St. Paul's Annual Meeting - January 22 February 12
A Message from the Rector --
Postponement of Parish Annual Meeting
After consulting with the Wardens, our 90th annual meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 12 in the Undercroft following the 10am service. Our new by-laws, adopted just last year, make provision for the use of absentee ballots. That new process for us requires that a full slate of candidates for election be ready two weeks in advance of the meeting for ballots to be provided. Although our Nominating Committee has been hard at work, the slate for elections is far from complete (see the announcement below concerning the open positions we seek to fill in 2012). Having a full complement of lay leadership is critical to our parish’s emerging vitality. It is far more important for us to come together at our annual meeting to elect a solid, new leadership group than to simply meet for the sake of meeting in January.
Absentee ballots will be available through the Parish Office beginning January 29 for those who wish to vote but are unable to attend the February 12 meeting. You may pick them up in person or request that one be sent to your household in the mail by contacting the office at 973-285-0884, Monday-Thursday from 10 am – 4pm. Absentee ballots must be received at the Parish Office no later than 5 pm on Sunday, February 5 for the vote to be valid in the upcoming annual meeting election. A list of eligible voters has been posted on the Vestry bulletin board outside the Lounge. Any discrepancies in the official list of eligible voters should be brought to the attention of the Rector for resolution prior to January 29.
Both services will be held on February 12, Church School classes will meet as usual, and child care will be provided for both the later service and duration of the meeting. All are encouraged to attend to take part in the elections and learn more about our deficit operating budget and some of the challenges we face in 2012.
Vestry Nominations are being sought by the Nominating Committee for the upcoming Parish Annual Meeting elections. One warden and five Vestry slots (3 Class of 2015 and 2 Class of 2014) need to be filled, as well as election for one-year terms to represent the parish at the 2013 Diocesan Convention and as District 3 reps. Speak with the chair of the Committee, Jeanette DiGiacomo, if you’d like to learn more on how you might serve the congregation as part of its lay leadership.
Visit from Bishop Beckwith - January 29
The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, will visit St. Paul's on Sunday, January 29. He will join us as celebrant and preacher at a single worship service at 10 am, preceded by a forum in the Lounge at 9:00 a.m. Plan on coming earlier for this special time with the bishop. Church School classes will be held as usual on that day, and all are encouraged to attend.