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  • Jill Pioter

09-21-2023 Questions and Answers
09-21-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: What process does the Society take to endorse any legislative efforts?

A: The National Voice of the Poor Committee identifies legislation that affects the people we serve and involves the National President in the process. Only the president speaks for the Society. The Society may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. We may advocate for or against legislation, but not candidates. For local issues the Council President must approve and may represent or delegate to the Council’s local VOP group, the advocacy positions of the Society.

Q: Can a parish employee be an officer of a Conference/Council? Are there any roles they cannot hold?

A:  There is no prohibition of parish employees becoming Active Conference Members and then Officers. However, conflict of interest is a strong consideration. If they place their loyalty to the Pastor and allow that loyalty to give the Pastor control over the functioning of the Conference or its funds, then they should withdraw from the Officer role and/or the Conference.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Cual es proceso que toma la Sociedad para respaldar cualquier esfuerzo legislativo?

R: El Comité Nacional de la Voz de los Pobres identifica la legislación que afecta a las personas a las que servimos e involucra al Presidente Nacional en el proceso. Sólo el Presidente Nacional habla por la Sociedad. La Sociedad no puede participar en ninguna actividad de campaña a favor o en contra de candidatos políticos. Podemos abogar a favor o en contra de la legislación, pero no de los candidatos. Para asuntos locales, el Presidente del Consejo debe aprobar y puede representar o delegar al grupo de la VOP local del Consejo, sobre las posiciones de defensa de la Sociedad.

P: ¿Puede un empleado de la parroquia ser un Oficial de una Conferencia/Consejo? ¿Existe algún trabajo que no puedan desempeñar?

R: No hay una prohibición de que los empleados de la parroquia se conviertan en Miembros Activos de la Conferencia y después en Oficiales. Sin embargo, el conflicto de intereses es una consideración importante. Si colocan su lealtad con el párroco y permiten que esa lealtad le dé al párroco el control sobre el funcionamiento de la Conferencia o sus fondos, entonces deben retirarse de actuar como Oficial y / o de la Conferencia.

  • Jill Pioter

The Vital Role of District Council President
The Vital Role of District Council President 1200 628 Jill Pioter

When the first Conference of the Society grew quickly to a membership of more than 100, it became clear that this number was not amenable to the values and goal of our founders. There were concerns about the ability of members to share and develop true friendships in such a large group. Therefore, one Conference evolved into two Conferences. As more Conferences were started, there was a need for an organizational structure to help them understand, embrace and adhere to the Rule of the Society. The idea of creating Councils was born.  As other Conferences opened within a Council there was a further need to form District Councils. The position of District Council president is a vital one with significant responsibility for the successful functioning of the Society.

The structure of the Society is unique in many ways, including the fact that Conferences are the base unit of the Society. Even though Conferences are somewhat independent, they are connected through a series of higher Councils, the first level of which is District Councils. The Rule clearly defines the function of a higher council:

  • Councils exist to serve all of the Conferences they coordinate. They help Conferences to develop their spiritual life, to intensify their service and to diversify their activities so that they may always be responsive to the needs of those who suffer. (Rule Part I: 3.6)

The organizational structure of the Society in many ways resembles a spider web. Spider webs are amazingly strong because of the very way in which they are constructed. If you think about it, Conferences are at the center of the web and the concentric circles are the supporting higher Councils. The diagonal lines are the lines of communication, friendship, support, and unity that flow between the Councils and the Conferences. Like a spider web, if any Conference or Council is in its beginning phases or is struggling, the structure stands strong and is able to provide resources the Conference or Council might need.

A District Council is comprised of no less than three and up to eight Conferences. Conference presidents represent their Conference at their District level and are responsible for electing the District Council president for a three-year term. As with Conference presidents, a second three-year term may be served consecutively but a new president must be elected after the second three-year term is completed.

District Council presidents represent their District at the (Arch)Diocesan Council level. They are responsible for bringing information from the (Arch)Diocesan Council back to the District and sharing that information with the Conference presidents, as well as bringing information from the District to the attention of the (Arch)Diocesan Council.

So what exactly are the duties of a District Council president?  Effective District Council presidents attend the meetings of their Conferences at least once a year. Conference members need to know their District Council president. When a Conference holds a special event the District Council president should make every effort to attend. In most cases financial and service reports required by the (Arch)Diocesan Council should be forwarded to the District Council president for submission to the upper Council. District Council presidents should then review those reports for accuracy and, if something seems amiss, questions should be asked and, if necessary, changes should be made before final submission.

District Council presidents should also review Conference guidelines to make sure they are consistent with the Rule and all applicable Bylaws. If a Conference has violated any part of the Rule or Bylaws of the Society, the District Council president should work with the Conference to move it into compliance. District Council presidents should ensure that Statute 12 in Part III of the Rule is strictly observed to safeguard the good reputation of the Society. That means Conferences must have a full slate of officers and that no officers are related to the president.

District Council presidents function as the thread that connects and ties things together. They are the conduit for communications. They are the promoters of our Essential Elements and the monitors of compliance. They serve as mentors to new Conference presidents and officers.  They are the gateway to establishing new Conferences and rejuvenating those Conferences that need to be revitalized.

Above all, the District Council president should be a servant leader as Jesus was a servant leader:  “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” (Mk 10:45).

  • Jill Pioter

09-14-2023 Questions and Answers
09-14-2023 Questions and Answers 150 150 Jill Pioter

Q: A Conference received a request from a shelter for winter coats and gear. They ran a collection drive, met with the shelter, and made a donation to the shelter. The Conference VP was told that they should have conducted a Home Visit with the families in the shelter and then donated the clothing. I understand the importance of Home Visits, but I don’t think they would be required in this situation.

A: We are prohibited by our Rule from making donations of money or materials to an outside organization. This includes raising money or materials for that organization. The money and materials we are given are for the use of the Society members in serving those in need directly — not through another organization. If we raise materials specifically for our use (like food for our pantry or clothing for our direct distribution) and those materials are more than we can use before they expire, then we can give our excess to another organization, after contacting and offering the goods or resources to other SVdP entities first.

Q: Some Conferences use computers for everything. If all records are kept electronically, which ones must be stored as hard copies also? For example, meeting minutes? Case records? Is it necessary for the Secretary to sign the meeting minutes (print, sign, scan, store)? 

A: All records identified for permanent storage in the Manual page 33 should be maintained in hardcopy (as well as electronic, if possible). All other files are considered temporary (limited by time) and may be electronic.

Spanish Translation

P: Una Conferencia recibió una solicitud de un refugio para recolectar abrigos y equipo de invierno. Ellos realizaron una campaña de recolección, se reunieron con el refugio e hicieron la donación. Se le dijo al Vicepresidente de la Conferencia que deberían haber realizado una Visita Domiciliaria con las familias en el refugio y luego donar la ropa. Entiendo la importancia de las Visitas Domiciliarias, pero no creo que sean necesarias en esta situación.

R: Nuestra Regla nos prohíbe hacer donaciones de dinero o ayudas materiales a una organización externa.  Esto incluye recaudar dinero o materiales para esa organización.  El dinero y los materiales que recibimos son para el uso de los miembros de la Sociedad para servir a los necesitados directamente, no a través de otra organización.  Si recaudamos materiales específicamente para nuestro uso (como alimentos para nuestra despensa o ropa para nuestra distribución directa) y esos materiales son más de los que podemos usar antes de que expiren, entonces podemos dar nuestro exceso a otra organización, después de contactar y ofrecer los bienes o recursos a otras entidades SVdP primero.

P: Algunas Conferencias usan computadoras para todo. Si todos los registros se mantienen electrónicamente, ¿cuáles deben almacenarse también como copias impresas? Por ejemplo, ¿Actas de las reuniones? ¿Registros de los casos? ¿Es necesario que el Secretario firme las actas de la reunión (imprimir, firmar, escanear, almacenar)?

R: Todos los registros identificados para almacenamiento permanente se encuentran en la  página 29 del Manual y deben mantenerse en copia impresa (así como de manera electrónica, si es posible).  Todos los demás archivos se consideran temporales (limitados por el tiempo) y pueden ser electrónicos.

  • Jill Pioter

08-31-2023 Questions and Answers
08-31-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Why does SVdP require meeting twice in a month?

A: The Society wants Conferences to meet weekly (52 meetings per year); however, the international Rule allows for every other week (26 meetings per year). In the United States, we allow for twice each month (24 meetings per year) while still promoting that weekly meetings are the ideal. It’s important to meet frequently because:

  1. This provides for shorter meetings. The farther apart the meetings, the more you have to cover. In Part III of the Rule, Statute 7, there is a lot that needs to be discussed during a meeting.
  2. All decisions must be made by the Conference as a whole. You should not let decisions be made by a few people, which is what happens when there is a long time between meetings. The Society does not support decisions being made only by the President or his/her slate of officers.
  3. Our primary goal is the spiritual growth of members. At meetings, we learn about our faith as it applies to our ministry.
  4. The meeting is also about fellowship and friendship between the members. If Conference only meets monthly and members each miss one or two meetings due to vacation, conflict in schedule, or illness, the possibilities for growing in friendship with your fellow Vincentians is reduced significantly.
  5. From a services standpoint, sometimes the whole Conference needs to discuss a request for help and make a decision. If the next meeting is a month away, then the decision to help or not help is unduly delayed or left up to a few. See 2 above.

Q: Many Conferences in our Council now use ServWare for case management. If all case records are stored in ServWare and the recommendation is to destroy case history after three years, are we required to do that?

A: Yes, record retention is defined not only to save storage space but to eliminate data that no longer has relevance.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Por qué SVdP requiere reunirse dos veces al mes?

R: La Sociedad quiere que las Conferencias se reúnan semanalmente (52 reuniones por año); sin embargo, la Regla Internacional permite cada dos semanas (26 reuniones por año).  En los Estados Unidos, permitimos dos veces al mes (24 reuniones por año) sin dejar de promover que las reuniones semanales, que son lo ideal.  La importancia de que la frecuencia sea semanal o bimensual:

  1. Esto prevé reuniones más cortas.  Cuanto más separadas estén las reuniones, más tendrá que cubrir.  Eche un vistazo a la Parte III de la Regla, Estatuto 7.  Hay mucho que se debe discutir durante una reunión.
  2. Todas las decisiones deben ser decididas por la Conferencia en su conjunto.  No debe dejar que las decisiones sean tomadas por unas pocas personas, que es lo que sucede cuando hay mucho tiempo entre reuniones.  La Sociedad no apoya que las decisiones sean tomadas solo por el Presidente o su lista de funcionarios.
  3. Nuestro objetivo principal es el crecimiento espiritual de los miembros.  Es en la reunión que aprendemos acerca de nuestra fe tal como se aplica a nuestro ministerio.  Esto sólo se lleva a cabo en nuestras reuniones.
  4. La reunión también trata sobre el compañerismo y la amistad entre los miembros.  Si nuestra Conferencia solo se reúne mensualmente y si faltan a una o dos reuniones debido a vacaciones, conflictos de horario y enfermedades, y si esto también es cierto para otros miembros de la Conferencia, las posibilidades de crecer en amistad con sus compañeros Vicentinos se reducen significativamente.
  5. Desde el punto de vista de los servicios, a veces tenemos que presentar una solicitud de ayuda a toda la Conferencia para debatir y tomar una decisión.  Si falta un mes para la próxima reunión, entonces la decisión de servir o no servir se retrasa indebidamente o se deja en manos de unos pocos.  Véase el apartado 2 arriba.

P: Muchas Conferencias de nuestro Consejo utilizan ahora ServWare para la gestión de casos. Si todos los registros de casos se almacenan en ServWare y la recomendación es destruir el historial de casos después de 3 años, ¿estamos obligados a hacerlo?

R: Sí, la retención de registros se define no solo para ahorrar espacio de almacenamiento, sino también para eliminar los datos que ya no tienen relevancia.

  • Jill Pioter

08-24-2023 Questions and Answers
08-24-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Does the IRS care if a Conference violates the SVdP Rule and gives to another non-SVdP charity that agrees to spend the money wisely?

A: The IRS indeed cares if a nonprofit violates its own mission, organizational documents, and rules. The Society cares if an SVdP entity violates its Rule. The IRS is not aware of all of SVdP’s prohibitions, but you are. As a holder of an IRS tax-exemption and a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you must honor both. We have tax-exempt status to use funds to fulfill our mission which is stated in our letter of exemption. We are not a pass-through organization. If our donors want to support another organization, they would give the funds to that organization.

Q: Should the minutes of a Conference meeting include specific details of a Home Visit, or is it enough to note what action was decided upon to help a person/family? 

A:  Conference minutes are the written record of decisions made by the Conference. The details of the Home Visit are not necessary in the minutes; they may be in a separate case record. However, if there is something about the visit that results in a Conference decision, some details might be noted in the minutes.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Le importa al IRS si una Conferencia viola la Regla SVdP y da a otra organización benéfica que no es SVdP que acepta gastar el dinero sabiamente?

R: El IRS realmente se preocupa si una organización sin fines de lucro viola su propia misión, documentos organizacionales y reglas.  La Sociedad se preocupa si una entidad SVdP viola su Regla.  El IRS no está al tanto de todas las prohibiciones de SVdP, pero usted sí.  Como titular de una exención de impuestos del IRS y miembro de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl, debe honrar a ambos.  Tenemos un estado exento de impuestos para usar fondos para cumplir con nuestra misión que se establece en nuestra carta de exención.  No somos una organización de paso.  Si nuestros donantes quieren apoyar a otra organización, ellos habrían dado los fondos a esa organización.

P: ¿Deberían las actas de una reunión de Conferencia incluir detalles específicos de una Visita Domiciliaria o es suficiente anotar qué acción se decidió para servir a una persona / familia?

R:  Las actas de la Conferencia son el registro escrito de las decisiones tomadas por la Conferencia. Los detalles de la Visita Domiciliaria no son necesarios en las actas; Pueden estar en un registro de caso separado.  Sin embargo, si hay algo acerca de la visita que resulta en una decisión de la Conferencia, algunos detalles podrían anotarse en las actas.

  • Jill Pioter

08-17-2023 Questions and Answers
08-17-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: What can we include in our volunteer hours? Is working at a funeral, serving food, choir, sacristan, driving an elderly neighbor to an appointment, or babysitting for a family in need or the members’ grandchildren also allowed to be included in volunteer hours?

A: Any member activities that are directly associated with SVdP Conference life can be considered volunteer hours. If individuals volunteer outside of their Conference duties, it should not be counted in the annual report data. If working at a funeral, serving food, choir, sacristan, etc., are activities of the Conference life then they can be counted. If these are individual choices in support of the parish but not Conference works, these volunteer hours cannot be counted.

Q: Is there a national policy about sharing documents in a criminal case with a pastor? We have shared the information with him, but he now wants copies of the documents which we have given to the local law enforcement authorities. The parish itself is not involved in the case.

A: This issue should be discussed with an attorney. A lot depends on the nature of the case. Depending on the nature of the information, it may impact an investigation. Both the pastor and the attorney should know and understand that confidentiality is highly emphasized within the Society. The Society operates at the pastor’s permission and relies on him for matters of faith and morals. If the case involves these issues or parish property/resources, the pastor has a right to be informed.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Qué podemos incluir en nuestras horas de voluntariado? ¿Trabajar en un funeral, servir comida, participar en el coro, ser sacristán, llevar a un prójimo de la tercera edad a una cita, cuidar niños para una familia necesitada o cuidar los nietos de los miembros puede también ser incluido en las horas de voluntariado?

R: Cualquier actividad de los miembros que esté directamente asociada con la vida de la Conferencia de SVdP puede considerarse horas de voluntariado. Si las personas se ofrecen como voluntarios fuera de sus deberes de la Conferencia, no deben contarse en los datos del informe anual. Si trabajar en un funeral, servir comida, participar en el coro, o ser sacristán, etc., son actividades de la vida de la Conferencia, entonces se pueden contar. Si estas son opciones individuales en apoyo de la parroquia, pero no de los trabajos de la Conferencia, estas horas de voluntariado no se pueden contar.

P: ¿Existe una política nacional sobre compartir documentos en un caso criminal con el Padre?  Hemos compartido la información con él, pero ahora quiere copias de los documentos que hemos entregado a las autoridades policiales locales. La parroquia en sí no está involucrada en el caso.

A: Este tema debe ser discutido con un abogado. Mucho depende de la naturaleza del caso.  Dependiendo de la naturaleza de la información, puede afectar una investigación.  Tanto el Padre como el abogado deben saber y entender que la confidencialidad es altamente enfatizada dentro de la Sociedad. La Sociedad opera con el permiso del Padre y depende de él para asuntos de fe y moral. Si el caso involucra estos asuntos o la propiedad / recursos de la parroquia, el Padre tiene derecho a ser informado.

  • Jill Pioter

08-10-2023 Questions and Answers
08-10-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Are Conferences permitted to own land and buildings separate from their Council?

A: If a Conference is separately incorporated and has its own tax-exemption, it may own property. If the Conference is using the EIN and tax-exemption of a District or Diocesan Council, it is part of that legal entity, and ownership of property is defined by the owner of the EIN.

Q: Members delivering furniture to a neighbor in need using their personal vehicle accidentally backed into a mailbox — damaging the mailbox and the vehicle. Should the Conference pay for the mailbox and the vehicle repairs?

A: Please consult your Council/Conference insurance policy for coverage. It may require that when a Vincentian has an accident with their own vehicle, it is the Vincentian’s auto insurance that comes into play first. The Council or Conference may then have liability insurance to cover this case. The Conference can separately make a decision to pay or not pay for related damages for either party outside of its insurance coverage. If our work damages the property of a neighbor in need, there is a moral obligation, regardless of coverage, to make it right.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Se permite a las Conferencias poseer terrenos y edificios separados de su Consejo?

R: Si una Conferencia se incorpora por separado y tiene su propia exención de impuestos, puede poseer propiedades.  Si la Conferencia está utilizando el EIN y la exención de impuestos de un Distrito o Consejo Diocesano, es parte de esa entidad legal y la propiedad de la propiedad es definida por el propietario del EIN.

P: Los miembros que entregan muebles a un prójimo en necesidad usando su vehículo personal accidentalmente retrocedieron en un buzón, dañando el buzón y el vehículo. ¿Debería la Conferencia pagar el buzón y las reparaciones del vehículo?

R: Consulte las pólizas del seguro del Consejo/Conferencia sobre la cobertura. Puede requerir que cuando un Vicentino tiene un accidente con su propio vehículo, es el seguro de automóvil del Vicentino el que entra en juego primero.  El Consejo o la Conferencia pueden entonces tener un seguro de responsabilidad civil para cubrir este caso. La Conferencia puede tomar por separado la decisión de pagar o no pagar los daños conexos para cualquiera de las partes fuera de cobertura del seguro. Si nuestro trabajo daña la propiedad de un prójimo en necesidad, existe una obligación moral de corregirlo, independientemente de la cobertura.

  • Jill Pioter

08-03-2023 Questions and Answers
08-03-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: In the interest of having more of our members assume an officer position, our Conference would like to change the term of office to be one year with re-election possible for more than one year, but not more than six. I cannot find any provision in The Rule for changing the term of Conference office. Can we do this with a simple vote to change the term of office?

A: The answer is No; the president is only elected for a three-year term. It is in the international Rule of the Society and cannot be changed. All other officers are appointed by and serve at the elected president’s pleasure. See the Rule Part III, Statute 12:  Servant Leadership Positions.

Q: Our Archdiocesan Council has its own EIN that includes nearly all the Conferences, but my Conference has a separate EIN, and we are a separate 501 (c)(3). We received notice to provide the ADCC with an audit, but I don’t believe that we would be a part of their audit. We are definitely part of the Archdiocesan Council but are we part of their audit? 

A: The audit typically includes all entities using the Council’s EIN. If your Conference has its own EIN, then your Conference should conduct a separate audit at the Archdiocesan Council’s request. Part III of The Rule, Statute 27 states: When deemed appropriate Council Presidents should require audits or audit reviews of the Conferences (at minimum, an internal review), or of Councils, and Special Works under the auspices of their Council. In addition, Conferences are required to perform an audit every year. A copy of this audit should be passed on to the upper Council.

Spanish Translation

P: Con el interés de que más de nuestros miembros asuman un puesto de oficiales, nuestra Conferencia desearía cambiar el mandato para que sea de un año con la posibilidad de reelección por un año más, pero no más de seis.  No encuentro ninguna disposición en la Regla que permita cambiar la duración del término de los Oficiales de la Conferencia. ¿Podemos hacerlo con una simple votación para cambiar el mandato?

A: La respuesta es No; El Presidente solo es elegido por un período de 3 años. Está en la Regla Internacional de la Sociedad y no se puede cambiar. Todos los demás funcionarios son nombrados y sirven a gusto del Presidente electo. Véase la Regla Parte III, Estatuto 12: Posiciones de Liderazgo de servicio.

P: Nuestro Consejo Arquidiocesano tiene su propio EIN que incluye casi todas las Conferencias, pero mi Conferencia tiene un EIN separado, y somos un 501 (c) (3) separado.  Recibimos un aviso para proporcionar al Consejo Arquidiocesano una auditoría, pero no creo que fuéramos parte de su auditoría.  Definitivamente somos parte del Consejo Arquidiocesano, pero ¿somos parte de su auditoría?

A: La auditoría suele incluir a todas las entidades que utilizan el EIN del Consejo. Si su conferencia tiene su propio EIN, entonces su Conferencia debe realizar una auditoría separada a solicitud del Consejo Arquidiocesano.  La Parte III del Regla, Estatuto 27 establece: Cuando se considere apropiado, los Presidentes de los Consejos deben exigir auditorías o revisiones de auditoría de las Conferencias (como mínimo, una revisión interna), o de los Consejos, y Trabajos Especiales bajo los auspicios de su Consejo.  Además, las Conferencias deben realizar una auditoría cada año.  Una copia de esta auditoría debe ser entregada al Consejo superior.

  • Jill Pioter

07-27-2023 Questions and Answers
07-27-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: I have always been told that $.30/mile was acceptable. Has the Society increased the reimbursement for mileage due to the fuel price increases? This is not for Home Visits or serving the poor, it is for travel expenses in growing new Conferences or traveling to national meetings.

A: The rates are determined by the IRS, not the Society. The IRS has determined that $0.14 per mile driven as a volunteer is an appropriate rate for reimbursement. This rate for charity has remained the same since 1998.

The 2023 business mileage reimbursement rate is 65.5 cents per mile, which applies only to employees of the nonprofit.

Spanish Translation

P: Siempre me han dicho que $ .30 / milla es aceptable. ¿Ha aumentado la Sociedad el reembolso por kilometraje debido a los aumentos del precio del combustible? Esto no es para las Visitas Domiciliarias o para servir a las personas en necesidad, es para gastos de viaje en para nuevas Conferencias o viajes a reuniones nacionales.

A: Las tasas son determinadas por el IRS, no por la Sociedad. El IRS ha determinado que $0.14 por milla recorrida como voluntario es una tasa apropiada para el reembolso. Esta tasa para las organizaciones de caridad se ha mantenido igual desde 1998.

La tasa de reembolso de millas comerciales de 2023 es de 65.5 centavos por milla, que se aplica solo a los empleados de la organización sin fines de lucro.

  • Jill Pioter

Am I A Vincentian?
Am I A Vincentian? 1200 628 Jill Pioter

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

Chair, National Governance Committee

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When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in the form of cookies. Here you can change your Privacy preferences. It is worth noting that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we are able to offer.

Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking code.
Click to enable/disable Google Fonts.
Click to enable/disable Google Maps.
Click to enable/disable video embeds.
Our website uses cookies, mainly from 3rd party services. Define your Privacy Preferences and/or agree to our use of cookies.
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