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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.

  • Jill Pioter

01-25-24 Questions & Answers
01-25-24 Questions & Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q:  When attending a Midyear Meeting, does the National Council member have to be from a Council that is “instituted?”

A:  Article 16 of the National Bylaws clearly states: “Each National Council Member has one vote.”  So, in order to vote or effectively participate in any meeting, you must be a National Council Member or his/her valid proxy. Article 11 refers to membership in the National Council being presidents of “instituted” Councils. So, whether it is the Midyear or the annual National Assembly, the requirement is that the voting member must be from an “instituted” Council.

Q: For annual reporting, my thought is that SVDP volunteer time should align with serving the poor or disadvantaged. However, there are some who feel that if I am a Vincentian, any volunteer time at the parish would be counted as SVDP volunteer time.

A: The National Council seeks to determine the number of volunteer hours devoted specifically to SVdP or Vincentian work to enter on SVdP annual reports. There is no interest in the hours members of the Society spend in volunteering at the parish or other organizations and ministries. Only hours spent doing legitimate SVdP service and assistance should be recorded on the annual reports.

ESPAÑOL

P: Cuando un miembro del Consejo asiste a la Reunión de medio año, ¿el miembro del Consejo Nacional tiene que ser de un Consejo que está “instituido”?

R:  El artículo 16 del Estatuto Nacional establece claramente: “Cada miembro del Consejo Nacional tiene un voto.” Por lo tanto, para votar o participar efectivamente en cualquier reunión, esa persona o su representante debe ser miembro del Consejo Nacional. El artículo 11 se refiere a que los miembros del Consejo Nacional son Presidentes de Consejos “instituidos.” Por lo tanto, ya sea que se trate de la Asamblea Nacional de medio año o anual, el requisito es que el miembro con derecho a voto debe ser de un Consejo “instituido.”

P: Para la presentación del informe anual, mi opinión es que el tiempo voluntario de SVDP debe alinearse únicamente con el servicio a los pobres o desfavorecidos. Sin embargo, hay algunos que sienten que, si soy Vicentino, cualquier tiempo voluntario en la parroquia se contaría como tiempo del voluntariado de SVdP.

R: El Consejo Nacional busca determinar el número de horas de tiempo voluntario dedicadas específicamente a SVdP o al trabajo Vicentino para ingresar en los informes anuales de SVdP. No hay interés en las horas que los miembros de la Sociedad dedican al tiempo voluntario en la parroquia o en otras organizaciones o ministerios. En los informes anuales solo se deben registrar las horas dedicadas a prestar servicios y asistencia legítimos de SVdP.

  • Jill Pioter

Communications – Part Two
Communications – Part Two 1200 628 Jill Pioter

(Excerpted from Vincentian Life: Conference)

B. Person-to-Person Activities

  • Schedule Conference meetings on different days and at different hours to ensure that everyone, regardless of their work schedule, has an opportunity to attend Conference functions (for example, one meeting on a Wednesday evening, Saturday morning, or another on a Sunday after Mass).
  • Mail the agenda of upcoming meetings to members who have been missing meetings. It’s a good reminder. To encourage better attendance, publish an annual calendar showing all meeting and other activity dates so people can plan in advance to attend and participate.
  • Mail the minutes after the meeting to members who did not attend. For those who missed the meeting, that’s also a good reminder not to miss the next one.
  • Parish Ministry Fairs. Almost every parish has one, so don’t pass on this opportunity to tell your story. Print simple sign-up forms (get new folks to sign up and come to a meeting; worry about getting detailed personal data later). Also print a short list of the work your Conference does and where it needs help.
  • Parish Festival (are you a part of your parish?). Take part in the festival as a Conference. Distribute information on the work of the Society and your Conference. Provide sign-up forms.
  • Personal Talks. This gives you the opportunity to recruit by letting the workers in other parish ministries understand what the Conference really does. Talk to the Sodality, Knights of Columbus, peace and justice council, Catholic Daughters of America, Right-to-Life Committee, etc. Cooperate with these groups on joint projects – distributing Rosaries, scheduling people for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, helping build a Habitat for Humanity home.
    You don’t have to be a great speaker. Just tell them what you and your fellow Vincentians do. How many parishioners want to answer Christ’s call to serve the poor, but have never been asked? They may be embarrassed to come forward or maybe they just don’t know where to go to become involved. You can be their gateway to the Society.
  • Recruit, recruit, recruit! The strength of a Conference is in its members, so it must constantly be recruiting new members. Recruitment can usually be accomplished in four ways:
    1) An Invitation to Serve This is a very successful program first introduced in Phoenix in the 1990’s and supported by the bishop and most pastors. After many successful recruitment campaigns, it was promoted and distributed as a nationwide program through the National Council.
    2) Word of mouth – friend asking friend
    3) Written material – passing out brochures, mailing newsletters
    4) Presentations to groups of non-members
    Ask people to join: If you don’t ask, you can’t get. The best recruiting is done by people who are currently active and enthusiastic. They give the best testimony of the benefits they receive from serving the poor.
    Ask people again and again. Many will eventually join. Some may simply change their mind. Others’ lives and interests may change and they are finally ‘ready.’ A few may just be impressed by your sincerity and persistence.
  • Address the Congregation. Many Conference presidents have been addressing the congregation at the end of all Masses once a year with their pastor’s permission. An Invitation To Serve utilizes this arrangement and your bishop may be an active supporter of this approach. It gets your message to those who won’t read what you print and distribute, and satisfies those who want to “put a face” on an organization.
  •  Use sign-up tables on special Sundays, placed outside the church doors. Have literature, photographs, newsletters, sign-up forms, and a card preprinted with the day, time and place of your next two meetings. Good days for this technique include:
    … the Sunday with the ‘Widow’s Mite’ Gospel
    … the last Sunday in April (Ozanam Sunday) – Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s birthday and the anniversary of the founding of the Society is April 23
    … the Sunday closest to Sept. 9 – Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s feast day
    … the Sunday closest to Sept. 27 – St. Vincent de Paul’s feast day
  • Have a special Mass to celebrate these feast days. If there are Conferences in neighboring parishes consider joining together for the Mass. Schedule it at a time convenient for Father, and follow the Mass with coffee and refreshments or a simple pot luck supper afterwards. Invite all the clergy from the parishes involved to join the Conferences members for a short time afterwards.

C. Communicating Through Attitude
(Making people feel welcome)

We have all heard that “actions speak louder than words.” Truer words were never said. If you want your Conference to grow, your actions must match your words.

  • Be a totally open organization. Exclude no one. Invite everyone. There are no closed meetings. There are no subcommittees that make all the decisions; however, only Active Members participate in the decision-making. We are totally democratic.
  • Tell the parish what you want. The parish must know that you want new members. Say it verbally and in posters, fliers, newsletters and brochures. Too many groups (including church groups) are viewed as cliques or closed societies.
  • Publicize your meetings well in advance. People live busy lives and have full calendars. Then provide last-minute reminder calls.
  • Make it easy to join. Don’t make it complex – no applications, no forms – just a willingness to serve.
  • Make people feel welcome at any meeting. When someone new shows up, welcome the person. Introduce all new people at each meeting and continue to introduce them for two or three meetings thereafter.

D. Focus Your Communications
(Protecting the future of your Conference)

Often your communications will focus on a specific target audience. You must modify your language, tactics and even media to appeal to different groups. One example is communicating with youth groups.                                                                                                                             

  • The Society has no future if you do not bring in young people. Problem Conferences are usually those which have made no effort to bring in new members. Old members resist change. They don’t trust the judgment of newcomers, claiming they have no experience. Yet without a continuing flow of new blood, a Conference will become stagnant and die (or become ineffective).
  • Expand your efforts through contacts with:
    * Boy and Girl Scouts and similar youth organizations. Talk with their adult leaders about talking to the troops and packs. Devise activities where young people can be involved and make a contribution. One Conference even offers the St. Vincent Youth Service medal, borrowed from the New Orleans Diocesan Council.
    * Teen, college, young adult and RCIA groups in the parish. Again, talk to the heads of these parish ministries. Talk to the groups separately, adjusting your talk to the interests, resources and age of each group.
    * Teachers, nurses and counselors at your parish grammar school and regional Catholic high school. Ask to visit the classroom to give a 15-minute talk about St. Vincent or Blessed Frederic. Get the kids to take on a project, designing posters and fliers in their own graphics showing how Jesus expects us to treat the poor. Publicize the best in each age group. When the project is over, write thank you letters to the kids (not the teacher) in their own language. Consider, for example, sending first graders a letter from a poor child written with crayon.         

E. Adapt to Changing Circumstances

  • Prospects for membership are always changing. People die or move out of your parish while others move in; kids grow up and become adult members of the parish; parents finally get their kids out of the house or retire and now have time to volunteer; after a period of grieving, widows and widowers have time on their hands, a need for social interaction, and a desire to contribute and be involved.
    This requires constant repetition of your message, often to people you might feel have heard it before. But at earlier times in their lives, their minds weren’t receptive and they failed to hear. For many, it’s a new message: working in the Conference provides an outlet for one’s energy, stability in one’s life, new friendships, and involvement with people who share their values and faith.
  • Recognize that lifestyles have changed. You can no longer expect to find members who fit the membership mold of 50 years ago. People’s lives and jobs have changed, their time and family are more fragmented. You must accept what people can contribute, even if it is less than what the Conference used to request or expect. There are no longer any “minimums” attached to membership.
    If you want young mothers as members, you must accept less from them (in terms of time commitments) than from the retired individuals the Society traditionally recruited. Many people can’t give you two hours a week; they are lucky to give you two hours a month.
  • Don’t give up on former members. Send out a “come home” letter to every past member. You don’t know why they left, what or who offended them, what has changed in their lives. Now may be the moment when they are ready to come back. They may be just waiting to be asked.

F. Understand Efficacy
(Accomplishing your objective)

Efficacy is neither efficiency nor economy. Efficacy is attaining a desired result. Money is only a minor consideration in our ministry. You want people to do what’s right, not what’s the most economic or efficient. People are happier when they can ‘feel’ the result of their work – relate to the poor and their condition. Then you are more likely to accomplish your objective – gaining and keeping new members.

A mother who spends $3.79 to buy and donate a 32-oz. jar of peanut butter knows kids like peanut butter. She knows it’s a healthy, high-protein food. She knows that jar will make 17 sandwiches for hungry kids. She can now relate to how the mother of several poor children will feel when she receives it – even though she will never meet that poor mother or see her children. Even though you may be able to get a whole case of peanut butter from a food bank for just $3.50, don’t even think about asking her to give you the $3.79 instead. It would take the joy out of her gift. It would “de-personalize” her act. It would steal away her connection with that poor mother. Her gift of peanut butter enables her to “identify” with the needs of another woman. That’s efficacy.

Substituting the writing of a check for the personal service shown above would be efficient, cold and impersonal. The Society leans toward efficacious service.

BE TOLERANT AND UNDERSTANDING

Our church, our Society and undoubtedly our own Conferences are full of liberals, conservatives, radicals and Neanderthals. If we are to successfully work together to serve the poor, we must focus on what unites us rather than on what divides us.

You don’t have to change your party registration to join the Society, and no one can make you vote for someone or something you disagree with. You probably already have friends you disagree with on major topics, yet you go out to eat or drink together.

Love, respect, and tolerate each other. Rejoice in the fact that, despite our seeming differences, we are united in service to the poor.

Despite our own personal preferences, we must acknowledge that we never know what act or prayer or touch or liturgy helps turn a soul back to God. Bishop Fulton Sheen said there is a light bulb in every human being, waiting for the moment when Christ provides the energy, however small at first, to light the filament.

Do the work of the Society. Help light those filaments.

  • Jill Pioter

01-18-24 Questions and Answers
01-18-24 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Can you give me a list of days of the calendar year for celebrating Frédéric Ozanam, Rosalie Rendu, and St. Vincent de Paul? 

A: For feast days, please refer to page 5 of the Manual which states: According to the original Rule and the Society’s tradition, Vincentians celebrate “Festival Meetings,” gathering together for Mass and a meeting. Today the Society meets on one or more of the following: the Feast of Blessed Rosalie Rendu (February 7), Ozanam Sunday (the last Sunday of April, in honor of the April 23 birthday of Frédéric Ozanam, the first Conference meeting, and April 24 birthday of St. Vincent de Paul), the Feast of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam (September 9), the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul (September 27), the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12).  See also Rule: Part III, Statute 9.

 Q: We have a retired priest now living in our church parish. Can he serve on our board of directors and be a voting member?

A: The Rule, Statute 15 prohibits priests and deacons from being an officer or a voting member. A retired Priest is still an ordained Priest and is prohibited from being an officer.

ESPAÑOL

P: ¿Puede darme una lista de los días del calendario anual para celebrar a Federico Ozanam, Rosalía Rendu, y San Vicente de Paúl?

R:  Para los días festivos, consulte la página 5 del Manual que dice: De acuerdo con la Regla original y la tradición de la Sociedad, los Vicentinos celebran “Reuniones Festivas”, reuniéndose en una Misa y una reunión. Hoy  día, la Sociedad se reúne en uno o más de los siguientes: la Festividad de la Beata Rosalía Rendu (7 de febrero); el Domingo de Ozanam (el último domingo de abril), 23 de abril en honor del cumpleaños de Federico Ozanam y la primera reunión de la Conferencia;  el 24 de abril del cumpleaños de San Vicente de Paúl); la Festividad del Beato Federico Ozanam (9 de septiembre),  la Festividad de San Vicente de Paúl (27 de septiembre), la Festividad de la Inmaculada Concepción (8 de diciembre); la Festividad de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (12 de diciembre).  Véase también la Regla: Parte III, Estatuto 9.

P: Tenemos un sacerdote jubilado que ahora vive en la parroquia de nuestra iglesia. ¿Puede formar parte de nuestra Mesa Directiva y ser un miembro con derecho a voto?

R: La Regla, Estatuto 15 prohíbe que los sacerdotes y diáconos sean funcionarios o miembros con derecho a voto. Un sacerdote jubilado sigue siendo un sacerdote “ordenado” y tiene prohibido ser un oficial.

  • Jill Pioter

01-11-24 Questions & Answers
01-11-24 Questions & Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Our Conference has been approached by individuals who may want to donate on condition of anonymity. I believe that, since we have to keep records of all donations received, there’s really no such thing as a truly anonymous donation, unless it is in the form of cash left in a collection box. What is the best way to approach anonymous donations?

A: When someone asks that their donation be anonymous, then they are asking that their name not be broadcast. ALL members must honor this.  It is obvious that records must be kept, like copies of checks deposited.

Q: When we do an initial Home Visit, is it okay to ask for tax returns from the person we visit? This could help us to determine the level of service needed.

A: We have no reason to ask for tax returns and this is not a practice supported by the National Council. The exception, of course, is if the Conference provides free tax return services. A Home Visitor may ask someone in need for utility, rent and other statements to help them achieve proper payments to the correct recipients and to help the family with budgeting/financial literacy education services. These are voluntary.

ESPAÑOL

P: Nuestra Conferencia ha sido contactada por personas que pudieran querer donar bajo la condición de anonimato.  Creo que, dado que tenemos que mantener registros de todas las donaciones recibidas, realmente no existe tal cosa como una donación verdaderamente anónima, a menos que sea en forma de dinero en efectivo dejado en una caja de colecta. ¿Cuál es la mejor manera de abordar las donaciones anónimas?

R: Cuando alguien pide que su donación sea anónima, entonces está pidiendo que su nombre no se difunda.  TODOS los miembros deben honrar esto.  Es obvio que se deben llevar registros, como copias de los cheques depositados.

P: Cuando hacemos una visita inicial al hogar, ¿está bien pedirle su declaración de impuestos a la persona que visitamos? Esto podría ayudarnos a determinar el nivel de servicio necesario.

R: No tenemos ninguna razón para pedir declaraciones de impuestos y esta no es una práctica apoyada por el Consejo Nacional. La excepción, por supuesto, es si la Conferencia, ofrece servicios gratuitos de declaración de impuestos. Un visitador del hogar puede pedirle a alguien algún recibo que necesite sobre información de servicios públicos, alquiler y otros estados de cuenta para ayudarlo a realizar los pagos adecuados a los destinatarios correctos y para ayudar a la familia con los servicios de educación financiera y presupuestaria. Esto es voluntario.

  • Jill Pioter

01-04-24 Questions & Answers
01-04-24 Questions & Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: We have a member who feels the Rule states that our meetings should be considered spiritual, based on doing the readings and sharing with each other our understanding of the readings. Others believe we should use the reflections provided by National. What should we do?

A:  The Essential Elements of the Society are spirituality, friendship, and service. All three must be present during a meeting. The spiritual reading and discussion affect the first two objectives. The National Council provides a series of readings for meetings based on the Sunday Gospels with suggested discussion questions. These are not mandatory. Other readings that have a meaning related to our ministry can be used with discussion around those readings. This is the choice of the Spiritual Advisor.  The spirituality portion of the meeting is extremely important and should not be bypassed or abbreviated.

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

A: Normally, there is 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.

ESPAÑOL

P: Tenemos un miembro que opina que la Regla establece que nuestras reuniones deben considerarse espirituales en función de hacer las lecturas y compartir con los demás nuestra comprensión de las lecturas. Otros creen que deberíamos utilizar las reflexiones proporcionadas por la Oficina Nacional. ¿Qué debemos hacer?

R: Los Elementos Esenciales de la Sociedad son la Espiritualidad, la Amistad y el Servicio. Los tres deben estar presentes durante una reunión. La lectura espiritual y la discusión afectan a los dos primeros objetivos. La Oficina Nacional ofrece una serie de lecturas para reuniones basadas en los Evangelios dominicales con preguntas sugeridas para la discusión. Estos no son obligatorios. Otras lecturas que tienen un significado relacionado con nuestro ministerio se pueden usar con la discusión en torno a esas lecturas. Esta es la elección del Consejero Espiritual. La parte de espiritualidad de la reunión es extremadamente importante y no debe pasarse por alto ni abreviarse.

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

R: Normalmente no hay una Mesa Ejecutiva para las Conferencias. El Manual y la Regla hablan de una Mesa Directiva en la Conferencia. Esta no es una Mesa Directiva formal. Tampoco es una Mesa Ejecutiva a la que se le otorgan facultades específicas. Los Oficiales 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.

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