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Leveraging National Council Resources for State Advocacy
Leveraging National Council Resources for State Advocacy 903 903 Jill Pioter

As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil famously stated, “All politics is local.” This year, SVdP Councils in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, and Michigan have utilized the National Council’s E-advocacy system Voter Voice to mobilize state advocates on homelessness, taxation, housing, and payday loans.

District Councils can make a big impact in their state legislature by mobilizing Vincentians to email their state legislators. We have seen success where local Councils are part of larger state coalitions that are vocal about a specific issue. Councils that work closely with their state Catholic Conferences on grassroots issues also see success.

In the four campaigns mentioned above, which last about 2 – 3 weeks each, have sent over 200 messages to state legislators and have resulted in 115 new advocates for St. Vincent de Paul. This was Georgia and Kentucky’s first foray into mobilizing advocates using Voter Voice, and their campaigns brought in the bulk of those 115 new advocates.

How do you get started?

State Diocesan/Archdiocesan presidents, District Council Presidents, Executive Director(s) are empowered to work on state legislative issues. When they agree to bring forward a potential grassroots campaign, they need to sign off on the campaign. They should notify their regional representative and Chair of the Voice for the Poor Committee and their Regional Vice President. Then they will work with Steve Uram, National Director of Poverty Programs, to draft the alert and the message to advocates and to the state legislators. You can find the process explained in our State and Advocacy Toolkit.

As Exodus 22:20-26 reminds us, we shall be judged if we oppress the poor or vulnerable — God will hear their cry. Let us build up the Kingdom of God with justice by advocating for our neighbors in need.

  • Jill Pioter

03-07-24 Questions & Answers
03-07-24 Questions & Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: I was told that our National Council has about 128 voting members. Do you know approximately how many votes can be cast at our General Council in Paris? 

A: In the U.S., there are 128 National Council Members eligible to vote at Midyear and National Assembly business meetings. According to The Rule, Part II, the Presidents of all instituted Superior (National) Councils or Assimilated Councils are voting members of the International Confederation. Assimilated Councils are lower-level Councils or Conferences that have been officially designated as representing the country where they are located. The Society is located in more than 150 countries and territories, so potentially there are more than 150 voting members.

Q: Is it proper for a Conference to take some funds from a bequest and place them into Certificates of Deposit (CDs) with different maturity dates?

A: It is okay to put money in CDs as long as there is a specific plan for reducing those funds to zero, such as building a new program or facility. Our purpose is not to build bank accounts or earn interest. The issue of hoarding comes into play when decisions are made to keep money in the bank instead of helping someone in need. Will the Conference readily cash in the CDs in order to help those in need, rather than allow the CDs to go to maturity? Conference funds are not to be used for “endowments” unless the funds were specifically collected for that purpose with the donor’s direction.

ESPAÑOL

P: Me dijeron que en nuestro Consejo Nacional hay alrededor de 128 votos que se pueden emitir. ¿Sabe usted aproximadamente cuántos votos se pueden emitir en nuestro Consejo General en París?

R: En los EE. UU. hay 128 miembros del Consejo Nacional elegibles para votar en las reuniones de negocios de mitad de año y de la Asamblea Nacional.

De acuerdo con la Regla, Parte II, los Presidentes de todos los Consejos Superiores (Nacionales) o Consejos Asimilados instituidos son miembros con derecho a voto de la Confederación Internacional. Los Consejos Asimilados son Consejos o Conferencias de nivel inferior que han sido designados oficialmente como representantes del país en el que se encuentran. Estamos ubicados en más de 150 países y territorios, por lo que potencialmente hay más de 150 miembros con derecho a voto.

 P: ¿Es apropiado que una Conferencia tome algunos fondos de un legado y los coloque en Certificados de Depósito (CD) con diferentes fechas de vencimiento?

R: Está bien poner dinero en certificados de depósito siempre y cuando haya un plan específico para reducir esos fondos a cero, como la construcción de un nuevo programa o instalación. Nuestro propósito no es crear cuentas bancarias ni ganar intereses.  El problema del acaparamiento entra en juego cuando se toman decisiones para mantener el dinero en el banco en lugar de ayudar a alguien que lo necesita. ¿Aceptará la Conferencia cobrar fácilmente los certificados de depósito para ayudar a los necesitados en lugar de permitir que los certificados de depósito lleguen a su vencimiento?  Los fondos de la conferencia no deben utilizarse para un “fondo dotacional” a menos que los fondos se hayan recaudado específicamente para ese propósito con la aprobación del donante.

  • Jill Pioter

02-29-24 Questions & Answers
02-29-24 Questions & Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Resolution 114 says that a Conference can be “suspended” and mentions an appeal process. But I’m not finding anything that tells us what needs to be done to suspend a Conference. For example, if a Conference refused to give us annual financial reports, according to Resolution 114, they can be suspended. But who tells them? Is it a local decision (e.g., Archdiocesan Council)? Does it have to be in writing, etc.? Guidance? Where do I find this information?

A: Only the National President may suspend a member or a Conference. Here’s the process. The Council must submit a letter to the National Vice President for the region showing the specifics of why the Conference should be suspended/dissolved. This letter must also include everything that was done to correct the situation. If convinced the information is sufficient, the National Vice President will submit the suspension request to the National President. If the National Vice President or the National President is not satisfied with the information given, he/she will advise the next steps. If the National Vice President does not feel that the information is sufficient and refuses to forward to the National President, the Council may appeal directly to the National President.

Q: Our store has been up and running successfully for a while. We now are getting a large number of “walk-in” friends in need. We have hired a current Vincentian who is experienced with the Home Visit process as an intake coordinator. We will continue to use the Home Visit process, but will have the coordinator do intake documentation, refer to other sources of help, coordinate volunteers for Home Visits, and handle immediate service for basic human needs emergencies.
We would greatly appreciate any documentation on position descriptions, words of wisdom, or other guidelines to get started with this process. 

A: Here are some considerations:

  1. You are hiring a Vincentian to be the intake coordinator, which means this individual will not be eligible for a role as an officer of the Conference. Paid staff are not allowed to be officers. This person can still be a member, but not an officer.
  2. The interview and decisions for assistance should be done by two Vincentians, with someone working with the intake coordinator during interviews to decide what basic assistance should be provided.
  3. There is no national documentation such as a job description describing an intake coordinator.

ESPAÑOL

P: La Resolución 114 dice que una Conferencia puede ser “suspendida” y habla de un proceso de apelación. Pero no encuentro nada que nos diga lo que hay que hacer para suspender una Conferencia. Por ejemplo, si una Conferencia se niega a presentarnos informes financieros anuales, de acuerdo con la Resolución 114 puede ser suspendida. Pero ¿quién se lo dice? ¿Es una decisión local (por ejemplo, el Consejo Arquidiocesano)? ¿Tiene que ser por escrito, etc.? ¿Orientación? ¿Dónde puedo encontrar esta información?

R: El Consejo debe presentar una carta al Vicepresidente Nacional de la Región en la que se indiquen los detalles de por qué la Conferencia debe suspenderse o disolverse. Esta carta también debe incluir todo lo que se hizo para corregir la situación. El Vicepresidente Nacional, si está convencido de que la información es suficiente, presentará la solicitud de suspensión al Presidente Nacional. Si el Vicepresidente Nacional o el Presidente Nacional no están satisfechos con la información proporcionada, aconsejarán los próximos pasos. Si el Vicepresidente Nacional considera que la información no es suficiente y se niega a transmitirla al Presidente Nacional, el Consejo puede apelar directamente al Presidente Nacional. Sólo el Presidente Nacional puede suspender a un miembro o a una Conferencia.

P: Nuestra tienda estuvo funcionando con éxito durante un tiempo. Ahora estamos recibiendo un gran número de prójimos que necesitan ayuda “sin cita previa”. Hemos contratado a uno de nuestros Vicentinos actuales, que tiene experiencia en el proceso de Visitas Domiciliarias, como “coordinador de admisión”. Continuaremos usando el proceso de Visitas Domiciliarias, pero haremos que el coordinador haga la documentación de admisión, refiera a otras fuentes de ayuda, coordine a los voluntarios para las visitas domiciliarias y maneje el servicio inmediato para emergencias de necesidades humanas básicas.
Agradeceríamos mucho cualquier documentación sobre descripciones de puestos, palabras de sabiduría u otras pautas para comenzar con este proceso.

R: Estas son algunas consideraciones:

  1. ¿Está contratando a un Vicentino para que sea el coordinador de admisión? Esto significa que esa persona no podrá desempeñar el cargo de miembro de la Mesa Directiva de la Conferencia. El personal remunerado no puede ser funcionario. Esta persona puede seguir siendo miembro, pero no funcionario.
  2. La entrevista y las decisiones de asistencia deben ser realizadas por dos Vicentinos, con alguien que trabaje con el coordinador de admisión durante las entrevistas para decidir qué asistencia básica se brindará.
  3. No existe documentación nacional, como una descripción del puesto de trabajo que describa a un coordinador de documentación de admisión.
  • Jill Pioter

How Can Facebook and Instagram Help My Thrift Store?
How Can Facebook and Instagram Help My Thrift Store? 1200 628 Jill Pioter

By Bryan Engel, Director of Operations
Diocesan Council of Pittsburgh, Eastern Region

If your Marketing budget is on the lower end (or nonexistent), you may not feel like there are any opportunities to promote your stores. What can you do if you cannot afford billboards, radio, TV, or even newspapers? Have you tried free social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram? For thrift stores, these platforms offer opportunities to connect with customers, showcase products, and ultimately drive sales. Let’s explore the benefits of social media marketing (particularly on Facebook and Instagram) for thrift stores:

1. Increased Visibility and Brand Awareness (free)

Social media platforms boast billions of active users worldwide, providing thrift stores with an expansive audience to showcase their unique offerings. By maintaining an active presence on Facebook and Instagram, thrift stores can increase their visibility and reach a larger audience beyond their physical location. Consistent posting, engaging content, and strategic use of hashtags can help boost brand awareness and attract potential customers to your store. What is consistent posting? At least three posts per week — at most, 3 – 4 posts per day.

2. Showcase Unique Inventory (free)

The great thing about the inventory  in your store is that you only have ONE of that item. Use Facebook and Instagram to create FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). If someone wanted to buy an item that they missed out on, they will be checking their feeds more regularly for the deals and inventory that you have to offer. So, make sure that you are posting those rare finds.

3. Targeted Advertising (paid)

One of the most powerful features of social media marketing is the ability to target specific demographics based on interests, location, and behavior. Thrift stores can leverage this feature to tailor their advertising efforts and reach audiences most likely to be interested in their products. By refining targeting parameters, thrift stores can ensure their marketing efforts are reaching the right audience, maximizing the return on investment.

For our Mattress ad in Pittsburgh, we targeted: 10-mile radius from each store,
less than $50k income, and looking to purchase a mattress or box spring within the next year.
For the store’s ad, we targeted specific zip codes around each store.

4. Engage with Customers and Build Community (free)

Social media platforms foster two-way communication, allowing thrift stores to engage directly with customers and build a sense of community around their brand. Responding to comments, messages, and tags promptly demonstrates excellent customer service and encourages meaningful interactions. Building a loyal online community not only drives repeat business but also generates word-of-mouth referrals as satisfied customers share their experiences with others.

5. Drive Traffic to Physical Store Locations and E-commerce Platforms (free)

While social media provides a platform for showcasing products, its ultimate goal for thrift stores is to drive traffic to physical store locations or e-commerce platforms. Incorporating location tags, store hours, and directions into posts makes it easier for customers to find and visit the store.

If you need help with writing your ads or promoting your stores, I suggest Chat GPT or an outside agency. In Pittsburgh, I use Chat GPT (a free and paid service … I use the free version) to write or give me ideas on the best way to reach customers or write a message. You can also search your local area for advertising options. Overall, there are a lot of advertising opportunities out there. If you are not doing it now, you need to find the time to start. Social media is a FREE option that will benefit your stores immediately.

Hopefully you or another SVdP Council/Conference/Store member will be attending the Mid-Year Meeting in St. Louis, MO in March. Please consider attending the Stores Meeting on Wednesday.  Agenda here.

  • Jill Pioter

02-22-24 Questions & Answers
02-22-24 Questions & Answers 150 150 Jill Pioter

Q: Is there a particular protocol to follow when a friend in need threatens to harm him/herself?

A: For members of the Society, there is no legal obligation to report such findings. There is a moral obligation when there is strong suspicion or if the behavior is witnessed. This question should be presented to your diocese, who can give helpful contact numbers for referral.

Q: A member of my Conference said our region’s National Vice President does not have a vote at the National level. Can you verify this?

A: According to National Council Bylaws, each of the nine Regional Vice Presidents is a voting member of the National Board of Directors. However, the Regional Vice Presidents do not have a vote on the National Council. The voting members of the National Council are the National President and the duly elected National Council Members (each representing a Catholic Diocese where the Society is present).

ESPAÑOL

P: ¿Hay algún protocolo particular a seguir cuando un prójimo en necesidad amenaza con hacerse daño a sí mismo?

R: Para los miembros de la Sociedad, no existe ninguna obligación legal de informar sobre tales hallazgos. Existe una obligación moral cuando hay una fuerte sospecha o si el comportamiento es presenciado. Esta pregunta debe ser presentada a su Consejo Diocesano, quien puede proporcionar números de contacto útiles para la referencia.

P: Un miembro de mi Conferencia dijo que el Vicepresidente Nacional de nuestra región no tiene voto a nivel Nacional. ¿Puede usted verificarlo?

R: De acuerdo con los Estatutos del Consejo Nacional, cada uno de los nueve Vicepresidentes Regionales es un miembro con derecho a voto de la Mesa Directiva Nacional. Sin embargo, los Vicepresidentes Regionales no tienen voto en el Consejo Nacional. Los miembros con derecho a voto del Consejo Nacional son el Presidente Nacional y los miembros del Consejo Nacional debidamente elegidos (cada uno representando a una Diócesis Católica donde la Sociedad está presente).

  • Jill Pioter

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Bylaws: What They Are and Why They Matter
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Bylaws: What They Are and Why They Matter 1200 628 Jill Pioter

The original Bylaws presentation was developed and presented by John Berry.
This article was written by Mike Syslo.

The Boring Stuff

What are Bylaws? Bylaws are a nonprofit’s operating manual. Bylaws (or Bylaws and Articles of Organization) are the main governing document for a nonprofit organization. They are the main official documents of an organization, nonprofit or for-profit. One of the important things to remember about Bylaws is that the operations of your organization must be in line with what you say they are in the Bylaws and Articles.

The purpose of the Bylaws is to guide the nonprofit Board’s actions and decisions. They are helpful in preventing or resolving conflicts and disagreements. They can protect the organization from potential problems by clearly outlining rules on authority levels, rights and expectations.

If the Board of Directors fails to follow the Bylaws, it can be held liable for breaching its duty to the organization. Breach of duty can cause a significant liability for the Board of Directors. Breach of duty can also result in the organization losing its nonprofit, tax-exempt status. The loss of nonprofit status would mean a loss of tax deductibility for donors and the need for the organization to pay taxes on their income.

“Bylaws determine how an organization is structured. For example, most Bylaws specify whether an organization has members, define the duties of officers and Board members, and identify standing Board committees. An important function of Bylaws (if this matter is not covered in the Articles) is to specify how Board members are selected.” (BoardSource)

What About the Rule?

All groups require rules for effective operation. Our Rule is drawn from the lives and experience of all Vincentians throughout the world. It describes the elements that are needed to maintain the unity of the Society. There is no group or organization that exists without some set of rules.

In 1835, two years after its founding, the Society formulated its Rule, a series of Articles based upon the practical experiences of the first Vincentians. The Rule of the Society has continued as the guide and blueprint for the Society for the past 191 years. This, alone, is a tribute to its efficacy and to the Holy Spirit who inspired it. The Rule has gone through a few modifications over those many years, but the essential spirit of the Society that is reflected in the Articles and Statutes is the same as in the first Rule.

Bylaws and the Rule: The Relationship

Bylaws are significant written rules by which an organization is governed. They determine how the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is structured and, along with state law, determine the rights of participants in the structure.

Membership in the National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. requires that every organizational unit (Conference and Council) have Bylaws. Prior to 2003, the Rule included both the philosophy of the Society and its structure and responsibilities. Since 2003, philosophy has been in the Rule and the structure and responsibilities have been in the Bylaws. Having the original format of the Rule split into two separate documents has caused the need for all Conferences and Councils to adopt a set of Bylaws and operate in accord with both Rule and Bylaws.

Conferences and Councils must maintain their Bylaws (including any and all amended Articles) in updated and amended form. The Conference or Council must keep a copy of their Bylaws together with the Rule document (The Manual 1.3). In addition, the next higher Council should have a copy of the Bylaws. For example, a District Council should have a copy of the Bylaws of each of its Conferences. The Diocesan Council should have a copy of the Bylaws of each of its District Councils.

The Rule is the paramount authority of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Should any bylaw, rule or regulation adopted by a Conference or Council conflict with the Rule and statutes of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as now promulgated or hereafter adopted by the Council General International or the National Council of the United States, such bylaw, rule or regulation shall be void and of no effect (The Manual 1.3). This needs to be very clear in everybody’s mind. You cannot put anything into the Bylaws that in any way conflicts with the Rule or Nationally Approved Bylaws. If a conflict exists, the Bylaws will be rejected by the next higher Council and you may not proceed with them.

BUT – Bylaws have been created to be used by SVdP entities across the country and as such do not include language that may be required by your state and local law (see listing of multiple versions of Bylaws on page three). It is strongly advised that legal advice be sought from a local attorney concerning matters such as the following: non-discrimination policy language, tax-exemption requirements, and any other areas of the Bylaws in which modification of the language is necessary in order to be in alignment with applicable state and local law. As of this date, we have not found anything of substance in the Nationally Approved Bylaws that conflict with state and local law.

Since the Bylaws have been developed to be in conformity with the Rule of the Society, Bylaws should be modified only to address alignment to state and local law (Bylaws Introduction, SVdP USA).

Where Did Our Bylaws Come From?

 In 2003, the Council General International approved an updated version of the Rule of the Society. Each separate Superior/National Council was invited to draft their own Part III of the Rule to define the items of the Rule that are unique to each country. This new version of Part III of the Rule for the United States was different from the former Rule in that details of structure and governance were removed. Those details were then placed in Bylaws which varied with each type of SVdP structure within the United States. Placing the structure and governance concerns of the Society into a separate document has forced Conferences and Councils to adopt an appropriate set of Bylaws for their use.

The Bylaws documents were approved by the National Council Members at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s 2005 Annual Meeting and have been revised as needed (last in 2021) so that good governance policies are in place and are in compliance with:

  • The Rule of the Society,
  • The Charter of the Society (a.k.a. Articles of Incorporation),
  • Bylaws of the National Council while leaving flexibility for compliance with national and state laws that govern charities.

 How Many Kinds of Bylaws Are There for Councils and Conferences?

 Because of the possible structures that exist for unincorporated and incorporated Conferences and Councils, multiple versions had to be created. There is one set of Bylaws for the National Council and three sets of Bylaws to choose from for each Conference, District Council and Diocesan Council.

  • BYLAWS for Conferences without a Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for Conferences with a Separate Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for District Councils with a Separate Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils with a Separate Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for the National Council
  • BYLAWS for District Councils with an Integrated Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils with an Integrated Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for District Councils without a Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils without a Board of Directors
  • BYLAWS for Conferences with an Integrated Board of Directors

 Why Do We Need These? Let’s Just Follow the Rule.

Because Bylaws may be cumbersome, they are frequently neglected or even disregarded as a tool for governance. They are, however, essential to maintaining order and propriety within the organization.

SVdP governing entities must pay careful attention to Bylaws. They can take on added importance during governance disputes centering on the way an organization is carrying out its mission. These disputes can take many forms:

  • A non-conforming entity needs dissolution.
  • A Board member who is voted out of office seeks reinstatement.
  • A dissident group within the organization attempts to gain control or a faction mounts a legal challenge to a Board decision.

In these difficult situations, carefully-crafted Bylaws, and adherence to them, can help ensure the fairness of governance decisions and provide protection against legal challenges.

Bylaws determine how SVdP is structured. Bylaws specify whether an organization has members, define the duties of officers and Board members, and identify standing Board committees.

An important function of Bylaws (if this matter is not covered in the Articles of Incorporation) is to specify how Board members are selected. This, along with the specification of the maximum number of Board members, determines how workable as a team the governing body is.

Bylaws, along with state law, determine the rights of participants in the structure, such as the rights of members to be notified of meetings, the rights of Board members or officers whom others may want to remove from office and the rights of Board members to indemnification.

Bylaws determine many procedures by which rights can be exercised. For example, Bylaws may require a certain form of notice for meetings, or they may specify whether Board meetings can be held by telephone or whether elections can be conducted by mail. Other procedures defined in Bylaws pertain to the election/selection of officers.

 The Fun Stuff – Some Real Situations

1. The Board of the Diocesan Council, in putting together its slate of officers for the next year has asked Christi to serve as Vice President. Christi has been on the Board for the last three years and they all think she’d be a good fit for the VP job. Christi started volunteering with SVdP when her Church, United Methodist, partnered with the Council on their Food Pantry.

Bylaws issue or Rule issue?

This is both a Bylaws issue and a Rule issue. Christi is non-Catholic and cannot serve as an officer. The President of the Diocesan Council appoints the officers after consultation with the District Presidents – not the Board.

2. Christopher was just elected as President of the Council. He has never gotten along with Gracie, the ED; so right after he is installed as President, he fires her and puts Jake in the job.

Bylaws issue or Rule issue?

This is a Bylaws issue. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors (not the President) to hire and fire the ED/CEO.

3. The new President of the St. Frederic Ozanam Conference presents his new officers to the Conference at his first meeting. Tom raises an objection to the new Treasurer and Secretary and says he will not support them. Others in the room agree.

Bylaws issue or Rule issue?
Bonus issue!

This is a Bylaws issue, a Rule issue and an Aggregation issue. The President appoints the officers after consultation with the Conference. “Consultation with” does not mean “approval by.” The President may decide that the objections are not sufficient for a change in choice. The Conference must work as a team and refusing to support the officers is not an option. Also, it may have been overlooked, but Frederic Ozanam has not yet been canonized — he is Blessed Frederic. In addition, unless the parish in which the Conference resides is named for Frederic Ozanam, Conferences are prohibited from having his name. The same holds true for “St. Vincent de Paul.”

4. At the regular second meeting of the month, Katie, a member of the St. Mary’s Conference and a member of the parish staff, tells the Conference members that the Church’s A/C system has broken and it’s going to cost the parish $60,000 for a replacement system. The Conference President suggests that the Conference use $10,000 from its bank account to “help the parish defray the cost.”

Bylaws issue or Rule issue?

This is a Rule issue. Conferences and Councils are prohibited from giving donations to (and this includes raising funds for) outside organizations no matter how worthy the cause may be. The parish is an outside organization. The funds of the Society must be used for the purposes of the Society.

In Summary

 Because your Conference or Council uses the National Council’s trademarked name “Society of St. Vincent de Paul” with the express permission of and a limited license issued by the National Council, the Bylaws adopted by your Conference or Council must be formally approved.

Conferences must have their Bylaws approved by their District Council. The District Council Bylaws must be approved by the Archdiocesan/Diocesan Council. Archdiocesan/Diocesan Council Bylaws must be approved by the National Vice President for the Region.

  • Jill Pioter

02-15-24 Questions & Answers
02-15-24 Questions & Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Who makes up the executive board of a Conference? 

A: The vast majority of all Conferences use Bylaws document 1. Therefore, there is normally no executive board for Conferences. The Manual and Rule speak of a Conference board. This is not a formal Board of Directors.  It is also not an executive board which has specific authority granted to it. The Conference board is simply the slate of officers (President, Vice President(s), Secretary, and Treasurer). They have no specific authority other than representation of the Conference and requirement to fulfill specific tasks. All decisions are made by the Active Members of the Conference as a whole.

However, if the Conference is incorporated separately (using Bylaws document 2 or 10), there may be legal requirements for a formal board of directors, and the word “Executive” is used for an Executive Committee, a governance subset of the Board. This board membership should be in the same manner as the non-incorporated Conference board unless specifically required otherwise by state nonprofit etc., laws.

 Q: Can you give me some examples of how The Rule was changed several years ago in regard to more emphasis on spirituality?

A:  In the old Rule and Manual, there were essentially less than a handful of mentions of spirituality. The second chapter in Part I addressed spirituality. The Rule also briefly indicates the need for a Spiritual Advisor. The Conference meeting agenda also included a spiritual reading and discussion. The Manual also had occasional mentions of spirituality.

In the new Rule, Part I has several Articles (2.1 through 2.6) specifically related to spirituality. Part I continues with additional articles spread throughout referencing our relationship to the Church and the Church’s social teachings. Part III addresses spirituality in the first four statutes and then liberally throughout the rest of Part III. The Manual devotes essentially the entire second half of the book to spirituality.

ESPAÑOL

P: ¿Quiénes conforman la Mesa Ejecutiva de una Conferencia?

R: La gran mayoría de las Conferencias utilizan el documento 1 de los Estatutos. Por lo tanto, normalmente no hay una Mesa Ejecutiva para las Conferencias. El Manual y el Reglamento hablan de un Conferencia con Mesa Directiva. Esta no es una Mesa Directiva formal. Tampoco es una Mesa Ejecutiva la que se le otorguen facultades específicas. La Mesa Directiva de la Conferencia es simplemente la lista de funcionarios (Presidente, Vicepresidente(s), Secretario y Tesorero). No tienen ninguna autoridad específica más allá de la representación de la Conferencia y el requisito de cumplir tareas específicas. Todas las decisiones son tomadas por los Miembros Activos de la Conferencia en su conjunto.

Sin embargo, si la Conferencia se incorpora por separado (utilizando el documento 2 o 10 de los Estatutos), puede haber requisitos legales para una Mesa Directiva formal, la palabra “Ejecutiva” se usa para un Comité Ejecutivo, un subconjunto de gobernanza de la Mesa Directiva. La membresía de la Mesa Ejecutiva debe ser de la misma manera que la Mesa Directiva de la Conferencia no incorporada, a menos que las leyes estatales sin fines de lucro, etc., exijan específicamente lo contrario.

P: ¿Puede darme algunos ejemplos de cómo se cambió La Regla hace varios años con respecto a un mayor énfasis en la espiritualidad?

R: En la antigua Regla y Manual, había esencialmente menos de un puñado de menciones de espiritualidad. El segundo capítulo de la primera parte abordó la espiritualidad. La Regla también indica brevemente la necesidad de un Consejero Espiritual. La agenda de la reunión de la Conferencia también incluyó una lectura espiritual y una discusión. El Manual también contenía menciones ocasionales a la espiritualidad.

En la nueva Regla, la Parte I tiene varios artículos (2.1 a 2.6) específicamente relacionados con la espiritualidad.  La primera parte continúa con artículos adicionales que hacen referencia a nuestra relación con la Iglesia y las enseñanzas sociales de la Iglesia.  La Parte III aborda la espiritualidad en los primeros cuatro estatutos y luego liberalmente en el resto de la Parte III.  El Manual dedica esencialmente toda la segunda mitad del libro a la espiritualidad.

 

  • Jill Pioter

 Helping Others Serve the Poor
 Helping Others Serve the Poor 1200 628 Jill Pioter

(Excerpted from Vincentian Life: Conference)

When someone considers reaching out to help the poor and calls the parish office for a contact person or organization, the name given is usually someone involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Conference. Why? It is because they are active, visible, and available. They are the ones to contact who will channel the desire to serve or volunteer in the right direction. For it is by our visibility within the parish community, not our anonymity, that we help others come to serve the poor.

At the Conference Level

Being Active

Active Members of the Society are actively involved in the works of the Conference, and at least knowledgeable if not involved in the work of the District and Diocesan Councils. We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” That busy person may not be able to help, but he or she usually will know where to send someone to get help.

Being Visible

Each of us, regardless of the talents God has given us, can be a leader. We lead by example. Even the most introverted among us can lead by doing — doing the Conference food and clothing drives, bundle Sundays, Christmas programs, and all the other activities that the parish Conference is involved with.

Through the parish bulletin let your fellow parishioners know what you are doing and how you are serving the poor. This gives others ideas on how they can help. Monthly news items in the parish bulletin about Conference activities are recommended. Monthly news items, consistently appearing over several years, begin to make a lasting impression.

Give the people in your parish a name (a person to contact) or a telephone number (office or Conference number – not a member’s personal number) and repeat that often. If you have a good thing going (and we do), tell the world. People like to join an organization that is active, with lots of things happening.

You also need to make known the needs of the Society as well as the Conference, along with the opportunity to help the poor. We have a message of hope for the poor. We also have a way to help, for those who aren’t poor.

Being Available

To be available is to make a great gift — the gift of your time. The work of the Society is, according to the Rule, subordinate to your commitments within your family and job. So your “available” time comes out of your recreation or “fun” time, and that’s the sacrifice.

Many Conference members are available to the poor but aren’t willing to talk about what they do for others. Some of us aren’t instinctively saleswomen and salesmen, but we must all become communicators. There are people in the parish and outside world who want to know the what, why, where and how of what we do. We need to tell them. Everything we do requires volunteers to make it work and enthusiasm to make it happen. Once others hear about these things, they too can be a part of it.

At the Upper Council Level

The work of the Society often meshes with the objectives of other groups, even commercial organizations. Mutually-beneficial activities can be scheduled that serve the needs of these groups and the poor at the same time. Even activities which appear self-serving (e.g., the professional athlete showing up to serve in a charity dining room) can have many beneficial effects. The poor can thrill to see the star, and the athlete can have his heart touched by what he sees and begin to take a deeper interest in the poor and the work of the Society.

Other community groups, such as those dealing with domestic violence, can find their efforts flower when they join with the Society to serve those who are suffering. In a synergistic effect, Vincentians are able to do their work better and more productively while the other groups can extend their assistance into more troubled homes.

Contacts with CEOs or large business interests are probably out of the reach of the average Conference. However, if that CEO or business executive is a member of your parish community or a personal friend, who knows what can be achieved?

Who knows what initial contact got Eddie Basha (owner of a food store chain), Bill Keane (popular cartoonist), Joe Garagiola (baseball player and commentator) or Mohammed Ali (champion boxer) involved with the Society? Perhaps it was simply a Vincentian enthusiastically talking about our work with someone they knew only as a friend or neighbor.

Leadership by example. Active. Visible. Available. You can do all four.

  • Jill Pioter

02-01-24 Questions & Answers
02-01-24 Questions & Answers 150 150 Jill Pioter

Q: As a Conference, can we limit the amount of money we pledge to those we serve, and can we put a limit on how many times a year we can serve the same person?

A: This question goes to the heart of the Principle of Subsidiarity. These are decisions that should be made at the local Conference level, based on the circumstances unique to that Conference. What resources exist? What number of people are seeking support? How many Vincentians are available to provide quality encounters with the people being served? All these questions can only be answered by the Conference members. So the decision is yours; it is not mandated by the higher-level Councils or by the National Council. However, as you prayerfully discern what to do, you should also treat each case on its own merit. While determining the amount of assistance to give (based on the request and resources available), and saving funds for people who might come in the future might seem prudent, consider that that is not what our Lord is asking us to do. He asks us to love the one in need who is sitting here in front of us, in the best way possible. If you place an arbitrary limit on the amount, then you cannot fulfill what our Lord is asking.

As far as the number of times a year to serve the same person, the same criteria essentially holds true. If you limit the number of times, then you turn people away before you even hear about their circumstances and what they are asking for. You don’t have to say “yes” to every request, but listen and to be open to helping in any way possible. St. Vincent asks us to be “creative to infinity.” Remember that providing service does not always mean giving money. Listening and prayer are also two essential services Vincentians provide  — hopefully without limits.

Q:  The LDS church has contacted our Conference offering volunteers to help with our service. I know there are major doctrine differences, so we would like to know how SVdP responds to such a request.

A: Members of the LDS church (as well as others) can be Associate Members, meaning they can participate in the works and possibly attend meetings (without a vote), but they cannot be officers. If your Conference has special works, such as a pantry or a store, they can assist as volunteers in that.  If your Conference has special seasonal programs such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, they can help with that.  Primarily, non-Catholic Associate Members help us with our works of service.

ESPAÑOL

P: Como Conferencia, ¿podemos limitar la cantidad de dinero que prometemos a aquellos a quienes servimos, y podemos poner un límite a la cantidad de veces al año que podemos servir a la misma persona?

R: Esta pregunta va al corazón de lo que realmente es el principio de subsidiariedad. Se trata de decisiones que deben adoptarse a nivel de la Conferencia local en función de las circunstancias propias de esa Conferencia. ¿Qué recursos existen? ¿Cuántas personas buscan apoyo? ¿Cuántos Vicentinos están disponibles para proporcionar encuentros de calidad con las personas a las que sirve? Todas estas preguntas sólo pueden ser respondidas por los miembros de la Conferencia. Por lo tanto, la decisión es suya, no es una disposición de los Consejos de nivel superior ni del Consejo Nacional. Sin embargo, a medida que discierne en oración lo que va a hacer, también debe tratar cada caso por sus propios méritos. Si bien tomar su decisión en cuanto a la cantidad de ayuda que debe dar en función de lo que se solicita y los recursos que tiene disponibles, y ahorrar fondos para las personas que podrían venir en el futuro puede parecer prudente, considere que eso no es lo que nuestro Señor nos está pidiendo que hagamos. Nos pide que amemos al necesitado que está sentado aquí frente a nosotros de la mejor manera posible. Si pones un límite arbitrario a la cantidad, entonces no puedes cumplir con lo que nuestro Señor está pidiendo.

En cuanto al número de veces al año que se debe atender a la misma persona, se emplean esencialmente los mismos criterios. Si limita el número de veces, entonces rechaza a las personas, incluso antes de escuchar lo que están pidiendo y sus circunstancias. No tienes que decir “sí” a todas las solicitudes, escuche y este abierto a ayudar de cualquier manera posible. San Vicente nos pide que seamos “creativos hasta el infinito”. Recuerde que prestar un servicio no siempre significa “dar dinero”, la escucha y la oración también son dos servicios esenciales que brindan los Vicentinos sin límites.

P: La iglesia mormona se ha puesto en contacto con nuestra Conferencia ofreciendo voluntarios para ayudar con nuestro servicio. Sé que hay grandes diferencias doctrinales, por lo que me gustaría saber cómo responde SVdP a tal solicitud.

R: Los miembros de la iglesia mormona (así como otros) pueden ser miembros asociados, lo que significa que pueden participar en los trabajos y posiblemente asistir a las reuniones (sin voto), pero no pueden ser Oficiales. Si su Conferencia tiene Trabajos Especiales, como un almacén de despensa o una tienda, pueden ayudar como voluntarios en eso. Si su Conferencia tiene programas especiales de temporada, como el Día de Acción de Gracias o Navidad, pueden ayudar con eso también. Principalmente, los Miembros Asociados no católicos nos ayudan con nuestros trabajos de servicio.

  • Jill Pioter

2024 SVdP Events Calendar
2024 SVdP Events Calendar 576 216 Jill Pioter

Journeying Together
Adapt to a Changing World

Save the Dates!

  • March 14 – 16: Midyear Business Meeting
    Hyatt Regency at the Arch
    St. Louis, MO
  • April 19 – 21: Southeast Regional Meeting
    Embassy Suites Greenville
    Greenville, SC
  • May 3 – 5: Northeast Regional Meeting
    Hilton Albany Hotel
    Albany, NY
  • May 16 – 18: West Regional Meeting
    Doubletree Hilton Sacramento
    Sacramento, CA
  • June 14 – 15: Mideast Regional Meeting
    Radisson Hotel Cincinnati
    Covington, KY
  • June 19 – 22: South Central Regional Meeting
    Omni Las Colinas Hotel
    Dallas, TX
  • June 20 – 22: North Central Regional Meeting
    Holiday Inn Sioux Falls
    Sioux Falls, SD
  • June 28 – 29: Midwest Regional Meeting
    Embassy Suites Des Moines
    Des Moines, IA
  • July 10 – 14: Invitation for Renewal
    Pallottine Retreat Center
    Florissant, MO
  • July 12 – 13: Mid-Atlantic (Eastern) Regional Meeting
    Bon Secours Retreat Center
    Marriottsville, MD
  • August 14 – 17: 2024 National Assembly
    Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
    Phoenix, AZ
  • November 13 – 17: Invitation for Renewal
    Pallottine Retreat Center
    Florissant, MO
  • TBD: Mountain Regional Meeting
    Info Coming Soon

Click here for more information and hotel booking.

Please note that our regionals have changed this year. Please see the regional map to be certain you know your current region.

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