December 13, 2007

7:00 p.m.

Present: Suzanne Severson, Tim Power, Jim Ayers, Jim and Pat Whelan, Colin LaVergne, Christina Bumgardner, Tom Garvey, Shari Steffen

1. Prayer

1. November minutes were approved as written.

1. Motion was made and passed to officially name Jim and Pat Whelan as members of the VOTF-TC Steering Council.

1. Shari volunteered to take Dec. 13 minutes. Establishing a rotating schedule for minutes was suggested in the agenda. There was no action on that item. Apparently there needs to be, judging by how late these minutes are coming out. Suggestion: Start alphabetically by last names after St so it is a long time before Shari has a turn again.

1. The newly available regional database from National VOTF was discussed. Action: A list will be established including our current list and any others from northern and western Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Those from South Dakota and Iowa will not be included for our mailings. Christina Bumgartner volunteered to merge those databases.

1. After a few wording changes were suggested, the Advent/Christmas member letter was approved to be sent before Christmas if possible.

1. Steering Council members suggested that a third point concerning the Statute of Limitations be added to the draft of a letter to Archbishop Flynn about meeting with him after the holidays. Suzanne will redraft the letter incorporating that suggestion.

1. Suggestions were made for programs open to members and the public in 2008. Action: Pat and Jim Whelan and Shari Steffen will cooperate to contact Michael Mertz, the current head of the National Review Board for a possible program in Feb., Apr, Sept., Oct., Nov. Inquiry will also be made about the latest John Jay report concerning abuse.

1. John Schuster’s essay, "VOTF and Sexual Politics in the Priesthood," was discussed at length.

Respectfully Submitted,

Shari Steffen