At a Special Vestry on January 16, 2005 a very important decision was taken to launch a five- year fund-raising campaign, with a $750,000 goal. This money is targeted for renovations to the basement, and new ground floor washrooms. It will complement the half a million dollars received to ensure our tenant, The Well has a safe and healthy home. The vote has allowed us to engage the essential services of Chris Hobbs and the firm of DVA Navion, professional church fund-raisers. And action has begun!

Following the decisive Vestry vote, Monica Patten and Ross Hammond, Co-Chairs of the Campaign called together the beginning members of the Campaign Leadership Team. Many volunteers will be needed over the course of the campaign, but already enthusiastic Parish members are: Bill Broughton, Chair - Advanced Gift Phase; Don Smith, Secretary/Treasurer; Martha Nixon, Communications Chair; Gay Richardson, ARC liaison; Glenn Calder, Rector's Warden; Peter Anderson; Garth Bulmer. Heather Mallett has agreed to design a Communications - Logo for the campaign. New members will be recruited over the next two weeks, and many more will be needed over the next months. If you are interested in becoming involved in the campaign, please contact Monica Patten (728-6819) or Ross Hammond (233-8635). All are welcome.

Monica and Ross have convened two Campaign meetings and preparations are in full swing. They will plan to communicate with you a lot - so you will see regular bulletins, and notices (watch the current ARC notice board) as well as regular updates.

Hearts and Hands in Action - Foundation for Ministry will be the "theme" for our campaign. Inspired in part by Hymn 601, where the words "open wide our hands in sharing" seemed to express the spirit of our campaign.

As Garth stated in his sermon on Vestry Sunday, " now is the time. when your vote will move us from talk to action. Your approval. will pave the way for momentous and historic changes to our physical plant. Yes, it is just a building, but it.. both symbolizes and enables us to be whom we are and fulfill what we want to do." And we know that many hearts and many hands have been engaged in the past, and will continue to be.