1. 1
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA
Shawano, Wisconsin
Zion Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes
Date: April 17, 2012
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Time 6:30 p.m.
Present: Scott Glysch, Gordon Holten, Renee` Elertson, Kathy Bruhn, Timothy Herrmann, Ginny
Vraney, Mikki Moesch, Jim Ash, Jim Zimmerman, Pastor Sherven and acting Secretary, Julie
Effenberger.
2. OPENING DEVOTIONS: Kathy Bruhn
3. SOUND OFF: Jim Zimmerman moved that Julie Effenberger be granted all voting rights and
privileges as the rest of the council members in her capacity as “pro-tem” council secretary in
Bonnie Little’s absence. Kathy Bruhn seconded the motion and the motion carried.
4. MINUTES: Motion made by Jim Zimmerman and seconded by Kathy Bruhn to approve the
minutes as printed for the March 20th Council Meeting. Motion carried.
5. PASTOR’S REPORT: Pastor Sherven plans on receiving a group of new members (around a
dozen) on May 6th during the 10:30 service. He had nothing else to report other than he is
gradually starting to clean out things in his office in preparation for his final day on May 20th.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a. Worship/Music: Kathy reluctantly read the letter of resignation from Zion’s organist,
Deborah Maier. Due to health related matters, Deborah is resigning her duties as organist
and director of music as of July 31st. It was with a very heavy heart that Debra has come
to this decision but unfortunately her health won’t allow her to continue in her present
capacity much longer. She has asked and was granted permission to use the organ at Zion
for giving lessons. Kathy and her committee will start the process of seeking another
organist immediately.
b. Health Ministry: Ginny announced their committee met on April 2nd and the new Parish
Nurse, Georgia Stapleton attended that meeting. Georgia will be re-taking the Parish
Nurse Certification Class and plans on starting at Zion on May 14th. She still has not
signed a contract with Zion and Gordon acknowledged that Mike Eidahl and the Personnel
Committee were presently working on that contract. Zion’s Relay for Life Team consisted
of 16 walkers which collected $2,818 for the American Cancer Society on March 31.
Cellcom sponsored Zion’s Walkers and Fred Beyer made and donated the sign. A Healing
Service was held on March 28th Lenten Service and their committee received positive
feedback on that service. Joni Shebuski has purchased 2 new fans for the fellowship hall
and kitchen. Christy Hay will be attending the garden meeting on April 25th to explore the
possibility of creating a meditation corner in Zion’s garden. To date all Need-A-Lift
requests have been met and the Prayer Chains are completing. The loan closet is being
inventoried and will be cleaned out by April 25th. Their next blood drive will be in August
and that will be with the NorthCentral Blood Center of Wisconsin. The Health Fair will be
held on October 6th and the hospital will again be a sponsor of that event.
c. Staff Support: Jim Ash reported that he was at the church today and had the opportunity
to talk with Leigh and was advised she has just completed the summer schedule.
d. Church in Society: Mikki stated their committee just met today and they purchased $716
worth of diapers that will be dispersed through the WIC Cuddle with Love Program. The
final check is in the bills to be paid from their “Helping Hands Market Day Project” for the
Randy and Ann Steffen family for $1,194. Karen Childs from their committee is still
investigating the possibility of Zion participating in the Community Dinner which is held
the last Tuesday of the month at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Shawano. As usual, they
will be providing their monthly meal for Safe Haven.
e. Stewardship: Jim Zimmerman had nothing to report.

2. 2
f. Property: Keith was unable to attend but Scott reported that they were planning a spring
cleaning for this coming Saturday, April 21st at the church. Leigh had lined up youth to
assist the adults with the outdoor clean up. Russ Konkel had inquired about doing lawn
applications at the church and it was agreed he should come up with a proposal to present
to the council so it can be discussed further.
g. Pre-Confirmation Education: Timothy read a letter proposed by the Education
Committee for a 9th grade student to attend another year of confirmation classes as
requirements have not been met in order for her to be confirmed this October. The
Education Committee has exhausted all avenues with the student and family to try to
rectify the situation, with no avail. Jim Zimmerman moved that the council support the
Education Committee in their decision and give her another year to complete the
confirmation requirements. The motion was seconded by Ginny Vraney and the motion
carried.
6. TREASURER’S REPORT: Gordon read the financial update that will be printed in the Focus
stating Zion’s General Fund ended the month about where it began, with a balance of $4,423.36.
With the month of April off to a good start and containing five Sundays, he projects a better
ending to April than the last couple of months. He then reviewed the Accounting Fund Balances
Report explaining the income and expenses as listed. Jim Zimmerman inquired where the
Thrivent Choice Program money goes and Gordon stated it’s deposited into the General Fund
which to date has been $3,700 this year. Also, to date $8,100 has been received from direct deposit
from Zion’s members. A motion was made by Julie Effenberger and seconded by Ginny Vraney
to approve the Treasurer’s Report as written, motion carried.
Renee` then reviewed the bills to be paid, noting the $275 to Allied 100 was for a new AED
battery for the defibrillator. The following bills were also approved to be paid but were not listed;
a bill for $62.96 to Wal-Mart for the fellowship hall fans, a check for $1,194 to the Randy and
Ann Steffens family for the final balance from the Helping Hands Market Day Fundraiser (which
comes out of the Church in Society Fund) and lastly, the Frontier phone bill. A bill for $677 from
Opperman Development for repairs for a water leak near the sacristy was not approved for
payment until an investigation into the cause of the leak and whether warranty covers it is
completed. A motion was made by Mikki Moesch and seconded by Jim Ash to approve the April
bills for payment and the motion carried. Kathy Bruhn pointed out that the bill to Charlie’s
County Market for $85.97 was for the Easter breakfast provided for the choir members in which
$60 of it was donated by one of Zion’s members.
7. OLD BUSINESS: Last month Jim Zimmerman had asked what Zion’s mortgage payment was
and when it had been paid in full. Julie looked up in her minutes from previous years to advise the
mortgage was reported paid in full by Jim Yeakey at the August, 2008 council meeting. Payments
differed per month that year, depending on what was given to the Building Fund with amounts
from $3,283 to $4,657 per month.
8. NEW BUSINESS: Ginny stated that when the May calendar came out it showed 2 services on
Sunday morning, May 27th (Memorial Day Weekend) at Zion instead of showing the park service
and only one service at Zion.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:45 pm.
CLOSING DEVOTION: Pastor Sherven
Completed in God’s Service by:
Julie Effenberger
Acting Council Secretary