Calling In: Paula Comper, Karen Karczewski, Kirk Moore, John Kendall, Jonathan Knight, Jennifer McGowen, Alex Golovin, Jim Brown.
Take the Tap Water Mission Project
The event will be held on April 5th, 2007 around the Illinois Conference. Alex is the driving force for this campaign. Information about the ICYI Mission Project can be found on icyi.org. Paula will e-mail each Association about this project, and ask them if they will provide resources and a location for the Mission Project. Karen suggested we might do a "Take the Tap Water" Mission project to Conference Annual meeting as a workshop. Paula will ask a the Annual Meeting Planning Committee on March 1st if we can do a workshop. (Pat Martin is the coordinator) Paula hopes that youth will lead this workshop. It was decided that the Fox Valley Association will hold their project in Aurora, with Alex as the contact person. Karen will serve as the Prairie Association contact person, as Prairie will host their event in Peru. Paula will also contact Jayne Clouser of Quincy to see if they can do something in their area as well.
A question was raised about web discussion, or some sort of blog. Kirk will work on a blog spot page for everyone to talk about their success and thoughts of the project, while also working on creating a Facebook page (You must have an account on Facebook to view that one.) Both pages will have a moderator that will oversee the pages.
National Youth Event
The decision has been made not to have an Illinois Conference bus going to NYE, but that each Association would possibly make arrangements to offer transportation to NYE. We anticipate more youth attending NYE than General Synod in Hartford in 2007. We talked about offering scholarships for NYE, and whether we could increase the standard scholarship amount of $25. Paula will ask Jorge Morales if we will receive the Strengthen the Church grant we applied for in Fall 2007.
2008 Annual Meeting
The next Annual Meeting Planning Committee meeting is March 1st at the Conference offices in Westchester. The theme for opening service is "Revive" and according to Paula, a tentative scripture was already picked (however, it was mentioned about maybe seeing if we could switch the scripture reading for the service.) Keith Scott is aware of a youth of color who might be interested in preaching on June 5, 2008. Paula will follow up with Keith. Paula is also trying to see if Michael Cerrot and the Bell Choir would come to play at the worship service—the students will still be having finals. We will have a dance on Thursday night—Chuck Taylor (Granville) and Kirk Moore (Somonauk) will work together to prepare music downloads and sync equipment for the dance. On Friday, we will do Bowling for Back Bay. A pledge form will be created for event, and put on the ICYI website.
It was mentioned that the 2009 Annual Meeting will be somewhere in the Eastern Conference, possibly in Madison or Tinley Park.
Contracted Staff Person
The funds that provided salary monies for the ICYI contracted staff person are continuing to dwindle. ICYI, in conjunction with the Illinois Conference, needs to to vision for the future of youth ministry in the Conference, and find ways to fund the position in the long term. All present agreed that the position is vital to the continuation of Youth Ministry in Illinois Conference.
Adjourn
The conference call adjourned at 3:20 pm.
Next Meeting—2008 Annual Meeting in Bloomington.
Minutes recorded by: John Kendall and Karen Karczewski.
