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  • Kristen Blacksher

Feature: Thrift Stores
Feature: Thrift Stores 534 712 Kristen Blacksher

Vincentian Experiences: Transactional or Relational?

By John Thelen, Executive Director of Lansing Diocesan Council
and Mike McClanahan, Director of Retail Operations of Phoenix Diocesan Council

Vincentian success stories happen throughout our country on a daily basis.

Our Vincentian encounters begin with that first call from a neighbor in need who is seeking some form of assistance from our SVdP Conference or Council.

As a Vincentian, it helps me to try to remember how hard it must be as a neighbor in need to make that first call to seek some form of assistance from SVdP. How we proceed with the initial call will help shape the story that will be told in the future about our work.

Is our Vincentian work creating “transactional” type experiences or will our actions create a “relational” experience with our neighbors in need?

Sometimes it’s easy to handle what just seems like transactions. Our neighbors are seeking a pretty straightforward request; paying a quick utility bill to prevent a shut-off or paying a landlord for a late rent payment. They can be pretty easy, quick transactions. The neighbor feels blessed to get the emergency assistance they were seeking and we as Vincentians feel good about what we were able to provide.

But is that enough?

Will the neighbor look back on their experience with our SVdP unit and see it as a transaction or will they think about it later and feel that we were invested in them as a person. Do we ask how everything else is going for them and then listen to really hear how we might be able to assist in other meaningful ways?

In my Conference, our Vincentians were fulfilling a lot of transactions. We were helping a good number of people with a good amount of money to clear up their emergency needs. As Vincentians, we felt like we were accomplishing the mission.

Over the last couple years, we have transitioned away from transactional experiences to doing more relational experiences. It has created a totally different feel among the Vincentian in our Conference. It does require additional time and follow-up with our Neighbors in Need, but certainly an investment worth making!

Ms. Cindy Teffer

To help make this more real, we would like to share Ms. Cindy Teffer’s experience with Vincentian Stephanie Wise, who is Lead Case Manager from the Phoenix, Arizona area.

 

The video shows a two-plus year experience between Cindy and Stephanie and others in the Vincentian Family.

All Conferences or Councils may not have the services available that you will see in this video, but the relationship created is what we can offer to our Neighbors in Need.

Towards the end of this short video, you will see how a pop-up thrift store at the National Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona helped put the icing on the cake for Ms. Cindy Teffer’s experience with SVdP.

Thrift Stores aren’t a necessity to provide meaningful experiences to our Neighbors in Need, but they can often times provide additional services that might not be available otherwise.

SVdP thrift stores provide meaningful employment and volunteer opportunities, and are a significant driver of the Society’s mission and effectiveness. Profits from stores contribute millions of dollars for Councils and Conferences to use in their communities. If you have questions about SVdP Thrift Stores near you or would like to explore the resources available to your Conference or Council, please go to https://thriftstores.ssvpusa.org. 

  • Kristen Blacksher

Feature: SVdP Young Adults at SEEK
Feature: SVdP Young Adults at SEEK 800 500 Kristen Blacksher

Brace Yourselves: 20,000 Young Adult Vincentians coming your way!

By Kat Brissette, National 2nd Vice President

While 20,000 new Vincentians might be a stretch, the conversations sparked at SEEK25 in Salt Lake City, Utah, hold incredible potential. With a little bit of prayer, patience, and passionate young Vincentians, this could be true!

The SEEK Conference is an annual gathering of thousands of Catholic college students seeking to deepen their faith, explore ways to live it out, and grow as leaders in the Church. SEEK features all of the most renowned Catholic Speakers, and is a time to encounter Christ, connect with peers, and experience transformation through truth, beauty, and goodness. This year, over 20,000 young adults gathered for an unforgettable experience—and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was right there in the thick of it with nine Young Adult Vincentian delegates, a standout interactive claw machine booth, and the privilege of leading an inspiring breakout session.

“It was really fun to see Priests, Nuns, Deacons and Michael Acaldo ripping it up on the dance floor right before Monsignor Shea’s keynote,” remarked Luciano from the University of Connecticut.

“It was super cool to see everyone at Mass and adoration. Everyone was enthusiastic and wanted to be there,” added Laura, one of the SVdP Emerging Leaders, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

“SEEK was amazing because there were so many people my age there who had lots of different things to share and teach me about their experiences in college or with SVdP, and we were all united in our amazing faith. The amount of energy in every room, whether at Mass, adoration, a talk given by one of the countless speakers, or Mission Way, was inspiring,” remarked Genevieve, one of the SVdP Emerging Leaders, a freshman at Elmira College.

Check out highlights from SEEK and get a glimpse of a day at the conference by visiting our social media at @svdpusa.

A Booth that Inspired: Engaging Young Adults in the Vincentian Mission

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of nine Young Adult Vincentian delegates, the Society had the privilege of hosting a vibrant booth and leading an interactive workshop that captured the hearts and minds of thousands of students. From engaging conversations at the booth to an inspiring breakout session, the Catholic faith and Vincentian spirit was alive and well, and the energy at SEEK was truly electric!

The SVdP booth became a standout attraction at SEEK’s Mission Way. Students stopped by to learn about the Society’s mission and discover how they could get involved. From our claw machine (sourced from a young adult who volunteered weekly at an SVdP thrift store, while in college) filled with awesome prizes to the powerful presence of Vincentian relics of saints like St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac, and St. Catherine Laboure, the booth was alive with conversation and inspiration.

Check out highlights from SEEK and our claw machine booth and get a glimpse of a day at the conference by visiting our social media at @svdpusa.

Together the team came up with 4 key messages:

1. SVdP was founded by college students who were inspired to live out their faith through service – What are you doing to put your faith into action?

2. Young people have been at the heart of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, for nearly 200 years. Many saints and blesseds found their purpose as young adults through the Society – Could this be your path to Sainthood?

3. Catholics are called to serve, and through encounters with the poor, we grow in holiness. Holiness often begins with simple, compassionate acts of love, and ultimate trust in Divine providence.  – We can do more!

4. SVdP is practically everywhere, and we can support both new and existing service projects on campuses, creating a lasting impact wherever you may be. Local Vincentians can play an active role by mentoring, hosting workshops, and guiding young adults in their faith and service journey. – What are you waiting for?

“Being a delegate at SEEK was an enriching experience. One of the highlights of our time as delegates in Salt Lake City was working as a team to engage young adults and inform them about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Throughout SEEK, we not only discussed friendship, service, and spirituality with other young adults, but we experienced growing in all three Vincentian essential elements as a group,” Santina a Junior at the University of Connecticut.

Check out highlights from SEEK Day 3 and get a glimpse of a day at the conference by visiting our social media at @svdpusa.

The booth featured a special focus on “Society Saints“—including soon to be Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pope St. John Paul II, St. Gianna Mollo, and St. Zélie Martin. These beloved patrons found their way to sainthood through their work with SVdP.

Luciano shared: “One of my goals while working in the booth and having conversations with young adults was making people aware of the ‘incredible’ Saints who were part of the Society when they were our age. It got young adults thinking the same way Frederic Ozanam was thinking when he was challenged to put his faith into action,”

“It was such a great conversation starter, and the students were eager to dive deeper into the history and spirituality of the Society and its members,” added Francis.

Students were inspired to learn that many of these saints were once young adults, serving the poor through the Society. YYAEL even designed t-shirts for each Saint and a quote. If you are interested in ordering some, reach out to us at youngadults@svdpusa.org.

Throughout the week we hosted a Pray It Forward Challenge, inviting participants to leave a prayer intention, and carry someone else’s with them. This was a small act of kindness that everyone wanted to join in on. “We quickly started to hear of people who ended up receiving similar, but specific prayer intentions to their own. Priests, students, and other religious people would come back and share the stories with us. It was such a fruitful reminder that in this crazy world, as alone as we may sometimes feel – we are not. Not only do we have a loving God watching out for us, we are connected within this beautiful, huge Catholic family,” explained Kat, 2nd Vice President.

Putting Faith into Action: A Workshop That Made an Impact

In addition to the booth, SVdP hosted a highly successful breakout session titled “Putting Faith into Action: ‘Go to the Poor, and You Will Find God.'” This session drew nearly 1000 participants and gave students an interactive experience of the tough decisions faced by those living in poverty. Participants reflected on how to grow in holiness while serving others in their communities and on their campuses.

The session was led by National CEO Michael Acaldo, National 2nd Vice President Kat Brissette, and her brothers, Catholic College Students and Social Media Influencers, Francis and John Paul Brissette. The response was overwhelming, with many students expressing excitement to bring SVdP back to campus and getting more involved in their community.

“The workshop was a really great opportunity to expose young adults to the difficulties of living in poverty and to how SVdP serves those struggling within our own communities,” explained Luciano. For many, community service is a mandatory task or a week-long mission trip, but our goal was to share about the opportunities to take service to a new level, serving in their own backyards.  “Michael shared about SVdP’s efforts in homelessness prevention, followed by Francis and John Paul leading an interactive poverty simulation. During the simulation, although some students passionately wanted to spend money on getting a gym membership, they quickly recognized the importance of first being able to provide food for a family. The poverty simulation really opened eyes to the struggles people experience and even inspired many young adults to approach us after the workshop to discuss possibilities of starting an SVdP Conference on their college campus,” Luciano continued.

Building Lasting Connections: Engaging Young Adults in the Vincentian Mission

At SEEK, our goal was to inspire college students and campus ministers to connect more deeply with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP). We recognized that while many campuses are already involved with SVdP, there is a growing desire for more substantial engagement. Students expressed interest in starting SVdP conferences on their campuses, joining local conferences to serve the poor, and using their skills in service or employment with the Society. Our Young Leaders highlighted that SVdP can enhance and complement the service students are already doing, offering a meaningful way to put faith into action. Whether you’re an established Vincentian or someone eager to inspire young adults in your community, now is the time to get involved.

“Getting started can be the most overwhelming part, as there is a balance of understanding the intricacies of the Society as well as the intricacies of the campus community itself. It can take up to a year to get things really going on campus, as a balance is found. We are already working with a few locations that we hope to be sharing within the next couple months!” Kat explained.

We encourage both young adults and Vincentians to take action:

● Explore opportunities to connect with Catholic communities on local campuses and partner with or start SVdP initiatives.

● Find unique opportunities  for young people to use their time, talents, and skills to serve those in need – young people can make a big impact with SVdP with as little as $5, 5 hours, or 5 friends.

● To learn more about how your SVDP council or conference can create lasting connections with Catholic young adults and college campuses, Kat and the Emerging Leaders team are happy to help. The YYAEL team has been working on materials that are helpful for this process and they would love to send them your way.

For more resources and inspiration, visit our Emerging Leaders Blog:

Next year’s SEEK conference, SEEK26, promises to be even bigger and more inspiring. With three different locations—each offering unique opportunities for encounter, community, and transformation—SEEK26 is a chance for young adults to connect with the Church and each other on a deeper level. The theme for SEEK26 – “To the Heights” – invites participants to follow the example of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a Vincentian who will be canonized this year.

Let’s continue the tradition of encountering, praying, learning, and serving together—just as the first Vincentians did.  The future of the Vincentian mission is bright, and together, we can continue to spread the flame of service and faith across campuses and parishes. If you are interested in learning more about engaging college students and young adults, reach out to us at youngadults@svdpusa.org. 

  • Pam Hudson

The Best Fundraisers Listen
The Best Fundraisers Listen 1080 1080 Pam Hudson

By Mike Flynn, Advancement Committee

Fund-raising involves asking someone for money, maybe a person in an organization. But it isn’t just about asking a question. It is about initiating a conversation. And a conversation is about listening as well as talking.

The best salespeople listen. It is in listening that you understand the other person’s perspectives on the world and your community.

Ask questions that prompt the other person’s knowledge about the need you are looking to fund. There might be knowledge that comes from the media, or it might be from someone or people that the person knows.

With that understanding, you can portray the needs of the community and how St. Vincent de Paul helps. And you can do it in a way that is more likely to be heard.
Some people are more likely to be persuaded by data. Others by personal stories. That is where your understanding of the person you are speaking with comes in. You will be able to tailor your evidence of the need based on that conversation.

For those who are more convinced by data, share the need in terms of the numbers of people St. Vincent de Paul has helped in your archdiocese, district council, or conference. It is usually best to report numbers on an annual basis – by type of help and dollar amounts.

For those more convinced by stories, think of a person you might have helped in a home visit. Tell how you felt approaching the home, entering the home and meeting the neighbor in need. Describe the home, including all who are living there. Tell you came to understand the need and how St. Vincent de Paul helped. And tell about the role prayer took in the visit.

Then ask for the contribution that based on your conversation is appropriate and aspirational. Ultimately, you are raising funds for St. Vincent de Paul, funds that will be used to help fill the needs of our neighbors in need.

 

  • Pam Hudson

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?

 

  • Kristen Blacksher

2024 Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners Announced
2024 Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners Announced 1600 652 Kristen Blacksher

Congratulations to the winners of the Friends of the Poor Grants from the North Central, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic Regions! The National Council received 131 grant applications totaling $632,250. Grant awards for this round total $83,500.

SVdP Conferences and District Councils can apply for up to $5,000 from the National Council’s Friends of the Poor Fund. Individual grant award amounts may vary from the application amount, but will not exceed $5,000. Grants are targeted to specific areas of need, above and beyond available Conference resources: assistance for rent/housing, utilities, food, clothing, medical, transportation, and baby/children needs.

  • 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

11-2-2023 Questions and Answers
11-2-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: I know that Conferences are expected to follow federal, state, and local laws but I can’t find in the Rule where it states that.

A: It is not stated in the Rule. It is located in the Nationally Approved Bylaws for Conferences in Article 2. You will also find this in the Manual on Page 30 under two sections: “Legal and Financial Realities” and “Tax Laws and Financial Records.”

Q: What is the difference in bylaws between a Conference with an integrated board and a Conference with a separate board?

A: Conferences that are not incorporated are to use Document 1. They do not have a Board of Directors.

Conferences that are incorporated have two choices:

  1. Document 2 is Bylaws for a Conference with a Separate Board of Directors. This option provides for the President selecting/appointing the members of the Board. In this case, the Board has the authority to define policy. However, the Conference as a whole has the authority to override decisions made by the Board.
  2. Document 10 is Bylaws for a Conference with an Integrated Board of Directors. This option provides for all Conference members to be on the Board of Directors plus some appointees by the President. All members of the Conference are already on the Board, so there is no overriding authority.

Spanish Translation

P: Sé que se espera que las Conferencias sigan las leyes federales, estatales y locales, pero no puedo encontrar en la Regla dónde se establece eso.

R: Está en la Regla, Parte I, 5.2. También se encuentra en los Estatutos Aprobados a Nivel Nacional para Conferencias en el Artículo 2 y en el Manual en la página 30 en dos secciones: “Realidades Legales y Financieras” y “Leyes Tributarias y Registros Financieros”. A menudo hay una referencia a seguir las leyes estatales en sus Artículos de Incorporación.

P: ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre una Conferencia con una Mesa Directiva integrada y una Conferencia con una Mesa Directiva separada?

R: Las Conferencias que no se incorporen deben utilizar el Documento 1.  No tienen Mesa Directiva Separada.

Las Conferencias que se incorporan tienen dos opciones:

  1. El Documento 2 son los Estatutos para una Conferencia con una Mesa Directiva Separada.  Esta opción prevé que el Presidente seleccione/designe a los miembros de la Mesa Directiva.  En este caso, la Mesa Directiva tiene la autoridad para definir la política.  Sin embargo, la Conferencia en su conjunto está facultada para anular las decisiones adoptadas por la Mesa Directiva.
  2. El Documento 10 son los Estatutos para una Conferencia con una Mesa Directiva Integrada.  Esta opción prevé que todos los miembros de la Conferencia formen parte de la Mesa Directiva, además de algunas personas designadas por el Presidente. Todos los miembros de la Conferencia ya forman parte de la Mesa, por lo que no existe una autoridad superior.
  • Jill Pioter

10-26-2023 Questions and Answers
10-26-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: At a recent multi-Conference gathering, someone suggested that if a neighbor requests assistance more than once, the neighbor will be asked to perform “community service” in order to be served beyond the initial time. Is this in keeping with either the spirit or the letter of the Vincentian Rule?

A: The works of the Society have always been in imitation of Jesus. The assistance provided by Jesus was unconditional. He did not require those He helped to do anything in order to receive His assistance.

Once you require someone to do work in order to receive something in return (food, clothing, furniture, rent payment, utility bill payment, etc.), it falls into the realm of an employer-employee relationship with laws that have to be followed in that respect. What you are describing is not something the Society endorses.

Q: We are having our annual awards banquet and I am the Awards Nomination chairperson. Which award is the very highest, which award next, etc.? Is there someplace I could find this defined?

A: Awards are unique to each Council and Conference granting them. There is no set order defined by the National Council or an order defined by tradition. Each Council and Conference grants their own awards and decides the order of importance.

Spanish Translation

P: En una reciente reunión de varias Conferencias, alguien sugirió que, si un prójimo solicita asistencia más de una vez, se le pedirá a esa persona que realice “servicio comunitario” para que se le sirva más allá del tiempo inicial. ¿Está esto de acuerdo con el espíritu o lo que dice la Regla Vicentina?

R Los trabajos de la Sociedad siempre han sido a imitación de Jesús. La ayuda proporcionada por Jesús fue incondicional. Él no requirió que aquellos a quienes ayudó hicieran nada para recibir Su ayuda.

Una vez que requiere que alguien trabaje para recibir algo a cambio (comida, ropa, muebles, pago de alquiler, pago de facturas de servicios públicos, etc.), cae en el ámbito de una relación empleador-empleado con leyes que deben seguirse a ese respecto. Lo que usted está describiendo no es algo que la Sociedad respalde.

P: Estamos teniendo nuestro banquete anual de premios y yo soy el Presidente de la nominación de premios.  ¿Qué premio es el más alto, qué premio sigue, etc.? ¿Hay algún lugar donde pueda encontrar esto definido?

R: Los premios son únicos para cada Consejo y Conferencia que los otorga. No hay un orden establecido definido por el Consejo Nacional o un orden definido por la tradición. Cada Consejo y Conferencia otorga sus propios premios y decide el orden de importancia.

  • Jill Pioter

10-19-2023 Questions and Answers
10-19-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Can a person join more than one Conference?

A: A Vincentian can hold membership at two Conferences. The member should disclose dual membership status information to both Conferences. Active Membership is defined by the Rule. Although allowed, it’s not often that one person is a member of more than one Conference, so duplication of numbers reporting is not significant.

Q: Recently, it was stated that “Twinning” was officially defined by the Society as: an arrangement between Conferences; A: to send a specific amount of money each month to Conference; B: which have need of additional income on a regular basis. Is this correct? If so, what do we call any help one Conference provides another Conference for a neighbor on a one-time basis?

A: The specific definition you gave is reasonable; however, it is not limited to monthly contributions. Twinning qualifies anytime one Conference or Council sends money to another Conference or Council to help with Society works. Giving money to another Conference to help in a particular case, qualifies instead as a co-pay because you are helping an individual through another Conference. In this case, both Conferences establish a case record for the person or family helped.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Puede una persona unirse a más de una Conferencia?

R: Un Vicentino puede ser miembro de dos Conferencias. El miembro debe revelar información sobre el estado de doble membresía a ambas Conferencias. La membresía activa está definida por la Regla. Aunque está permitido, no es frecuente que una persona sea miembro de más de una Conferencia, por lo que la duplicación de los informes de números no es significativa.

P: Recientemente, se afirmó que el “Hermanamiento” fue definido oficialmente por la Sociedad como: un acuerdo entre Conferencias; A: enviar una cantidad específica de dinero cada mes a la Conferencia; B: que tiene necesidad de ingresos adicionales de forma regular. ¿Es esto correcto? Si es así, ¿cómo llamamos la ayuda que una Conferencia proporciona a otra Conferencia para un prójimo por una sola vez?

R: La definición específica que dio es razonable; sin embargo, no se limita a las contribuciones mensuales. El Hermanamiento califica cada vez que una Conferencia o Consejo envía dinero a otra Conferencia o Consejo para ayudar con las obras de la Sociedad. Dar dinero a otra Conferencia para ayudar en un caso particular, se considera como un copago porque usted está sirviendo a un individuo a través de otra Conferencia. En este caso, ambas Conferencias establecen un registro del caso para la persona o familia servida.

  • Jill Pioter

Members Portal Upgrade
Members Portal Upgrade 1080 1080 Jill Pioter

We’ve made important changes to the Members Portal, providing a more secure space for member data, bringing us inline with current data security measures, and providing administrators with faster access. At the request of national leadership, the following changes have been made to the Members Portal.

  • Only Administrators shall have login permissions. Members will no longer be able to log in. This change limits the number of logins with access to member information.
  •  Administrators will only see member information for groups they have administrative access over. They will not be able to see member information of other groups. Grouping contact information and leadership remain available to administrators.
  • Password requirements have been changed to meet current minimum standards. All passwords must be 12 characters or more in length and have the following: one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one numeral, and one symbol. In order to ensure all passwords meet this standard, administrators will be required to reset passwords at the first post-upgrade login. This reset will only be required once and applies to administrators at all levels.
  • A ‘Forgot Password’ feature has been added, allowing administrators to reset their password at any time. The function sends the user a link via email to reset the password and requires administrators to have an email in their member record.
  • To emphasize data privacy, a privacy policy has been added. The policy is available for review at any time. Administrators must agree to the policy each time they login.
  • Minimum member data required has changed. The number of required fields to add a member has been reduced. First name, last name, member type and member status are the only fields required to add a member. Administrators have additional required fields (email, username, and password) that are essential for logging in and resetting passwords.
  • When adding new members, administrators must confirm that members are aware that their information is being entered into the Members Portal and that the new members are aware of the privacy policies governing the application. A template policy is available on the Need Help? page within the Members Portal for local administrators.

We thank you for your patience during this process. If you have any questions, please email the National Council Information Technology department at techsupport@svdpusa.org.

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