Present: Kerm Paulsen, Jeff Wolf, John Prouty, Jim Neary, Harold Ulfers, Tom Moline, Bud Olson, Les Nordlund, Carl Hultquist, Ron Bustead and John Tissell.

Bud Olson opened by reading from Psalms. This was followed by all leading in prayer with specific mention of Ted Gullberg and Pastor Roy Lindguist.

REPORTS: John Prouty presented an integrated financial statement showing the net worth of Covenant Men as $33,487.14. This broke down as follows: Log Cabin fund; $315.03, Checking; $1,134.49, Savings $2,529.22 and National Covenant Properties (scholarship fund) $29,508.40. The scholarships for 1999-2000 were paid by withdrawing $1,500 from the interest earned in 1999.

FALL RETREAT DISCUSSION:

ALASKA: We have been asked to help wire the youth camp at Unalakleet. This work must be done by before June 3. We have promised Dennis, manager of KICY, that we will relevel the station this summer. If money is available a hot water heating system will be installed at Koyuk. Their carpet needs relaying and the wall board taping was never completed. There is need for a storage shed at Elim. The church at Nome needs help with their reroofing. With the apparent interest by a number (12 have indicated interest) of men in going to Alaska, the burden is to coordinate material and dates. The church at Bethel has obtained a building, which hopefully can be moved to property adjacent to the existing church. Dave Petersen is currently checking building code requirements. One concern is the additional space may require provision of more parking spaces than can be placed on the property. This project will require much volunteer help, provided it receives the required permits in time for work to begin this summer.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Checks for $750 each have been mailed to Benjamin Oliver and Leonid Regheta.

CASCADES CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER: Clearing will start soon for the train camp. The large volume of dirt to be moved will require a grading permit. Typically a grading permit takes over 6 months from application to issuance. Construction of the train camp is expected to require 2 to 3 years. The goal for completing the currently planned log cabins is 2004 or 5. The septic tank and drain field for the log cabins west of the rec building is in place. The plans are complete and have been approved for the sewage system serving the cabins east of the rec building. One additional log cabin has been underwritten.  Construction costs for the next year or so are covered, however later cabins need funding. Applications are coming in for summer camp and summer staff recruitment is underway.

Starting in March a series of work-retreat weekends are planned. Tahoma Lodge will be used for housing. These will be at no cost to the workers, however an offering will be taken. Kyle Olson (new to staff) is a potential speaker for the devotional time.  Tom Moline asked for help from Covenant Men to build additional bunk beds and to wire and plumb the log cabins. With the potential late May work trip to Unalakleet, we should try to schedule the bunk bed construction in March or April. Interior walls need to be framed before the wiring and plumbing can be started. (Following the meeting, the log cabins were inspected and the wiring details discussed. Also the night lights in the cabin area were tested and the problem was traced to a defective photo switch.)

NEXT MEETING: The next board meeting will be February 12, 2000 at Cascades.