At the Annual Meeting on January 24, 1991, Julia Tien and leaders of the Hillside Preschool talked to the Church Members about Hillside and its programs of outreach to the education of young children and their families. She reported an enrollment of 108 students. She stated that the Hillside Program, based on Judeo-Christian Heritage teachings, was designed to help children develop socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Mrs. Tien also addressed Hillside recognition in the community. She mentioned the grants and scholarships available to those who could not afford the standard fee. She invited Church Members to an open house planned for January 29,1991. Mr. Gamble Huffaker, Chairman of the Hillside Committee presented the budget for 1991. Pastor Bailey moved, Ray Heller seconded, that the budget be accepted and the budget was accepted by vote.
In January, 1991 the Trustees repaired the handrail leading to the balcony. Apparently their first effort was a failure since they promised that the latest installed hand rail would never come off again. (It is still in place in 2009.)
Parents registered their children early in Hillside to insure a place for their children. By May 7, 1991, 89 children, a full enrollment, had been registered for the 1991-92 school year. At this time Carole Guynup was honored for her twenty years of faithful service. Obviously Hillside was doing very well in its purpose of educating and taking care of young Manlius children. However, an audit of the Hillside financial records by the First Baptist Audit Committee ( Linda MacLennan, Chair, Lori Kelson and Gary Lewis) found the School and the Hillside Board doing poorly in their keeping of financial records. This resulted in twenty-five recommendations to the Hillside Board for improving their record keeping.
At the Quarterly Business Meeting of the Church on October 23, 1991, the Audit Committee with Linda MacLennan as Chairman, proposed that a Hillside Task Force be appointed by the Advisory Council to implement the twenty-five recommendations, to attend all Hillside Board of Directors’ meetings and to be responsible to the Advisory Council for all future financial and legal decisions concerning the Hillside. Members were to be appointed for a two year term, renewable as necessary by the Advisory Council. The proposal was amended to remove all Hillside Board members from the Task Force and was ratified at the Quarterly Business Meeting on October 23, 1991. Members appointed were: Howard Eckerlin, Chair, Erich Heller, Lori Kelson, Linda MacLennan, Karen Chesebro ( Hillside Treasurer). The Task Force was directed by the Advisory Council to accomplish the following tasks:
The King’s Kids Latchkey Program was the name originally given and was now not consistent with the full day program offered in 1991. The name approved by the Advisory Council was to be King’s Kids Christian Child Care. On June 18, 1991, the Director Sue Crayton died suddenly and unexpectedly of an aneurysm while performing her duties at the Church. She was extremely well liked by all who had contact with her as Director of the School; i.e. parents, children, staff, King’s Kids Board members. Her early death at age 31 was a shock to all who knew her. A memorial service was held on June 20, 1991. A memorial fund was established for Sue to help her family with the funeral bills. A tree was planted at the church and benches were placed on
the churchyard in her memory.
The King’s Kids Board, having decided to hire co-directors instead of a single director, advertised for applicants. Marge Edwards, chosen from fifty applicants , and Kay Walrath, already an employee of King’s Kids, were made Co-Directors and were to start August 5, 1991.
The estimated cost for the library rejuvenation included $1800 for the carpet and $1279 for a sofa and chair. It was decided to raise money for the project with a special offering on Palm Sunday. The Congregation was asked to give $3500. On August 18, 1991, the remodeling was completed and the newly redecorated library was dedicated.
The Sunday School changed its opening time from 9:30 AM to 9:15 AM. All members, children and adults, were asked to meet in the Sanctuary at 9:15 for a time of fellowship and singing together. Classes would start at the usual 9:30 time. The record attendance for the Sunday School in the 1990-1991 year was 129. The Sunday School celebrated the year with its annual soup and sandwich dinner in the gymnasium with 160 men, women, and children in attendance.
On October 9 , 1991, Reverend Bailey sent a letter to the Congregation asking for their attendance at the October 23, 1991, Quarterly Business Meeting. Reverend Bailey was very much interested in one of the major topics, the hiring of a part-time Associate Pastor. He felt the need for some professional assistance, especially to help in times when he would be away completing his work and studies for a Doctorate Degree. The first item of business was to vote to create a Part-time Associate Pastor’s position and to decide on how the Associate Pastor would be paid and how much. Members were warned that a yes vote must also be a commitment to increase their financial support. The members present overwhelmingly supported Reverend Bailey in his request, voting 76 to 7 in favor. The Congregation also voted to make $5,000.00 available from the Parsonage Fund interest to pay the part-time Pastor, if the Congregation approved the balance of the funding.
As part of the Stewardship Campaign to raise money for the 1992 Church year and the For God’s Tomorrow campaign, October 27 was named Consecration Sunday. Church Members were urged to attend two important scheduled events:
Consecration Sunday was programmed to be a Biblical, spiritual, inspirational time, designed to enrich our understanding of Christian stewardship. Emphasis was to be on “the need of the giver to give, rather than on the need of the Church to receive.”
Susan Brown became our new Church Secretary , replacing Lorraine Hall, and was to start on December 11, 1991. She moved into the new Church office on December 31, 1991. Her comment was, “Nice, new, BIG office space with four windows that I love.”
