2025

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Fotografie cu prezidiul Sedintei Anuale Parohiale, 26 ianuarie 2025. Părintele paroh deschide lucrările Ședinței.

Minutes of the Parish General Assembly, January 26, 2025

In accordance with the provisions of the Statute and the ROMA Metropolia Manuals, the Parish General Assembly of the Holy Trinity Romanian American Orthodox Church in Los Angeles has convened in church, on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 1:00 pm, immediately following the Holy Liturgy.

The Letter of Convocation and the Agenda, dated January 10 2025, was sent by mail to all parishioners of our Church. It was also distributed in church on 2 consecutive Sundays and was posted on the official website of the community - www.biserica.org.

01. Call to order and house-keeping

The opening Prayer – After a light luncheon served in the hall at the end of the service, a number of 42 members gathered in church for the beginning of the meeting. Fr. Viorel Vasile Visovan led the attendees in the invocation prayers.

Appointment of presidium and the Roll-Call. The Assembly’s president, Fr. Constantin Alecse appointed the presidium, and designated the 2 secretaries: Claudia Dana Pugna and Antoaneta Rastian, who submitted to the Validation Committee the signed lists of the attendees. It was reported that the PARISH ROSTER with members-in-good-standing for 2024 consists of 150 parishioners. Another 2 members were added as they were present and paid their 2024 membership right before the meeting started. According to the Validation Committee acknowledgement, and the participation signed roster attached, all 42 members in good standing, present in church at the beginning of the meeting were certified and validated.

Approval of the Agenda - According to ROMA’s By-Laws rules and regulations, with 42 parish members in good standing present at the meeting, the president called the meeting to order. Antoaneta Rastian made the motion to approve the meeting agenda, seconded by Getta Jercan. Without any comments, the motion was approved as presented.  
The president mentioned that ALL the reports are printed, and in the order of the Agenda will be distributed to everyone present. He also took the consent of the Assembly to take only one vote for ALL the reports which will be presented, except the Financial Reports which will be presented, discussed and voted separately. Viorica Hrimiuc made the motion, seconded by Adrian Mirea, to accept this recommendation. Motion passed.

02. Ratification of the Minutes of the Parish General Assembly Meeting of January 28, 2024.

Due to the special actions our parish took in the previous year 2023 (Approval of the New Parish By-Laws, some Legal actions, Estate transfer and administration, hiring of a CPA Firm, establishment of the LACC – Legal Administration and Coordination Committee, etc), the Minutes of the General Assembly Meeting of January 28, 2024, were distributed submitted to be ratified. Alexandru Dragoi made the motion to accept and ratify the Minutes of the General Assembly Meeting of January 28, 2024. The motion was seconded by Marietta Telinoiu. The motion was voted unanimously.

03. The Reports:

a) Parish Priest Report – Before the presentation of his report, Fr. Constantin asked the participants to stand-up in memory of all the community’s members departed during 2024. Father’s report, on 8 typed pages, distributed to all participants, dealt with liturgical services, religious educations through sermons, conferences and publications, social media, administration and vital statistics, participation in the Metropolia’s annual events, civic-cultural and social activities, etc. A copy of the report is herewith attached.

b) Parish Council President – Mr. Eddie Rastian made a summary of the “president’s report for 2024”, on 6 pages, report which was also distributed to all the meeting’s attendees. His report starting with the event of the January 21, 2024, the Commemoration of the Romanian Martyrs, with a parastas service and dinner, continued with the parish general administration, including the council meetings, the church services, fulfillment of the Metropolia’s financial duties, social-cultural and Romanian National events, remodeling and maintenance projects, collaboration with the HORA society and the Association of the Aromanians in California, special events like the visit of the Romanian Ambassador, visit of the film producer Toma Enache, conference of Fr. Sorin Mihalache…, and concluded with some notes of “thank-you” to all volunteers. The report is submitted to these Minutes.

c) Legal Administration and Coordination Chairman – The last 2 years, 2023-2024, are known as “the years of most lawsuits” against the Holy Trinity Church. The General Counsel, Reggie Dissanayake, Chairman of LACC – Legal Administration and Coordination Committee, on his 2 pages report summarized the following lawsuits: HTRAOC vs. Associated Press: (Settled in mid 2023); HTRAOC vs. Anghioiu: (Settled in mid-late 2024); HTRAOC vs. ROEA (Still Ongoing); Legal Transfer of Real Property/Assets: Ipsilanti Estate and Contesting of Real Property by Tenants: (Still Ongoing); Legal Formation & Administration of the HORA Society. The printed report, distributed to all the members at the meeting, is herewith attached to the Minutes.

d) Ladies Auxiliary Report – The Ladies Auxiliary president, Mrs. Mary Comboianu, in the 6 pages report presented the audience with the main activities the Ladies Aid undertook during 2024: The Holy Lent and Easter liturgical and pan-orthodox Services, the Feast-Day banquet (June 23, 2024) and other Religious events throughout 2024, the Romanian Ambassador’s and other Consulate representatives visits, Anniversaries at Holy Trinity, Christmas Lent Events, and the launching of the HORA Society, at the pre-Christmas program 2024. The printed report was distributed to everyone at the meeting, and a copy is herewith under attached.

e) The Aromanians in California Association

Mary Comboianu, president of the California Association of the Macedonian-Aromanians, presented a short report regarding the history and activities of the Group of Aromanians in California with an official website: www.aromaniidincalifornia.com and Face Book page: www.facebook.com/groups/aromaniidincalifornia. The report is herewith attached.

f) HORA Society inauguration – The last report to be presented, before all the above-mentioned presented reports to be voted “in block” is Antoaneta Rastian’s 2 pages report on HORA - Heritage Organization of the Romanian Americans history and activities during 2024. The HORA Society, a Non-profit Organization, loyal to the Holy Trinity Church, being in charge with the Cultural Activities of the community. Being officially inaugurated on December 15, 2024, HORA Society has its own website: www.horasociety.com, and the Face Book page: www.facebook.com/groups/horasociety, where they have daily postings. The report is herewith attached to these Minutes.

As convened from the beginning of the reports’ presentation, with the last report of HORA - Heritage Organization of the Romanian Americans, Getta Jercan made the motion that all reports, from “a” to “f” be accepted as presented. Motion was seconded by Docan Cornelia. There were no comments, therefore the motion was submitted to a vote. The Vote was unanimous.

g) Treasurer's report for 2024 / The CPA’s Report – The next item on the agenda was the distribution and the presentation of the Financial Report for 2024. The president thanked the Treasurer, Mrs. Victoria Rezmeritza for the detailed 6 pages 2024 Financial Report titled “Statement of Financial Position”, compiled by the Dorfman & Company Certified Public Accountants, is herewith attached.
“The General Ledger, as of December 31, 2024”. The FULL 2024 Income and Expenses Report (19 pages report), issued by the CPA’s Firm is kept in the Church’s archives, with all the other 2024 PARISH REPORTS. Maria Salajan made the motion to accept the 2024 Financial Reports as presented. The motion was seconded by Marina Mirea. After all the questions addressed were answered a vote was taken. The motion was voted unanimously.

h) Approval of the 2025 Budget – “The 2025 Proposed Budget” was distributed to all parishioners in attendance, for discussions. Mariana Cadia made the motion to accept the 2025 Proposed Budget as presented. Seconded by Anatol Rezmeritza. The vote was unanimous.

4. Approval of List/Slate of the 2025-2026  - The Slate of the 2025-2026 [2 years term] Parish Council was presented for approval. The secretary, Ms Claudia Pugna read, on behalf of the Nominating Committee, the proposed list, with 15 members for the parish Council, 2 members for the Metropolia Congress, and 2 members for the Deanery Meetings. The list, herewith attached, coming from the Nomination Committee was submitted to the plenum for approval. The vote was unanimous.

Vasile Luca made the motion that, after the PARISH COUNCIL LIST is approved by His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, ALL the PARISH OFFICERS, who served in the previous term (2023-2024) be reelected with the same positions for the new term, 2025-2026. The motion was seconded by Getta Jercan. All voted the motion in favor. Nu opposing, and no abstentions.

5.  Proposals and discussions – The last item on the Agenda, before the closing of the meeting was the “Proposals and discussions”, with 4 points: a). The 85th Church Anniversary & the ROMA Metropolia West Deanery meeting (hosted by our church), during Sept.30-2 Nov. 2025; weekend; b) approval of the Cost of Living Increase (COLA)  for the church employees; c). Rents Increase (Church Halls, Apartments) with up to 4% as allowed by law – looking for new tenants for the small hall; d) Approval of the bilateral agreement between the Church HTRAOC and HORA Society, regarding the use of the Church facilities.

6. Closing of the meeting – ALL the items on the Agenda being exhausted, Mrs. Sabina Popescu made the motion to CLOSE the meeting. The motion was seconded by Catalin Gabriel Trifu. The parish priest declared the meeting closed, around 2:20 pm. Everyone was invited to stand-up for the hymn to the Mother of God “Cuvine-se cu Adevarat!”, and the thanksgiving Prayer delivered by Fr. Viorel Vasile Visovan.

In Christ - The Lord, Fr Constantin Alecse, Meeting President *  Claudia Pugna, Secretary

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2025