Notwithstanding Lent, March was a busy and rewarding month for the Pohick family. Steve Harding led this year’s first Pohick Fair meeting on March 3. For those new to Pohick, there is no better way to jump right in to Church life than getting involved with this annual event. Contact Peter Kind, the 2007 Fair Chair or Steve (this year’s Co-Chair) for details on how to make a difference in this important outreach and fundraising event.

The St. Patrick’s Day dinner on March 10 fed a multitude of nearly 90, sending all home with styrofoam take-out trays chocker-blocked with enough food to cover a week’s worth of lunches. Church attendance was a bit light on March 18, with nearly 100 Pohickians attending the work weekend at the diocese’s retreat center at Shrine Mont. The Lenten dinners were widely successful and gave a sense of focus to this season. On a sadder note, condolences go to Carol Heintze for the loss of her father, John (Jack) Cavanagh who passed away on March 9. He had become a familiar sight at the Brotherhood of late, and he will be missed. Bill Bland reports that fifteen Brotherhood of St. Andrew members attended Jack’s memorial service on March 14.

Discussed at the March Vestry meeting:

• Pohick’s representatives to the Diocesan Council were reelected. These included delegates: Darlene O’Connell and John Pasour; their alternates: Ken Evans and Jim Hayes; and the Region representatives: Don O’Connell and Anne Poad.

• John Pasour (Treasurer) reported that February’s plate and pledge were below average (the snowstorm that clobbered the area on March 25 was a factor), leaving Pohick with a year-to-date shortfall of nearly $17K.

• The blood mobile drive was a great success with 25 units of blood collected.

• Dana Hutson and Jane Albertson discussed ways to increase Sunday School attendance on the part of the high school-age students. They will be sponsoring a forum on April 29. They also indicated that the EYC was looking at a fundraiser that entailed a baby-sitting service at the Church to allow parents’ a “night out.”

• Neil Hogg presented an update on his work to improve Church signage. In the short term, he will be producing a number of banners that can be used to improve visibility along Richmond Highway and other approaches to the Church.

Planning and Policy Commission Update: The Planning and Policy Commission will be meeting monthly to address a number of issues. At the February meeting, it was decided to solicit a number of new members to aid in this effort. The Commission will be looking at incorporating the Church, which will protect property, staff, and Vestry. The Commission will be tracking and discussing ongoing developments with the diocese, the national church, and the Anglican Communion. The group will also study a number of options that could serve to address and forward Pohick’s position on these future events.