Special Focus: Upper Room Prayer Ministry, Scouting, Camp Fontanelle, Society of St. Andrew Ministries, Nebraska UMMen 100/1000 Foundation Present: Charlie Walcutt Craig Nordaker Randy Fleming Ken Walker Willy Lucht Bill Stambaugh Scott Herring Scott Avery Opening Prayer: Scott Herring Treasurer Report: Craig Nordaker reported for Gary Spivey that we have $ 716.29 in our checking account. Conference President Report: Bill Stambaugh reported on his recent trip to Nashville, TN to attend the National Association of Conference Presidents (NACP) meeting. Discussion regarding preparations for the 2009 Quadrennial Gathering in Nashville, TN; UMMen Centennial promotions; and Bill presented a $400 check to the Upper Room Prayer Ministry on behalf of our recent Nebraska UMMen 2008 Winter Retreat. Nebraska UMMen 100/1000 Foundation Report: Randy Fleming, Executive Director of the UMMen Endowment Fund presented the current Endowment status report, by account, as summarized by Treasurer Bruce Chapman. Randy also shared the details of the upcoming 19th Annual scholarship Dinner & Auction, scheduled for June 11, 2008 at St. Paul UMC in Lincoln. The goal this year is to reach $10,000 new funding for the Nebraska UMMen 100/1000 Endowment Fund. District Lay Leader Report (Linda Warren / Betty Wiles): Old business: Previous meeting notes- approved as published, with the correction of $3,200 collected to-date for the newly established John Wesley Fund. New Business & Roundtable comments:

1.  Charlie Walcutt led the meeting on behalf of Ron DeBord.
2.  Special thanks to Bill Stambaugh and Union Memorial UMC for hosting this month’s planning meeting. Thanks also to Bill’s wife Janice for the wonderful refreshments.
3.  Special greeting from Rev. Jocelyn Foster, pastor of Union Memorial, at the beginning of the meeting.
4.  Scott Herring shared that he may be in for a pace-maker in the near future. Expecting a decision in late March.
5.  EMS memberships funded by attendees for district co-lay leaders, superintendant and one other person.
6.  Scott Avery requested that he would be happy to collect pictures (or copies of) of UMMen activities at either a local church level or otherwise, to help promote UMMen District purposes.
7.  Craig will write out a check for the current ‘kick-off’ amount of $3,200 to be deposited into the new Nebraska UMMen John Wesley Fund and give to Randy Fleming for presentation at the upcoming Annual Conference.
8.  Craig reported that a solicitation letter went out to each senior pastor in the District regarding the newly established Nebraska UMMen John Wesley Fund. Randy recommended that those present be encouraged to check with their local pastor to help ensure it is follow-up on.
9.  Craig volunteered to help begin a visitation program- one in April and one in May. Craig referenced the January 1, 2008 report that lists all EMS members in Nebraska plus all chartered UMMen groups. A

1. committee consisting of Craig, Ron, Bill, Charlie and Randy will review the Missouri River District subset of chartered groups and EMS names and plan to visit one chartered group and one church without a chartered group in April; and another in May. The officer group will then determine in June how to revise the visitation program for the remainder of the year.
2.  Randy encouraged EMS membership. As of this evening, all present are EMS members.
3.  30-45 minutes of the June 2008 district meeting will be devoted to district budget discussion; as a follow-on to our earlier establishment of a ‘district’ Mission focus and financial procedures. The result will likely include how we want to financially support our district Missions focus.
4.  It was recommended that this group publicize its events on the new Nebraska UMC calendar of events.
5.  Craig reported that the Nebraska UMMen logo shirts are available for ordering. Polo, t-shirt and sweatshirt styles are available.
6.  It was decided to provide a $25 offering to the host church each district meeting night, starting tonight, as a thank you for making their facility available to us for our district meeting. Individual donations from the attendees at each meeting are hoped to cover the $25 offering. Gary is asked to bring a check to leave at the church each month (or send a check to the host church office soon after the meeting).
7.  Craig reported on the availability of a district Speakers Bureau for several topics (see separate flyer) and the new Ministries e-Newsletter (see separate flyer).
8.  Ken Walker reported on the new format for the Nebraska UMC web site. It is still a work in progress, but has a nicer visual layout.
9.  Craig closed the meeting with a prayer.

1.  General discussion about a Missouri River District fund raising program. Ron D. and Randy F. will put together a straw proposal for the Board to consider, including a draft letter from Ron DeBord to each congregation/charter group in the District.
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. Randy F. volunteered to follow-up with Ron D. to develop a draft proposal.
3.  Craig suggested this Board investigate how it can engage with, promote or support the conferences recently announced UMC conference Discipleship Plan. The Nebraska UMMen has now published its Discipleship Plan. It can be supported by all UMMen District organizations. Craig will bring a copy to the next Missouri River District meeting to see if we want to further localize it for our District (or not).
4.  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.
5.  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. PARTIALLY COMPLETE.
6.  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. INITIATED
7.  Bill suggested that our Board consider whether and how to solicit local congregations for donations. Tabled until District budget is compiled. INITIATED