The Finance Board has continued to meet regularly throughout the year despite the pandemic. We met virtually by Zoom until June and then at the church. It was vital that the Board keep track of the church finances as the financial operation of the church continues in several categories even during a pandemic.

At every meeting we review several things:

• Budget versus Actual – we check out how we are doing percentage wise relative to our budget. We look for categories that are off base If we are 50% through the year are we at 50% on each item. This year has run very smoothly in that regard.
• Income versus expenses – We always are looking to see if there are any unanticipated discrepancies between income and expenses.
• This past year there have been three ongoing projects that we reviewed each meeting. Throughout the year we considered the costs and from which funds we would draw the money. In April we met with the Trustees to determine which funds we could support from the endowment, the Firm Foundation, and our budget. Decisions made:
  • Stained glass windows will be funded from a gift made to the endowment fund from the Gates family
  • Painting of the church will be covered from the Firm Foundation Fund
  • Sign in front of the church from the budget. However our sign builder, Bill Doenges from Mt. Alice Millworks in Moretown donated his time and material.

Throughout the year there are a variety of items that the Finance Board must cover pandemic or not. For instance some discussions around expenses that arose:

• Staffing – not the hiring but the impact on our finances. When the decision was made to hire a new custodian the Finance Board considered the salary and hours and the expense that would entail. Similarly the Board made some adjustments when we needed to hire a new administrator. A change in hours resulted in a change in that expense.
• The question of events and the possibility of running vents in a continuing pandemic. Lew Petit ran successful tag sale raising over $2000 but we did not have any other events.
• Questions about our printer and leasing versus buying, property insurance going up (Cathy Shires did an analysis of our current policy and the Board continues discussions about that issue), running the pledge campaign and, of course, preparing a budget for the coming year.

Diane Leavitt manages our books, bill paying, reports, and financial information for the Board. Cindy Senning backs Diane up and does the reconciling with her each month, and the others contribute in different ways on different issues. It’s a hard working Board.

Finally – our thanks to all for their financial support of the church. None of the work done by this Board could be successful without the generosity of everyone.

Respectfully submitted: Diane Leavitt, Cindy Senning, Charlie Grenier, Alex Tuscany, Cathy Shires