Click to edit Master title style St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference President Training 1September 2015

Click to edit Master title styleSt. Vincent de Paul Society Conference President Training

1September 2015

Click to edit Master title styleTopics

• Essential Characteristics of the Society

• Servant Leadership

• District Councils

• Working with the Pastor

• Financial and Legal Matters

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Click to edit Master title styleEssential Characteristics

of SVDP Society

• Diverse Lay Society

• Spirit of youth

• Universal Society

• Catholic

• Opposed to Hoarding

• Minimal Expenses

• Sharing money, knowledge, time

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Click to edit Master title styleFundamental Principles of the Vincentian Apostolate

Two features sum up this apostolate: living in personal contact with those who suffer and living its spirit in common.

• Translated into:

person-to-person contact;

personal gift of the heart;

diverse community of lay people

•In accordance with the needs of the modern world

•Attitude of sincerity, shared friendship and delicacy

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Click to edit Master title styleCharacter of the Society

• Vincentian family - those who help and those who are helped

• Importance of spiritual life

• Each president is at the same time a member of the next higher Council

The members of St. Vincent de Paul appreciate that Christ identified Himself with the poor: "Whatever you did to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." (Matt. 25,40.)

Vincentian engagement is fully rooted in the Gospel message, permanent reference to which will, in clarifying our action through service, keep it from degenerating into activism or philanthropy.

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Click to edit Master title styleFounders Words on the Poor

St Vincent de Paul

• “After the love of God, your principal concern must be to serve the poor with great gentleness and cordiality, sympathizing with them in their ailments and listening to their little complaints, for they look on you as people sent by God to help them. You are therefore intended to represent the goodness of God in the eyes of the poor.”

St. Louise de Marillac

• “You must show the poor affection, serving them from the heart, inquiring of them what they need, speaking to them gently and compassionately, procuring necessary help for them without being too bothersome or too eager.”

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Click to edit Master title styleFounders Words on the Poor (Cont’d)

Blessed Rosalie Rendu

• “See Christ in his poor and approach each one you visit with humility as his servant. Be kind and love, for love is your first gift to the poor. They will appreciate your kindness and your love more than all else you bring them.”

Blessed Frederic Ozanam

• “Knowledge of the poor is gained by visiting the slums where they live, sitting by the bedside of the dying, feeling the cold they feel and learning from their lips the causes of their woes.”

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Click to edit Master title styleThe Rule of the Society

• Objectives and spirit of the original founders• Three Parts

Rule of the International ConfederationStatutes of the International ConfederationStatutes of the National Council

• Every Conference and Council must complyNational Council can suspend/exclude for

non-compliance

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Click to edit Master title styleStatutes of the National Council of the United States

Conference structure and operations:• Membership Types

Active (Full) – count determines quorum – only ones to voteAssociate – non-Catholic – no vote and cannot hold office Contributing – provides funding

• Conferences and their workConference meeting essentialsMeeting frequency Aggregation

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Click to edit Master title styleStatutes of the National Council of the United States (Cont’d)

• Governance and ManagementServant leadershipOfficers Special ProjectsSubsidiarity and Democracy

• AccountabilityAnnual reviews and reportsProperty and fundsCollections for the poor and to maintain the structuresUse of fundsCouncil President’s rightsRelationships

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Click to edit Master title styleMission Statement – Essential Elements

A Catholic lay organizationInspired by Gospel Values….

Leads women and men to come togetherto grow Spiritually and in FriendshipBy offering person-to-person service

Spirit

ualit

y Friendship

Service11

Click to edit Master title styleMission Statement – Essential Elements

A Catholic lay organizationInspired by Gospel Values….

Leads women and men to come togetherto grow Spiritually and in FriendshipBy offering person-to-person serviceSpi

ritua

lity

(San

ctity

) Friendship (Solidarity)

Service12

Click to edit Master title styleSVDP Organization

• Conference

• District Council

• Diocesan Council

• Region

• USA National Council

• Council General

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Click to edit Master title styleSVDP Organization

• Conference

• District Council

• Diocesan Council

• Region

• USA National Council

• Council General

Conference Group

Diocese

8 Regions

St. Louis, MO

Paris

Individual Parish

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Click to edit Master title styleThe Conference

• Basic unit of the Society• Support members in mission to serve the Poor• Officers serve members• Person-to-person service• Determines help and works• No financial compensation to members• Diverse membership

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Click to edit Master title styleThe Conference Cont’d

• May be established in a wide variety of social groups and settings

ParishCollege or schoolFirm or companySpecial worksAssist widows, divorced women and unmarried mothersComfort the sickConsolations to the dyingBring Christ to the sick or homebound

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Click to edit Master title styleThe Conference Cont’d

Size of Membership• Too small – less than 5 • Too large – 25 or more • In USA Conferences average 22 membersName• Typically the parish nameFrequency of meetings – (Weekly, but at least twice a month)• Cohesive community• Frequent prayer • Members to work and grow as a team

Note: When conference applies for Aggregation, the application presumes that the conference meets weekly, and if not, an explanation must accompany the application.

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Click to edit Master title styleThe Conference is the Base

• Raise money

• Recruit volunteers – consider diversity

• Caseworkers

• Create and manage special works

Food Pantry

Thrift store

Housing (Shelter)

Car programs

Fund Raising

Annual Rummage Sale

Dining Room

etc…18

Click to edit Master title styleConference Principles

• Spirituality

• Servant Leadership

• Comply with Society Governance Documents

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Click to edit Master title styleGovernance of the Society

• Governance of the Society is contained in the following documents:Rule By-laws Manuals

Resolutions by councils (Nat’l, Diocesan, District)

Policies and Procedures

•Vincentians at all levels are to ensure that the mission and conduct of the society stays true to the above directives

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Click to edit Master title styleConduct of Meetings

• Spirit of love, simplicity and Christian joy• Essentially spiritual occasions• Spiritual content:

Pray at beginning and end of meetingSpiritual reading and a brief discussionSacrificial contribution

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Click to edit Master title styleConduct of Meetings Cont’d

• Meetings include:

Report of member activities

Assign new cases

Group decisions

•Start and end in a timely manner

•Follow an agenda

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Recommended Agenda:•Call to order •Roll call•Opening prayer •Spiritual reading and discussion•Approval of Minutes•Home visit reports •President’s report•Secretary’s report•Treasurer’s report

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Recommended Agenda: (Cont’d)• Secret collection• Committee reports • Membership reports • Resolutions • Special Works reports• Old business • New business • Time and Place of next meeting• Closing prayer• Adjournment

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Roll call•Not truancy •Included in minutes •Concern for members•The greater the number of members the greater the value•Are they sick or disappointed, need a ride, etc.•Call to determine situation•Let them know they are missed •Find out when they will return•If disappointed, identify the problem, see if it can be fixed

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Click to edit Master title styleConference Meeting

“Heart of all Society activity”• Fellowship, spirituality and organization• Meeting tone• Mini training sessions (such as Serving in Hope)• “Fuel” for Conference activityMeeting Elements• Regular Structure• Preparation before meeting• Meeting process• After meeting actions

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Click to edit Master title styleConference Meeting (Cont’d)

Regular Structure• Time and place• Adopt the Agenda and educate• Arrange meeting space• Publish Minutes and Agenda• Solicit Agenda itemsPreparation before the meeting• Build Agenda • Routine reports available• Motions and reports• Agenda for next meeting• Community, Service and Spirituality

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Meeting Process• Start on time, stick to Agenda• Use “Parking Lot”• Defer ill-defined items• Maintain focus• Strive for consensus (vote when consensus not achieved)After Meeting Action• Parking Lot items• Capture action items• Publish meeting minutes

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Election Procedures• Only President is elected • Election committee appointed • Election can be held by special meeting for that purpose• Vote of Active Members attending

• Secret ballot

• Term of office

– 3 year term (once renewable)

– Term starts on October 1 and ends September 30

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Click to edit Master title styleOther Officers

Appointment Procedures

• President appoints officers

• President can replace any officer

• Officers serve for term of President

• New President can reappoint same individuals

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Click to edit Master title styleConference Questions

Helpful Questions

• What is the attendance history?

• Do Officers and the Spiritual Advisor attend regularly?

• Is there meaningful Spiritual reflection?

• What is the meeting “tone”?

• Does the discussion have good participation?

• Does the discussion reflect that members are well informed?

• Are members respectful of each other?

• How have the meetings improved services?

• Have members been attending required training?

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Click to edit Master title styleMembership Considerations

• Recruiting

• Training/Formation

• Retention

• Participation

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Click to edit Master title styleConference IssuesMany Conferences have similar issues

Typical issues

–Attracting/retaining new/diverse members

–Poor meeting attendance

–Not enough home visitors

–Fund raising

–Officer succession

–Meeting report schedules

–Aggregation

What about your Conference?

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Click to edit Master title styleSummary

• Diverse Lay Society• Importance of spiritual life• Basic unit of the Society • Meetings are spiritual occasions

Pray together at the start and end of each meetingSpiritual reading and discussionSacrificial contribution

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Click to edit Master title styleSummary Cont’d

• Frequency of meetings – (Weekly, but at least twice a month)

• Spirit of love, simplicity and Christian joy

• Follow an agenda

• Roll call shows concern for members

• Only Presidents are elected - by secret ballot

• Helpful questions should be asked after each meeting to ensure meetings are spiritually enhancing and productive

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