NOTICE OF ELECTION: 2026
Secretary Trustee
This June 2026, the parishioners of Saint Gabriel will participate in the bi-annual Secretary Trustee Election. Our current Secretary Trustee, Julie Klein, has chosen to run for a third two-year term. However, additional nominations are being received through Monday, June 8, 2026.
Lay Trustees
Under Wisconsin civil law (187.19), each parish corporation is run by a board of five directors, also known as “trustees”, two of whom are lay people chosen from the active parishioners of the parish. These lay trustees always hold the offices of Treasurer and Secretary in the parish corporation, and are thus sometimes referred to as the “Treasurer Trustee” and “Secretary Trustee.”
Responsibilities of the Secretary Trustee
– The Secretary Trustee is a full, contributing member of the Parish Pastoral Council and its work.
– The Secretary Trustee represents the parish corporation as one member of the board of directors,
and assists the Pastor and parish corporation in the development and maintenance of accurate and
detailed parish corporate records including corporation minutes, documents, notices, proxies, and
correspondence.
– The Secretary Trustee is responsible for the corporate minutes from the annual meeting.
– The Secretary Trustee works with the Pastor and parish leadership to prepare the annual parish and
diocesan reports as required.
– The Secretary Trustee may be asked to review the annual parish budget together with the Pastor,
Treasurer Trustee, and Parish Finance Council.
– The Secretary Trustee may be asked to assist the Treasurer Trustee in the signing of checks for
disbursement of parish funds as needed.
– The Secretary Trustee signs the annual parish financial report sent to the diocese.
– The Secretary Trustee signs corporate documents, as required.
Monthly time commitment: Approx. 90 minutes (for monthly Pastoral Council Meeting)
Selection and Election of Lay Trustees
– The Pastor calls together an Election Committee to oversee the election.
– The selection of the nominees for trustee should be based on nominations from the parish members at
large. If several individuals are nominated for the post of trustee, the Pastor may use his discretion to
select nominees from those names put forward by the parish members at the time of nomination.
– At least ten (10) written nominations must be received from adult parishioners in good standing for a
person to be nominated. The Nomination Form is on the reverse side.
– The Pastor has the prerogative to put forward nominees; the Pastor has the prerogative to determine if
a nominee is in “good standing” with the parish.
– Trustees serve a maximum of three (3) two-year terms.
– Following the annual election, the results are sent to the Diocesan Bishop for approval. The Bishop
maintains the right to disapprove of an election result.
– Trustees must be 18 years of age or older, as well as fully initiated Catholics (baptized, confirmed,
and sharers in the Eucharist) who are in good standing with the parish.
– To avoid conflict of interest, trustees may not be immediate family (spouse, parent, child) of any parish
employee, other trustee, or member of the Parish Pastoral or Finance Councils.
The election will take place at Masses on the weekend of June 27-28. Because ballots are a legal document, they must be signed by the voter. Ballots are archived and kept strictly confidential.