This description will help everyone know what we have already accomplished during the ECBF process and what is yet to come in the next few months…. 

December 2010 – Open invitation from the Diocese of Iowa and the Episcopal Church Building Fund to learn more about the ECBF recasting of building assets process February 2011 – St. Anne’s submitted application to participate in the ECBF process 
March 2011 – Four congregations in Iowa were selected to participate in the ECBF process:

          St. Anne’s in Ankeny
          St. Andrew’s in Des Moines 

          Grace Church in Charles City
          St. Thomas  in Sioux City

March 2011 – May 2011 – St. Anne’s ECBF team was established from volunteers and worked towards the first ECBF assignment: to create a summary of St. Anne’s current finances and gather information about the community of Ankeny.

May 13-14, 2011 – the first Face to Face ECBF meeting hosted by St. Thomas in Sioux City, IA.  Participants included teams from all four congregations, the ECBF President and Vice-President, and representatives from the Diocese of Iowa.  The teams introduced themselves to the group and summarized their individual financial and community situations.
June 2011 – July 2011 – St. Anne’s ECBF team is working on the next set of assignments for this process:

          Gathering comments and input from St. Anne’s congregation
          Surveying the community of Ankeny to see what residents know about St. Anne’s
          Interviewing and building relationships with organizations, businesses, and community leaders within Ankeny to see what needs exist in our community and if St. Anne’s can help develop a role to help meet these needs.

 July 22 -23, 2011 – the second Face to Face ECBF meeting will be hosted by Grace Church in Charles City, IA.  Each team will evaluate the responses from the congregation and community interviews and create a list of possible solutions including:
          Cost savings ideas
          Revenue producing ideas
          Ideas on new ways of operating / being for St. Anne’s
Then, criteria will be developed for evaluating the list of ideas so that the ECBF team, St. Anne’s Vestry, and St. Anne’s Congregation can make a final decision.
July 2011 – September 2011 – St. Anne’s ECBF team, Vestry, and Congregation will narrow down the list of ideas.  We will determine a single idea to rally behind, and we will work towards seeking appropriate advice to help implement the plan.  We will be working with: ECBF Leaders, the Diocese of Iowa, Tax attorney, Developers, Ankeny Leadership / Partners.  We will also work towards a project timeline, resource list, etc. for the implementation of our plan.
September 30, 2011 – October 1, 2011 – Final Face to Face ECBF meeting will be hosted by St. Anne’s in Ankeny, IA.  Each ECBF team will present our business plans.  We will use advice from the ECBF Leadership and Diocese of Iowa to adjust and finalize our plans.  Finally, we will launch our plan and begin the REAL work!!