Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 33
During the Fall of 2024, a joint team from Trustees and
Foundation along with church staff underwent an RFP process
and selected the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
to assist with hosting and managing our Foundation, Designated
Funds, and Church Operating accounts. Additionally, the
Community Foundation provides additional services around
planned giving, estate planning, along with non-cash gifts - all
of which are important for the capital campaign in the upcoming
months as well as sustaining our annual operating budget.
As part of Plymouth’s periodic policy review process, the Board
reviewed, updated, and approved several policies under the
purview of Board of Trustees including:
• Plymouth Fundraising Policy
• Honorariums included in the Plymouth Funeral Guidelines.
• Venue and fees for members and non-members included in
the Plymouth Wedding Policy.
• Plymouth Expense Reimbursement Policy
• Plymouth Art Acceptance Policy
Building & Grounds (B&G), which is a committee of the Board
of Trustees, has continued working extensively again this past
year in evaluating and recommending options for repairs to our
damaged roof from the August 2020 and July 2021 significant
weather events. More urgently, the Trustees supporting the B&G
recommendation to address repair needs on the “flat roof” over
the Burling and Greenwood rooms. The B&G leadership of Galen
Howsare and Bill Wedeking, along with a newly formed Roof
Project team have provided invaluable guidance and significant
time investment working with our selected architectural firm
(OPN) and construction management firm (Neumann) to lay out
a multi-phase plan to address the needed repairs.
The Capital Campaign is now underway to facilitate the needed
investment for addressing the full scope of the roof and masonry
repairs, along with updates to the Organ, and enhancements to
the kitchen.
Another related development to our building and property
protection surfaced late in 2024 when the Insurance Board
coverage changed, as most of our own personal home insurance
also did, to have a higher wind and hail deductible. The Insurance
Board is a pooled property insurance coverage which serves many
churches around the US. The coverage was reviewed in November
and December by Building and Grounds leaders, and several
church members who are in the property insurance industry, and
the consensus was that this coverage is still the best for Plymouth.
This adjustment in coverage and higher deductible exposure
presents an important planning need to set aside a reserve for the
future should Plymouth property be affected by adverse weather,
which seems to be happening with increasing frequency.
Collectively, these deferred maintenance factors and newer
insurance realities create a timely need for longer term financial
planning and establishing needed reserves, while working in
close collaboration with the Plymouth Foundation.
As an update on the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) which
was submitted on behalf of Plymouth Church in early 2024. This
ERC program was part of the federal Covid pandemic relief funds
for employee retention. While still hopeful, this ERC recovery is
likely less optimistic to receive this amount from the pandemic
relief program, given the recent government pause on several
programs, but we continue to work with our auditing and CPA
firm, Denman and Associates, to track whether this could still be
received in 2025 or 2026.
We continued to add board members to fill open positions
which have surfaced for various reasons. For 2025-2026, we are
planning to add (3) members for full 4-year terms, (1) member
for a 2-year open term, and (1) member for a 1-year term, to
return the Board to full capacity.
On behalf of the Trustees, we would like to express our
great appreciation to the extended service of Dick Swanson,
Linda Sullivan and Irene Hardisty. Dick has provided many
contributions in his service as Trustee, Plymouth Foundation
liaison, our cash management policy, and helped with the first
Financial Sustainability task force. Linda has provided valuable
input into our policy reviews and served on the Plymouth Audit
committee. And finally, Irene has very ably served Trustees as our
Secretary this past year. Thank you to all!
The Board of Trustees will continue to focus on narrowing
the deficit and addressing the mid and longer term financial
sustainability to ensure a solid foundation for Plymouth Church’s
next 100 years.
Board Members:
2024-2025
2025-2026
2026-2027
2027-2028
Wade Dewald
Chuck Smith
Jim Green
Sally Pederson
Linda Sullivan
Tim
McCullough
Richard Jones
Jay Eaton
Richard
Swanson
vacant
vacant
Jack C. Porter
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