St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference President Training

1. St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference President Training September 2015

2. Topics • Essential Characteristics of the Society • Servant Leadership • District Councils • Working with the Pastor • Financial and Legal Matters

3. Essential Characteristics of SVDP Society • Diverse Lay Society • Spirit of youth • Universal Society • Catholic • Opposed to Hoarding • Minimal Expenses • Sharing money, knowledge, time

4. Fundamental 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

5. Character 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.

6. Founders 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.”

7. Founders 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.”

8. The Rule of the Society • Objectives and spirit of the original founders • Three Parts • Rule of the International Confederation • Statutes of the International Confederation • Statutes of the National Council • Every Conference and Council must comply • National Council can suspend/exclude for non-compliance

9. Statutes of the National Council of the United States Conference structure and operations: • Membership Types • Active (Full) – count determines quorum – only ones to vote • Associate – non-Catholic – no vote and cannot hold office • Contributing – provides funding • Conferences and their work • Conference meeting essentials • Meeting frequency • Aggregation

10. Statutes of the National Council of the United States (Cont’d) • Governance and Management • Servant leadership • Officers • Special Projects • Subsidiarity and Democracy • Accountability • Annual reviews and reports • Property and funds • Collections for the poor and to maintain the structures • Use of funds • Council President’s rights • Relationships

11. Mission Statement – Essential Elements A Catholic lay organization Inspired by Gospel Values…. Leads women and men to come together to grow Spiritually and in Friendship By offering person-to-person service Spirituality Friendship Service

12. Mission Statement – Essential Elements A Catholic lay organization Inspired by Gospel Values…. Leads women and men to come together to grow Spiritually and in Friendship By offering person-to-person service Spirituality (Sanctity) Friendship (Solidarity) Service

13. SVDP Organization • Conference • District Council • Diocesan Council • Region • USA National Council • Council General

14. SVDP Organization Individual Parish • Conference • District Council • Diocesan Council • Region • USA National Council • Council General Conference Group Diocese 8 Regions St. Louis, MO Paris

15. The 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

16. The Conference Cont’d • May be established in a wide variety of social groups and settings • Parish • College or school • Firm or company • Special works • Assist widows, divorced women and unmarried mothers • Comfort the sick • Consolations to the dying • Bring Christ to the sick or homebound

17. The Conference Cont’d Size of Membership • Too small – less than 5 • Too large – 25 or more • In USA Conferences average 22 members Name • Typically the parish name Frequency 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.

18. The Conference is the Base • Raise money • Recruit volunteers – consider diversity • Caseworkers • Create and manage special works

19. Conference Principles • Spirituality • ServantLeadership • Comply with Society Governance Documents

20. Governance 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

21. Conduct of Meetings • Spirit of love, simplicity and Christian joy • Essentially spiritual occasions • Spiritual content: • Pray at beginning and end of meeting • Spiritual reading and a brief discussion • Sacrificial contribution

22. Conduct 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

23. Conduct of Meetings Cont’d 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

24. Conduct of Meetings Cont’d 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

25. Conduct of Meetings Cont’d • 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

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

27. Conference Meeting (Cont’d) Regular Structure • Time and place • Adopt the Agenda and educate • Arrange meeting space • Publish Minutes and Agenda • Solicit Agenda items Preparation before the meeting • Build Agenda • Routine reports available • Motions and reports • Agenda for next meeting • Community, Service and Spirituality

28. Conference Meeting (Cont’d) 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

29. Conference Meeting (Cont’d) 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

30. Other Officers Appointment Procedures • President appoints officers • President can replace any officer • Officers serve for term of President • New President can reappoint same individuals

31. Conference 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?

32. Membership Considerations • Recruiting • Training/Formation • Retention • Participation

33. Conference Issues Many 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?

34. Summary • 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 meeting • Spiritual reading and discussion • Sacrificial contribution

35. Summary 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