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Pam Hudson

08-01-24 Weekly Questions & Answers

08-01-24 Weekly Questions & Answers 1200 628 Pam Hudson

Q: My Conference is now on Facebook and has a Twitter account, (this) in addition to our website. Is it okay for us to use the Society’s logo for our avatar in these mediums and for all official business?

A: All Conferences and Councils in good standing with the National Council can use the Society’s trademarks, which include logos, for official SVdP work. These cannot be assigned to third parties.

Q: A Conference president resigned after serving only 2 months. Another president was elected and served the remaining 10 months, and subsequently served another 3 yr. term. Is that same president permitted to preside for another term?  

A: Yes, the president in office is eligible to serve a second term. However, his/her first term should have been 10 months the first year and two subsequent years make up the first term. Please refer to your Conference bylaws, as stated under heading, Extraordinary Circumstances, “The newly elected President’s term of office begins on the date of election to that position and installation occurs at the next Corporation Board meeting or on October 1st of that year, whichever is first. If the term begins prior to October 1st, irrespective of the months involved, the period of time prior to October 1st is counted as the first year with the remaining two years of a three-year term of office beginning October 1st of that year.”

P: Mi Conferencia ya está en Facebook y tiene una cuenta de Twitter, además de nuestro sitio web. ¿Está bien si utilizamos el logotipo de la Sociedad como avatar en estos medios y para todos los asuntos oficiales?

R: Todas las Conferencias y Consejos que estén al dia con las reglas del Consejo Nacional pueden utilizar las marcas registradas de la Sociedad, que incluyen logotipos, para el trabajo oficial de la SVDP. Estas marcas no pueden ser cedidas a terceros.

P: El Presidente de una Conferencia renunció después de cumplir sólo dos meses de su mandato. Se eligió a otro Presidente, cumplió los diez meses restantes y, posteriormente, cumplió otro mandato de tres años. ¿Se le permite a ese mismo Presidente presidir durante otro mandato?

R: Sí, el Presidente en el cargo es elegible para cumplir un segundo mandato. Sin embargo, su primer mandato debería haber sido de 10 meses el primer año y dos años siguientes constituyen el primer mandato. Por favor, consulte los estatutos de su conferencia, como se indica en el encabezado, Circunstancias Extraordinarias, “El mandato del Presidente recién elegido comienza en la fecha de la elección a ese cargo y la instalación se produce en la próxima reunión de la Junta de la Corporación o el primero de octubre de ese año, lo que ocurra primero. Si el período comienza antes del primero de octubre, independientemente de los meses involucrados, el período de tiempo anterior al primero de octubre se cuenta como el primer año con los dos años restantes de un mandato de tres años que comienza el primero de octubre de ese año”.

Announcing Our Next National Council CEO

Announcing Our Next National Council CEO 152 152 Pam Hudson

Dear Vincentian Brothers and Sisters,

After an extensive nationwide search led by executive search firm BoardWalk Consulting, I am thrilled to announce that the Society has chosen its next National CEO from our own St. Vincent de Paul USA family.

Michael Acaldo, the CEO of the Diocesan Council of Baton Rouge, is our new CEO of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

A native of Baton Rouge, Michael has been a member of the Vincentian Family since 1990.

In his tenure with the Council of Baton Rouge, Michael has led that group to incredible growth. In 1991, he oversaw the founding of the Bishop Ott Shelter Program, which has since grown to five emergency shelters serving men, women, children, and families, and which provided more than 31,000 guest nights of shelter in 2023. In 1995, he helped establish the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, the first SVdP Charitable Pharmacy in the nation. The Baton Rouge St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room served over 300,000 meals to neighbors in need in 2023. And if that weren’t enough, he’s also the creator, host, and executive producer of the SVdP Beacons of Light television show, which has been on the air since 2006.

Michael is well respected within the Society, and within the larger Catholic community. He has received various honors for his work with the Society in Baton Rouge, including receiving the Benemerenti Medal from Pope John Paul II in 2002 for service to the Catholic Church; serving as a John W. Barton, Sr. Fellow for excellence in community nonprofit leadership, also in 2002; being inducted into the Catholic High School Hall of Fame in 2009; and receiving the inaugural St. Joseph’s Cathedral Community Award in 2013.

Of his new role, Michael had this to say: “I feel so blessed and honored to be chosen for this leadership position during such an exciting time in our Society’s history. Our National Board’s launching of VisionSVdP focuses on listening to every voice in our Vincentian Family, which is so powerful! I believe that the Holy Spirit will speak through Vincentians around the country, and provide a roadmap for our bright future. Plus, I cannot wait to join our talented and dedicated National Staff in St. Louis.”

On a personal note, this is a great day for the Society. Michael has been a friend and a colleague for almost 20 years and I can say without hesitation that he is an amazing leader, a consummate professional, and the kind of visionary that the Society needs to help take us into the future. Michael has a deep commitment to the essential elements of spirituality, service, and friendship. The Board of Directors and I look forward to working with Michael.

Michael received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and his Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. He and Paula, his wife of 32 years, are the proud parents of adult twin daughters. They are thrilled and looking forward to the arrival of their first grandchild this November.

Please join me in congratulating Michael and praying for his success in this exciting new role!

Peace and God’s Blessings,
John

 

Conference Guidelines

Conference Guidelines 1198 1198 Pam Hudson

(Excerpted from Vincentian Life: Conference)

New members have a real challenge before them when they join a Conference.  There is a tremendous amount of “stuff” that they have to learn: who the other members are, principles and history of the Society, spirituality, how to do home visits, where everything is, what and when to do something, and what and when not to.  It can all be very confusing.  Actually, it can all be confusing to members who have been around for a while as well. That is why it is important to have a set of Conference guidelines.

WRITTEN GUIDELINES

Have you ever heard the expressions that’s the way we do things, we’ve always done it this way, we can’t do that, or it’s just not done that way?  That is one of the most frustrating things about being a member – especially a new one.  Not knowing what to do and/or being criticized for doing something the wrong way can be very humiliating.  It would all be much simpler if all those ways and things were written down somewhere.

They can be.  They should be.  And, the most-organized and well-run Conferences have a set of written guidelines that are available to all members.  They are not just a set of rules that have been accumulated over the years, they are a formal set of guidelines that have been defined, organized and presented in a form that is convenient to use, easy to understand and readily accessible to all members.

Without the written guidelines, the statements above will continue to flow, and new members will continue to scratch their heads – some even leaving the Conference.  Without the written guidelines, people will give their own interpretation of what is the proper way because that’s the way they remember being taught.

ORGANIZING THE GUIDELINES

Before preparing a set of guidelines, the Conference members should attend an Ozanam Orientation.  This is important since it gives members an understanding of what is important and what should be stressed in our ministry.  Without this basic understanding, guidelines may be developed simply because they sound good or logical.  The guidelines we develop for a Conference should be reflective of our call to ministry.

Preparing a set of guidelines is not that difficult.  The Conference should establish a committee of about three people who will take on the task of creating the first draft of the guidelines.  They will get together a few times and map out the guidelines which will be reviewed, updated and hopefully approved by the Conference for their use.  Your Conference may also get a copy of the guidelines of a neighboring Conference.  Do NOT simply adopt someone else’s guidelines as your own.  You should make sure your guidelines fit the needs of your Conference and those in need in your parish community.

Look to the other chapters in this book and pay close attention to the topics of food, rent, utilities, home visits, etc. Then come to a consensus among the committee members as to what a reasonable expectation should be in dealing with those types of service.  Members of the Conference may have already dealt with these issues and some unwritten guidelines or rules may already exist.

“Guidelines” should be just what the word means.  These are not firm rules that have to have the “i”s dotted and “t”s crossed.  These are possible ways to approach fulfilling the requests for help.  The guidelines should provide possible solutions.  One thing is extremely important to remember: Guidelines are intended to define how people in need can be served; they are not intended to define how people are to be turned away.

When circumstances dictate, the members can vote to override a guideline for a particular case.

Once the draft is compiled, copies should be presented to all members for their review, correction and final approval.  This process may take two or three meetings to complete.  This review and approval process is a Conference process and should not be left to only a few people.  Once consensus has been reached by the Conference as a whole, the document should be formally published and each member should be given a copy.  The Secretary will be given the original to keep with the Conference records.  All new members should receive a copy of the guidelines when they join the Conference.

REVIEW/UPDATE/APPROVE

At the beginning of the fiscal year (October or November), the Conference guidelines should be reviewed by the members of the Conference.  They should be evaluated to see if they are still appropriate for the conditions that currently exist.  The same process that was followed to review and approve the initial set of guidelines should also be used to review, update and approve the new guidelines.  Once again, all members should be given copies of the guidelines.

 SUMMARY

Conference guidelines are one of the keys to having an organized and well-run Conference. None of the guidelines should contradict the Rule, Manual or Bylaws or any local, state or federal tax laws. None of the guidelines should in any way indicate who to serve or how not to serve someone in need. If they are properly prepared, the guidelines will help Conference members serve those in need in the best way possible.

07-25-24 Weekly Questions & Answers

07-25-24 Weekly Questions & Answers 1200 628 Pam Hudson

Q: Can a Deacon serve as chair for the Council’s Voice for the Poor committee?
A: The VFP is a committee, and committees can be headed by a deacon. There is nothing that prevents a deacon from being a committee chair. Being the chair does not give the deacon a vote related to the board or Council. A deacon who is the committee chair can vote on committee matters since committees do not make final decisions and only serve in an advisory capacity.

Q: Can a Vincentian become an active member of two Conferences and if so, what additional information should the Conferences know?
A: A Vincentian can become a member of two Conferences and although there is no additional requirement to do so, as a courtesy and transparency, Council and Conference leadership should be informed.

P: ¿Puede un diácono presidir el Comité de Voz para los Pobres (VFP) del Consejo?
A: El VFP es un comité, y los comités pueden estar encabezados por un diácono. No hay nada que impida que un diácono presida un comité. Presidir un comité no le otorga al diácono un voto relacionado con la junta o el Consejo. Un diácono que preside un comité puede votar sobre asuntos del comité, ya que los comités no toman decisiones finales y solo sirven en calidad de asesores.

P: ¿Puede un Vicentino convertirse en miembro activo de dos Conferencias y, de ser así, qué información adicional deben saber las Conferencias?
A: Un Vicentino puede hacerse miembro de dos Conferencias y, aunque no existe ningún requisito adicional para hacerlo, como cortesía y transparencia, se debe informar al liderazgo del Consejo y de la Conferencia.

Multicultural Diversity Committee Recognizes Disability Pride Month

Multicultural Diversity Committee Recognizes Disability Pride Month 150 150 Pam Hudson

By Jean Rearick, Multicultural Diversity Committee Member

During Disability Pride Month consider how Persons with Disabilities (PWD) who have a heart for serving can be welcomed and given roles where they can fulfill their Vincentian Vocation. We are creative in solving problems for our Neighbors; let’s use some of our creativity to make adaptations and accommodations that make it possible for PWD to participate as leaders and volunteers in The Society. Inclusivity may mean that a job will not be done as efficiently as before and that more effort may be required of some able-bodied members; however, Vincentians are called to serve one another as Friends in addition to serving our Neighbors.

As we implement our National Membership Recruitment Campaign themed “See the Face of Christ. Be the Face of Christ”, the Multicultural Diversity Committee of St. Vincent de Paul USA challenges you to seek out those in your parish and community who would increase the diversity of your Conference.

Reflection:

You may want to share your reflection with your Conference members at a meeting.

  1. How can we include persons of all abilities in our Conferences?
  2. What changes need to be made to our mindset in identifying roles for our volunteers?
  3. Do we prejudge the ability of new members or those we invite to join us?

 

Attending Meetings of National Committees

Attending Meetings of National Committees 152 152 Pam Hudson

All members of the Society are welcome to attend the regular working meetings of our National Committees, either in person or via Zoom. Only the appointed members of the committees participate in the discussions and work – all others attend as observers.

In order to attend, please follow the link below each committee description to register in advance for Zoom Meetings. In person meetings will be listed in the agendas for the National Assembly or Midyear Meeting.

Vincentian Spirituality Committee

The National Vincentian Spirituality Committee is focused on the spiritual dimension of formation, in order to encourage and support personal growth in every Vincentian’s relationship with God. The Committee provides active nourishment to all members in :

  • Personal spiritual formation
  • Devotion
  • Prayer life

The Committee supports and encourages Spiritual Advisors and leaders by:

  • Developing materials for use in Councils and Conferences
  • Establishing direct channels of communications

Register (all dates through September 2025 are listed)

Vincentian Formation Committee

The National Formation Committee supports the formation of members and leaders in the Society in the interconnected human, spiritual, intellectual, and ministerial dimensions of formation, as defined in the Society’s Foundation Document, and reflecting the fullness of Vincentian tradition. The Committee creates and provides:

  • Printed and digital materials
  • Presentations
  • Guidelines
  • Active nourishment to all members and leaders in the Society

Register (all dates through September 2025 are listed)

Hispanic-Latino Formation Subcommittee

The National Hispanic-Latino Formation Subcommittee defines priorities to properly support the Hispanic-Latino community in all aspects of Formation. The Committee will:

  • Create effective documentation, materials, and tools to ensure the intercultural expression of faith and language is reflected and emphasized.
  • Developing a plan at an accelerated pace
  • Defining the necessary resources

Register (all dates through September 2025 are listed)

Formation Renewal and Delivery Committee

The National Formation Renewal and Delivery Committee defines new and effective means, methods, and channels for the use of Formation materials and tools.

The Committee supports Regions and Councils by

  • Developing plans for teams, partnerships, and schedules.
  • Training those teams to make effective use of Formation materials

Register (all dates through September 2025 are listed)

Membership and Leadership Development Committee

The Member and Leadership Development Committee of the National Council Board of Directors is charged with defining best practices for membership growth, onboarding processes, spiritual enrichment, identifying and advancing Vincentian leadership in a society and Catholic church that is changing rapidly.

Register (all dates through September 2025 are listed)

Conflict in Conference Meetings

Conflict in Conference Meetings 1198 1198 Pam Hudson

Conference meetings are intended to be “mutually fulfilling” gatherings where members joyfully share their experiences, grow in faith and make plans to serve others.  Sometimes, however, members do not always agree on how to go about these activities and the meetings are far from mutually fulfilling.  Managing meeting conflict is almost never at the top of any Conference president’s list of favorite undertakings, but it doesn’t need to be a negative experience.  In fact, sometimes it can be healthy and help your Conference grow.  Here we share a few tips to better prevent and manage conflict within your Conference meetings.

 To prevent Conference meeting conflicts: 

  • Send out a detailed, specific agenda ahead of time so that members know how the meeting will proceed. Make it clear that the meeting will unfold in an organized, respectful manner.
  • Know the strengths and weaknesses of the members in your Conference, and tailor the discussion style to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses.
  • Encourage frequent communication among Conference members outside of meetings so that members feel informed and are not taken by surprise.
  • Ensure that minutes are kept of Conference meetings, including specifics about decisions made and timeframes. Distribute minutes in advance to all Conference members to reduce inconsistencies in memory.

During a Conference meeting: 

  • Make sure all Conference members have the chance to speak and be listened to respectfully.
  • For significant topics, give members a few moments to process the question at hand and perhaps write down a few notes before starting the discussion.
  • Present things in such a way that indicates the Conference is working through issues together.
  • Try to anticipate conflict and address the issue before it happens. Be aware of members’ nonverbal communication and apparent discomfort.
  • Encourage the Conference to be specific in its decisions to avoid ambiguity about when or how something will be done (i.e., “Jesse will contact Father Mike by noon on Friday,” not “Jesse will contact Father Mike soon”).

 Should a conflict arise: 

  • Pause briefly to allow the Conference and its members a chance to temper emotions and think of how to say things in a thoughtful, respectful fashion.
  • Repeat/summarize what you have heard Conference members say so they know you heard them.
  • Neutralize personally-directed comments by restating them in terms of objective qualities, issues or actions, not people themselves (i.e., “Maria tries to avoid us all of the time and refuses to answer our phone calls” to “You feel that Maria is not making herself available to the needs of the Conference,” or perhaps even better, “You feel that our current system of reporting home visits is not working”).
  • Redirect tangents back to the agenda item under discussion.
  • Restate and reframe the larger context of the situation to keep the topic in perspective.
  • Identify and outline the points of agreement that exist between disagreeing parties.
  • Find a “grain of truth” in an opposing viewpoint and use that to begin to build consensus.
  • Strive to arrive at group consensus; avoid voting on a divisive topic if possible.
  • Place the discussion on hold and ask the Conference spiritual advisor to lead the Conference in a prayer before continuing.

If the Conference is stuck: 

  • Reduce unknown factors and fear by assigning a subgroup to research the topic a bit more and report back at a future meeting.
  • Table the conversation until a future meeting.
  • Discern whether someone perceives a threat to themselves or to their interests. If so, address/discuss the issue in a kindly fashion that preserves their dignity.
  • If the topic is hijacking the meeting, arrange for either the whole group or those members most invested in the topic to hold a separate meeting in the future to discuss it.
  • If only one individual is upset about an issue for a prolonged period of time, ask to meet separately with him/her after the meeting.
  • Consider whether another factor(s) may be contributing to rigidity in mindset or aggression in verbal response.
  • While maintaining confidentiality, seek advice from fellow Conference/Council presidents, National Office staff, committee chairs or other Vincentian peers. Many other Vincentian leaders may have faced similar circumstances and have suggestions based on what worked for them.

Know that you are not alone in facing difficult Conference situations at times.  Facing conflict may not be your favorite part of serving the poor, but your adept handling of it will allow for so much more love, respect, commitment and loyalty to grow among Conference members and toward those in need as a result.

Unoriginal material in the above list was drawn from the following articles.  If you would like further information, follow the links below:

“How to Resolve Conflicts – Without Killing Anyone” from the Texas Center for Women’s Business Enterprise, August, 1997. http://web.cs.ucla.edu/~klinger/articles/conflicts.html

“The 3 Secrets to Conflict Resolution” by August Turak on Forbes.com, September 10, 2012.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/augustturak/2012/09/10/the-3-secrets-to-conflict-resolution/#4e13ab177ce7

“How to Diffuse Workplace Conflict at a Team Meeting” by Nicole Long, studioD on smallbusiness.chron.com. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/diffuse-workplace-conflict-team-meeting-24277.html

 

07-11-24 Weekly Questions & Answers

07-11-24 Weekly Questions & Answers 1200 628 Pam Hudson

Q: In the rare circumstance that the President is unavailable to run a meeting, is the Conference lay-spiritual advisor permitted to run the meeting?
A: The bylaws read that, if the President is unable to attend or preside at any meeting of the Conference, this privilege and duty may be delegated to the Vice President or any Officer. The spiritual advisor provides the necessary guidance to the Conference and its members on spiritual matters. Although appointed by the President, the spiritual advisor is not an officer and therefore should not be permitted to run a meeting.

Q: Are we prohibited from offering scholarships when the funds are there?
A: It all depends on the recipient of the intended scholarship. Scholarships to an elementary or high school would be improper because education is free in all communities. If the scholarship is for a needy college or trade school student, that would be considered a possibility and a valid undertaking because these are usually not offered at no charge.

P: En la circunstancia de que el Presidente no esté disponible para dirigir una reunión, ¿se le permite al Consejero Espiritual laico de la Conferencia dirigir la reunión?
R: Los Estatutos dicen que, si el Presidente no puede asistir o presidir cualquier reunión de la Conferencia, este privilegio y deber puede ser delegado al Vicepresidente o a cualquier Funcionario. El Consejero Espiritual proporciona la orientación necesaria a la Conferencia y a sus miembros en asuntos espirituales. Aunque es nombrado por el Presidente, el Consejero Espiritual no es un funcionario y, por lo tanto, no se le debe permitir dirigir una reunión.

P: ¿Está prohibido ofrecer becas aun cuando hay suficientes fondos?
R: Todo depende del beneficiario de la beca prevista. Las ayudas de becas para una escuela primaria o secundaria serían inapropiadas porque la educación es gratuita en todas las comunidades. Si la beca es para un estudiante en necesidad, que asiste a una Universidad o escuela técnica o de oficios, eso se consideraría una posibilidad y una ayuda válida porque generalmente se paga por esta capacitación o estudio.

 

Rhode Island Vincentians Turning Apartments Into Homes

Rhode Island Vincentians Turning Apartments Into Homes 150 150 Pam Hudson

When tragedy strikes, communities rally around their most vulnerable members. This is the mark of a society. Many of us know, however, that recovering from a disaster takes more than temporary shelters, boxes of donated items, and a few weeks to get back on your feet. This is a process that can take place over months, even years. When the calendar changes and it seems everyone has forgotten those who are still in need: this is when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul makes a difference with financial support, presence, and prayer.

The work being done by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Rhode Island this summer is exemplary of the value of long-term assistance to our neighbors in need. On May 28, 2023, Simmons Village, an affordable housing apartment complex for aging and disabled residents in Johnston, Rhode Island, suffered a devastating fire. 45 households were affected, and 41 are still displaced one year later. Fortunately, the Society has been with these survivors every step of the way, and on May 30, 2024, Rhode Island Vincentians mobilized to package and personally deliver essential household items to the newly rebuilt complex. This material support is made possible through House in a Box, a Disaster Services program that delivers essential furniture and home supplies right to survivors’ doors, turning empty apartments into comfortable homes.

“The residents of Simmons Village have endured unimaginable hardship over the past year,” said Reneé Brissette Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Rhode Island. “Our Long-Term Disaster Services is designed to provide them with the essential items needed to start anew. We are committed with the help of the community to ensuring these families can return to a sense of normalcy and stability.”

Additionally, SVdP Rhode Island’s initiative will support the residents of Simmons Village with a grant from the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, USA, local community connections, and the generous support of fellow Vincentians. But the work is not done yet: Rhode Island Vincentians will continue to raise funds for the House in a Box program to provide as many residents as possible with basic furniture, linens, and housewares.

Johnston residents return home one year after fire destroys apartment building (turnto10.com)

Submitted by: SVdP Rhode Island

Understanding Our Rule

Understanding Our Rule 1198 1198 Pam Hudson

Before one of the workshops I presented about the Rule, I asked a few Council Executive Directors what trouble the Conferences in their respective Councils had following the Rule and what parts of the Rule generated the most questions.  This article will include comments on what came back to me. While the Rule has three parts, this article will only focus on Parts I and III.

Part I of the Rule describes the Society’s philosophy and guiding principles. It is applicable to the Society throughout the world.  While it’s important to review and discuss sections of Part I at Conference meetings, it’s also important to give a copy of the Rule to the clergy in your parish and to point out to them our purpose, the scope of our service, and the personal encounters we have with the poor and those in need of help. It’s also important to point out to the clergy our Vincentian Spirituality and vocation. One of the priests I heard comment on the Rule offered the opinion that no priest who understood Vincentian Spirituality would not want the Society to be in his parish.  It’s up to us to take our message to the clergy.

All members of the Society should become familiar with Part I and what it says about our members, Conferences and Councils, and about our relationships with Catholic networks of charity, with the Church hierarchy, with civil society and with all groups that include charity and justice in their mission.

Part III of the Rule applies to all Councils, Conferences and members throughout this country. It is comprised of 31 Statutes.

Statutes 1 and 2 lay out our essential elements of Spirituality, Friendship and Service, and our seven Cultural Beliefs.  It is important to review these with all members of the Society and then ask if your Council and Conference members embrace them. Statute 3 says the Society has two types of members – Active and Associate. It is important to understand that Associate Members are more than volunteers. Statute 4 discusses commissioning new members and the annual commitment by all members.  Often the latter is on Ozanam Sunday, the last Sunday of April.

Statutes 5 through 10 discuss Conferences/Councils and their work. Statute 5 says Conferences meet at least twice a month.  The frequency of our meetings helps us develop Vincentian Spirituality and foster Friendship. Statute 6 calls on Conferences to aggregate and Councils to institute. This means they are formally accepted as a part of the International Society. Statutes 7 through 10 show Conferences what a meeting agenda can include, discusses our conduct when visiting those in need, lists our festival meetings, and describes our National, (Arch)Diocesan and District Councils. It is important for every member to know that home visits are always made in pairs. And, by the way, when visiting a woman in need it is always good to have a woman as a member of the home visit team.

Statutes 11 through 21 deal with governance issues and with management. Statutes 11 and 12 refer to Servant Leaders and Servant Leader positions. Servant Leadership has been described as having the 10 following characteristics: Listening, Empathy, Healing, Awareness, Persuasion, Conceptualization, Foresight, Stewardship, Commitment to the Growth of People and Building Community. For a better insight, read an article printed in Vincentian Heritage, Vol. 9, Number 1, 1998 entitled Servant Leadership in the Manner of Saint Vincent  by J. Patrick Murphy, C.M., Ph.D.  This can be found online. Google Vincentian Heritage to find the article.

Statute 13 discusses our regions and their National Vice Presidents. Statute 14 discusses the Society’s employees. Employees can be Active Members. They can only hold office in the Society, however, after their employment by the Society is terminated. Statute 15 describes the Spiritual Advisor.  This is an important position in the Society. Every Conference and every Council should have a Spiritual Advisor. The National Council has material available that will help any Conference member to be able to serve in this position.

Statute 16 discusses subsidiarity and democracy and says that decisions are often made by consensus. When a decision is not reached by consensus a matter can be put to a vote. Statute 17 discusses suspension of members, Conferences and Councils. Suspensions can only be made by our National President. An appeal of a suspension can be made to the National Conciliation Committee. Statute 21 discusses this Committee. Statutes 18 and 19 discuss the election and the removal of a President. Any President who is removed can appeal to the National Board of Directors.

Statute 20 deals with Special Works.  These can remain a part of a Conference’s or Council’s normal operation or the Special Work can be incorporated.  If the latter status is undertaken, the approval of Council or Conference members should be obtained and there should be consultation with the President of the next higher Council. It is important that the Bylaws of an incorporated Special Work provide that the majority of members of the Board of Directors must always be Active Members of the Society.

Statutes 22 through 31 deal with accountability.  Statute 22 requires Conferences and Councils to review their services at least once every three years. This helps Conferences decide whether to keep, suspend or add a service. Statute 23 requires every Council and Conference to maintain accurate records and submit an annual report to the next higher Council annually. The National Council submits its annual report to the Council General International.  Statute 24 calls on Conferences and Councils to “zealously” manage and maintain the assets of the Society and provides that the next higher Council may annually assess dues from Conferences and lower Councils. This also requires the higher Councils to work with Conferences and Councils to determine an appropriate reserve for unanticipated events.

Statute 25 discusses collections to help the poor and maintain the Society’s structure.  Stature 26 makes clear that the funds of the Society are to be used only within the Society and not be diverted to any other organization, no matter how worthy they might be.  Remember that people chose to give funds to the Society and not to another organization. We need to honor that intent. The Society’s Councils and Conferences have many needs although those are often in other areas.  We are, however, One Society.

Statute 27 gives Council Presidents the right to require audits or audit reviews of Conferences and to have access to Conference or Council correspondence sent on behalf of the Society.  Statute 28 discusses allowing members to be reimbursed for expenses they have incurred and Statute 29 provides that we not identify with any political party. No member of a political party can hold any mission of representation in the Society during his or her term in a political office.  Statute 30 discusses amending any of the 31 Statutes and Statute 31 provides that our Statutes are to be interpreted according to the Rule.

Read the Rule. It’s not all that long and when followed assures that all will be well.

─Tom Fahl

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