President’s Report for 2024 AGM April 5, 2025

2024 Accomplishments by Our Board

2024 was a year of change for our Board. The 2024 spring assembly was held in Windsor, hosted by the Windsor-Essex Central Council. The Annual General Meeting was held virtually on May 2. During this period, the three-year term rotation of Directors was implemented. Consequently, Pat Lenz, Lori Stewart and I were elected to replace the three outgoing Board members, Sue, Shelley and Gary.

Ann Massel completed her term as President in August and I officially took on the role of ONRC President as of September 1st.From our very first meeting, the emphasis was on handling our Board affairs with a “team” approach. We quickly formed an “Events Committee” that has been tasked with the procuring of locations for our Spring and Fall Assemblies. Its mandate is to work in conjunction with members of the host locations to bring the assemblies to fruition. The first highlight was the hosting of the 2024 Fall Assembly in Hamilton

in early October. At the Mass on the Saturday morning, Bishop Crosby, Bishop of Hamilton, installed me in the President role and installed the remaining Board members in a beautiful ceremony. The Assembly itself was a success as each Board member pitched in to make it happen. The Committee then immediately moved on to planning this Spring Assembly and AGM and here we are today There were several new and not so new approaches made in our efforts to streamline our operations. They included the following…

• Established a Finance Committee as per Bylaw #4.
• Renewed our focus on Vincentian spirituality with Deacon John taking up the challenge of the new envigored approach. His committee recently hosted an excellent Lenten workshop.
• All isolated Conferences are now supported directly by a Board member, which makes them more included.
• Updated contact information for Vincentian entities across the region to facilitate communication between all levels of the Society.
• Began implementation of the Members Portal for submission of annual reports by Ontario Region conferences and councils.
• Began review/renewal of our ONRC website.
• Updated terms of reference for all ONRC Committees.
• Ensured that each Standing Committee reported to and/or liaised with a Director so that the Board stayed informed of their happenings.
• ONRC supported conferences and Councils as they:-l
  • continued to serve adults and children in need across our region and into Nunavut
  • supplied our neighbours in need with food, personal hygiene items, clothing, household items including new beds for children – often distributed through our 27 thrift Stores
  • supplied our neighbours in need with eyeglasses, helped with income tax submissions, educational funding (through the Ozanam Fund and Canada Learning Bond support) and more,
  • reached our Northern neighbours with sea containers that were filled with much needed goods, which are like gold in their eyes.
  • provided and advocated for housing security.
  • reached beyond our borders to support our Vincentian brothers and sisters in twinned communities in the Caribbean, Central America and South America with monetary donations.

I am very pleased to express the overwhelming appreciation of my fellow Directors of our Board for their Vincentian service and dedication as we worked together to achieve the numerous accomplishments that were attained within our Ontario region and beyond, during 2024.

Our Plans for 2025

• Continue focus on communication between Vincentians through quarterly newsletters and Vincentimes as well as newsletters from its two flagship programs, North of 60 and the Ozanam Fund.
• Host fall and spring assemblies as opportunities for Vincentian formation and allow all of us to “come together as a family” which is one of the Society’s important “Values”.
• Continue implementation of Members Portal for submission of annual reports by Ontario region conferences and Councils.
• Complete the review/revision of ONRC website.

I look forward to welcoming new members to our Board as we approach the tasks ahead of us, in achieving the numerous goals that we have set for ourselves. Also, allow me to take this opportunity to compliment our three members, Rob, Dan and Matthew, who have completed their terms of service with the Board on your behalf and will be stepping down in June THANK YOU for your attention.

Yours in Vincent and Ozanam,
Guido Kelly,
President, Ontario Regional Council

Simplicity – Humility – Gentleness – Selflessness - Zeal