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Meeting Minutes: November 21, 2019

Open meeting was held at:

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
101 E 38th Street, Tacoma, WA 98404
6:30 – 8:00 PM

An agenda was provided. Two board members and 35 others were present.

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm.

Opening Prayer 

  • We prayed and reflected about the opening of the church on November 21, 1921. Ninety eight years ago, there were 40 priests, the Knights of Columbus, full choir and 1,500 people in attendance.

 Update on Archdiocese Moves – Letter Campaign

  • The AD has asked for more time to consider the appeal.
  • Our first goal is to save the church, as a Catholic church, by taking over the maintenance and upkeep. Our second goal is to save the church as a historical building.
  • We want a meeting with the AD. We have asked and received no response.
  • ACTION ITEM: Please send a letter to the AD. A sample letter was distributed. Respectfully tell him who you are, why you care and why the church is important to you. We want to flood his inbox with our concerns. Send letters as often as you can.
  • There is nothing to report from the Parish Council meeting.

Recap of Events:

  • Spaghetti Dinner:
    • Over $7,000.00 was raised!
    • This was our most successful fund raiser so far.
    • We want to do this more often in the future. Perhaps once a month.
    • Christ Episcopal Church was pleased with how well we cleaned the area after the event and has invited us to use their facility in the future.
  • First Two Movies:
    • We are raising approximately $500.00 per movie.

Financial Report:

  • We have raised $400,000.00 in pledges and cash, $37,000.00 in cash donations.

Happenings Outside of Events:

  • We now have liability insurance!
  • Letters to other churches: We would like to start a project to reach as many churches (any denomination) and senior centers in the area as we can. STLC will pay for all postage and costs associated with the project. There is a sample letter available asking for support and a small donation. A spreadsheet will be available to track those contacted. If you are interested please contact STLC.

Upcoming Events

  • Historic Tacoma Annual Meeting and Social: 11/22/19 at the Pythian Temple Ballroom from 6 to 8 pm. All donations will go to STLC. Suggested donation $8.00.
  • Last Movie: The Bells of St. Mary’s is about a group of nuns who are trying to save a school. The Farmer’s Market will be open and Santa will be there to take pictures with. This is a fantastic movie! Please bring your friends and family for a wonderful time.
  • First Sunday in Advent Mass 12/01/19: Please come to the noon Mass at Holy Rosary School to show our solidarity. It is The Sunday of Hope. There is an elevator to get to the auditorium.

Large Event Discussion

  • Auction: Procurement, Volunteers, Ticket Sales:
    • We want to secure more auction items. Please send or deliver procurement forms to interested individuals. We have a crucifix from WWII, Bethlehem Church has donated a ventrolla and someone donated a car! There are blankets and baskets!
    • You can reserve a table for 8 for $360.00. Individual tickets are $50.00.
    • The event will be catered. Menu will be Mexican (and vegetarian).
    • Cash bar will be available with 2 free drinks included in the ticket price. There will be a STLC signature cocktail!
    • There will be a silent auction.
    • 1920 attire is optional.
    • Someone contacted and recruited several alumni members from Holy Rosary School.
    • FYI: There is a prominent local attorney who supports us and will be at the auction.
    • The event is planned for January 18, 2020 at Bellarmine, MLK weekend, starting at 5:30 pm.
    • There will be committee meeting, here at 7 pm this coming Monday. Volunteers are needed.
  • Music Festival Update
    • The biggest challenge is finding a reasonably priced venue. Holy Rosary would be the perfect spot but we are absolutely not allowed to meet there! We’re considering the Dunes Peninsula at Point Ruston. This facility can handle up to 3,500 people. The cost would be $10,000.00 for the event and $2,500.00 for next day cleanup and 10% of the ticket sales. Other options are Cheney Stadium, the Tacoma Dome and the Lemay Museum.
    • A draft of the sponsorship letter will be available at our next meeting.

New Events

  • Food Truck Event at Sprinker: Date to be determined. We would get a percentage of the sales. Cost would be $2,000.00. We would need volunteers.
  • More Dinners: For February 2020, we could do a Mardi Gras theme and serve red beans and rice. A BBQ was suggested!
  • Round Table Pizza Event: Location (26th and Pearl). On December 17 from 4 to 8 pm, if we could get 5 to 8 volunteers to wipe off the tables, they will donate a percentage of their sales for the day.
  • Bethlehem Lutheran Church is having a bazaar on December 7th. We could rent a table and sell STLC items (t shirts, sweat shirts, yard signs, etc.) and have other information available.

Marketing

  • Auction Procurement Forms, Brochures, Pledge Forms, Letter to AB Etienne, Save the Date Fliers, T Shirts, NEW Sweatshirts and FREE (one time only!) yard signs were available at the meeting.

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Contact us anytime at: SaveTacomasLandmarkChurch@gmail.com, or by mail at: STLC 2602 S 38th Street, Suite A126, Tacoma, WA 98409

Our IRS Nonprofit #82-2375235

Next meeting is to be determined at a later date.