Diff for "AnnualReport2022"

Group

Asylum Seeker Support

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To provide assistance to those seeking asylum in Australia

Current Office Bearers:

Robin Pope

Membership numbers:

5-6

Usual meeting attendance:

Meetings informal

Meeting times and days:

Locations used by Group:

In homes or at gWUC

Highlights of the year:

During the pandemic, donations for the use of Asylum Seekers continued to be collected in the boxes in the church foyer. Donations of food, clothing, linen, cleaning agents etc were collected by the 4-5 members of the committee whose names were on the roster, and then delivered to the home of David Spitteler, who ran the Support Centre in Dandenong. This continued until mid 2022, when David closed down his operations, after 25+years of voluntary work.. The ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) located initially in Footscray, had by then opened a new centre in Dandenong. Two members of the committee (Robin and Barbara Chamberlain) have visited this centre and made contact with a view to offering them support in the same way, although our focus in the future will be on providing specific items for their well-stocked food bank. They have no space for storing other items. We will resume the donation boxes in the new year.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Making sure that the congregation is frequently reminded that their donations are of great assistance. This can be done by messages in the weekly news bulletin, in issues of The Kingsway, and by recognising the needs of asylum seekers by marking World Human Rights Day or Refugee Day by presenting factual information about their treatment by our government - especially those who have been in detention for up to 9 years with no resolution in sight, or those 31000 whose claims have not been processed and are waiting in limbo for a determination.

Group

Communications

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

"The Communications Committee is a sub- committee of the Church Council. The Communications Committee works to ensure that information about the life of the congregation is readily available to interested people and that members of the congregation know what is going on.
Specifically, the Communication Committee's role is to:
1. oversee and coordinate all communications across the congregation ensuring that they are done in a timely and inclusive manner;
2. introduce new methods of communication as appropriate;
3. facilitate the production of a church magazine (recently renamed to Kingsway) in a variety of formats (to bring the congregation together through the use of information and entertainment);
4. ensure that all church communications are clear, appropriate and that no bias or offensive content is present;
5. continue to develop GWUC's online and web presence as an outreach activity;
6. maintain all brochures and promotional material used by GWUC;
7. seek to make best use of community material to publicise events and activities at GWUC;
8. liaise with Property Committee and make use of, and manage, any external signage;
9. take advantage of free promotional media wherever possible (i.e. Real Estate boards);
10. publicise and communicate Presbytery and Synod activities and events; and
11. encourage, support and assist all forms of communications in GWUC
"

Current Office Bearers:

Coordinator: John Snare

Membership numbers:

Five members plus usually a member of the ministry team.

Usual meeting attendance:

Five

Meeting times and days:

First Monday of the month when possible. In 2022 there were three meetings.

Locations used by Group:

The Communications Committee meets in a meeting room at the church.

Highlights of the year:

The Communications Committee met face to face again in 2022 after the disruption of the Covid years.
The status quo for communications activities was maintained including work behind the scenes to maintain and keep operational the web site and the wiki. It is pleasing to report that after collateral? damage associated with Zuckerberg’s pre-covid dummy spit, we were able to regain control of our Facebook site and it is now routinely used as a communications channel; thank you JoanneBoldiston. A disappointment was failure to progress work to update our on-line platforms and refresh the web site. While the Integrated Social Media and Streaming Presence project specified by Church Council was a priority, little progress was possible because we were unable to find a person in the congregation willing to take the lead on this project. We will try again in 2023.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

We are seeking at least two new members for the Communications Committee. The committee needs at least one new member with a passion for using social media as a communications channel. The committee needs at least one new member with a passion for keeping the web-site design contemporary.

Group

Free Spirit

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

Music can warm the soul and bring us closer to the Lord! Free Spirit is a group of people who aim to enrich worship through music - and sometimes have some fun with other types of music as well. Free Spirit is regularly part of the worship at the Glen Waverley Uniting Church, but also likes to be part of worship with other congregations from time to time.
Free Spirit is self-funding; each member contributes $1 per week, used to buy music and cover other expenses.
Free Spirit operates under a privacy policy in accordance with Glen Waverley Uniting Church guidelines.

Current Office Bearers:

* Music director: DebLeigh
* Music selection and purchase: DebLeigh
* Music management
* Music Database: to be maintained by JohnSnare who will add music when it is purchased.
* New music: LiseHales to stamp/number/name/prepare music, ready for use.
* Music monitors: (at least 1 monitor for each part but other assistance will be required at times.)
* Sop – EvelynFleming
* Alto – MariaGillies
* Tenor – YanEmms & JacobDavey
* Bass - MichaelKennedy & MichaelFoo
* Performance calendar/schedule: JohnSnare – updates at FreeSpiritSchedule
* Roll & performance record: VidaFoo
* Friends of Free Spirit register: GeoffWillis
* Scarves and ties: JoyAllen
* Pastoral support (Prayer and care): JoyAllen (sop), JacquiKing (alto), KayeMorgan (Tenor) and MichaelFoo (Bass)
* Treasurer: JohnSnare
* Historian: JohnSnare
* Supper roster: MargaretColvin
* Stage managing events: LynMaslen

Membership numbers:

36 members plus some occasional visitors

Usual meeting attendance:

30 members

Meeting times and days:

Practice weekly on Wednesday evenings.
Singing at worship or other events in both with Glen Waverley Uniting Church and elsewhere up to twice a month, including with Glen Waverley Uniting Church worship on the fourth Sunday of each month (except December and January) alternating between 9:15am and 11:00am services.
A small group from Free Spirit members contributed to worship at 11:00am on the second Sunday of many months (but not January and December)

Locations used by Group:

Practice is held in the Church.

Highlights of the year:

1. After the Covid-19 years, Free Spirit was able to get back to normal in 2022.
2. Free Spirit regularly contributed to worship on the fourth Sunday of each month except January.
3. Small groups made up from Free Spirit members often provided music in worship on the second Sunday of each month (but not January and December).
4. Free Spirit presented a concert at Hampton Park Uniting Church in March as part of a community arts festival.
5 Free Spirit contributed to worship at Dingley Uniting Church in March.
6. Free Spirit contributed to Easter and Christmas worship.
See also FreeSpiritHighlights2022

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

None identified.

Group

GOMER

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

A Fellowship group for retired men

Current Office Bearers:

DavidMorgan convenor

Membership numbers:

30

Usual meeting attendance:

15

Meeting times and days:

Monday 10am

Locations used by Group:

Fellowship area

Highlights of the year:

A full year of meeting at the church. Muddings closed and we now use Piatella for coffee, supplemented by hot chocolates made in the church kitchen. We have assumed responsibility for putting out the bins. We miss the lake walk, but Madelines remains closed on Mondays, and meeting at the church has advantages of smaller numbers and controlled ventilation during the ongoing pandemic.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Group

Playgroup Volunteers

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To provide a welcoming, safe, friendly and supportive place for parents, grandparents or carers and their young children to meet and play together.

Current Office Bearers:

ChrisKrahn assisted by KayeMackinnon, LesleyLamble, Rosalie O’Dea and RebeccaCornall

Membership numbers:

Average term membership 9 children plus accompanying parent or carer

Usual meeting attendance:

4-9 children plus accompanying parent or carer

Meeting times and days:

10am -12 midday on Monday and Tuesday

Locations used by Group:

Rooms 2 and 3, outside Playground

Highlights of the year:

Witnessing developing friendships of parents or carers new to area
Witnessing social developments and achievement of skills of children aged 6 months to 5 years old
Allowing adult participants to improve their English speaking skills and join community activities including GWUC assistance programs

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Assist with advertising in the Monash community.
Maintenance of outdoor playground and equipment.
Cleaning of floors and carpet in indoor play areas.
Most importantly help is desperately needed with recruiting helpers for playgroup as we only have 4-5 volunteers which incorporates 2 volunteers on each day we operate, but if one is not able to attend on rostered day cover falls on those already involved

Group

UCAF

Purpose, Aim or Mission of the Group:

To enable members to share in Christ’s mission, meeting together for fellowship. Service and worship.

Current Office Bearers:

President: Margaret Duncan
Vice-President: BarbaraThompson
Treasurer: NormaSaxton
Secretary: MargaretDuncan
Committee: GeraldineFleming, DianaColes, MaureenBall

Membership numbers:

35

Usual meeting attendance:

Average of 24

Meeting times and days:

1st Tuesday of the month

Locations used by Group:

Fellowship area, Room 1

Highlights of the year:

Our Guest Speakers in 2022 were Susan Karoly, Alanee Hearnshaw, Maria Gillies, Rev Linley Liersch and Meredith Allan, Pauline McKinnon, Keith Hallett, Dr. Cheryl Threadgold OAM, Ross Mackinnon. Our speakers brought a variety of topics including their live and interests, Japanese/Chinese embroidery, effects of having a disability in todays society, history of Sunday School, Amateur theatre and its history in Victoria, relaxation and meditation methods and benefits and the origin of TAFE. Because of Covid restrictions no special food was included at morning tea. There was no May fund raising luncheon.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

No we feel well catered for thank you.