Quarterly Assembly Meeting – 02/23/13

Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 27th. That day is the Brotherhood of St. Andrew National Day of Service. The Diocese of Dallas Brotherhood Assembly will be doing a one day service project at Camp All Saints from 9:00AM-5:00PM. There will be all kinds of projects for all skill levels from clean-up, paint-up and fix-up.

This project was inspired by a double dose of outstanding presentations at the Brotherhood of St. Andrew quarterly meeting, Saturday, February 23rd at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Farmers Branch. Members heard from Dave and Jeri Campbell, directors of Camp All Saints, and National Brotherhood of St. Andrew President, Bob Dennis.

Dave Campbell led off his presentation with a plea to all members to prayerfully support the ministries of Camp All Saints and to encourage the youth of their churches to attend summer camp. He also asked that chapters share their talent recourses with labor of love work weekends at the camp.

Camp All Saints has an impressive list of projects and ministries that they hope will get the time, talent and treasure support of all members of the diocese. Most prominently le mentioned the pending sailing program. Their goal is $35,000 for Sunfish Sailboats. He said that people can support that ministry with $70 donations. (One of the BstA goals is to encourage enough donations to have one of the boats named after the assembly.)

Other needed projects planned for Camp All Saints include:

• Conversion of exixting building to Audio/media center ($13,000)
• Music Project – 6 ea. ¾ size guitars $250 each
• Archery and Bike Program ($10,500)
• Improved LED lighting throughout camp ($27,000)
• Finish Dining Hall – insulating roof, floors, acoustics ($120,000)
• Solar Power Plants will save $25,000 annually ($65,000)
• Scholarship Programs
• Endowment for Camp All Saints

National BstA President Dennis said that the Brotherhood needs to keep our eye on the ball as Kingdom Builders – a mission that he says is possible. We heed to reach out to the youth in our churches and to be a spiritual factor in their lives.

Dennis emphasized the National Day of Service April 27th and hoped that every chapter would participate in some way within their church and community.

He said that it is easy for Brotherhood chapters to become ad hoc church buildings and grounds committees with meetings conducted more like vestry meetings. We need to always remember our three spiritual disciplines. We are a Band of Brothers, and it’s all about Jesus and not us.

Dennis also shared a two page 2013 national Brotherhood of St. Andwaw Mission Plan with the attendees. See separate article.

In other business, assembly president John Curtis introduced Jim Vinyard to present details of our annual golf tournament.

Vinyard said the tournament will be Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at Canyon Creek Country Club. We already have more major sponsors than last year, but they need more donations of items for the silent auction. He encouraged non-golfers to attend the evening banquet. The goal for this years tournament is 100 golfers and $10,000 total raised. All proceeds of the event go to Patriot Paws.

Don Candy reported on the Hearts and Hammers project for this year. The focus this year is for each chapter to work within their parish area to file more local projects. Hopefully chapters can find and submit potential projects to Hearts and Hammers before the end of April. Last year all the projects were done on the same days. This year the work schedules can be more flexible. As with last year, projects must be external only, including fences, but no roofing. The home owner must occupy the house (no rental properties).

After the conclusion of the meeting, Curtis called the diocese assembly board together for a brief meeting. It was decided that the assembly should show support Camp All Saints and schedule our April 27th National Day of Service project at the camp. More details will be announced later.