Present: Paula Comper, Nicole Havelka, John Kendall, Karen Karczewski, Joey Feldmann, Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman,Catherine Erwin, Jonathan Knight
Prior to the ICYI meeting, Joey, Karen, Nicole, John, and Paula met with the Illinois Conference Annual Meeting Planning Committee to discuss the youth involvement in worship services at the 2007 Annual Meeting in June. Paula, John and Karen spoke in favor of having a worship service which is planned and carried out by youth. The AMPC continued to meet, and later, Rev. Rita Root advised ICYI that AMPC had agreed to have youth plan and lead the Sunday morning worship. In addition, the AMPC will recommend to each Association that a youth representative be appointed to the AMPC.
The ICYI meeting convened at 1:15 pm in the Upper Conference Center at Pilgrim Park.
Ken Medema Concert-- will be held in Kankakee on Sunday, March 18, 2007. Cost per person will be $10. Paula has fliers to promote the concert -she will distribute them during the MidWinter retreat.
Annual Meeting and General Synod Funding: Joey mentioned that it will cost around $528 for Synod, plus around $150 for the Annual Meeting. Karen mentioned that we have begun an ICYI scholarship fund, but the fund is not big enough yet to support large numbers of youth scholarships. Jane commented that she hopes very much that as many youth as possible will attend the Illinois Conference Annual Meeting. Paula stated that her goal is to have 50 youth from around the Conference at the Annual Meeting. Jane mentioned the Strengthen the Church funds, and the LEEAP grants that are being made available. Paula distributed information on the grants. Applications are due March 1, 2007. ICYI will ask for $2,000 from the Local Evangelism, Envisioning and Planning Committee to be used to fund youth scholarships to the Conference Annual Meeting or General Synod. (Karen will complete the LEEAP grant request.) Jane asked who will administer the scholarship funds if ICYI receives them. Paula suggested that a small committee be formed to distribute scholarships.
ICYI hopes to have a response from LEEAP by the time of the ICYI meeting on March 17, 2007, so a committee can be formed, and the scholarship availability can be advertised. If we receive a LEEAP grant, Paula will discuss how to administer the fund with Bill Serritella, Conference Business Manager.
Joey mentioned that the last day for hotel reservations for Synod is March 14, 2007. Online registrations are due on February 14, 2007. Jonathan Knight presented the Synod information packets, which he will distribute to all youth and leaders during the MidWinter Retreat. Youth registration, housing and transportation is $528. Adult prices are $578. The General Synod trip is available to high school youth. Jonathan emailed the ICYI mailing list with the information, and Paula will put the information on the Conference web site. Kirk Moore will be asked to put the Synod information on the ICYI website. Paula will make sure information on GS for youth is included in the "On Our Way" mailing, and in the UC News.
Annual Meeting: Jane reviewed the planned events for the meeting. Youth will have a Water Park event on Saturday night. Youth will join the Friday Night Conference Social Activity—a sock hop for the 50th anniversary of the UCC. Jane suggested that we talk to Keith Scott as soon as possible about securing a room for youth activities and workshops. Karen will contact Keith. There was discussion about having an orientation prior to the start of the Annual Meeting, but last year’s orientation was not well attended, so the group agreed not to repeat the event. There was discussion about youth having a box lunch on Saturday, which they could take to the designated youth room, and have discussions surrounding the Conference Restructuring proposal. Jonathan reminded everyone that he is attending his daughter’s graduation that weekend, and will be at the meeting only at specific times. Karen and Paula will work with Keith to plan the youth events and workshops. Nicole offered to present a workshop on working with troubled youth. Nicole will be put in touch with Pat Morton, who is responsible for coordinating workshops at the Conference Annual Meeting.
All agreed that we should host another summer event (possibly the Westchester pool party) and another Fall event (possibly the Boggio’s Pumpkin Patch event). More planning for these two events will be done at the March 17, 2007 meeting.
There was discussion about possible ICYI fundraising events. Paula will talk with "Lost and Found" to see if they would be available for a fundraising concert.
The group agreed to schedule a MidWinter Retreat 2008 at Pilgrim Park, looking at the weekend before Martin Luther King Sunday.
The meeting adjourned at 2:35 pm.
Minutes recorded by: John Kendall and Karen Karczewski.
