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

2008 Wisconsin Conference Journalallowance of 12,000 pounds, might still have unexpected packing and loading costs. Inorder to provide further incentive for reducing the weight of household goods, the MovingDirector obtained permission of the Cabinet to reinstitute the rule permitting their unusedweight allowance pounds to be converted into “dollar credits” at the current charge-backrate ONLY for the specific purpose of offsetting movers’ packing & loading costs movesduring 2007 & 2008. [NOTE: This option and a few other usages previously printed in ourrules, seem to have been deleted during an editorial effort to reduce printing costs about10 years ago. JEM] There is no circumstance that allows it as cash payment to a pastor.Although un-announced, this was applied to all 2007 moves and reduced the charges tothree pastors by a total of almost $470. Although it appears that Graebel Movers willprovide early notice of packing and loading estimates, this “dollar credit” conversion ofunused weight is being announced to pastors moving in 2008 in hopes that it will encouragelighter loads. Nevertheless, any remaining charge-back for excess weight and/or excesspacking cost is billed to the person moved.The following data show the number of moves and the total charge-back billings greaterthan $10 for each of the past five years.Net charge-backYear Number Total Billings2003 23 $20,473.732004 20 $10,993.502005 9 $ 4,930.662006 13 $ 8,367.242007 23 $23,970.517. Administrative Cost. Pre-paid telephone cards are now used to assure a very lowlong distance cost. The great majority of communication with pastors, parish trustees, theCabinet, and moving companies is done by email via the Internet. First class postage isused to mail invoices, reimbursement vouchers, the Moving Director’s Evaluation survey,and occasional letters and documents. Expenses (for telephone cards, postage, printercartridges, envelopes & paper, and travel to CF&A) submitted in 2007 by the MovingDirector were $36.61. The remaining pre-paid telephone cards, postage, and stationeryon hand have not been tallied were given to the new Moving Director. During 2007 theChippewa-Heartland Regional office provided additional support in the form of occasionalFAX service, legal size paper, and photocopying.Highlights and AccomplishmentsTransition Workshop: The 2007 Transition Workshop, led by Rev. Dr. Mark Fowler,Director of Field Education at GETS, was held at Portage UMC. This daylong workshopis sponsored and arranged by the Cabinet for all pastors & spouses moving to a new parishappointment and for the Chair of the receiving SPRC. It covers personal, family, andprofessional concerns that arise when leaving one parish and entering another. The MovingDirector is on hand to meet the folks who are moving and answer their questions. Onceagain, representatives from Graebel Moving & Storage in Wausau attended. The time ofone or two experienced drivers is donated to provide advice, answer questions on moving,and demonstrate ways to pack various household items. They also bring packing suppliesthat pastors may charge to their move account and take with them. At our January 2008254 Reports of Boards and Agencies