Dear fellow Vincentians;

Another summer has arrived. We have just concluded our national AGA in Hamilton where I am sure all those attending had a great time. Many thanks to Guido and his team for their hard work and efforts. I shall try to keep this report brief but with some important news.

Spirituality

We would like to ask all councils and conferences to help us update our list of spiritual advisors.  This is a very important position within every council and conference. Please keep in mind the role can be fulfilled by a lay member of your council or conference.  I would like ask all presidents to submit the names of your spiritual advisor to Sarah Davidson, our administrative assistant, by August 1st. Sarah will then be able to update our master list before the fall arrives. If you do not have a spiritual advisor, please appoint one no later than October 1st, 2015.

Presidential Election

All presidents at all levels should have received a notice about the process we will follow to elect my successor as Ontario regional president. I would be pleased to talk to anyone with further questions about the duties and work involved in this position. I know there are many members who are qualified to fulfill this position.

Terms of office for presidents

As I near the end of my term as president of Ontario Regional Council, I cannot stress enough the need for renewal and compliance with our Rule in regards to the term of office. There is a real need for this office to address the topic of presidential terms for central and particular council presidents, who in turn are expected to do the same for their conference presidents. We shall be in touch with council presidents if their term of office has either ended or if we do not have such information, to inquire about their election date. Please remember that your term will end on July 1st of the last year of your term. If your term has expired July 1st, 2015 or before this date, you need to address this failure by beginning the nomination procedure by September, 2015 with the goal of electing a successor by Jan. 1st, 2016. If you need assistance in developing a thorough succession plan, please contact Mary Grad, VP, Communications.

Social Justice Reps.

If you do not have a social justice rep. at your council level, please ensure you have appointed someone to this position by October 1st, 2105 and submit their name and contact information Sarah Davidson.  We would also encourage all conferences to also appoint a social justice rep. and submit their names to Sarah Davidson.

North of 60- Nunavut

The National North of 60 program has been revised with each region taking on the responsibility for an area of the far north.  Ontario will now work with Nunavut which is the best fit geographically for us. In addition, Nunavut comes under one Catholic diocese, Churchill-Hudson`s Bay.  This will provide us with the opportunity to work with the diocese and it`s missions in Nunavut. I recently met with Bishop Krotki and he is very supportive of our interest and efforts in Nunavut. While we are still working on the development of a plan for Nunavut, I would encourage any councils, conferences or individual members who are interested in helping to contact me at jpssvp@hotmail.ca. There is also the possibility that I will visit Rankin Inlet this fall to provide some instruction to local parishioners on starting a conference as well as planning what is the best way we can help our friends in Nunavut.

Bylaws

If your council is incorporated, you should have a set of bylaws. You should review your bylaws each year and if there are any changes, submit the revise bylaws in triplicate to the Ontario regional council for approval and final approval by the national office. If you have no changes, you should submit a short letter to national stating you have reviewed your bylaws but have no changes.

Annual Reports

Please remember to include all hours your members and volunteers complete each year. These figures are very important for our national council in order to provide a complete picture of our service to those in need.

Twinning

Our national office is asking every council and conference to consider a twinning program. While we have seen some real increases in Ontario for the number of twins, there is still a lot more we can do to help our brothers and sisters around the world. If you already have a twin, you are allowed to add a second twin. Please consider applying for a twin today.

Sincerely
Jim Paddon