September 2007

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.