Personnel

Personnel Committee News

What Rich Does Besides Preaching on Sunday
(excerpts from Rich's "Pastor's Message" sections of the October and November "Parish Papers")

At the suggestion of the Personnel Committee, I would like to take you through the various ministries in which I participate. First and foremost, my primary obligation is to the church itself, the members and friends who choose to be a part of this wonderful body of Christ. As Pastor, friend, confidante, teacher, Elder, counselor and administrator, my duties include but are not limited to: preaching, visiting shut-ins, emergency visits to home and hospital, comforting the bereaved, advising when needed various committees, leading worship, singing in the choir, overseeing a dedicated staff, occasionally nipping at the heels of the faithful (I am more sheepdog than shepherd!), moderating the Session, leading workshops/retreats, leading seminars and Bible studies, visiting Head Start program, and essentially keeping a pulse on the heartbeat of all that happens here at First Church.

As Ministers of Word and Sacrament, ordained clergy do not belong to a particular church, but are members of the Presbytery, the governing body responsible for the well being of all the churches within its boundaries. Therefore, as a member of the Presbytery, I have been and currently am involved as a member of the Presbytery Council, the decision-making group that coordinates, reviews, initiates, and carries out the many functions of the Presbytery. It is very much like the Session of a particular church. I also have served and currently serve on an administrative commission that is overseeing the dissolution of a particular church. In the past, I have served on the Board of Trustees as member and chair. As a part of the Council, I serve as a liaison to the Synod of the Northeast’s efforts to brainstorm ways to coordinate and consolidate resources for five different presbyteries. In the past, I was Convener of the Fab-5, a group of five presbyteries geographically connected who pool resources to help the various missions within the Synod of the Northeast. All this is volunteer work.

I consider ministry to not be an isolated venture, directed solely to the particular church, but throughout the community. As such, I serve on a number of community boards and organizations, including: Sandstone Housing (Mayfield) as its president, Community Development Program (the parent organization of which Head Start is a part) on the Executive Council and the Head Start Policy Council; CPH Spiritual Care Committee and Volunteer Chaplain; Ministerial Association of Potsdam (have served as past president); with the exception of Hospital Chaplaincy, most of these responsibilities require at least monthly meetings. During the spring semester, I will have weekly hours at SUNY Potsdam’s student union at the Chaplain’s office while the Chaplain is on sabbatical.

During the year, Laurena and I invite the college students to dinner, both congregations to our annual picnic, sharing hospitality and tractor wagon rides, youth groups for pumpkin carving and other outings. We share our produce from the garden with mission market and others. Our lives are full; blessings abound with our little farm and the knowledge that our church families are supportive. While it is often difficult to find time for study leave, we have experienced wonderful excursions over the past five years, reaping the wisdom of some very fine speakers. So, that is a short picture of the different parts of ministry in which I am engaged. Beginning in October, my office hours will be 9:30-1:30 Monday through Thursday. Fridays are our Sabbath day. Feel free to stop in and chat.

- from the October "Parish Paper"

Last month, I shared a number of activities in which I am involved, some within the life of the church, others as a volunteer in the community and beyond. A kind soul reminded me that I didn’t mention working with the youth group. Certainly that was an oversight, but as it is only natural that I consider the youth as a part of my family, often I take that interaction as not work or even volunteering! This past Sunday Laurena and I welcomed the youth of both our congregations to our little farm to have a pumpkin carving afternoon that included eating pizza (some of which went to every home afterwards), visiting the sheep (I’m certain that one young lady is a budding Dr. Doolittle!), exploring the tree house and braving the wildrev’s hayride up Cook Road and back. Needless to say, those who were present had a great time and we witnessed some awesome creativity gracing the pumpkins. Some youth carved a pumpkin for the very first time, but you could never have guessed. Even one of the adults whose gray hair exposed her seven decades admitted that it was her first pumpkin carving adventure!

- from the November "Parish Paper"

New Secretary / Office Manager Begins Work

With the approval of the report from the Personnel Committee, the Session has welcomed Cynthia (Cindy) S. Bowen as our new secretary/office manager. Cindy comes with a wealth of experience in communications, customer service and computers. She has over 20 years of office experience including working for the Social Services office in Canton and owning and operating her own custom video business. With a degree in anthropology and post-graduate studies in social work, Cindy also has musical talent as an organist and flutist. She started her work on August 3.  Please welcome her warmly! 

Pastor Availability

In a continuing effort to facilitate communication among all of the members of the congregation and the staff, we are reminding folks of the various contact opportunities available. Pastor Rich is in his office to meet drop-in visitors from 9:30am - 1:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and he encourages folks to stop by for a chat. He further invites folks to make appointments with him, especially those people for whom the drop-in times are not convenient. If you wish to contact Pastor Rich by phone, you may call the church office at 265-9434, and if he is not available, you will receive instructions regarding a phone number where he can be reached. If you have an emergency need to call Pastor Rich and you cannot reach him at the office, call him at home, phone 268-1562; if he is not at home, the call and/or message will be forwarded to his cell phone which he always has with him. To communicate with Pastor Rich by email, use this address:

dwill1@twcny.rr.com.

There have been many expressions of appreciation for the pastoral care which Pastor Rich provides for this congregation; it is his sincere desire to continue this quality of care, even though it sometimes takes him away from the office. We must all work together to keep the lines of communication open and clear.

During the less-harried time of summer, do stop by for a visit during Pastor Rich's drop-in visitor hours!

2009 Personnel Committee Report

A big change in staff took place at the Presbyterian Church when Tammy Liscum resigned as secretary/office manager. She had served well and given much of herself to the church for several years, and everyone was sorry to see her go. The committee conducted a somewhat lengthy search for her replacement and was pleased when Cindy Bowen accepted the position. She has made the transition appear easy, although we're all aware that it has been a challenge. She is in the office from Monday thru Friday, 1:00PM to 5:00PM. There have been no other changes in staff. Laura Toland continues as music director and Ron Kaiser as part time sexton.

Because of the financial condition of the church no end of year bonuses were given, and there will be no raises in pay for the pastor or the staff in 2010. Ron Kaiser requested that 5 hours per week be added to his schedule in order for him to accomplish all of his regular duties along with many extra tasks. That request was granted by the Session.

Due to responses from the congregation to the Pastor Evaluation form changes were made in the Rev. Will's weekly schedule. He is now in his office on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, as well as any other time when his duties don't take him elsewhere. Friday is his day off. The committee also requested that he attend as many church functions and activities as possible. Several other suggestions coming from the evaluation form have been addressed as well.

Many thanks go to Pastor Rich and the staff for their willingness to do so much to keep things running smoothly at Potsdam First Presbyterian Church!

Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Reutershan, and the committee: Peggy Burlingame, A. George Davis, Mary Ellen Frackenpohl, and Ruth Kreuzer