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Lori Pattison

Governance Resources

Governance Resources 1198 1198 Lori Pattison

By Joe Riley, Phoenix Council Board Member

Good leadership is one of the keys to every successful organization.  With this in mind, the following are among the projects and materials the National Governance Committee has developed.  It is our hope that these will help everyone become a better servant leader whether as a Conference or Council President, Officer, member of the Board of Directors, or Committee member.

GOVERNANCE TRAINING – We’ve put together a Governance Training program.  Although we have presented this live in a few locations, we know this may not be practical for everyone and so we recorded a presentation (click here for the video link:  https://vimeo.com/showcase/9185786). Click here to download the training guidebook: https://members.ssvpusa.org/leadership/, then click on “If You Have A Board” to locate.

GOVERNANCE WEB PAGE– We’ve grouped much governance-related material into one convenient location.  Search this site for information you need.  The direct link to the governance web page is https://members.ssvpusa.org/governance/    When you open this site you’ll find a summary of each of the posted categories and a guide suggesting what documents you should review based on whether you are or are not in leadership and if you are in leadership, based on the position you hold.

MENTORING – We continue to place mentors for new Council Presidents and new CEOs/Executive Directors through our National Mentoring Program.

PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN CEOs/EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENTS – We prepared a paper that explores how to develop and maintain an effective relationship for the good of the Society.

SUCCESSION PLANNING – We also produced a paper titled “Who Me? Why In The World Should I Become A Vincentian Leader?” along with talking points and a list of resource materials.  There are significant personal benefits to being a Vincentian leader and the Society needs leaders.  Another paper titled “Succession Planning – A Brief Primer” offers guidance on this important subject.

RECOMMENDED SAMPLE POLICIES FOR NONPROFITS – All policies that appear here are meant to be examples of how such policies could read.  They are not meant to be adopted as is but rather to serve as examples only.

QUESTION & ANSWER MASTER INDEX – If you have a question ranging from the Rule to how best to operate a Conference or Council or the correct way to go about the day-to-day activities of a Vincentian, there’s a pretty good chance it’s been answered in Frederic’s e-Gazette.  For this reason we have a Master Index of questions previously asked and answered posted on the national website Governance page.

We suggest you take a look at the variety of leadership materials on the national website.  Take advantage of Leadership Training materials (click here https://members.ssvpusa.org/leadership-training/) and Leadership Mentoring (click here https://members.ssvpusa.org/leadership/).  Promote these materials among your fellow members.

We all belong to the Society because of a desire to help people, to live the Gospel message, and to grow in our faith.  It should follow then that as we provide assistance it be done in the best possible way, using best practices of our time, following the Society’s Rule, and complying with federal and state laws.  In this way we will ensure the good reputation of and the public’s confidence in the Society.

Save the Dates! Vincentian Heritage Pilgrimage 2025

Save the Dates! Vincentian Heritage Pilgrimage 2025 293 168 Lori Pattison

Paris: September 5-13, 2025

Join fellow Vincentians to walk the streets of Paris, visiting the churches of St Vincent, St Louise, Bl. Rosalie, and Bl. Frédéric. We’ll visit the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Frédéric’s beloved Sorbonne, the Rue Mouffetard, where Rosalie served the poor for 54 years, Sacré-Coeur, the tombs of all four of these Vincentian founders, and much more.

Lyon & Chatillon: September 13-15, 2025 (Optional Add-on)

In this optional add-on, we will visit the place where the Vincentian Family was born with the founding of the first Confraternity of Charity in 1617, and we will take a walking tour of Lyon, the city of Frédéric’s childhood.

 Your guides will be:

Ralph Middlecamp, 1st Vice President, International Council General

Tim Williams, Sr. Director, Formation & Leadership Development

 Sign Up to Receive More Details:

Send email to Tim Williams: twilliams@svdpusa.org

 

 

08-29-24 Weekly Questions & Answers

08-29-24 Weekly Questions & Answers 1200 628 Lori Pattison

Q: A recently deceased member of our Conference bequeathed a large donation to us. No decision has been made yet on how to use this donation. Is this hoarding?

A: Donors typically give funds to the Society to help those in need. Some bequest instruments have specific donor intentions, and these should be followed whenever possible.   Holding the funds in an interest-bearing account is NOT a violation of the Rule unless the Conference makes decisions not to help individuals in favor of earning interest in the bank.  Then it becomes hoarding.  Not deciding on how to use the funds leads to hoarding.  Unless specified otherwise, donors expect the funds to be spent in helping people in need as soon as practical.

The National Council recommends that Conferences consult with their next higher Council in accordance with the Rule, Part III Statute 24.  It is appropriate to make a plan to use the money in a limited time period, such as 5 years.  If the funds exceed the need of the Conference in the established time period, Conferences should consider using funds to support other Conferences less fortunate through domestic and international twinning, or perhaps helping with our national Disaster Services projects.

Q: What is the importance of sustainability when it comes to helping our neighbors in need? Should sustainability be questioned or sidelined during this period of financial uncertainty?

A:  Although sustainability is what we hope to achieve with those we serve, it is not the goal of the Society and not questioned.  It is our role to love those in need in the best way possible.  Sometimes we help people now because it is the right thing to do, even if it means they will come back to us next week.

P: Un miembro de nuestra Conferencia, recientemente fallecido, nos legó una gran donación. Todavía no se ha tomado una decisión sobre cómo utilizar esta donación. ¿Es esto acaparamiento?

R: Los donantes suelen dar fondos a la Sociedad para ayudar a las personas en necesidad. Algunos instrumentos de legado tienen intenciones específicas del donante, y estas deben seguirse siempre que sea posible.   Mantener los fondos en una cuenta que devenga intereses NO es una violación de la Regla a menos que la Conferencia tome decisiones de no ayudar a las personas en favor de ganar intereses en el banco.  Entonces se convierte en acaparamiento.  No decidir cómo usar los fondos conduce al acaparamiento.  A menos que se especifique lo contrario, los donantes esperan que los fondos se gasten en servir a las personas en necesidad tan pronto como sea posible.

El Consejo Nacional recomienda que las Conferencias consulten con su Consejo superior inmediato, de conformidad con la Regla, Parte III, Estatuto 24.  Es apropiado hacer un plan para usar el dinero en un período de tiempo limitado, como 5 años.  Si los fondos exceden las necesidades de la Conferencia en el período de tiempo establecido, las Conferencias deberían considerar el uso de fondos para apoyar a otras Conferencias menos afortunadas a través de hermanamientos nacionales e internacionales, o tal vez ayudando con nuestros proyectos nacionales de Servicios de Desastres.

P: ¿Cuál es la importancia de la sostenibilidad cuando se trata de servir a nuestros prójimos en necesidad? ¿Se debe cuestionar o dejar de lado la sostenibilidad durante este período de incertidumbre financiera?

R: Aunque la sostenibilidad es lo que esperamos lograr con aquellos a quienes servimos, no es el objetivo de la Sociedad y no se cuestiona.  Es nuestro papel amar a los necesitados de la mejor manera posible.  A veces ayudamos a las personas ahora porque es lo correcto, incluso si eso significa que volverán a nosotros la próxima semana.

 

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