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Leadership

  • Pam Hudson

ANNOUNCING OUR NEXT NATIONAL COUNCIL CEO
ANNOUNCING OUR NEXT NATIONAL COUNCIL CEO 964 1102 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.

  • Pam Hudson

Giving Matters
Giving Matters 150 150 Pam Hudson

Make Giving More Meaningful by Honoring Others

Early in my time with St. Vincent de Paul, I was fortunate to meet Mike and Pat, a caring, kind, and generous couple. They had been married nearly 5 decades by the time I met them, had a wonderful family (whom I’ve also been fortunate to know), and many…MANY…friends around the country. My wife, Rachel, and I have gone to dinner with them, I’ve visited them in Chicago when I’ve passed through, and I’ve had the great honor of sharing how much Mike meant to me during his celebration of life. Knowing them is one of the great gifts SVdP has brought to me.

Among the many things they have taught me over our 10 years of friendship is something that I now do in my personal giving: every gift Rachel and I make is now in honor or memory of someone meaningful in our lives.

Why does this matter—and why is it important that we offer this to our communities?

  1. We can help build relationships. Mike and Pat have made gifts in honor of me. When I received that notice, I was surprised, and it was incredibly meaningful to me. I felt closer to them, that I mattered to them.  It made an already close relationship all the more meaningful.
  2. It can inspire future giving. After Pat and Mike made that gift in honor of me, I made a corresponding gift to that organization. It brought my attention to that work in a different way and inspired me to be generous, as they had been generous.
  3. We can be part of telling people’s stories. Each time Mike and Pat made a gift in honor of someone, I’d call or email to find out more about the person. One of their neighbors, one of their doctors, friends from a club… Each came with a story that I now knew and could share with others. It’s a beautiful part of our Vincentian work to keep alive stories of caring and compassionate people who have served others with the humility and dedication of Blessed Frederic and Blessed Rosalie.

But most people have not made a habit of giving in this way, like Mike and Pat. We may need to ask the right questions or inspire others. I’d offer some questions and approaches you can use to help make giving even more meaningful:​

Tell me about the person who has inspired you most to care for others and be part of work like St. Vincent de Paul?

Have you ever considered making a gift in honor/in memory of that person? 

Could we do work together to honor that person? Would that bring you joy in being part of St. Vincent de Paul? 

There are also things we can do immediately to inspire others and make giving more meaningful. For instance, we can make sure we have an “In Honor of/In Memory of” field in our online donation pages or on our paper forms. And we can (and should!) always notify those honored!

We have a beautiful mission that prioritizes knowing and serving others. Offering to our donors the opportunity to give in honor or memory of those important to us is an important extension of that Vincentian mission.

  • Kristen Blacksher

Am I A Vincentian?
Am I A Vincentian? 152 152 Kristen Blacksher

In June 2008, I attended the Western Region Meeting in Boise, Idaho. I was not alone. There were 225 other Vincentians along with me. During the time I spent there, I met with many Vincentians and discussed a wide variety of topics. I also put on a workshop and facilitated two open forums where anything and everything could be discussed. One theme came up over and over again in those discussions. This is also a theme which is continually asked today as well. How do you get the Conferences and the members to adhere to or comply with the Rule?

This is a tough question. And it requires a tough answer. People, in general, have mixed feelings when it comes to rules and regulations. They usually will admit to the value of them. They usually will admit to the need for them. And they normally agree that compliance is necessary; that is, until they want to do something that does not really correspond to the rules. Then it becomes harsh and too restrictive. They did not join the Society to follow the rules. They joined the Society to do some good and do not want to be bogged down with meaningless do’s and don’ts. We hear this stuff all the time! I can go into a long, drawn-out dissertation on why rules and regulations are important, but that will get us nowhere. I can take a military point of view and say that if one soldier steps out of line the war will be lost. Nobody is going to buy that. I can talk about unity of thought and action, but that cup only holds a limited amount of water.

It truly boils down to one thing. Ask yourself one question: Am I a Vincentian? To be a Vincentian you have to make a commitment. Here is where the rub comes in. Commitment! Being a Vincentian calls for a number of things to be accepted and come into play. Being a Vincentian means accepting who we are, what we are about, what we do, and how we do it. Being a Vincentian means more than helping people in need. It means growing in holiness, striving to grow closer to God. It means growing closer to our fellow Vincentians. It means serving God through serving those in need. It means a blend of all of the above.

A number of years ago, when searching for the answer to a question, I was referred to John Simmons, former National President of the Society, the guru. If you wanted to know anything about the Society he was the man to go to. John said that if you call yourself a Vincentian, you want to meet as often as possible with your fellow Vincentians, you want to learn about the Society, you want to understand what this is all about, and you want to help it grow. It is that simple.

If I want to do my own thing, follow my own rules or no rules at all, I can start my own special work or organization. Then all I have to do is get other people who want to join me to follow my rules. I am a Vincentian. I am committed to who we are, what we do and the way we do it. Complying with the Rule not only makes sense, it is something I want to do.

Mike Syslo
Member and Past Chair
National Governance Committee

  • Jill Pioter

2024 Committee Charges
2024 Committee Charges 1080 1080 Jill Pioter

Development & Communications Committee

The Development & Communications Committee is charged with raising the national profile of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by leveraging the ideas, resources, and best practices of its members in fundraising, marketing, and communications. Through collaboration and learning, the Committee will develop the resources necessary to grow the Society’s works and pave the way for future growth.

Membership & Leadership Development Committee

The Membership and Leadership Development Committee is charged with defining best practices for membership growth, the onboarding process, spiritual enrichment, identifying and advancing Vincentian leadership in a society and Catholic church that is changing rapidly.

Multicultural Diversity Committee

The Multicultural Diversity Committee is charged with prayerfully creating an inclusive culture by means of researching, developing proposing ideas, and leading projects that will give each member of the Society the opportunity to contribute and express their charisms.

Vincentian Spiritual Growth and Enrichment Committees

Formation Committee

The 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.

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

  • Define the necessary resources
  • Develop a plan at an accelerated pace
  • Create effective documentation, materials, and tools to ensure the intercultural expression of faith and language is reflected and emphasized
Formation Renewal & Delivery Committee

The Formation Renewal & Delivery Committee provides training and Formation, in partnership with local Councils, using existing methods, and finding new effective means and channels for the use of Formation materials and tools. The Committee supports Regions and Councils by:

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

The Spirituality Formation 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

Vincentian Programs & Services Committees

Poverty Action Committee

The Poverty Action Committee is charged with the coordination and collaboration among the National poverty programs and committees, the development of National poverty programs identified by the National Council Board, and with disseminating systemic change mentality among Society members to engage more Councils and Conferences in transformative initiatives that empower those we serve to make their way out of poverty to self-sufficiency.

National Voice For the Poor Committee

The National Voice For the Poor Committee is charged with advocating on behalf of people in poverty, and with education and information-sharing to strengthen and grow Council and Conferences’ involvement with advocating for policy solutions to local, state, and national leaders and legislators. The committee reports to the National Council President.

Homelessness Prevention Committee

The Homelessness Prevention Committee is charged with providing guidance and best practices in homelessness prevention and shelter diversion to Councils and Conferences, strengthening efforts to stop homelessness before it starts for those most at risk of losing their home.

Stores Committee

The Stores Committee is charged with helping paid and unpaid personnel to develop and maintain successful thrift stores, and with providing consulting services to Councils and Conferences that desire to start thrift stores.

Youth, Young Adults, and Emerging Leaders Committee

The Youth, Young Adults, and Emerging Leaders Committee is charged with growing young Vincentian leaders while ensuring that the spirit of our young founders is always present within the Society. This committee seeks to promote the formation, recruitment and engagement of young people, and the constant rejuvenation of the Vincentian Conferences both locally and nationally.

YYAEL will play a crucial role in identifying and developing individuals capable of leading with compassion, innovation, and dedication. Helping to support Youth, Young Adults, Emerging Leaders, and their coordinators, YYAEL will create opportunities, programs, and resources to support, connect, and train Youth, Young Adults, Emerging Leaders, and their coordinators, preparing them to integrate into the Society to lead, serve, and inspire generations to come.

 

  • Jill Pioter

So You’ve Been Elected President…
So You’ve Been Elected President… 1200 1200 Jill Pioter

Thank you for sharing your time and talents with fellow Conference and Council members, as well as those in need. As with all involvement in the Society, we hope your work as a Vincentian servant leader will lead you to greater faith, an increased desire to serve, and stronger friendships.

Do you feel some anxiety about taking on a Vincentian leadership role?  Let’s take a look at a few common myths behind that anxiety.

Myth #1:  You need to know everything now.

No Vincentian has taken a leadership role already knowing everything; to be honest, no current Vincentian leader knows everything now.  What most Vincentian leaders do learn is where to look to find information, where the resources are and who in the Society has experiences and wisdom to share.

Truth #1:  You will learn and grow during your time as a Vincentian leader.

Myth #2:  You are now in charge of everything.

A Vincentian leader is a servant leader who understands the role of God’s providence. Your ultimate role is to harness the gifts and spirit of your members and direct them to growth in holiness and increased love for one another, and in ways of service to others. To do this you will need to allow God to direct you.

Truth #2:  God is in charge of everything. You are called to discern where God is leading and to follow through — and help your members do the same.

Myth #3:  You are all alone in figuring things out.

This myth could not be further from the truth. The Society is truly a global network of charity. Fellow Vincentians in 155 countries are serving those in need, as you are, and desire to do so with love and in an effective manner. As you attend regional and national gatherings, or reach out to other Vincentian leaders, you will find that many people are more than willing to share their knowledge. You will only feel all alone if you do not participate in such interactions and relationships.

Truth #3:  Most Vincentian leaders love to talk about their experiences and help each other.

Reach out to other Vincentians — even if they are not from your area — for advice and support. We will share useful information relevant to your new responsibilities in these Frederic’s e-Gazette articles throughout the year. Thank you for being willing to serve through leadership, and may you be blessed through your witness of following God’s lead in your Conference’s/Council’s service while encouraging others to do the same.

We remind you of the valuable resources on the National website and urge you to review the Governance Page where the Governance Training DVD and the other material the National Governance Committee has prepared can be found. Then make plans to use these tools.  Your Conference and Council will be better off if you do so.

  • Jill Pioter

Conference and Council Leadership Training Curriculum
Conference and Council Leadership Training Curriculum 1080 1080 Jill Pioter

From 2019 to 2022, the Leadership Task Force (LTF) developed webinars to help current and potential leaders in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. These webinars are now available as a “Leadership Curriculum” for Conference and Council presidents in both live and recorded form. By following this curriculum in the suggested order, a president can obtain the knowledge and skills to become a more effective Servant Leader.

Videos of the webinars can also be accessed on our National website, along with the PowerPoint presentations with notes, and suggested handouts. Besides recommending to members that they attend the webinars when offered by National, Council Formators can utilize the LTF materials on the web to provide training/formation to their leaders, both novices and veterans. They can facilitate discussion of one of the video webinars or they can use the PowerPoints and the notes to present themselves, perhaps adding a few local touches to the presentation.

In 2023, the LTF will offer the following webinars:

Webinars Intended for Conference Presidents:

  • Jan 25 – Survival Kit for Conference Presidents
  • Feb 15 – Recruitment and Succession
  • Mar 29 – Resolving Conflicts
  • Apr 26 – Servant Leadership
  • May 24 – Seven Duties of a Conference President
  • Jul 26 – Five Goals of a Conference President
  • Aug 23 – Management and Accountability Issues for Conferences
  • Sep 27 – Effective Conference Meetings
  • Oct 25 – Annual Reporting for Conferences

Webinars Intended for Council Presidents:

  • Feb 15 – Recruitment and Succession
  • Mar 29 – Resolving Conflicts
  • Apr 26 – Servant Leadership
  • Jun 28 –  Seven Duties of Council President
  • Jul 26 – Governance 101 for Councils
  • Sep 27 – History of Society in the U.S. (for Council Presidents)
  • Nov 15 – Annual Reporting for Councils

Leadership Training materials are on the National Council website.

 

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