Annual Memorial Service – 2:30 P.M., Sunday, June 18, 2017
Memorial Service
The annual Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 2:30 P.M. at the Cemetery. Rev. Don Stiles of the Seeleys Bay United Church will lead the service and music will be provided by Gary Bracken. We hope you will be able to attend; please remember to bring a chair or blanket to sit on. In the event of rain the service will be held in the Seeleys Bay United Church.
Board Report
The Cemetery Board met on December 8, 2016. Revenue and expenditures for 2016 were reviewed and approved.
The spring meeting of the Board was held on May 23, 2017. The treasurer’s report and other matters discussed at this meeting are detailed below.
Treasurer’s Report
Operating expenses for 2016 were $6,091.84 which is lower than previous years; an exceptionally dry summer meant that mowing and maintenance costs were substantially less than they were in 2015. Net income for 2016 was $13,437.38.
The Care & Maintenance Fund is performing well with income slightly over 2% and a capital increase of 19% in 2016. Income from the Endowment Fund remains in the fund which had a capital increase of 21% in 2016.
Donations remain an important supplement to our annual income ensuring that we cover our operating expenses; we anticipate this situation will continue for the foreseeable future.
Survey
The survey of the cemetery property was completed in March and small evergreens have been planted along the boundary with the highway right-of-way.
Lot Fee Increase
The following fees will come into effect on July 1, 2017
One single lot (3’ 0” x 12’0”) for 1 full burial and/or 3 cremation burials $750.00
One cremation lot (3’0” x 3’0”) for 1 cremation burial $375.00
Transfer of lot ownership/interment rights and issuance of new certificate $200.00
Bench
John and Valerie Bateman have donated a new granite bench in memory her parents Hugh and Olive Henderson. We hope that the bench will be in place for the memorial service in June.
A Message from the Board
As a cemetery board we are responsible for the management and upkeep of this cemetery forever – that’s right FOREVER.
In the past the cemetery was maintained by volunteers to a standard that was acceptable to the community; lot prices were low and little thought given to future maintenance. Today standards are higher. Every year expenses exceeds the income from lot sales and investments; we are fortunate to have many supporters whose donations over the years have helped meet these expenses and to slowly build up our endowment fund.
We encourage you to think about how you might help the cemetery as we move into the future. Consider a legacy in your will that would ensure financial stability for the cemetery.
Or you may want to become involved more directly. The Baptist Cemetery Board is a volunteer organization and we welcome anyone who is interested in being a board member or participating in any other capacity. Please contact the secretary-treasurer if you are interested.
Flowers and other Decorations
Please mark artificial flowers and wreaths with your name and the name of the grave so that errant wreaths can be returned to their proper place.
Planted flowers should be confined to an area no more than one foot in front of the monument.
If there is enough interest we will provide weekly watering for plants. The cost would be $25.00 for the season. Please contact the secretary-treasurer for details.