RENEW Capital Campaign Schedule - Spring 2016

Excitement is building for renovations to our facility. Below is a quick summary of key events and activities for the Renew campaign to support these renovations. Every household in the congregation will be involved in this campaign, either by participating on one of the teams or by receiving a home visit.

Preparation and Planning - Underway

Many teams are gathering for planning related to home visits, the all-congregation dinner and children's party, prayer vigil, Bible studies and publicity.

Campaign Launch - Sunday, April 3

A team of 75 begins brief visits to all households in the congregation sharing information about the campaign and asking for prayer.

Teams Prepare - Month of April

Information and prayer visits continue. Planning and preparation for other teams continues.

Sunday Talks during worship - April and May

All Congregation "Renew" Dinners

Friday, April 29 @ 6pm

Sunday, May 1 @ 5pm

Congregation will receive invitations to dinner. Your kids will enjoy the children's party.

Prayer Vigil - May 14 @ 8pm to May 15 @ 8pm

Sign up for a time slot online

Response Visits - May 15

A team of 75 visits all households in the congregation presenting the campaign project and providing households the opportunity to make a response toward our mission over a 3 year period.

Campaign Results Announced - June 5

BUILDING RENOVATION TEAM REPORT (Early 2015 Update)

The Building Renovation Task Force, a team of six people, is currently working to prepare a renovation proposal to be brought before the congregation. It reflects the priorities identified in the fall 2014 Feasibility Study.

This Update (as follows) was printed in the Jan. 25, 2015 Annual Report:

This report gives a history and outline of the building renovation process with recommendations from the 2014 Feasibility Study from Gronlund Sayther Brunkow (GSB), our development consultants. 

PROCESS: The intent has been a process that is intentional, inclusive, comprehensive, long-term, mission/vision-focused, preparing CLC for a vibrant next 150 years. TEAMS: Various teams have been (or will be) formed to accomplish the steps in the process. Those teams, as recommended by Gronlund Sayther Brunkow (GSB) include:

1. Capital Campaign Resolution Team (2011-2012) – Determine if building renovation is necessary and desired.

2. Building Renovation & Ministry Development Team (2012-2014) – Representatives of ministries and staff gather congregational needs, desires and trends resulting in the first draft of a long-term master site plan. 

3. Building Renovation Team (2013-2014) –A small group from the larger team refines the outcomes of the Master Site Plan draft into a Phase One plan. Focus Groups and Feasibility Study gathers responses to it.

4. Building Renovation Task Force (2015) – A team of six people assess the recommendations in GSB’s 2014 Feasibility Study and bring an updated Renovation Plan forward for congregational consideration in the fall of 2015.

5. (Recommended) Capital Campaign Team (2015) – Once a building plan is approved by the congregation, this team would raise the necessary funds.

6. (Recommended) Building Team (2016) – Individuals with construction experience oversee the plans and the day-to-day work being done.

HISTORY OF PROCESS 2009

In February 2009, the mortgage is burned

2011 Discussions within the congregation about the facility situation and needs.

2012 A January resolution at the annual meeting creates a team to explore facility needs. That fall, the CAT (Church Assessment Tool) Survey reveals that “in comparison to other churches” one goal that is “unusually strong for your church” is: “Enlarge or improve the physical facilities of the church to expand or enhance our ministries.” Team reports at 2013 Annual Meeting with recommendation. 

2013 At the January Annual Meeting, a resolution is passed to establish a Capital Campaign Team and to hire GSB to lead a comprehensive planning process. That May, a space assessment is conducted to review options for enhancing the building. The assessment is done by Paul Briggs with conclusions presented to members of the Property Team, Church Council and the congregation through open houses. That June, a Strategic Planning Process produces vision, mission, values, and initiatives. That August, the Memorial Fund prepares methods and materials to promote giving to the Memorial Fund resulting in the proposal of a group called The Sowers. That September, Open Houses are held for congregation members to review and participate in the strategic planning. That fall, the Annual stewardship appeal program, Find Life 2014, begins to gather increased offerings to support the on-going ministry of the congregation. In October, Station 19 (architectural firm) is engaged to assist in ministry/facility planning. Station 19 meets with staff and leaders (council and volunteers) regarding trends, needs and dreams. The BRT identifies priorities which lead to Station 19 preparing first draft of Master Plan for the entire campus. In November, Open Houses are held for congregation members to review initial draft of concepts/plan and to share their ideas and opinions. Council and staff receive the first draft of a long-term “big picture” presentation by Station 19. In December, the Building Renovation Team works with Station 19 to further refine the Master Plan draft. 

2014 The January Annual Meeting receives report, update and next steps from BRT. The draft of a Long-Term Master Site Plan is presented to the meeting as part of the on-going planning process. A motion was passed to engage GSB in preparing and carrying out the Focus Groups and Feasibility Study. During late winter/spring, Focus Groups were held regarding the first draft of a Master Site Plan for people to ask questions, offer suggestions and comments to shape/improve it. During the summer, Building Renovation Team reviews feedback to the first draft of the master site plan and shapes that into a Phase One Proposal for the congregation. During the fall, copies of the Phase One plan are mailed to congregation members along with survey responses. A Feasibility Study was conducted to determine a capital campaign dollar goal, prioritize projects from the Phase One Plan to be included in the campaign and identify potential leaders, workers and donors to the campaign. The GSB recommendations and report are presented to the church council. Those recommendations are: 

Feasibility Study Recommendations* 

On the basis of the findings of the study, GSB recommends: 

• That the congregation revisit the proposed building plan to address these areas as first priority concerns:  

• Maintenance: Foundation, roof, HVAC, carpet, organ, etc.
  
• Gathering place
  
• Kitchen, Elevator & Storage
  
• Contemporary Worship Space
  
• Children & Youth space

• People’s vision be lifted up beyond the style and location of worship services. 

• That, once the planning revisions have been completed and the plan approved, the congregation proceeds with a capital campaign goal of $1.5 million to meet these immediate and imminent needs of the facility: o Urgent and essential building maintenance o Kitchen improvements o Elevator o Reduce cost of enhancement of lower level children’s facilities o Position for future contemporary worship space

• To proceed with a $1.5 million capital campaign as outlined above, we suggest a time-line as follows: 

November 2014 – March 2015: Plan determined, costs ascertained, goal set

March –April 2015: presented to congregation for campaign authorization

April –July 2015: Campaign planning, leadership recruitment

August –December 2015: Building campaign & annual stewardship campaign conducted. 

* Complete 28 page report available to CLC members upon request

A resolution regarding this recommendation is on the agenda of the annual meeting. (added: Resolution passed Jan. 25, 2015) 

CONCLUSION Following the recommendation of the GSB Feasibility Study is not the obligation of CLC. The Feasibility Study’s purpose is to communicate to the congregation a third party’s observation and interpretation of where energy and enthusiasm of the congregation resides concerning the “Phase One” proposal that was under consideration during the fall of 2014. 

The purpose of a Feasibility Study is also to give an informed assessment of money that could be raised toward the accomplishment of some or all of the proposal. The results are listed above in the Feasibility Study Recommendation. 

The advantage of doing a Feasibility Study is receiving the informed objective opinion of an outside organization that handles such projects on a regular basis. The results of GSB’s work is based on the surveys returned, the 42 individual feasibility interviews that were done with potential donors and the input gathered from the Focus Groups. The Feasibility Study confirms the results of the CAT Survey that enthusiasm within the congregation for work on our facility is high. 

Question marks that remain for the congregation are what efforts to focus on within the dollar amount GSB says that the congregation could raise (1.5 million) in a capital campaign. 

What is missing from this report are the specific questions and answers that were discussed during the GSB presentation to the Cambridge Lutheran Church Council during the late fall of 2014. Among those questions was this: “What about the project items that are not listed in your recommendation such as the overhaul of the Sanctuary?” GSB’s answer: Some of the issues raised about the Sanctuary might be accomplished (organ, carpet, sound) through the maintenance aspect of the project. GSB suggested that after the initial projects in their recommendation were completed, the congregation should consider moving into a second phase of the project to complete or revisit items not yet accomplished. In other words, doing the entire project as proposed to the congregation in “one piece” is not their recommendation. Their recommendation would be to do the “Phase One” proposal (originally 2.9 million) in two parts rather than as one project. 

The Task Force proposed by the GSB recommendation would answer the question of what projects to include in the first phase of building renovation and at what cost. This Feasibility Study is intended to be a helpful guide as to the opinion of the congregation. 

The Task Force proposal would be brought to the congregation in Spring, 2015. Bringing a proposal to a congregational vote would be the next step in a process began in 2011 (as outlined above). This previous year, 2014, began with the presentation of a Long-Term (30 year) Master Site Plan. That was revised over the summer and followed by a “Phase One” proposal which was assessed by the congregation during the fall of 2014. That assessment, found in the results of the Feasibility Study, is intended to help inform what project is brought to the congregation for a vote should the task force and their assignment be approved by the congregation at the January 25, 2015 Annual Meeting. (Added: Task Force recommendation approved Jan. 25, 2015 as proposed) 

Submitted by Pastor Andy Romstad, Leon Carson (Chair) and Arne Everson