As an aid for clergy and parish administrators, here is a list of notable meetings, holidays and deadlines in the diocese for 2008. Some of these meeting dates are subject to change.

For workshops or other events of general interest, be sure to regularly check the Upcoming Events page on this web site.

The diocesan Standing Committee usually meets the third Tuesday of the month. The deans set meetings for Spring Deanery Convocations if they are necessary.

January 1: Diocesan House is closed. National canons (Title I, Canon 7, Sec 1 [j]) mandate that the fiscal year shall begin this day.
January 15: Diocesan Finance Committee meeting.
January 21: Martin Luther King Day. Diocesan House is closed.
January 26: Diocesan Council meeting at DaySpring.

February 7: “Ash Thursday” Clergy Gathering at St. Boniface, Sarasota.
February 18: Washington’s Birthday. Diocesan House is closed.

March 1: Parochial Report Deadline. Diocesan Canon II requires that “a certificate be filed with the Bishop’s Office.” Congregations who submit after this date are denied lay votes at diocesan convention. These congregations have until May 1 to have these votes restored.
This certificate needs to include:

•  A list of those who were elected to represent the congregation as lay delegates and lay alternates at the convention of the diocese to be held in October and that these people are qualified electors of the congregation.
•  A statement that the premiums for the preceding year to the Church Pension Fund on account of the clergy of the congregation have been fully paid.
•  Annual parochial report mailed to the diocese along with the revenue reconciliation report, outreach spending report and a copy of your income statement and balance sheet (You must file your parochial report only on-line with the national church office in New York).
•  The diocesan apportionment for the preceding calendar had been fully paid.

March 4: Manasota Deanery spring convocation, 7 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota.
March 11: Diocesan Finance Committee meeting at Diocesan House.
March 11: Fort Myers Deanery spring convocation, 7 p.m. at St. Hilary's, Fort Myers.
March 21: Good Friday. Diocesan House is closed
March 29: Diocesan Council meeting at DaySpring.(NOTE: this meeting date was moved to avoid a schedule conflict)

April 1: Names and addresses of vestry (or bishop’s committees) members must be reported to the bishop’s office by this day per diocesan Canon VII, sec. 1-3.
April 3: Tampa Deanery Spring Convocation, 7 p.m. at St. Catherine's Episcopal Church in Temple Terrace.
April 22: Venice Deanery Spring Convocation, 7 p.m. at St. James' Episcopal Church in Port Charlotte.
April 25: Province IV Synod

May 1: If a congregation did not file a complete parochial report by March 1, this is the deadline to restore lay votes privileges at diocesan convention.
May 3: Diocesan Council meeting, 9 a.m. at DaySpring Conference Center.
May 6: Naples Deanery Spring Convocation, 7 p.m. at St. Paul's Naples.
May 13: Diocesan Finance Committee meeting at Diocesan House.
May 26: Memorial Day. Diocesan House is closed.

June 10: Clergy Day at St. Mark's, Venice.
June 28: Diocesan Council meeting if needed.

July 4: Independence Day. Diocesan House is closed.
July 16 to August 4: Lambeth Conference

August 12: Diocesan Finance Committee meeting at Diocesan House.
August 19: Sixty days before diocesan convention. This is the deadline set by canon for amendments or additions to the canons. They may be sent to either the Diocesan Council of the Committee on Constitution and Canons. For the sake of practicality, you might want to send them to the bishop's office for distribution.
August 23: Diocesan Council meeting at DaySpring
August 26: Fort Myers Deanery fall convocation, 7 p.m. at St. Hilary's Episcopal Church, Fort Myers.

September 1: Labor Day. Diocesan House is closed. Also is the last day for audit reports for the fiscal year 2006. This is mandated by the Episcopal Church Title I, Canon 6, sec. 1. All reports not received by 4:30 p.m. are automatically referred to the Finance Committee.
September 2: St. Petersburg/Clearwater deaneries fall convocation, 7 p.m. at a location to be determined.
September 3: Naples Deanery fall convocation, 7 p.m..at a location to be determined.
September 4: Tampa Deanery fall convocation, 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Tampa.
September 8-10: Annual Fall Clergy Day.
September 11: Venice/Manasota Deanery fall convocation, 7 p.m. at a location to be determined.

September 18: Thirty days before diocesan convention. This is the deadline for:

• Official notice to each congregation and delegate of the time and place of convention;
• Copy of proposed amendments to canons be sent to all voting clergy and delegates;
• Copy of all other resolutions to be adopted to be send to voting clergy and delegates.
  
  For the sake of practicality, you might want to send resolutions to the bishop's office for distribution.

September 25-30: House of Bishops meeting.

October 13: Columbus Day. Diocesan House is closed.
October 16: Diocesan Council meeting (pre-convention agenda)
October 18: Diocesan Convention at Christ Church, Bradenton.

November 11: Veterans Day. Diocesan House is closed.
November 12: Diocesan Finance Committee meeting at Diocesan House.
November 22: Diocesan Council meeting at DaySpring
November 27-28: Thanksgiving holiday. Diocesan House is closed.

December 24: Christmas Eve. Diocesan House is closed.
December 25: Christmas Day. Diocesan House is closed.