2008 Journal Cover Pages.pub - Wisconsin Conference United ...

2008 Wisconsin Conference JournalThe vacant land in the Town of Ledgeview, Brown County that was originally purchasedfor a new church development, remains unsold. Contingencies related to land use thatcame along with the winter ’08-’09 offer to purchase that property could not be fulfilled.Episcopal ResidenceThe Episcopal Residence Committee monitors the condition of our bishop’s residence,works with its occupants to correct building problems, and keeps the Trustees informed ofneeds and actions taken.Meeting LocationsThe Trustees held meetings at both Lake Lucerne and Pine Lake over the past year. Thesemeetings allowed the Trustees to remain familiar with these conference-owned properties.Other Trustees meetings are held at the United Methodist Center.Conference-wide InsuranceA Safety Group has been developed with Church Mutual Insurance Company, carrier forour conference-wide property and liability insurance program. The effort will promoterisk management and loss control actions at the local churches and conference properties/programs covered by the insurance policy. Similar efforts with other groups insuredby Church Mutual have resulted in more favorable loss ratios, with a dividend rebatesubsequently realized.InvestmentsThe Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation holds two investments for the Trustees.The Parsonage Fund came from the sale of conference staff and district superintendentparsonages. Earnings from the fund help cover the costs of the annual housing allowancesfor the district superintendents and conference staff.The invested bequest from Eva and Alice Stearns in the name of their father, WilliamStearns, is to provide loans to United Methodist students attending the University ofWisconsin.BequestsFour bequests have been received in the past year. The Conference Board of GlobalMinistries provided recommendations for appropriate use of all the bequestsA $500 bequest from the estate of Rev. John Arnold Weaver was forwarded to Paul Webster’sagricultural Advance project in Africa, in compliance with the wishes of Rev. Weaver.Dr. Richard Neumann made a $300 gift in memory of Dorothy Ann Urban, designated forthe United Methodist Children’s Services food pantry.The Estate of Iris J. Killam provided $9,113.78 to be used for Benevolent Programs.The Family of Helen Dawson Ficks, spouse of Rev. Cecil V. Dawson, provided a $500bequest to be used for missions. .Steve Zekoff, presidentReports of Boards and Agencies223