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ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA
Shawano, Wisconsin
Zion Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes
Date: May 15, 2012
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Time 6:27 p.m.
Present: Scott Glysch, Gordon Holten, Renee` Elertson, Kathy Bruhn, Timothy Herrmann, Ginny
Vraney, Mikki Moesch, Jim Ash, Keith Herm, Pastor Sherven and acting Secretary, Julie
Effenberger.
2. OPENING DEVOTIONS: Ginny with a prayer/dedication to Pastor Sherven.
3. SOUND OFF: None
4. MINUTES: Motion made by Gordon Holten and seconded by Kathy Bruhn to approve the
minutes as printed for the April 17th Council Meeting. Motion carried.
5. PASTOR SHERVEN’S FINAL REPORT: Pastor Sherven was asked in the last few months by
the council if he would make any suggestions of things that could be done at Zion to help make it
look more attractive to a new pastor. Being this was his final council meeting; he decided to share
a few things he felt would make a difference from a pastor’s perspective. 1) Have the council do
a walk through the entire building and make a list of things that could use attention, fixing or
sprucing up. 2) Review the membership list, clean it up and bring it up to date to give a new
pastor a truer picture of our actual membership. 3) Review the by-laws in particular as it refers to
the structure of the church council. For instance there has been no one in the Life and Growth
Committee for years and no attention to Adult Education which could be part of the Pre-
Confirmation Education Committee. The structure Zion has is from 1988 when the ELCA asked
all churches to re-examine their constitutions and by-laws and since it is 2012 it could use
updating. 4) He suggested that Zion takes it time looking for a new pastor and not rush into a
decision. Pastor then asked a personal request; if he could store his books and a filing cabinet in
room 102 until the moving van comes to move him and that request was granted.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a. Worship/Music: Kathy has asked and has been turned down by an organist to replace
Deborah Maier so they are still actively pursuing all avenues. Deborah Maier will remain
Zion’s organist through July 31st.
b. Health Ministry: Ginny announced their committee usually has a blood drive in May but
now that will be August 20th with North Central Blood Center of Wisconsin. The CD
recorder has been purchased and is in working order and they have a volunteer to record
the services for the shut-ins. The Vial for Life program has been postponed until
September as the hospital is in transition right now. The Loan Closet has been cleaned and
inventoried. The Health Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th. Their committee
held a luncheon last week to welcome Georgia Stapleton, the new Parish Nurse. Ginny
and Patsey Robertson worked several hours with Georgia to help introduce her to her new
job. Georgia has retaken her Parish Nurse Certification and happy that she did since so
much has changed since her last certification. Concordia is offering a 3 day workshop that
Patsey Robertson always attended for her education and Georgia would like to attend
during the Memorial Day week. Mikki moved to allow Georgia Stapleton to attend the 3
day workshop at Concordia, it was seconded by Kathy and the motion passed. The Health
Ministry does have the funds in their budget to cover the cost of approximately $125.
c. Staff Support: Jim Ash reported that everybody is doing fine and everything seems to be
lined up for the summer schedule.
d. Church in Society: Mikki stated their committee will again be doing the monthly meal
for the staff of Safe Haven. They have decided Zion will be participating in the
Community Dinner which is held the last Tuesday of the month, or June 26th, at the First

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Presbyterian Church in Shawano. They will be having a sign up sheet for people to donate
food or help volunteer with the meal.
e. Stewardship: Jim Zimmerman was unable to attend and had nothing to report.
f. Property: Keith advised the council that it was brought to his attention that there is a
serious problem on the southwest corner of the building. The fascia and soffit are rotted
out and obviously leaking has been occurring for a long time. Mike Opperman came and
pulled down some of the soffit and fascia to investigate how serious the problem was. The
council took a walk outside and viewed the problem. This was located under the rubber
roofing and so it was never discovered when Opperman Development replaced the roof
just a short time ago. The council agreed the problem needed to be fixed and done right so
they agreed to have Mike Opperman give us a quote on repairing it. It was also suggested
to check with the church’s insurance to see if any of the cost would be covered by them.
Keith also stated that the janitors had asked if they could purchase a new leaf blower since
the old one blew up last year. Keith had checked into Sears and could purchase a gas leaf
blower for $100 and the council agreed to have him go ahead and purchase it.
g. Pre-Confirmation Education: Timothy reported that this coming Sunday is the last day
of Sunday School and they have the Family Fun Day planned with games and prizes and
gifts for those with perfect attendance and near perfect attendance. They have had a good
year with attendance and it stayed level throughout the year.
6. TREASURER’S REPORT: Gordon read the financial update that will be printed in the Focus
stating April was an excellent month with Zion’s General Fund ending the month with a balance
of $12,394.35. He then reviewed the Accounting Fund Balances Report explaining the income in
#21 Undesignated Fund of $6,185 was from the 2nd stimulus check we received from the
government bringing that fund balance to $16,374.26. Money from that fund will be used to pay
for the computer upgrade and Zion should receive a 3rd and final stimulus check next year.
Gordon noted that they intend to change the Box Scores that are listed in the weekly bulletin to
more accurately depict the budget instead of showing the year to date figures which are
misleading. The monthly Focus would then show accurate year to date figures. A motion was
made by Julie and seconded by Ginny to approve the Treasurer’s Report as written, motion
carried.
Renee` then reviewed the bills to be paid, noting the $677 check to Opperman Development is for
the bill the council did not approve last month for roof repair until it was investigated further.
Keith explained that the repairs by Opperman Development were done on the rubber roofing,
which was not redone with the rest of the roof and therefore there was no warranty covering it.
The following bills were also approved to be paid but were not listed: a bill for $125 to Lee
Kersten for guest organist, a check for $10.58 to Charlie’s County Market, a check for $22.70 to
Wal-Mart and JoAnn Fabrics and a check for $3.88 to Wal-Mart for the Pre-Confirmation
Committee and lastly, the Frontier phone bill. A motion was made by Mikki and seconded by
Kathy to approve the May bills for payment and the motion carried.
7. OLD BUSINESS: Jim Ash asked what was happening on the website updating for Zion.
Gordon advised he has been in contact with Mason Moesch and Keith Milner who will assist in
the website updating but first he needs to find out from the council members and staff what they
feel our new website should consist of. With the retirement of Pastor Sherven, hiring a new parish
nurse and now looking for a new organist, it has been postponed temporarily. Gordon plans on
addressing that issue later this summer and hopefully receive some input from our interim pastor.
8. NEW BUSINESS: Scott read a request from Donna Milbauer asking if Zion would again let
Backpack for Kids use room 102 to store and collect items. They plan to assemble the backpacks
on August 16th and disperse them August 20th & 21st. Renee` moved that Zion allow Backpack for
Kids use room 102 for storage and collection of items for needy children as has been done in the
past. Ginny seconded the motion and the motion passed. Ginny brought to the council’s attention

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that the past parish nurse never had a computer at Zion to work on and the new parish nurse would
like to be able to have one. Debbie received a quote on a laptop for $731.99 and it would require
an additional $150 for software. Kathy made the motion which was seconded by Mikki to
approve the purchase of a laptop computer plus software (approximately $885) for the new parish
nurse. These funds would come out of the Undesignated Funds, which is where the other
computer upgrade costs were also coming from. Gordon then brought up the Parish Nurse
Contract for Georgia Stapleton that he has worked out with the head of the Personnel Committee,
Mike Eidahl, and Georgia herself. The contract pays her the minimum level through the end of
2012 so it doesn’t affect her Social Security and will be reviewed at the end of the year. She will
receive the ELCA benefit package, including 10% of her earnings contributed to her retirement
account, and both the health and dental insurance for herself. The contract reads from 5/14 thru
12/31/2012 for 24 hours per week, 30 weeks for the year 2012, $1,952 per month, and mileage
will be reimbursed at the IRS rate. Georgia has 1 ½ years until she turns 66 at which time her
earnings can be increased and won’t affect her Social Security. Renee` moved that we accept the
Parish Nurse Contract for Georgia Stapleton as indicated above, Kathy seconded the motion and
the motion carried. Gordon has also added Georgia Stapleton to Zion’s liability insurance clause
to replace Patsey Robertson as the Parish Nurse. Lastly, Gordon informed the council that there is
a fund entitled Good Neighbor Fund which secretly helps members or people who are in desperate
need of money to the discretion of the pastor. This fund usually contains approximately $1500 but
is not reflected on any of the treasurer’s reports and comes from members who give to it
specifically. Since Pastor Sherven is leaving it was agreed that Leigh Welander have authority to
release funds and fill this position until a permanent pastor is hired. Ginny moved that we grant
authority to Leigh Welander to handle the Good Neighbor Fund. Jim Ash seconded the motion
and the motion carried.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:50 pm.
CLOSING DEVOTION: Pastor Sherven shared his final devotion with the council. Ginny read
again the prayer and dedication she wrote in Pastor Sherven’s honor.
Completed in God’s Service by:
Julie Effenberger
Acting Council Secretary
Page 3 – Council Minutes May 15, 2012