Business Meeting Report
Business meeting part 1
- Seating of the delegates took place with eleven secretariats not having representation and the South Dakota secretariat dissolved. Quorum was achieved with 25 of 36 secretariats present. Seating was followed by the commissioning of the delegates.
- The meeting was called to order and the board was introduced before we reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
- Nominations were presented for the positions of Vice President of Administration (Carolyn Witham and Randy Poisel), Treasurer (Jerry Gray), and Spiritual Director (Pr. Chris Hogstad, Pr. Tami Wolfson, and Pr. Anne Strickert). Jerry was voted into office by acclamation.
- It was brought forward to discuss what we are doing for those fourth day members that have lost their secretariats or moved away, and starting an electronic secretariat or beginning regular video conferencing ultreyas.
- Financials. We are ahead of where we were a year ago including the payments to the grant consultant and cruise ship deposit. We also had a budget review. Just a reminder that NLS runs on a June 1 to May 31 fiscal year and we should be using that as our guideline for when to pay our dues.
Business Meeting Part 2
- Bylaw change. It was voted on that we could consider the bylaw change, but after a couple proposed rewording amendments failing, the change ultimately failed.
- Spiritual Director Elections. The terms ordained and rostered were discussed. We as a NLS are to accept all Lutheran bodies and their processes for pastor candidacy, ordination, and rostering. Pr. Tami Wolfson withdrew her name from consideration and stated that she will be back in the future. Pr. Anne Strickert was elected by acclamation.
- Elections results. Budget was passed and the Vice President of Administration for the next term is Carolyn Witham.
- Presentation by 2027 Host Committee was a Visit Florida – Blues Brothers Caribbean theme. Fitting for a gathering on a cruise ship.
Presidential Address
- We’re in fantastic shape as a secretariat.
- Accomplishments: Digitization efforts, Google Drive use, historian information availability. Please forward any and all old VdC documents for incorporation into the archives.
- Building leaders. We need to serve first before becoming a leader, showing by example is a way to become a good leader.
- Thank you to Pr. G. Karl Gaston for his service as NLS Spiritual Director.
- Thank you to those doing the work in the secretariats.
- He and the board are here to help the secretariats.
Respectfully submitted,
BobbieJo Koski
