President's Message September 2009

By Joan Nierenberg

I can’t believe I’m writing this piece for the September newsletter! We just returned from a lovely two weeks on the Cape with my 90-year old parents, our two grown children and friends, and our son’s fiancé (to whom he proposed while we were all at the Cape!). I hope you all likewise have had a chance to enjoy the brief bit of summer we’ve had this year.

Those of you who have been to the Meeting House in the last few weeks will have noticed some new construction work. Bob Russell and our Meeting House Committee asked Peter Scoppettone to examine the sills on the south and west walls of the older part of the building, where he found a considerable amount of rot. The Board voted to have Peter do the necessary work to this part of the building, as we felt it our responsibility to maintain our Meeting House as best we can, certainly, at the very least, until concrete decisions are made about future building. The following is the latest report from Bob R.:

The west wall (toward the nature trail) is repaired with the bottom plates replaced with pressure treated wood after the concrete was modified with additional concrete to remove the inside “basin.” It has been closed at the bottom with no further work contemplated.

The identical repair has been made to the base of the south wall (facing the parking lot). Higher up that south wall, about a 6 foot by 10 foot area of the siding was removed to check the condition of the inside structure. This area was just below the high window that lets light into the roof area (into which there is normally no access). The inside of the wall is satisfactory to leave as is. The sill of the window (quite rotten) will be replaced and all the removed siding will be replaced (all in wood, no vinyl). This wall will require a lot of caulking and immediate painting for its survival.

Ward Stoops has volunteered to replace the boards of the handicap ramp.

Finally, the front wall, to the right of the main door through which we normally enter, has previously been repaired (some time in the past) and is in good shape (not also deteriorated as we feared).

Bottom line, we’re almost done and the repairs were timely and not excessive.

Bob R. also arranged to have some bushwhacking done to better enable us to picture a potential future building site. Thank you, Bob Russell and Peter Scoppettone, for all your work on these projects, and Libby Vesilind for coordinating efforts while I was away.

The Board will map out our goals and actions for the coming year on Saturday, 8/29 at our annual retreat. We’ll keep you posted! As always, we welcome input from one and all as to your sense of priorities for the board and congregation.

I personally am looking forward to another year to learn from you all, and to serve again as your President.

Joan Nierenberg, President