2014
2014 Fall
The LWMS Board of Directors (BD), Central Office (CO) Administrator Beth Taticek, and CO Assistant Vicki Behringer met November 1-4, 2014 at Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City, South Dakota.
The BD also met with Convention Planner Kathy Kolander and the Black Hills Circuit Convention Committees at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota.
Pastor Paul Lindhorst led the BD in a devotional study entitled: “Terms of the Bible.” The group closely examined the following Biblical terms: Christ, Means of Grace, and Faith.
LWMS membership stands at 879 congregations and five individual members.
An LWMS Facebook contest will be held to select members to receive 2014 convention T-shirts.
CO Administrator Beth Taticek will investigate computer cloud vendor pricing for safe storage of CO files and the sharing of internal BD documents.
CO Administrator Beth Taticek created new personalized e-mail addresses for CO Assistant Lois Miller and CO Assistant Vicki Behringer.
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee News
The SG-MAC selected the new kids c.a.r.e. project as Project #WM-2014-12: Central Africa Medical Mission: Malawi–Orphan/Infant Care.
The SG-MAC reported that new BAM assignments will not be made after May 1 of an even numbered year in order to eliminate the need to “carry-over” assignments.
BD Decisions
- The BD voted to approve the sale of extra storage space on the convention rental truck.
- The BD plans to host a Saturday convention luncheon for circuit officers and reporters and will order ribbons for the name badges for both groups.
- The BD approved Linda Klein’s application to serve as the LWMS historian.
- The BD approved sending LWMS President Jeanne Martin as a representative to the Christian Leadership Conference in January.
2014 Summer
The LWMS Board of Directors (BD), Central Office (CO) Administrator Beth Taticek, CO Assistant Vicki Behringer, and CO Assistant Lois Miller met August 10-13, 2014 at the LWMS Central Office in West Allis, Wisconsin.
The BD also met with the WELS Missions Office Administrators and WELS Foundation Representatives at the WELS Office in Waukesha, Wisconsin on August 11.
Pastor Lindhorst led the BD in a devotional series based on the 2014 LWMS convention theme: You Will Be My Witnesses (Acts 1:8).
LWMS membership stands at 878 congregations and five individual members.
An LWMS Facebook contest will be held to select members to receive 2014 convention T-shirts.
Updates have been completed on the LWMS Resource Catalog and Circuit Handbook.
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee News
The Nomination Committee is assembling a slate of candidates for the board positions of President-elect, Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinator, Treasurer, and Pastoral Advisor.
Quilt Coordinator Bambi Tuttle is seeking four to five contact women throughout the US to store quilts until needed. She also has an interest in creating quiet bags for kids in church.
BD Decisions
- The BD moved to authorize the closing of the LWMS Thrivent account in order to place the funds within an unrestricted WELS Investment fund instead.
- The BD voted to approve the continuation of the circuit visits with a new direction in 2015.
- The BD would like the Bylaws Committee to investigate moving the membership dues date from April 1 to January 1 for a number of added benefits.
- The BD will ask the Bylaws Committee to investigate the changing of the bylaws in order to have the ballots mailed to CO rather than the secretary for a number of added benefits.
- The BD selected the 2015 convention speakers, workshop presenters, and worship leaders.
2014 Convention
The LWMS Board of Directors (BD), Central Office (CO) Administrator Beth Taticek, and CO Assistant Vicki Behringer met June 24-26, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dallas, Texas.
Pastor Lindhorst led the BD in a Bible study based on specific Biblical terms.
LWMS membership stands at 879 congregations and five individual members.
Five circuit visits remain for the BD to complete this fall.
Secretary Sims shared the results of the online survey of member pastors and circuit presidents with the BD.
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee News
The Nomination Committee reports the following board positions will be on the 2015 ballots: Pastoral Advisor, President-Elect, Spiritual Growth—Mission Awareness Coordinator, and Treasurer.
LWMS Awareness Committee (LAC) plans to create a Web site for the Recharge, Reach Out, Rejoice membership campaign offering Bible studies and monthly devotional material.
LAC Member Elisabeth Wagner has been communicating with a newly formed Social Media Group designed to reach out to the tech savvy women of the WELS.
Bylaws Committee Member Devon Coles’ term will end June 30, 2015. A replacement for Devon is needed.
Quilt Coordinator Bambi Tuttle will be working with Vice-President Dessecker to rejuvenate the Hands to Care project.
Historian Kathryn Banbury’s two terms of office have come to an end. A replacement for Kathryn is needed.
BD Decisions
- The BD voted to retain the LWMS Awareness Committee as an ad hoc committee for another three years.
2014 Spring
The LWMS Board of Directors (BD), Central Office (CO) Administrator Beth Taticek, and CO Assistant Vicki Behringer met April 2-4, 2014 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin.
Pastor Paul Lindhorst began with prayer. Later, Bible study tips were shared. The meeting ended with a discussion based on the handout Christian Questions for Introspection and Discussion.
LWMS membership stands at 872 congregations and four individual members.
The BD hosted a dinner for the graduating class of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and their guests at Galiotos restaurant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The students also enjoyed rotating LWMS presentations, participating in a Jeopardy game, and winning random door prizes.
The BD did not seek funding from Thrivent for this year’s convention tote bags.
Melinda Sims will share the online membership survey results at the convention business meeting.
The BD has begun the discussion of making LAC a permanent committee rather than an ad hoc one.
Karen Fischer will update the convention evaluation forms and include the URL of the online version.
The BD discussed the idea of having a stronger presence at the women’s spiritual retreats.
Additional edits have been made to the 50th anniversary booklet by former and current board presidents.
The BD finalized the 2014 convention schedule.
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee News
LAC plans to kick off the Recharge, Reach Out, Rejoice! (RRR) campaign with a two minute video at convention.
The BD approved the creation of a booklet of six Bible studies and 36 month devotions sent to LWMS members for the next three years as part of the RRR campaign.
LAC has asked seven women to serve on their new Social Media Committee for a year.
In cooperation with Missions Office, SG-MAC has updated the convention flag narration.
CC is working on the conflicting number system of the convention binder and the worship folder.
2014 Winter
The LWMS Board of Directors (BD), Central Office (CO) Administrator Beth Taticek, and CO Assistant Vicki Behringer met January 19-22, 2014 at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota.
Pastor Brady Coleman challenged the BD members to a Christmas story quiz. Later, a devotion based on the theme of Training in Righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16) was shared. The meeting ended with a Biblical question, answer, and application session.
LWMS membership stands at 869 congregations and four individual members.
The BD reaffirmed that the special shipping offer on the 2014 calendars served as a way to reduce a larger than normal inventory.
Karen Fischer reported six circuit visits are scheduled for this spring and only three unvisited circuits remain.
The BD is accepting applications from those circuits interested in hosting the 2017 convention.
The BD hosted a dinner for Martin Luther College seniors and their guests at the New Ulm Community Center. The 84 students also enjoyed rotating through LWMS poster presentations, participating in a Jeopardy game, and winning random door prizes.
The BD finalized the 2014 convention schedule.
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee News
The BD approved SG-MAC’s two home and two world mission project recommendations for 2015.
The Nomination Committee received BD approval to invite Bambi Tuttle to serve as the next quilt coordinator.
BD Decisions
- The BD approved the spending of up to $515 on a DVD duplicating machine for Central Office needs.
- The BD voted to remove the minimum charge of $5.00 in shipping fees from the Resource Catalog. Shipping invoices will be mailed instead.
- The BD approved the Membership Committee’s creation and distribution of an online survey for member pastors and circuit board presidents.
- The BD approved the slate of candidates presented by the Nominations Committee for the 2014 ballot.
- The BD approved the purchase of an additional flag for the flag presentation.
- The BD approved continuing the circuit visits after the first round of visits are completed.