Roof Renovation Campaign

FUNDRAISING

Yoga, Prayer of Heart and Body Fundraiser

A yoga class entitled Yoga, Prayer of Heart and Body was offered by Elder Terry de la Vega (certified Kripalu Yoga instructor) at Potsdam First Presbyterian Church. This six week class was held in June - July, 2009 and also in July-August, 2010. In Yoga, Prayer of Heart and Body participants explored the possibilities of yoga and meditation as Christian spiritual practice. The word yoga means union, union of body, mind, and spirit. For many Christians, their yoga and meditation practice can be a simple and concrete way to enter into a direct relationship, or union, with God. Doing yoga and meditation in this class offered individuals a connection with others who are on the same path.

The suggested donation for this class was $60. All donations were given to the Potsdam Presbyterian Church Roof Restoration Fund.

NEWS FLASH: At the outset of the roof campaign on May 1, 2009, Rev. Dr. Rich Will vowed NOT to shave until we pledge at least $100,000 to the roof campaign! How scruffy did get? NOT VERY - as of 6/3/09 more than $100,000 had been raised! OFF CAME THE SCRUFFY BEARD!

(click on the photo for a larger close-up view of "SCRUFFY WILD REV!")

Kick-Off Dinner
3rd Century Roof Renovation Capital Campaign - May 1, 2009

(click on the photo to view some pictures)

Roof Renovation News

$127,623 pledged as of August 27, 2010

Planning continues for the $200,000 Capital Campaign to raise funds to permanently repair the roof of the main church building. Checks for this campaign are welcome anytime and may be made out to First Presbyterian Church with "Roof Renovation Campaign" written on the memo line. IMPORTANT: If you are using the pledge card that was mailed out, please write your name on it before returning it.

say "good-bye" to the old roof

August 2010 Roof Renovation Campaign Report

Statewide Roofing did their usual efficient and effective job this summer. They replaced the ice/water barrier, copper flashing, and slate around the remaining dormers. They also caulked and painted around the stained glass of the dormers. The leak into the Head Start offices seems to have been finally halted due to Ron's help and years of investigation finally paying off! Ron also pointed out a place where the wooden cornice was coming loose on the fascia area of the front entrance to the church. They tried to fasten it with some success. At their request Ron will obtain some more of the moulding for next year to do a more secure repair. These repairs this summer cost us $61,845.00. This was the third year of our five year plan.

$33,000.00 was what we had available from paid pledges for the Roof Restoration project. $14,422.50 came from Second Century funds and $14,422.50 came from our money market funds at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. After careful discussion the Session has signed the contract for next summer's work. This will be for replacing ice/water barrier, copper flashing, and slate around the two small towers of the chapel, right side rear of the steeple, and four valleys in the chapel area.

We will need to pay Statewide Roofing $57.380.00 at the time they do the summer 2011 work.

With any long term project a reminder of the history may be helpful for new folks. In October 2008 we engaged Statewide Roofing out of Port Byron, NY to effect emergency repairs to the leaky roof to the tune of $15,000.00 A subsequent agreement to do a long term series of summer repairs that totalled $220,000.00 was approved.The $15,000.00 was a separate repair. Twice since October 2008 they have been kind enough to come back in the winter and do small emergency repairs after wind storms; charging only a very small amount.

Each year the list of repairs is planned and agreed to a year in advance. Gordy Theisen and Ron Kaiser have also been directly involved in planning. Rob Ewy has been kept appraised at all times. The roof repairs are necessary before deciding how to proceed with the interior wall and ceiling repairs. Statewide Roofing has been very professional and helpful; always going beyond what they have contracted to do they see something or are asked.

Update on Summer 2009 Roof Renovations

This summer's roof repairs were done in June, according to Statewide Roofing. A $19,000.00 deposit was sent out ahead of time. Don Dennis came to town to meet with buildings and grounds folks and arrange for the dumpster.

2009 Roof Renovation Campain Report

Can you spot the roofers working in the picture on the right?
Would you like to have that job? (June, 2009)

This past June, Statewide Roofing of Port Byron, NY completed the first of three phases of roof repairs on Sanctuary roof. This work consisted of three parts:

1) Three rows of slate on each side of ridge on the sanctuary and old ridge caps were removed, and new ice and water-barrier underlayment were installed. Three rows of slate were reslated back in on each side of ridge and a new 99 foot 16oz copper ridge was installed.
2) The entrance to Head Start was also patched and coated with black back fibered roof coating.
3) Reworked cornice (saw shape, paint, and attach) to keep birds out of a tower; patched a small stained glass window with copper also to keep birds out.

The total work cost for Summer 2009 was paid.

The work for the coming two years:

Reinstall slate that was incorrectly installed; Remove all slate, valleys and ridge caps on dormers; Install ice and water-barrier underlayment, new 16oz copper valleys and ridge caps and reslate back in.
This summer (2010) calls for replacement paper, copper flashing, and slate around the dormers and the two small towers. At present, dates for the work have not been finalized.

At the end of 2009, the Total Pledged = $112,214.00. And the Total Paid in 2009 = $44,894.75

Respectfully submitted,
Robert Ewy, Chair of Buildings and Grounds

Visitors Expected! view map First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, New York