TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod Women of the ELCA 20^th Annual Convention September 2007 Can you believe it’s been twenty years as Women of the ELCA! The location was set in the rolling hills of Brenham, Texas at Heartland Country Inns. It is a beautiful place out in the country. The convention opened with a trip memory lane with past Presidents, Cludette Pfenning High, Mavis Grief and JoAnn Fuchs. Peg Swavely our President opened the business session and then introduced our key note speakers, identical twins Sharon Harris and Susan Estrada. They shared the stories of childhood though stories and song. They are not only twins but one is a perfect pitch alto and the other is a perfect pitch soprano. The voices blended together to become one. It was just perfect! Saturday session opened with business and introductions of guest. The delegate’s business session was very busy with elections of triennial delegates and new board members, while the other participants were checking out the different workshops. We had exploring your family roots, learning how to eat healthy, understanding nature and the meaning of organic foods. Some were busy making heart pillows and others enjoying scrapbooking. There were many of things to do for all. The evening brought an interesting mix of fun. Saturday’s entertainment was a “Talent, No Talent Show”. Oh this was the event of the year… so many talented ladies in our synod. Beautiful voices, playing guitars, chicken dancers, singing nuns (Lutheran mind you) and tap dancing duos, and the winner of all… a Cane folk dancer of old, a lot of belly shaking on this one. It was the best talent. Joyce Palmer was the MC and did a wonderful job of keeping things going and a lot of fun. Sunday’s worship service we had a special guest--our new Bishop brought greetings and shared in the worship service. What a surprise! All in all this was a great convention if I say so myself. Marilyn and I really enjoyed working with countless others to bring you a wonderful convention. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. God’s peace to you all. Remember, conventions require your help, they are done for you to enjoy and to share the Good News and fellowship as WOMEN OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES OF AMERICA. MANY THANKS, FROM MARILYN SEICH AND SHERYL HOLLAND ∆Top
	TX-LA Gulf Coast SWO Exec Board plus Sheryl Holland and Patty Greiwe - Ann Nicholson (VP) seated front left - Colette Wunderlich(Sec) seated from right - Patty is behind Collette. Sheryl is behind Ann. Then Peg Swavely (Pres.) and Treasurer Janie Mehrens. Lynn Schweke is not in the picture.
	Same as above, except Church-wide Executive Board Rep Diane Brauer is standing on the left.
	"Joyful Noise"

Delegates
	Karen Stein - Southwestern Texas Synod President, and Diane Brauer, Church wide Executive Board Representative
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Adopted in TX-LA Gulf Coast WELCA Synod Convention: September 15, 2007 For the 2008 Triennial Convention Memorial Resolution on Bottled Water Making bottles to meet Americans’ demand for bottled water requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel some 100,000 U.S. cars for a year. WHEREAS: The United States is the world’s leading consumer of bottled water, with Americans drinking 26 Billion liters in 2004 and WHEREAS, Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing- producing unnecessary garbage and consuming vast quantities of energy and WHEREAS, Fossil fuels are used in the packaging of water with the most commonly used plastic for making water bottles is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is derived from crude oil, and WHEREAS, After the water has been consumed, the plastic bottle must be disposed of, and either becomes garbage or litter, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that: The Women of the ELCA make a dedicated effort to reduce the number of bottled water they consume and to recycle the bottles they do consume whenever possible. ∆Top
Adopted in TX-LA Gulf Coast WELCA Synod Convention: September 15, 2007 For the 2008 Triennial Convention Proposed revision to ARTICLE VIII FINANCIAL MATTERS SECTION 6 FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Synodical Women’s Organization Constitution Each synodical women’s organization shall have an accounting compilation or Review conducted by an independent outside accountant or a review by a committee appointed by the SWO board at the end of each fiscal year. The committee appointed by the SWO board shall consist of at least three members, none of whom are members of the current board or of the treasurer’s congregational unit. WHEREAS: It has become too expensive and difficult to engage an independent outside accountant to perform the review or compilation; and Rules required of the accounting profession have changed so that performing pro bono work has become difficult due to the amount of work required and Many women who are not degreed accountants are very capable of performing a thorough review of the financial activity of the SWO, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that: Synodical Women’s Organizations be allowed to appoint a committee to review all financial activities of the SWO in lieu of SWO Constitution Article VIII Financial Matters Section 6 Financial Accountability “Each synodical women’s organization shall have an accounting compilation or review conducted by an independent outside accountant at the end of each fiscal year.” ∆Top



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