Notes

May 21 – Children’s Chapel

Person 1- High Rise and space for church and church members to have rental/lease options for building community

Person 2- No church building for Rev. Beth. What kind of our building do we want for our church missions

Person 3- How soon do we need to move on repairs – Tim responded and said about 5 years on the slate roof. We have some time. Most pressing is accessibility.

Person 4- In 2001 we needed a roof. In 2011 we did a major repair of the roof per BAGAT

Person 7- We need to first address the accessibility regardless of the decision.

Person 5- We need to wait until the new minister gets here. Might want to reach out and merge with Channing Murray. It will take considerable financing and having that base.

Person 6- We have a long history of discarding the folks who have mobility issues. One of the issues that we need to figure out is the “culture” of care. For instance the elevette is dark. Name another elevator that is dark when you get in it. We make a choice.

Person 8 – We look at our mission and 9 visions – what is our heart saying, can we make this building work? Where is the congregation’s energy? What is the heart saying? Who are we going to be, what will our space say about us? Once we figure the heart, then we can figure out what we are moving towards.

Person 5 – I can speak of this as we’ve been here before. We have to be careful to not split the congregations. Don’t split the congregation.  It’s what happened to the Presbyterians they built a new building and half stayed in the old building.

Person 9 – I’ve been a part of the congregation since 1993. It’s all about the feelings. I love this place, I love this church. Who are we serving? What is our mission? This is just a place. We need to think about how we want to serve? We need to ensure that people can have their feelings heard. It’s important.

Person 10 – We divide the congregation all the time. I run into folks all the time who We remember this church. This building is keeping us from growing. If you have a disability you are not safe by your safe. It’s too small. We want to grow. We are 350 congregation. In order to grow we have to have a bigger modern building that has new and modern plumbing and proper electric. And parking! We need parking and that’s part of the culture. Our Sundays are exciting! Let’s ensure everyone is welcomed when they get here!

Person 4- We need to take care of what we need right now which is accessibility. Regardless of staying or moving. We need to fix that right now.

Person 11 – I like the building it does not meet our needs in any way.  Iowa, former members there, what was there mission, what was needed there, talk bout what we need to move into the future and fix what needs to be fixed.

Person 12 – I agree that the building and space does not meet our needs. Central location, near the university, on the bus line. If we were looking at a merger with Channing Murray. I believe we need a bold, fundraising, capital campaign.

Person 1- There are all of these great places of empty buildings in Savoy. There was a car lot. Lots of parking and a building in the middle.

Person 7- We need to think outside of the box about our space. I would be willing to tear this down. Configure our space. Put the playground on High Street, put the parking lot there.

BAGAT – The elevette was not geared for commercial lift. We are working on a replacement for that. Staying here will require major building changes.

Person 13 – $38K for a platform lift. We are thinking around $75K for the finished product with construction costs. This will stay in the same footprint as the current elevette.

Person 14 – Accessibility is a belief that is holding our church back. We can address the accessibility of this building. That’s doable. Another question, what exactly is our attendance? And our congregation? What is the actual size? Our attendance is important for space considerations.

Person 15 – There was a possibility that one of the renderings is a plan to go all the way to the Rood Loft.

Person 16 7r – Don’t forget about our children and youth. If we have any children with mobility issues we need to ensure they can get down to the basement. Emergency protocol we need to ensure kids can get out quickly.

Person 1- Is there grant money available for accessibility upgrades? Do we have any grant writers?

Person 5 – Build a real elevator in the elevette space now. One possibility build a really modern elevator from outside that goes to all three floors.  YMCA did one.

Person 17 – I second *****’s comment about envisioning this footprint being renewed. Renewed in a way that will serve us for decades. We make some assumptions about the cost of moving. Once the sense of costs between two options is delineated that could help with decision making. Another comment, when Beth arrives, she will be coming from 2 years at a church in PA that meets in a school auditorium/gymnasium

Person 5 -We need to ensure we can negotiate with the University and that we stay within the proximity of it. There are possibilities available that we need to explore.