Regional Meeting
Parish Life Conference
Laconia, New Hampshire
Friday, June 23, 2006
OPENING PRAYER -
The meeting was opened at 10:46 with the Antiochian Women’s Prayer led by Fr. Ed Hughes, and Marilyn Robbat leading us in the Troparion of the Dormition.
ROLL CALL –
Executive Board Present :
President- Priscilla Goss, VicePresident- Marilyn Kurban, Treasurer- Carol Swydan, Secretary- Pam Samara, Coordinators: Membership- Marilyn Robbat, Humanitarian- Gladys Laham, Cultural- Nora Walker, Religious- Kh. Louise Ferguson
Executive Board Absent:
Website Coordinator Melissa Nassiff
Parishes:
St. Mary Cambridge – 2 St. George Norwood – 1 St. Michael Cape Cod – 0
St. John Dedham – 1 St. George Boston– 4 All Saints Mission S Weymouth – 1
St. George Lawrence – 1 St. George Worcester -3 St. Elias Mission Fall River - 0
St. George Lowell – 0 St. Mary Pawtucket – 3
SECRETARY’S REPORT - Pam Samara
Minutes of the meeting on April 8 at St. George Worcester were read and with one correction, were accepted by Dolores Elias and seconded by Joyce Hanna. Minutes will now be available by email to anyone who requests them. Print copies will still be given at the meetings.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Carol Swydan
Our bank balance is $5917.20. Investments are two CD’s with a total of $3091.51. After a short discussion, a motion to accept the report was made by Cindy Hayes and seconded by Norma Samra.
COORDINATORS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
VICE PRESIDENT - PROJECT – Marilyn Kurban
Our total collected this year for the Retired Clergy Fund was $14,508.25.
CULTURAL COORDINATOR – Nora Walker
Nora presented a summary of this year’s reports on Orthodoxy. She also showed a booklet she wrote on Antiochian Orthodoxy. The booklet had some mistakes, so will be reprinted and will be available later. It is costing $375 to print the booklets, and after a discussion, a motion was made by Chris Bezreh, and seconded by Valerie Irving: “We will compensate the Cultural Coordinator $375 for printing the book ‘The Antiochian Orthodox Way’”. The motion passed unanimously.
HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR – Gladys Laham
Gladys thanked all of us for the donation of over 20 cartons of gifts to the Jimmy Fund.
RELIGIOUS COORDINATOR – Kh. Louise Ferguson
Kh. Louise has taken over this position, and thanks go to Natasha Smith for coordinating this past year’s retreat.
MEMBERSHIP – Marilyn Robbat
Marilyn gave us “A New Look at Martha and Mary.” She handed out a Membership Handbook, to be given to each Club President. This book was started at the request of Margaret Wilhem for All Saints Mission, and was written with the help of Marilyn Robbat, Joyce Hanna, Priscilla Goss, Violet Robbat and Joanne Bitar, NAB Membership Chairperson.
SPRIRITUAL ADVISOR’S MESSAGE – V. Rev. Fr. Edward Hughes
In place of Fr. Ed’s message, we were visited by Bishop ALEXANDER who spoke to us about the importance of the women in the church. He also talked about “The DaVinci Code”, how to bring younger women into the Antiochian Women, how to keep children excited abut church with all the negatives they face in society, and reminded us to keep doing religious and humanitarian projects along with our social and fundraising programs.
WEBSITE – Melissa Nassiff http://www.antiochian.org/neraocwna
Our new Coordinator is Melissa Nassiff from St. Mary Cambridge. Her handout was on updated information about our website.
PUBLIC RELATIONS –
A coordinator is needed for one year. Anyone interested, please contact Priscilla.
OLD BUSINESS –
Mid-Summer Meeting: July 21-23 Six delegates are needed. Priscilla Goss, Marilyn Robbat, Violet Robbat, and Joyce Hanna will be attending. Anyone else wishing to go, please contact Priscilla.
Diakonia: Priscilla reminded us that officers, coordinators, and our Spiritual Advisor need to submit a photograph and short biograhy, for the September Diakonia.
NEW BUSINESS –
Thanks: We received a thank you note from the Jimmy Fund for our donations. We also got a thank you card from the family of Olga Taksery.
CD: Our CD’s are due in July. The first one is for our child, and cannot be changed, but more cash can be added to the second one. A motion was made by Joyce Hanna, seconded by Valerie Irving: “We will increase the $2000 CD to $3000.” Unanimously passed.
Festival: All Saints Mission in S.Weymouth is sponsoring a Summer Festival on July 22. This will include a Bake Sale, BBQ, Yard Sale, Children’s Activities and Can/Bottle Drive. All are welcome.
Meetings: Our next meeting is September 30 in Lawrence. January 20 we will meet at St. John’s Dedham. April Meeting TBA.
A MOTION TO ADJOURN was made at 12:16 . Fr. Ed led us in a prayer, and then we all enjoyed a delicious Fellowship Luncheon.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pam Samara
Secretary
