Minutes
of Twin Cities VOTF Steering Council Meeting, Thursday, September 27,
2007, St Joan of Arc Parish Center

Present:
Jim Ayers, Tom Garvey, Shari Steffen, Colin LaVergne, Tim Power,
Suzanne Severson (minutes)

1.
Meeting began with a fall prayer about harvesting and the need to
lay fallow from time to time (Tim)

2.
Because this was Jim Ayers first meeting at the Steering Council
members each introduced themselves and gave a bit of background of
why and to what extent they are involved in VOTF. Jim is a member of
St Stephens Minneapolis and Clinic Director of the Walk-In Counseling
Center and was voted onto the Council last March after being
nominated by Suzanne.

3.
Goal One Report (Shari):

• Goal
One subcommittee as it has previously functioned has recently
dissolved due to lack of active committee members. The two primary
initiatives of this committee were discussed and evaluated
separately, namely the Annual Apology Service and the Victim/Family
Resource Group (VFRG).

• Apology
Service discussion:

Shari
reported that the upcoming Nov 3rd NAPSAC conference is excited with
her offer of Twin Cities VOTF to facilitate our annual Apology
Service at the conclusion of their conference. This will take place
from 5-6 pm. We must arrange for the refreshments through Hamline
University ( venue for the conference) rather than providing them
ourselves. Steering Council gave approval to spend $500 towards
this, citing Jesus’ example of breaking bread often with others and
the importance this brings towards the healing experience. Shari to
continue to coordinate with conference organizer Naomi Hupton (
Victor Veith’s assistant) and with the Hamline Facilities
Coordinator.

Tim
volunteered to help Shari line up apologisers (clergy, vowed
religious, Protestant ministers, educators, and lay Catholics) and
will also help with adapting the script to be inclusive of those
whose abuse occured outside the Catholic Church. Tim will be out of
town and Colin may be taping the conference, but all other SC members
volunteered to help as needed including as apologisers.

Suzanne
to publicise event with members via a letter and emails. She will
notify the Tribune, Pioneer Press, Catholic Spirit, and at Tom’s
suggestion, also City Pages. Shari has contact info for reporter
Paul Kaminski. (Additional note: Suzanne will also mail a letter to
Parish Pastoral Ministers with a suggested Bulletin Notice text).

• VFRG
discussion:

Despite
the recent Goal One sub-committee dissolution, the SC would like to
see the VFRG project continue: it’s a great idea, much needed by
survivors and their families, and so much ground work has already
been done, particularly with the visiting of Paula Ruddy to 13
western suburban parishes and also some training having already
occurred. Colin volunteered to help Shari with the next steps.

Shari
moved that we solicit VOTF member (and friends) to be present at the
NAPSAC Apology Service in order to provide information and announce
the onset of the VFRG support group. This would include our fliers
be available and someone be available to staff an info table to
explain the concept of the VFRG support group. Suzanne moved that
phone minutes be purchased and the phone turned on as of November
3rd. Both motions were approved.

Shari
will contact other VOTF members and friends to help staff a VOTF/VFRG
info table at the NAPSAC conference. Details TBD.

4.
Voices of Hope:

• A
second letter of invitation has just been mailed to the same 9 orders
with sisters serving the archdiocese for a private presentation of
VOH. One phone call has been received as a result.

• Sr
Catherine Bertrand SSND brought VOH brochures to the summer LCWR
meeting. All orders are moving very slowly and cautiously in
response to our suggested program. Feedback has been slow in coming.

• Long-term
future plans also include grant writing to fund both a documentary on
nun abuse and a retreat at St John’s for survivors of nun abuse.
Tim Power suggested using his name in the grant application to the
Ronhorse Foundation as he taught many of them years ago. Other
foundation for consideration is the Lilly Foundation.

• VOH
brochures were given to Bob by Colin and Suzanne for distribution at
the Regional Reps table as an example of this affiliate’s efforts.

5.
National VOTF Conference:

• Colin/Resuurection
Tapes is taping the conference. Bob Schwiderski will be attending
and staffing the Regional Representatives booth. VOTF members Jim
and Pat Whalen will be attending. Suzanne has invited them to attend
th next SC meeting to give a report on the conference.

• Shari
to arrange for fliers to be prepared regarding the VFRG project and
the Apology Services for distribution also by Bob in order for other
VOTF members and affiliates to learn of our affiliate’s work.

6.
Other Business:

• Sub-Committee
Reorganization:

Colin
made a motion to change the past model of sub-committees which serve
under the guidance of the Steering Council (eg Goal One, Goal Two,
Voices of Hope, etc) to that of Task Forces which are event-based.
Members of these Task Forces would be made up of any Steering Council
member wishing to be involved in the activity plus anyone outside the
Steering Council sharing in that vision for that event. For example,
we now have a Voices of Hope Task Force made up of Colin and Suzanne
from the SC as well as Susan Pavlak from the organization Solidarity.
He further moved to form an Apology Service Task Force and a VFRG
Task Force. These motions were approved.

The
Apology Service Task Force members are Shari, Colin, and Tim. The
VFRG Task Force members thus far are Shari and Colin. Shari will
contact Paula regarding her ability to help, esp at the NAPSAC
conference.

Colin
asked the two newest members to spend some time in the next few
weeks, as they become more aware of this affiliate’s work and the
goals of VOTF, to reflect on where their own passion is around all
the issues discussed.

• Oct
13 lunch with George Bouchey:

Out-of-Town
VOTF member from greater Philadelphia wishes to gather at a lunch
with us on Sat, Oct 13 in Burnsville. Contact Suzanne if you would
like to attend. Bob S is planning to join us.

• Next
Meeting is Thursday, Oct 25, 5-6:30 pm St Joan of Arc Parish Center.