Meeting held @GSLC 2/11/2009 @ 7 - 8 PM.

In Attendance - E. Martell, W. Douglas, D. Aman, T. Eisenbeisz, C. Jakober, meeting led by R. Kaaz 

Next meeting was changed to 2/18/2009 @ 7 PM - we will meet in the Fellowship Hall.

1. We would like to get a completed copy of the survey and documents that were in the binder from Bethlehem.  We would like to see or use some of the demogaphic information collected in that survey.
2. Continue to collect demographic information about the community from various sources.  Internet sites include:
   1. http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Research-and-Evaluation/Evaluation-and-Survey-Reports.aspx
   2. http://www.pewforum.org
3. When should we share information about general demographics with the congregation?  We feel some of this information could be shared with the Congregation prior to the survey.  We would like to get some feedback from the other Groups on this.  Dale Aman & Rhonda Punt, maybe you can pass this request onto the Staff Needs and Mission/Vision Committee?
4. Congregartional Self-Study (SURVEY). 

• We feel the survey used by Bethlehem Lutheran Church can be used.  If there is a question or area that is not addressed please let us know.
• There is a general feeling that the Survey as printed would cover what is needed for Good Shepherd.
• We propose to change the word Bethlehem to Good Shepherd.  And change the instruction a little.  It would be good if we could get some feedback from the other 2 groups and or leaders.
• We talked a bit about how to tabulated the data, once we start the surveys.  Wade D. will contact Bill Roth (Bethlehem) to get some insight on how they were able to pull this together. 
• If the survey needs a lot of fixing, we will not be able to meet the timeline set up.  If we keep the survey similar to what is being asked now, we should be able to stay close to timeline being proposed.
• We are considering March 29th as the date we will present the survey to the congregation?  The survey will take about 20 minutes of time
1. Communications was talked about a little:
   • Voice deadline for February is coming fast.  We think the deadline is Feb 20th?  There should be articles in Voice to get things started.
   • Importance of the survey needs to conveyed to the Congregation.
   
   

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Meeting held @GSLC 2/18/2009 @ 7 - 8  pm

In Attendance - E. Martell, W. Douglas, D. Aman, T. Eisenbeisz, C. Jakober,  meeting led by R. Kaaz.  Bill Roth attended as guest.  Mark Malchow also attended.

Next meeting is 2/25/2009 after Ash Wednesday service around 7:30 PM - we will meet in the North Conference Room.

1. We do have the 'Final Report' Transition Task Force document/surveys from Bethlehem Lutheran Church.  I will look thru this document to determine what can be used in our study.  This has not been shown to our committee yet (Earl, we need to look this one over first).
2. We will continue to work on the congregational survey.  We will get the document into a draft status to get it ready to print and include other suggested survey questions.  We will scan the two surveys to get them ready for use and put them into a Microsoft Word document for easy changes.  Ron K. to get this done.
3. Mark Malchow , with the Staff Needs Team, provided us with information on the progress of there team. They felt we could proceed with the congregational survey without any changes.  (we have not heard from the Mission/Vision team on the congregational survey - Ron K will check with them)
4. Bill Roth, from Bethlehem Lutheran Church, was present at the meeting:
   • to give us some insights on the congregational survey and the Survey for Church Council, Ministry teams, groups etc.  
   • After Bill's discussion, we felt that we should get the Survey for Church Council, Ministry teams, groups etc. started in March.  And we should try to get these back in a timely fashion (maybe 2 weeks or less).  We will get a list of these various groups and determine how to distribute these.
   • We also discussed the method to collect the data to keep the congregational survey anonymous.  And we will be able to do this. Bethlehem was able to use a class at NSU to help compile the data.  Wade Douglas will contact Ross Norman to see if we can tap into that resource?
5. An article for the VOICE will be put in by Earl Martell.  We felt it should be a short message letting the congregation know that we are doing something.
6. I visited with Pastor Chris about taking time during a church service to do the congregational survey.  Pastor Chris will think about this and we need to consider what date(s) will work best.  The Easter season will need to be considered along with community events - School breaks, basketball tournaments etc.  At our last meeting, we thought that March 29 would be a good date - but we need others input.
7. Communication to the congregation will be important as we proceed.  Take some time to think of alternative methods to get this job done.  Skits, Temple talk, VOICE, bulletin ..........
8. I believe, we are making very good progress on the Surveys.  The surveys are not the only thing to work on.  We need to pick up on the other 'organ' to be examined.  Please take a look at the following to see what area you can help in.
   • internal & external demographics of the congregation 
   • appropriateness of existing constitution and by-laws
   • organizational and leadership structures
     • council make-up, qualifications, role of staff
     • committe, ministry team relationships, roles, responsibilities
     • relationship of staff positions to committee responsibilities
   • facilities, facilities use and related policies, facilities maintanence
   • Technological (sound system, computer system, telephones, other, etc)
     • Identifiey related staffing, hardware needs, etc
   • Review recent congregational consultation reports, surveys, etc
   • initiate Congregational Survey to include inquires requested by Mission/Vision & Staff Needs Team
   • thorough review of congregation's financial practices & policy
     • make needed recommendations to Staff Needs Team
     • review memorials use policy
   • examine the congregation's communications process
     • review newsletter, bulletin, minutes, all communication efforts
   • create opportunities to periodically share learning with congregation
9. We are wondering when the full TTF will meet with the three sub committees - Self Study Team, Staff Needs Team, & Mission/Vision Team.  Some felt we were getting together on the 4th of March?  We may want to do a slide show of some of the things that we have compiled so far.  We feel some of this can be shown to the congregation prior to the congregational survey. 

Co - Chair 

Ron Kaaz

From the meeting held Feb. 25 @ GSLC

In Attendance - E. Martell, W. Douglas, D. Aman, T. Eisenbeisz, C. Jakober,  meeting led by R. Kaaz.

• Congregational survey is in a Word Document so it will be easier to edit.  Wade D. may put this into an excell document so tabulation can be done easier.  We will see if we can continue with a more automated method to do the tabulation. 
• It would be good if we could get some information from the Committee Surveys (Staff Needs committee will be doing).  Maybe get the Council and various committee reporting to the Council to get their Surveys done first?
• We need to find out when the last time that the Constitution & Bylaws have been reviewed.
• Earl and Ron need to get together to review the Bethlehem survey and maybe the other items to be worked on.......
• We felt it was important to get together with all groups to touch base on what is going on.  And also hear from Pastor Sue on her thoughts on our process.  It will be good to get together on March 4th.
• Communications and sharing with others about the process is something we feel is important and it is important that the the congregation participates in this process.  Are we moving forward at the correct pace?  Temple Talks?  Voice, Bulletin...- How do we put this toghether?

Attached is the document from Tom E. that was recommended to have others review.  This may be a survey to give or maybe we can use some of the questions.

We will meet March 4 @ 8PM - this is for the whole Task Force and all committees.  This is the official notification that we will be meeting at that time.

We will decide at that time when we will get together for meetings after that meeting.

Meeting held @GSLC 3/11/2009 @ 5:15 PM.

In Attendance - E. Martell, W. Douglas, D. Aman, T. Eisenbeisz,  meeting led by R. Kaaz.  C. Jakober was excused.

Next meeting is 3-18-2009- (Library or North Conference room)

We decided to delay the date of the Congregational Self Study planned for March 29.  We would like to review the Self Study.  We may change the name to Self Study Questionaire?  And it will give us some time to consider the Committee questions as well.

We had discussion to review the Self Study after hearing comments from the full Task Force meeting held 3-4-2009.  And during our meeting on the 11th, we tried to categorize the questions and we tried to eliminate some as well.  I said that I would try to work on this a bit and send you a summary of this meeting. 

Earl M. and I meet on Friday 3-13-2009 to try to work on that task.  I told Earl of waking up one morning (3 AM), and thought we should look at the questions by putting them into the following groups:  BRING IN     BUILD UP     BRANCH OUT.   So Earl and I set out to look at these and putting the questions into those three categories and also using the information collected from our 3-11-2009 meeting, we put together the attached list.

Earl and I would like you to take a look at the survey, and put the question into a Bring In, Build Up, or Branch Out group (maybe do this before printing out the attached list.  I found it hard to do as I worked on it.  I did it once alone, I did it with Earl, and then I did it again as I typed it into the attached document.  And I found myself moving some questions into different groups and sometimes they fit into more than one.  And I think you will find that out as well.  Don't feel bad if you cannot do this prior to our meeting - I do believe Earl and I can explain this and also move our discussion forward.

There was also a sheet handed out by Pastor Sue, titled 'Interim Time Questions --'  Take a look at those ideas as well, again if you can.

We really appreciate each of your willingness to be part of this process. 

Thanks

Ron Kaaz

Meeting held @GSLC 3/18/2009 @ 5:15 PM.

In Attendance - E. Martell, W. Douglas, D. Aman, T. Eisenbeisz, C. Jakober , meeting led by R. Kaaz. 

Next meeting is 3/25/2009 @ 5:15 PM (somewhere -not library)

We spent considerable time on the congregational questionaire.  We put the questions, from the "Bethlehem Survey" into the groupings of 'Bring In', 'Build Up' and 'Branch Out'.  This was an exercise that generated good discussion as many of the questions would fit into more than one of the groupings.  We also looked at other questions that could be added as we did not have a lot of questions that fit into the 'Bring In' category.  We do not feel this is good or bad, it is something that we noted.

Once information comes back from the committee surveys, there may be additional questions that may get added to the questionaire.

Meeting held @GSLC 3/25/2009 @ 5:15 PM.

In Attendance - E. Martell, W. Douglas, D. Aman, T. Eisenbeisz, meeting led by R. Kaaz.  C. Jakober-absent

Next meeting is 4/01/2009 @ 7:30PM - We will have a short meeting prior to the full TTF meeting @ 8 PM

Please respond with your dates of avaliablity to help with the "coffe hour" - ASK ME.  I have heard from Tom E.& Wade D. - if you could respond, that would be helpful.

We are also up for the temple talk on the 12 of April? (Easter)

Please take some time to fill out this questionnaire before Wednesday's meeting-as you may be able to see addendums that are needed.

We would like to have copies available for the full TTF. And ask them to fill it out and return.  That way we will get some feedback and maybe some additional questions.

Wade Douglas has put together a shortened version of a Web survey. The member of the TTF have looked at this as an option to use for some members.  More on this on Wednesday!

Thanks

Ron Kaaz