June 22, 1999

Present: Executive Council and the Board of Directors: Dennis Konkel, president, Richard Norton, president-elect, Alice L. Hagemeyer, secretary, Karen Beiter, treasurer, Rev. Don Leder, pastoral advisor, Rev. Rodney R. Rynearson, representative from the Board of Mission of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Carol Ann Pickell, president of Central Region, Carol Seeger, president of Dixie Region, Diane Munoz, president of Eastern Region, Allen Rich, vice president of Great Lakes Region, Glenda Haefner, vice president of Midwest Region, Gary Andersen, president of Northwest Region; and Charles J. Kotal, president of Pacific Region.
Invited guests: James Debee, video producer from Pittsburgh and Linda Derosier, ILDA video narrator. Winona Alter, David Brown, Jeraldine Chapman, Larry Ginter, Larry Gorton, Mark and Linda Johnson, Pam Kane, Mae Madding, Ron Madding, Don Mowl, Mary Tingler.
Visitors: Susan Konkel and Lee Ann Kotal. Also some members of the 1999 ILDA Convention committee.

Rev. Don Leber used different parts of the church year for worship, devotions and hymns throughout the Executive Council and the Board of Directors meetings. He began with Advent at the Executive Council meeting that afternoon followed by Maundy Thursday and the Lord's Prayer at the opening of the board meeting.

President Dennis Konkel called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
He warmly welcomed everyone to the 15th biennial ILDA Board meeting. Carol Seeger, president of Dixie Region had a commitment and would not be able attend the meeting until tomorrow.

1. The minutes of the last meeting of the board on May 22-23, 1998 held in St.Louis were read and approved.

2. Communications: Secretary Alice Hagemeyer:
Her past ILDA's business letters, minutes, reports, etc. from the last few years are to be sent to Historian Mae Madding for history preservation at Concordia Historical Institute (CHI).

3. Treasurer's Report: Karen Beiter gave the balance for each three accounts: (1) ILDA -
$9, 249.11 (dues, donations, and God's 1000 dues). (2) Misc - $17,854.46 (convocation, DIT, LCEF, Endowment, Video, Jr. ILDA, interests, and savings); (3) Mission - $39,047.30 Total Balance is $66,150.87. 393 members in ILDA and 116 members in God;s 1000 club.

4. Auditor's Report: John Beiter and JoAnna Rushton audited but Karen will rearrange her report to separate ILDA Mission from ILDA regular budget.

5. President's Report: Dennis Konkel gave the credit to e-mail and FAX for his effective communication with the board and other people the past two years. He thanked many people for their selfless contribution to the ILDA, especially David Brown, Deaf Lutheran Editor and Larry Ginter, Business Manager. He also acknowledged Ron Madding and his committee for updating the ILDA handbook and also Sandi Green, R.R. Rynearson's secretary, for preparing and printing it. He thanked the two churches for accepting to be hosts for 2001 and 2003. He was concerned about God's 1000 club's slow growth. In all, he felt that the future ILDA Publicity video, Deaf Institute of Theology, and ILDA Endowment Fund will help ILDA grow.
Dennis has served ILDA since 1989 when he was first elected to serve on the Board. Now he looks forward to becoming a pastor of a deaf church or whatever.

6. Pastoral advisor's Report: the Rev. Don Leber has served four years. He suggested that his successor to continue his work in writing articles for the front cover of Deaf Lutheran.

7. LCMS - Board of Mission: The Rev. Rodney R. Rynearson announced there are 20 retired preachers, 6 part time preachers. Three full-time personnel have health problems. 6 absent preachers. Nine states have no preacher. He will officially retire on May 31, 2000 after serving 43 continuous years in ministry with Deaf persons. He felt that the Convocation 2 was very successful. There would be no Ephphatha conference in 2000 so he suggested that we raised money for sending three preachers from other countries to Houston to meet in February 2000 (for nine days, Saturday to Sunday) 80 to 90 people would be invited to develop a mission for reaching out to new deaf leaders. 89 percentage deaf people do not go to church or are unchurched.
VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE BOARD: $15,000 for including "Deaf Mission Planters Institute" in the 1999-2001 Mission Project

8. Deaf Institute of Theology: RRR reported that DIT brochures are already distributed. Many have signed up. The group has worked on videos for training leaders
VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE BOARD. ILDA to be one of the three sponsors of DIT.
Break James DeBee arrived and was introduced to the board. He was a guest of ILDA Publicity Video Project for completing the taping of Linda Desrosier as a narrator as well as taping ILDA board in action.

9. 2nd Convocation on Deaf Ministry: Richard Norton reported of its big success. Asked to pick up a report, Visions Beyond 2000. Ten thousand dollars left.
VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE BOARD. 10,000 dollars be set aside for the 3rd Convocation

10. ILDA Host Guidelines Ron Madding
Handbook now with larger printing than the previous one. Easy to read now. Has logo on the cover and will send a copy to each deaf church encouraging them to be a host in the future.

11. Deaf Lutheran Editor: David Brown
He used his new personal Macintosh computers to change the DL format. Now published four times a year instead of six and this time 12 pages instead of 8. Would like to purchase two new equipment (iMacs) and software and will seek financial help and grants. Will work to get new subscribers.

12. Deaf Lutheran Business Manager: Larry Ginter
Now has 800 paid subscribers. Already sent final notice to 85 unpaid subscribers. Has PO permit # 1471. Balance on hand as of May 31, 1999 is $2,650.65. Audited by Richard Tingler and Robert Leland. The board suggested him to include in DL a church directory.

13. Nominating Committee: Larry Gorton
So far four names have been nominated for the ILDA offices but one declined. James Swalley accepted his President-Elect nomination, Karen Beiter is interested in seeking a second elected term; and Pastor Mark Anderson accepted his Pastoral Advisor nomination. Larry hopes additional names will be nominated at the convention.

Adjourned at 9:45 pm.

 

June 23, 1999

Meeting resumed at 8:30 am

14. Right Hand Award: Don Mowl
Don Mowl has received 8 names recommended for receiving the honor and the board voted by secret ballot. (On Saturday we learned Archie Marshall got the most vote)

15. Law Committee: Richard Norton
He said not much change but there are some problems with using words. Under Section B on page 29, AMember@ should take place of Acandidate.@ For scholarship, we are to use the words Aprospective students who will be studying for the deaf ministry of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and will serve deaf people upon completion of their studies at LCMS college of seminary.@ No mention of endowment in the handbook. The date AJune 1999" should be added to the handbook. No mention of limited term for secretary and treasurer in the handbook.
Also for line 4 of page 16, add another name who will have the authority to sign and deposit.
VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE BOARD We hold our decision on renting the mail list until the next board meeting.

16. ILDA Historian: Mae Madding
Will show pictures of ILDA missions at the convention. She and Ron plan to stop at Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) near St. Louis on way home to drop off most ILDA's historical things. Asked the board to please read rules regarding historical materials. Do not send them directly to CHI but to her.

17. Necrology Committee: Mae Madding
She asked to let her know of deceased ILDA members, pastors, and friends of ILDA. A suggestion from the board that the church takes the responsibility to let DL editor know of any passing members.

18. Scholarship Committee: Charles Kotal
So far seven students: Dennis Konkel, Bill Wrede, David Neilson, James Drummond, James Martin and Albert Oren and Tom Goetting have received scholarship. Two students have left with no promise to complete study so Kotal will ask them to return the money. President Dennis left the room for Richard Norton, president-elect to run the meeting.
VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE BOARD: $750 dollars to be sent to each of the following four candidates: Dennis Konkel, Bill Wrede, Albert Oren, and Paul Kinner.

19. Mission Project Update: Pam Kane
As of this date, $36,003.76 has earned but need about $14,000.00 to reach the goal for 1997-1999 by this Saturday. She did a lot of publicity about the project in DL. No camp in Ohio the last two years. Already received letters from people with suggestions for 1999-2001 mission project.
VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE BOARD. $55,000 for 1999-2001: Breakdown by priorities:

Deaf Mission Planters Institute $15,000
Macau (Volunteers) $ 2,000
Ghana $ 2,000
DIT and Zacharias $16,000
Pax Natura Ranch (Canada) $ 1,000
Camps for the Deaf
Nebraska $ 3,000
California $ 3,000
Ohio $ 3,000
Starfish $ 6,000
Computer (Deaf Lutheran) $ 4,000

20* Endowment Fund: Karen Beiter and Richard Norton
APPROVED BY THE BOARD to form a task force on endowment fund.

21. God's 1000 Club: Mary Tingler
She had reminded readers in DL to pay dues. She has arranged to have a luncheon on Saturday for members. She suggested that the next chair of this committee be someone from the host church.

22. ILDA Publicity Video Project: Alice L. Hagemeyer
Grant of $6,500 from Mill Neck Foundation will help produce a 5- minute video. James DeBee (from Pittsburgh) is our video producer. Hopes to finish by September 30, 1999. He will give ten minutes extra to the tape without additional charge to us. . Linda Desrosiers is to be a narrator for the tape. ILDA paid for her transportation to Cleveland but other expenses (lodging, meals) will be paid by the grant. She will let DL readers know when it is ready for free distribution to Lutheran churches that have deaf members.

23. REGIONS
Central by Carol Pickell, president. Had a successful conference in Perioa, IL last May 1998 with 75 people in attendance. This region has 12 churches but most members are not active. Nevertheless, some churches had sponsored successful fund raising events.
Dixie by Carol Seeger, president. Had a successful conference in Moscow, Tennessee last Fall 1998 with 50+ people in attendance. Will have a new logo. This region has six churches. One has no preacher (Dallas).
Eastern by Diane Munoz, president. This region has six churches. Although four churches are without preacher, their members find many ways to worship together. Some attend hearing church that has interpreting services.
Great Lakes by Allen Rich, vice-president. Apology for no written report. Detroit had a successful regional conference last year with 65 people in attendance. Several deaf churches are concerned that their District promote deaf people to mainstream church services.
Midwest by Glenda Haefner, vice president. Calvary Lutheran Church in Des Moines hosted a successful conference last June 4-6, 1999 with 43 members in attendance. Several churches are without preacher. Will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2001.
Northwest by Gary Andersen, president. Had a successful conference last year in Edmonton, AB. Now works to have one church host next year.
Pacific by Charles Kotal, president. Communication used to be great between the Northern California churches and Southern California churches but now no longer. More deaf Lutheran members now live in Arizona but so far no luck in finding a pastor as missionary at large to serve them.

24. Finance Committee: Karen Beiter
The proposed budget for 1999-2001: $19,300 for expected income and expenses.

25. 1999 ILDA Convention: Pam Kane
Close to 300 people are expected to show up. She outlined the agenda for Friday and Saturday.

26. 2001 ILDA Convention: Winona Alter
Peace Lutheran Church for the Deaf will host the 16th biennial ILDA convention on June 21-24, 2001 at the Marriott Inn East Hotel on the east side of Indianapolis. The guest room will be charged at the group rate of $99 plus taxes - guaranteed! She and Alan Rork will be co-chairs. First fund raising for the convention was at the church - Easter Breakfast and earned approx. 450 dollars which the Lutheran Brotherhood will match.

BREAK at 5:05 pm

Meeting resumed at 7 pm

27. 2003 ILDA Convention: Mark and Linda Johnson
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the Deaf will have a 100 year celebration in the year of 2001 for the church's existence. Will host the 17th biennial ILDA convention in 2003 but most of plans are still in a tentative stage. Co-chairs, Mark and Linda Johnson hope to find a convenient place and a reasonable price for everyone in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area.

28. 1997 ILDA Convention Report: Jeraldine Chapman for Sharon Schwarz
The account was closed on May 14, 1998. The 14th Biennial Convention, hosted by Holy Cross Lutheran Church for the Deaf, was a huge success. 433 people registered. Revenues: $78,081.47. Expenses: $75, 620.19. Balance paid to ILDA for ILDA Jr ($1,500) and to 1999 ILDA Convention Host Christ Lutheran Church, Cleveland ($961.28). Note: The check for $2,992.09 was paid on November 20, 1997. Adam's Mark Hotel to pay the balance but they never cashed the check.

29. ILDA unfinished business:
None

30. ILDA new business:

a. Diane Munoz moved that the next convocation be held in 2002. Carried
b. David Brown moved to update, print and distribute a brochure about ILDA. Carried.
c. Karen Beiter moved to combine the two funds of 1st and 2nd Convocation and put in LCEF for the next convocation. Carried
d. Richard Norton moved to raise the 2-year ILDA membership dues from $10 to $20 per person.. Carried
This will begin in September 2000. Will ask for vote by the membership on Saturday.
e. Alice Hagemeyer moved to establish a task force to locate a public library in the Chicago area to include a collection on ASL videos in honor of Edward Pahl. Carried
f. Karen Beiter moved that ILDA pay $5 per meal or up to $15 dollars per day for each board member. Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Alice L. Hagemeyer, Secretary