Members present were: Rev. Keith Benjamin, Rev. Wesley Kemp, George Bell, Janice Ramsay, Kathryn Kramer, Dominick DePolo and Linda Ross O'Neill.

Members excused: Charles Lemmond, Mary Jane Forlin, and William Ashton

Also present were: Nancy Kemp and Kathy Bell. Nancy Kemp took minutes of the meeting in the absence of Bill Ashton.

The meeting opened with a prayer by Rev. Keith Benjamin.

The minutes of the meeting of November 20, 2001 were approved as presented.

George Bell called for election of officers and nominated Dominick DePolo to be President of the Board of Trustees. Dominick declined and suggested that the Trustees keep the same officers for at least another year. Discussion followed. Motion was made by Dominick to keep the Trustee Officers the same for one more year. Kathryn Kramer seconded the motion - and motion carried unanimously.

George Bell also stated that our funds from Prudential are down to approximately $335,000.00 and that we can't be losing that much money every month. Brief discussion followed.

George Bell asked for a review of the rental funds. Our tenants seem very happy to be renting from us and are paying their rent on time every month. Everything seems to be okay.

Keith Benjamin stated that we are hoping to receive more funds in the Sunday morning offering plate. Attendance is up and giving is up. We realize that our church is growing slowly again and it takes time to grow.

George Bell mentioned the possibility of a church merger again as he did at the last Trustees Meeting. He asked if anyone had spoken to other churches about that possibility. No one had. A brief discussion followed. A problem in effecting such a merger, is the decision in which church facility will be used.

Keith Benjamin stated that we are seeing new people in the congregation and if we can have 4 or 5 new members, we could hopefully see an increase in church attendance.

It is new members, he said, who will bring in more new members. Keith Benjamin also stated a goal in having an attendance of 100 by Easter Sunday. Average attendance has increased and is approximately 50 people per week. This is a church where everyone knows everybody. We need to have programs to bring in new people.

Wes Kemp stated that at the Baptism last week (12/30/01), one of the women who stood up with the mother and children asked if the church had handicapped access. She is interested in having her mother, who is in a wheelchair, return to church on a regular basis. She signed the attendance register and Wes wrote her a letter welcoming her to our church and will follow-up with a visit to her home in the near future. Further discussion followed.

Discussion took place regarding a railing being installed in the sanctuary by the stairs leading to the altar. Gary had been approached, but Janice stated that Ron Huntsinger may be interested in doing this for us. He is a contractor. Janice will follow-up and ask Ron if he would be interested in installing a railing.

Keith stated that he and Linda Ross O'Neill are scheduled to have a meeting at 3:30 PM today (01/03/02) with Attorney William Keller to discuss the organ problems that the church is having. Discussion took place as to the status of the organ fund. The fund had been $17,000.00 and it is now $11,000.00. Janice asked about paying the bills out of the Merrill-Lynch Fund. She stated that we just paid our $4,169.00 apportionment bill out of the $5,500.00 payment from Prudential today. Further discussion followed.

Keith stated that our strategy is to pay our bills out of the Prudential monthly payment and the offerings we receive every month and not touch any other funds.

Janice stated that so far the 2002 pledges we received total approximately $20,000 for the year. Discussion followed.

There being no further business, meeting was adjourned at 1:35 PM.

Note: Prior to the meeting, a delectable, scrumptious, appetizing and downright good lunch was provided by Kathy and George Bell. We all extend our thanks.

The Board of Trustees met for a luncheon meeting at 12 noon in the Kresge Lounge of First Church. Kathy Bell prepared a very nice sandwich lunch, which was appreciated by all.

Members present were: George Bell, Chairman, Rev. Keith Benjamin, Rev. Wesley Kemp, Dominick DePolo, Kathryn Kramer, Linda Ross O'Neill, Mary Lou Zerfoss and Janice Ramsay.

Members excused: Charles Lemmond, Mary Jane Forlin and William Ashton.

Also present were: Nancy Kemp and Kathy Bell. Nancy Kemp took minutes of the meeting in the absence of Bill Ashton.

The meeting opened with a prayer by Rev. Wesley Kemp.

The minutes of the January 3, 2002 meeting were approved as presented.

Keith Benjamin gave a brief report on the status of the organ. Working with Tony Angeli the large pipes that have been out of the front of the organ were returned to their proper places for Easter Sunday. Keith is hoping to obtain a temporary console so that the functioning parts of the organ can be used while we continue to locate parts and begin to rebuild the gutted section. It was stated that Tony Angeli feels he will be able to figure out how to install the various parts on his own, once they have been returned but Mr. Feldhouse has offered to assist if needed. Keith will go to NJ to pick the parts up.

Dominick asked about the Carpenter fund. How much is in the fund and whether they can be used? The answer is they can be used for concerts, in our sanctuary, that are always to be free to the public. There have not been any concerts at First Church for a long time. There will be a concert this Saturday evening but it will not be using Carpenter Funds. There will be $5 donation taken at the door to cover costs. Janice was asked to find out what the balance is of the Carpenter Fund so we can begin the concerts starting December 31.

George Bell read Edwin Westfield's Last will and Testament which names First United Methodist Church as the primary recipiant of $25,000.00 There has been no designation as to where these funds will be placed. Further discussion followed.

George Bell stated that the endowment fund has the following balances.

George Bell stated that these balances seem to be dwindling too fast. Keith reported that $28,000 was expended in the first quarter alone

Keith asked for some historical background on the roof. Some shingles have come off and there is a leak. The Trustees and Keith will have a meeting with Rick Williams, who had been hired to supervise the replacement of the roof almost ten years ago. It seems that it was not installed properly. Mr. Williams is willing to meet with them in an effort to rectify the improper installation of the roofing tiles.

Keith stated that he plans to begin using visual aids in Worship Services starting in the fall, provided we have the money for it. Discussion followed. "It can be expensive," he said. He also wants to develop a strong Public Relations Campaign.

Rev. Kemp gave a report on his visit to Edith Beckendorf who is 104 years old and gave us a donation of $500 for the organ fund. She asked if we needed any more money for the fund. Discussion followed.

There being no further business, meeting was adjourned.

The Board of Trustees met on August 1, 2002 at 12:00 noon in the Kresge Lounge of the church.

Members present: Rev. Keith Benjamin, Rev. Wesley Kemp, George Bell, Kathryn Kramer, Janice Ramsay, Mary Lou Zearfbss, and Dominick DePolo.

Members excused: Linda Ross, Mary Jane Forlin, and Bill Ashton

The meeting opened with a prayer by Rev. Benjamin.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as presented

In the absence of a representative from Prudential Securities, Mr. Bell informed the Board that our endowment funds total $240,000 with Prudential and $62,000 with Merrill Lynch.

With regard to the organ restoration problem, Rev. Benjamin reported that the console could be taken to Tennessee. Instead of costing us $90,000, it would be $40,000 plus transportation. A full sound drive would also be put in. A motion was made by Mary Lou Zearfoss and seconded by Dominick DePolo that we should go ahead with this plan.

For the past school year extending from September to May, we have leased space upstairs in our Sunday school room to the Wyoming Valley Children's Association for the sum of $475. Per month. The lease is running smoothly and school will pick up again in September of 2002. If electricity n'ses, prices are negotiable.

Rev. Benjamin's plan to advertise the Church on both the radio and in the newspapers will take effect in September. The cable advertisements will go from Mountaintop to Kingston.

The First United Church of Jesus Christ located in Kingston will be rented our church starting in September. $400. Per week plus maintenance is what we are asking. They will also cover the heating bill if is rises.

Rev. Benjamin will contact Rick Williams about the church roof It was replaced in "89, but needs repaired again. Rev. Benjamin also pointed out that the window sills need- fixing and has offered to do the work.

Wilkes University has a charity group that is willing to come and wire brush and paint the overhang. The fires escapes will also be redone. Wilkes insurance will cover all liability.

A Wisconsin youth group consisting of 100- 1 50 young people are looking into coming for a week next summer. Two representatives will come on August 16 to look over the city.

The meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM