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…But What Have You Done Lately?
More Questions and Answers About Our Building Project - December 2001
- You may either read this as a single document or click on
each question to go to each answer:
- The questions:
- Remind me--what exactly did we vote on last spring?
- If the Space Needs committee disbanded after that vote, who has been in charge?
- Did these committees accomplish anything over the summer?
- What progress has been made this fall?
- Have we made any move toward funding this project?
- What happens if we don't raise enough money to fund the renovation?
Remind
me--what exactly did we vote on last spring?
The FRS congregation voted unanimously to approve the following articles:
Article 1. To see if the Parish will proceed with the excavation and renovation in the basement of the Meeting House; installation of interior and exterior fire protection in the Meeting House, and installation of handicapped-accessible restrooms in the Parish Hall. The projected cost of this work is approximately 1 million dollars, to be paid by proceeds from a capital campaign and other sources of financing.
Article 2. To appropriate $75,000 to complete the next stage of planning for the afore- mentioned building project, including final architectural drawings. This money will be taken as a loan from the endowment and repaid from the proceeds of a capital campaign.
Article 3. To see if the Parish will initiate a capital campaign in the fall of 2001.
If the
Space Needs committee disbanded after that vote, who has been
in charge?
Three committee were formed to oversee the work of the project:
- A Project Administration Committee, headed by Peter Erikson and Barry Kray
- A Project Funding Committee, headed by John Mercer and Howard Fairweather
- A Project Communications Committee headed by Nancy Crochiere and Joanne Vose.
The work of these three groups is coordinated by a Steering Committee, which includes the chairs of each committee, Project Treasurer Anne Verret-Speck, and chairperson Bill Heenehan.
Did these
committees accomplish anything over the summer?
Yes, indeed. Our architectural plans, which had originally depicted a complete renovation of both the Parish Hall and the church basement, had to be refined to reflect the new focus on the church basement, with only minor renovation to the Parish Hall (installation of lower-level, handicapped accessible restrooms). The Project Administration Committee worked with architect Andy Sidford to make these changes and produce a new set of sketches. During this process, various individuals within the church (for example, church staff and representatives of the RE program) were asked to review the plans to make sure they met their needs.
What progress
has been made this fall?
The Project Administration Committee obtained a careful cost estimate on the proposed project. Now, some final decisions will have to be made on the plans based on the cost and desirability of the various alternatives.
Speaking
of cost, have we made any move toward funding this project?
Yes. A Capital Campaign Committee--a subset of the Project Funding Committee-- is making plans to launch a capital campaign in the spring, in tandem with our annual canvass.
What happens
if we don't raise enough money to fund the renovation?
We will know the results of this capital campaign by early May. At the FRS annual meeting in late May, the congregation will be asked again to vote on whether or not to move forward, based on the results of the capital campaign and consideration of other sources of funding. If the renovation is to move forward, you will need to show your support by giving generously to the capital campaign.
