The Pilgrim Fund

of the

Congregational Summer

Assembly

September, 2011

Dear CSA Friends,

As Fall approaches, we hope that each of you had the opportunity this summer to spend time at the Assembly.  During that time, you may have enjoyed one of the many events held in the Meeting House; a church service, an operetta, or perhaps an educational presentation.  It is through the Pilgrim Fund that such events are financially supported.

Established in 1969, the Pilgrim Fund is a 501 C 3 philanthropic entity which allows all contributions to be tax deductible and supports “spiritual, cultural and educational” activities of the Congregational Summer Assembly.  These activities include the following:

•   Worship Services, Choir and Sunday School

•   The Gibson Educator-In-Residence Series

•   Musical Concerts

•   Charitable contributions to Benzie County non-profits

•   Ecology projects with-in the Assembly

•   Adult and Children’s Operettas

•   Meeting House maintenance and insurance

The Meeting House is truly one of the landmarks of the CSA. The events which take place there and others which are provided through the Pilgrim Fund are important pieces of the memories created each summer.  We ask that you consider supporting the work of this fund through a financial donation.  Contributions may also be made in memory or honor of individuals. We would remind you that until January 1, 2012 charitable contributions may be made directly from an IRA with no tax consequences, being a distinct advantage over an itemized deduction.

Your support will ensure that the memories we keep through the winter will continue each summer.

Sincerely,

The Pilgrim Fund Trustees

Bryant Dennison, John Harbeson, Eileen Rauschert, Jim Royle, Cliff VanDyke

Pilgrim Fund Report, November 2010

This report MUST begin with a huge “Thank You” to the ad hoc committee appointed by the CSA Board of Trustees (consisting of Paul Poehlein, Liz Gottleib, and Molly Harrison), charged with “exploring options for fund raising” for the Pilgrim Fund. Their efforts resulted in the creation and dissemination of a letter to all CSA members, which was dated and sent out in early September 2010. This letter initiated an appeal for financial support with just the right “tone” and appropriate information. The result has already been most remarkable: since the end of the summer season in August, The Fund has received (to date)…and acknowledged (by personal letter):

• 59 undesignated cash gifts totaling $8,240.00

• 16 cash gifts designated in support of the Gibson Series totaling $2,705.00

• 8 cash gifts designated as specific memorials totaling $965.00

• 1 gift designated in support of the Children’s Music “sub-fund” for $3,800.00

These cash gifts total $ 15,710.00!

Of the total number of letters which were sent out, 60 have been returned to us, as “undeliverable”, in most cases because of “change of address issues” or “overseas addresses”. More contributions arrive each week!

Church “plate offerings” totaled $20,696.90 for the 10 week summer season (or an average of a little over $2000.00 each week. The generosity of our Assembly “family” is indeed most gratifying and humbling. As was said in our report from last November…continuing contributions in 2010 -2011 will assure the ability of the Pilgrim Fund to support the religious and educational activities of our Assembly. We would once again suggest the inclusion of the “envelope” in the Assembly News this year.

The Pilgrim Fund has sent out charitable contributions (of $500.00 each) to the seven (7) organizations recommended by the Spiritual Life Committee and authorized by the CSA Board of Trustees. We have also provided financial support for improvements in the Meeting House sound system and lighting (installed following the close of the summer season). Other expenditures are specified in the financial statement. As ever, we are in debt to Timothy T. Royle, CPA, for the preparation and maintenance of our Fund financial records.

The Pilgrim Fund trustees, with the assistance of Fred Lauerman (our CSA Board liason), are working on the development of an “investment policy” document, which will clearly spell out our procedures in this regard. A financial statement for the Pilgrim Fund fiscal year (ended September 30, 2010), including a statement of receipts, disbursements, and changes in fund balance, will, as usual, be submitted for publication in this year’s Assembly News.

With the assistance of Peter Buzzell, we are working on the creation of a more complete web page format for the Pilgrim Fund. More on this as progress is made.

We will once again be advising the “principle stake holders” of each of the “sub funds” of their financial status (as of the close of our fiscal year), within the Pilgrim Fund, as has been our practice each year in the recent past.

Once again, we appreciate the continuing support of the CSA Board of Trustees.

Pilgrim Fund Trustees

Bryant Dennison, John Harbeson, Eileen Rauschert, James Royle, and Clifford VanDyke

ANNUAL REPORT 2007
The Pilgrim Fund Trustees invited two additional individuals to join our ranks at our Annual Meeting on August 10th. We were pleased to welcome John Harbeson and Eileen Rauschert as fellow Trustees.
2007 was an active season for the Pilgrim Fund. We began by funding the Meeting House roof repairs (approximately $ 16,000). New sound system enhancement equipment for the Meeting House was obtained (approximately $5,800). The Fund was pleased to provide three musical series concerts (all of which are supported by individual donors, including the newly established Burrows-Getz concert). Dr. Nazif Shahrani, as the Gibson Educator-In-Residence, drew very large crowds this season. As requested by the Assembly Trustees, a total of $3,500 was distributed among the seven charities recommended by the Spiritual Life Committee. In addition, the Assembly was reimbursed, as usual, for appropriate staff and operational expenses related to the religious and educational activities of our season.
It may be particularly worthy of note that the undesignated portion of the Pilgrim Fund (that which is not specifically committed to use for specific purposes, such as Educator-in- Residence or sponsored concerts) currently stands at under $30,000. This is considerably less than it has been in recent history (approximately one-half of what it was last year at this time). This is due mainly to the capital improvements mentioned above. A diminished fund balance does, of course, generate lesser amounts of potential interest income with which to support our on-going Assembly programs. A complete financial statement is found elsewhere in the Assembly News, and will provide details.
Contributions are being received for the purpose of maintaining a “sub-fund”, designated specifically for purposes of permanently endowing the Educator-In-Residence program. Once again, contributions to the Pilgrim Fund have not been as frequent as in years past (due, we believe, to the opportunity to make charitable contributions to other CSA projects). We continue to be committed to the support of all aspects of the spiritual and educational life of the Assembly and we encourage your prayerful consideration of a contribution to the PILGRIM FUND, either in cash, check, or securities.

Pilgrim Fund Trustees
—Bryant Dennison, James Royle and Clifford VanDyke, John Horbeson, Eileen Rauschert,