Hello Dear Ones,

 

A few thoughts this week.

 

 

It is very useful for us to gather annually as one large group to think about our governance and how to keep the ship of state moving forward.

 

We will have one service at 10 am followed by lunch and the meeting at 12:30 pm. (Remember to plan for the start of Daylight Savings Time.)  We will have a chance to hear from Michele on her thoughts about how we move forward, focusing on St. Mark's as part of Capitol Hill, especially on inviting people to move more deeply into our life together.  We will hear from 7 excellent candidates for the Vestry (you can read their statements HERE), say thank you to three hard working Vestry members and our Assistant Treasurer, a brief report by our Treasurer Andrew Stafford, a few words from the Wardens, and a vote on a change in the bylaws to extend the terms of the Wardens.

 

Hope to see you there because more is definitely merrier.

 

At the moment the Junior and Senior Warden are elected for one year terms and can serve for two years if they are reelected for a second year. The proposal is to have the Wardens elected to two year terms with the possibility for a third year of service.

 

The rationale for the change is that there is both a steep learning curve for any new Warden and many new ideas require a two-year planning horizon.  The learning curve argument is that it can take a new Warden some time to figure out their actual agenda and that the one year term leaves little room to pursue it before having to start running again. The two-year time horizon view is that it fits making a change in direction, evaluating its impact, and fine-tuning the new approach in the second year.

 

The main arguments against the proposed change is that it is unnecessary since most Wardens already serve two year terms and that the present approach makes it easier to get rid of someone if they are not up to the job.

 

On the whole I am in favor of the proposed change based on my experience over the last year.

 

I have received almost one hundred emails and notes saying how pleased people are that Michele has been called as our Priest-in-Charge. Two people wrote to say that while they are big Michele fans that they didn't think calling an Interim Rector was a particularly good precedent. I understand that concern but the Vestry felt she was such a good fit that an exception to the rule was justified.

 

I have also heard from a number of people that they have not yet had a chance to get to know Michele and that they would like to meet with her in a small group setting. Michele is giving me 20 dates when she would be free for brunch, lunch, dinner or coffee in groups of 6-8 people. I am looking for someone to find hosts and coordinate the schedule. Does that assignment appeal to you?

 

The Maundy Thursday Reception and Dinner planning team of Raifford Gaffney, Elin Whitney Smith and Marilu Sherer are in high gear. You can sign up on line HERE or on Sunday. Better hurry because this always sells out very quickly. Please know that Michele has a table and is hoping that folks who do not know a lot of people and want to be a part of the dinner will contact her.