Parish Administrator - Joan Christensen
2003
again brought many changes to Bethel as we said goodbye to our Lead Pastor,
began major projects, managed finances carefully, and strived to maintain staff
support for ministry through reduced budgets.
It
has been a year of challenges as we continued to operate with a budget which
has decreased by over $100,000 in two years.
We faced reductions in staff hours in July, and I thank our staff for
staying on and working extra hard in fewer hours. Thanks also to the volunteers who have stepped in to fill some of
the needs. Our Audit committee was new
this year, and they put in many hours coming up to speed on Bethel's finances
in order to provide a review of our financial procedures and reporting. Thanks to Susan Horvath, David Lofgren and
Tom Woodell for all their hard work. Carol Mahoney has expanded her role to
include benefits coordination and brings a wonderful attention to detail to all
she does. And many thanks also to Liz
Tribby, Brad Martinson and Dee Peterson for keeping our contributions recorded
accurately.
Our
web site, www.bethelcupertino.org
is undergoing dramatic changes, with a new home page design in place, and more
design changes under way. Thanks to
Mary Wedgwood for the design work, and our retiring webmaster, Tom Barbaro, for
coordinating the team's efforts for several years. Davis Fields continues to work with our ongoing team members,
Dave Arnold, Chris Christensen and David Morris. The web-based calendar allows for ministry leaders to enter
information directly to Bethel's central calendar and provides instant lookup
from any internet connection.
Mark
Weberg, our Publications Specialists, took on new responsibilities this year
with the start of Visual Connection in the Sanctuary. He provides the on-screen versions of service information, and
has also provided visual support for special events and memorial services since
the system was put in place in October.
He is currently training volunteers to operate the system on Sunday
mornings. Mark also took on additional
office responsibilities with our staff reductions.
We
continued to improve our communication through appropriate policies and
procedures, including an updated Employee Handbook.
Pam
Gruba, our receptionist, moved to mornings only when we reduced staff
hours. She continues to fit in many
support functions. I am so thankful for
the many volunteers who work in support areas throughout the year. Many thanks to Vivian Walz for keeping our
membership records accurate and updated, Liz Tribby and Brad Martinson for
maintaining our office computer systems, Janice Martinson, Carol Elland and
Donna Kuester for keeping attendance records, Merle Sandwisch, Conrad Bracklein
and Virginia and Richard Whitlock for their faithful help with mailings, and to
Dee Peterson and Lois Brouillette for help covering the reception desk.
Our
facility is undergoing some major upgrades through our Welcome Zone projects. Tom Hoegel, Dietrich Kuhlmann, Ed and Karen
Fox and the rest of the Welcome Zone team, along with Facilities Supervisor
Gene Palmer and Assistant David Sandwisch, have put in many hours planning and
coordinating projects. Our "Men of
Monday" Maintenance Team, including Vern Bolleson, John Liming, Tom Cole,
Bob Misch and Bill Weberg, have provided wonderful support to facilities
projects. Tom Hoegel, Sr. was a
wonderful member of this team and is dearly missed. Liz Barton has continued her work on maintaining our grounds and
coordinating outside workdays.
2004
will be an exciting year as we more fully implement the Visual Connection,
continue to welcome new people to Bethel and reach out in new ways to our
community. I am thankful to work to support
the many talented and creative people at Bethel who strive to serve our Lord
through this place.