ideas already from Board members. No action as of yet.
13. Bill suggested that our Board consider whether and how to solicit local congregations for donations. Tabled until District budget is compiled.
14. Bill suggested that this group discuss and put together a plan to encourage local groups of UMMen to charter their local groups. General discussion. Include as part of ‘traveling show’ package.
15. Bill S. suggested that business cards be made available to the Board members to hand out to interested parties in local congregations. Items to consider including on the cards would be District and Conference telephone and web contact information, UMMen logo, abbreviated purpose or similar, blank line for personalized telephone number or name contact, etc. No action as yet.

UMMen District Financial Procedures                                                           March 2007

Mission

The Omaha District board is tasked with promoting the organization and supporting UMMen groups at the church level.

Financial Goals

As such the financial needs and goals are related to these pursuits and operates with minimum funding supplied by donations from churches and interested individuals

The Omaha UMMen district will not be involved in fund raising activities beyond the simple request of support from churches and members.

Receipts

All funds received will be put into the general account and annotated as to source:

1)      received from ____________________________, of ____________________

            church name                                       city/town

2)      received from _______________________, of _________________, of __________

                                           individual name/or anonymous                church                  city/town    

3)      received from ________________________, of ___________________________

             organization                                        city, state

4)      received from _________________________

            other

Disbursements

Disbursement of funds will follow the following guidelines:

Generally all disbursement shall be made via check written and signed by the Treasurer. The President and Secretary of the Board shall also retain check writing authority, in the absence of the Treasurer.

Expenses

1) General expenses allowed without Board action or approval if less than $100

Acceptable expenses:

a)      postage

b)      office supplies

c)      copying

d)      donation to a hosting Church or hall

2) For items from $100 to $500 the follow will apply:

1)      A minimum of three elected board members agree to the expenditure and the following information recorded by the treasure: $ amount, Purpose, To whom Paid, Name and title of the three approving board members. This approval can be through e-mail of telephone survey

2)      The Board will develop guidelines as to what type and kind of expenditures would fall with in this category including food purchases, fees & wages of outside vendors, travel expenses memorials.

3) For all items exceeding $500 or outside the named and approved guidelines a vote of the convened board will be required to pass. In the motion will be estimated $ amount, Purpose, To Whom Paid.

Audit

The treasurer will provide an annual report to the President of receipts and disbursements and any notes for inclusion in the president’s annual report.

The president and treasurer will seek an independent outside (of the district organization) audit of the accounting. This should be a no cost audit, where the auditor is not bound for his opinion, but is a volunteer providing advice on methods and procedures.