Our Campaign Steering Committee met yesterday evening, and continues to welcome new members. We have a lot to do in the next few years, and can use all the help we can get! Our next meeting is on Monday, June 10 at 6 pm. Our discussions will always be summarized for parishioners, and anyone is welcome to take part as a committee member or sit in.

Members (thus far) are: Rob Fath, Toni Lewis, Linda Killian, Mark Trager, Bill Haffner, Nathan Gallup, Gina Taglieri, Pat Wynne, Tom Finlan, Ocean Mills, Omaira Crane, James Fawcett, and Monica Sganga (Mo. Storm ex officio). Thank you to all of them!

Join the project team as we prepare to begin work. We'd love more volunteers for this phase!

The meeting started with introductions, and a reminder from Mo. Storm that, though we'll be making major decisions about our property together--never an easy task--it's essential that this group works together in a spirit of love and understanding. Building community *always comes first.*

It was then clarified that this is an *advisory committee* to the vestry. As the elected body of leaders for the parish, the vestry is tasked with voting on expenditures. The Campaign Steering Committee does the research and leg work that helps the vestry make better decisions. Of course, the parish's wishes expressed in the Focus Groups guide both the Steering Committee and the Vestry, who will stick with the agenda as laid out by the parish. 

Following these introductory remarks/reminders, the following items were discussed. If you'd like more detail about anything, please don't hesitate to respond to this email and we'll direct you to the person who can answer your questions. There are also meeting minutes we can provide; this summary is meant to be briefer and more accessible.

1. HVAC System

Bill Haffner summarized the status of the grant application with Blocpower. In order to move forward, they would like us to do an energy assessment, which includes a thorough analysis of our building's infrastructure and, ultimately, a detailed report on the various energy systems and the expenses, near and long term, associated with them: a conventional gas-powered system like we have now, a geothermal system, and a heat-pump system. They would put together an RFP for us and send it out to bid. The financial outlay of such a study would be $5,000-$10,000 dollars for us (the rest paid for by Blocpower and a diocesan grant), all of which would be reimbursed were we to partner with Blocpower on the project. Several members of the committee have both professional and personal experience with these matters. Linda Killian, Mark Trager, and Bill Haffner were identified by the commitee as the most qualified to continue working with Blocpower. Please request meeting minutes (or a discussion with one of them) for more detail. 

2. Cash flow and possible project timeline

Tom Finlan summarized the finances thus far. To date, we've brought in $475,000. $150,000 of that went towards consultant fees and expenses related to the fundraising portion of the campaign--the kick-off brunch, print materials, graphic designer's fees. Currently we have $327,000 in cash. We should receive an additional $300,00 by December, and by June, another $200,000.

The group discussed a possible timeline for projects, based on cash flow and other logistics--planning, permits, etc. The following was proposed for several of the larger projects: Great Hall Ceiling, fall 2024. Masonry work, spring 2025. Boiler/HVAC, summer 2025. Parking lot, summer 2026. The timeline on this last item may need to change depending on the conditions of the Bedell grant. We will be in touch with them this week. 

3. Some logistics and professional partnerships moving forward

Several members of the committee will begin speaking with the town of Scarsdale about our plans. Additionally, we will work with our landscape architect, Sam Geer, to obtain more granular plans for our parking lot and arrival court. Ultimately a local architect and project manager will be included in the work. The diocese has several recommendations, and members of the committee will soon begin researching which of these might be a good fit for St. James.

The committee will meet again June 10, and every month moving forward. Members within the committee working on certain tasks will meet/talk between meetings as needed.

Irvin and Sandy Atkinson, Joan Ballantyne, Uma and Ajit Banerjee, John Battiloro and Natalie Carey, Ken Bohringer, Lyn Boreland, Susan Bourhill, Peter and Anna Liza Brady/Arguelles, Chris and Kristin Burrows/Kohler, Richard and Pip Cacciato, Melissa Caramanica, Phillina Cartwright, Phyllis and Eddie Chang, Dan and Sarah Cline, Russell and Omaira Crane, Marcus D’Silva. Janet Darlington and Family, The Rev. Eliza Davies. Warren and Lisa Dodge*, Misook Doolittle*, Alice Dunn ,James and Shirley Dugan/Salmeron, Robert Fath and Ruth Boser, James and Katherine Fawcett, Ocean and Tom Finlan*, William and Rebecca Foley, Samuel and Sherin Frank, Barbara Frenkel, Nathan Gallup, John and Tina Gerraughty, Christopher and Rowena Giattino/Chao, Charles Gibson, Russell and Pedro Grant/Ladislau, Tracy and Bill Haffner*, the Hallowell Family*, Dawn Hankin, Mark and Lorraine Hansen, Douglass and Lisa Marie Hatcher, Pam Heldman, Judith Henry, Alice Herman*, Silas and Mary Jean Howland, Tsutomu and Priscilla Ishiguri John and Lynn Johnson, Ray and Tricia Joseph, Christopher and Leah Keeney/Zennario, Rob and Angela Kenney, Linda Killian, Thomas Lacalamita, Jan Lamb, Antoinette Lewis, Geoff and Margy Loftus, Margaret and Raymond Lopez, Patricia Mahon, Phillip Martin, Bryan and Amanda Martoken*, Marc and Tracy McCarthy, John and Liz McNally, Doug and Hadley Miller, Michael and Diana Mitchell, Francia Morhardt-Smith, Maureen Moser, Karen Otten, John and Barbara Palmer, Karl and Barrie Panthen, Karen Preiser. Gretchen Reuter, Rick Reuter, Donna and Raymond Robertson/Chow, Jennifer Sabia, Pam Savarese, Thomas and Natalie Schroeter, Pam Schwer, Miriam and Peter Seeley, Lisa and Bob Selvaggio, Monica Sganga, Cheryl Smith, Peter Smith, Sarah and Roger Storm, Jose and Sarah Tabb/Garza, Gina Taglieri, Brian and Angela Thompson, Mark and Kathy Trager/Formisano, Mark and Janelle Walhout, Donna and Roberto Webster/Hunter, James and Andrea West, Shana Westhoff, Ken and Liz Whitney*, Valerie Wiggan, David and Yan Wiles/Qin, Neil and June Winward, Tom and Lisa Wolfe, Andrew and (the Rev.) Astrid Wood/Storm, Deidre and Patrick Wynne*, Rick and Dorothy Young, Dan and Jane Zimmerman

* denotes memorial level gifts