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  • 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.

  • Jill Pioter

10-12-2023 Questions and Answers
10-12-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: We have a Conference reporting more than $100,000 in the annual report. The balance includes a checking account and investment account. They are reporting the investment gain or loss on line 5E Other Misc. Receipts. Since we report on a cash basis, how should the accounting of gain or loss be reported in the annual report? Should it be considered an adjustment to the beginning balance?

A: The Annual Report is a cash report. Any interest you gain from the checking account is real cash and should be reported under 5E. Only the change in cash should be reported on the Annual Report. If the investment account includes stocks and bonds, they have the original cash value. If cash dividends are received, they are reported under 5E also. A value increase or decrease is not reported until cashed in.

Q: Our Conference received some McDonald’s stock a few years ago, and we would now like to convert this stock to cash. How do we do this?

A: Stock received by a Conference can be converted to cash; however, members should obtain financial advice related to how to handle this process. Please contact Nancy Pino (npino@svdpusa.org), National Council CFO, for initial assistance.

Spanish Translation

P: Tenemos una Conferencia que reporta más de $100,000 en el informe anual. El saldo incluye una cuenta corriente y una cuenta de inversión. Están reportando la ganancia o pérdida de inversión en la línea 5E Otros recibos varios. Dado que informamos sobre una base de caja, ¿cómo debe informarse la contabilidad de ganancias o pérdidas en el informe anual? ¿Debería considerarse un ajuste al saldo inicial?

R: El Informe Anual es un informe de efectivo. Cualquier interés que obtenga de la cuenta corriente es efectivo real y debe reportarse bajo 5E.  Solo el cambio en efectivo debe informarse en el Informe Anual.  Si la cuenta de inversión incluye acciones y bonos, tienen el valor en efectivo original.  Si se reciben dividendos en efectivo, también se informan en 5E.  Un aumento o disminución del valor no se informa hasta que se cobra.

P: Nuestra Conferencia recibió algunas acciones de McDonald’s hace unos años, y ahora nos gustaría convertir estas acciones en efectivo. ¿Cómo lo hacemos?

R: Las acciones recibidas para una Conferencia se pueden convertir en efectivo; sin embargo, los miembros deben obtener asesoramiento financiero relacionado con la forma de manejar este proceso.  Comuníquese con Nancy Pino (npino@svdpusa.org), Directora Financiera del Consejo Nacional, para obtener asistencia inicial.

  • Jill Pioter

10-5-2023 Questions and Answers
10-5-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Where is the official ruling that discourages our neighbors in need from seeking help from more than one Conference? As I understand it, we help neighbors who are located within our Conference boundaries. However, I hear that neighbors go to a Conference for help and other Conferences claim they have also helped that person. I was always under the impression that this activity was highly discouraged. Can you clarify the ruling on this? 

A: The Society has no nationally established guidelines discouraging our neighbors in need from seeking help from more than one Conference. The Society exists in only about ¼ of the parishes in the United States; so, our Conferences often find themselves assisting people outside of their parish boundaries. Also, not all Conferences offer the same services. Any rules associated with staying in the parish boundaries are normally established within a District or Diocesan Council.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Dónde podemos encontrar la decisión oficial que desalienta a nuestros prójimos en necesidad de buscar ayuda de más de una Conferencia?  Según tengo entendido, servimos a los prójimos que se encuentran en los límites de nuestra Conferencia.   Sin embargo, escuché que las personas van a una Conferencia en busca de ayuda y otras Conferencias afirman que también han servido a esa persona.  Siempre tuve la impresión de que esta actividad es desalentada.  ¿Puede aclarar la decisión al respecto? 

R: La Sociedad no tiene pautas nacionales establecidas que desanimen a nuestros prójimos en necesidad de buscar ayuda en más de una Conferencia. La Sociedad existe en sólo alrededor de 1/4 de las parroquias en los Estados Unidos; por lo tanto, nuestras Conferencias a menudo se encuentran sirviendo a personas fuera de los límites de su parroquia.  Además, no todas las Conferencias ofrecen los mismos servicios. Cualquier regla asociada con permanecer en los límites de la parroquia normalmente se establece dentro de un Distrito o Consejo Diocesano.

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The National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the National Council are deductible. The Council’s tax identification number is 13-5562362.

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