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Past President/Historian
Directive #3 (Feb /10) | Directive #2 (Sept /09) | Directive #1 (Jul 09)| Convention Report (Jul 09)
Directive # 3 Past President/Historian February 10, 2010
Chair: Margaret Ann Jacobs
“Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” James 3:13
Greetings My Fellow Sisters,
To say that I am overwhelmed by the materials I have received as past president/historian would be an understatement. Having gone through all the boxes and sorted in my own fashion, I am now faced with the challenge of properly filing them.
Each past president was forwarded a copy of the Handbook for Past President and Archives Guidelines for League History Provincial Diocesan and Parish Councils.
Have you read these? Have you discerned what is missing and what needs to be filed? In many ways these seem to complicate my task! “For The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, archives are the complete records of the organization: minutes, accounts, correspondence, Constitution & Bylaws, handbooks, manuals and all items used in the administrative work of the League are kept for reference or research.” (Handbook for Past President)
As my term continues I decided that I needed to establish some kind of checklist that would incorporate what I need to collect as my term progresses. This way I can remind the executive members of the materials required and indicate if/when these have been received. This will obviously be an ongoing mission of love.
Presently I believe that it is essential for past presidents to be well informed and up-to-date concerning election procedures. Since you most likely have been appointed as chair/member of the nominations committee, do refresh your knowledge of the process. Refer to the National Manual of Policy and Procedure Article XV ELIGIBILITY, NOMINATIONS, and ELECTIONS Section 1-5 Pages 85-91. Check your arch/diocesan files carefully, abide by all timelines and certainly ask for provincial council assistance if required. As past president, I am more than glad to assist in any way possible. Addressing issues prior to convention is optimum. It is imperative if you are having an election in your arch/diocese that the provincial president is kept informed of any/all concerns. One of the expectations when attending arch/diocesan conventions is that the provincial president or her representative be informed of the procedures being followed and offer assistance as required.
Before the actual election time rolls around, consider all the eligible candidates and make every effort to contact and encourage members to allow their name to stand for office. At the provincial level we have been blessed that so many members accepted the challenge to let their name stand. What we need to do is have every arch/diocesan acceptance list reflect this same commitment to the League. Even more crucial is to have parish councils likewise model this same energy and desire to serve. It is here at the parish level where so many hesitate to take on roles of leadership. As past presidents (any level) we need to support, encourage and affirm the gifts we recognize in fellow members. Be there to “advise” and “assist”, “facilitate” and “encourage”.
The greatest gift that you can give another woman is to share your faith journey through involvement in the League. For most this faith journey is somehow incomplete if she hasn’t had the privilege of serving on an executive. The rewards far outweigh the challenges. Remember, God doesn’t choose the gifted, God gifts those he has chosen. Your challenge is to ensure that all members are invited and given the tools to lead effectively.
I leave you with the words of Joe Wise in My Creed, “Be you. Be my greatest sacrament.” Where is Jesus, servant leader waiting to be found? Can you find Jesus in your fellow sisters in the League?
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” James 3:17, 18
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Directive # 2 - 23
September 2009
Past President /Historian: Margaret Ann Jacobs
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if
there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8
Greetings My Fellow Sisters,
Having this kind of positive outlook will be a definite
asset as you continue your responsibilities as past president/
historian.
As a child living in a century old farm house, I spent many
happy days lost in the treasures that were hidden away in our attic.
Herein lay
not just the memories of past lives but the history of several
generations in
collectibles, books, pictures and various keepsakes from days gone by.
Perhaps your council archives have been carefully documented
and filed (that means you will have time to devote to your other
duties). But
possibly your council archives look a little like my childhood attic.
It will
be our task to make sure that these treasures are safely kept for those
generations coming after.
Provincially, I have acquired the files from Shirley George
who has agreed to serve as my sub-committee chair. The provincial
archives
stored in a rented space in Hamilton Diocese are currently in the
possession of
Dorothy McGuigan (removed for our 60th Anniversary displays) and will
be
retrieved September 25th. As soon as I can evaluate what we have/need
to add to
these files, they will be returned to their secure space for safe
keeping and
my job of sorting and collecting will begin. Hence the reference to
positive
thinking!
I have enclosed some resources that I hope you will add to
your portfolio and use for reference. I will draw specific attention in
this
directive to information contained in the Handbook for Past Presidents
2004
page 6.
You were asking about archives …
(preservation of League history)
Parish, diocesan, and provincial levels
Archives should be kept in a locked filing cabinet on church
property or in a secure facility at the diocesan archives location.
A review of all archival materials should be undertaken by
the immediate past president, or by a member with archival interest,
appointed
by the president, who could serve as on-going archivist for the
council.
Every two years, an index of archived items in safekeeping
should be updated and submitted to the president and noted in the
minutes.
Parish archives should include
- original charter framed and displayed, if possible;
contact
national office regarding charters
- minutes of executive/general meetings are the
permanent
record of council activities and should be kept in dated binders
- the recording secretary should retain minutes from
the
previous two terms only; all other minutes should be transferred to the
archival binders
- the recording secretary should retain motion books
from the
previous two terms only; all other motion books should be transferred
to the
archival binders
- all accounting records (including cheques and
receipts)
should be kept for five years
- separate binder for other important information
related to
the life of the parish council
- list of parish presidents/spiritual advisors with
names/addresses and term of office
- list of recipients of Maple Leaf Service Pins/League
pins,
with names and dates of presentations
- a record of anniversary dates of all members;
excellent
reference for awards research (refer to annual per capita lists)
- Other
written histories
scrapbooks and/or albums labeled by date and event
annual reports
special
project file with financial statements
sample of
newsletters, if applicable
each past
president should be encouraged to write a two to
three page story of highlights of her term as president (a valuable
resource).
The other resource that I have enclosed but want you to use
and/or pass on to your counterparts is an Activity Package on the
Constitution
& Bylaws. The package consists of 10 different activities that
could be
used at parish council meetings to encourage members to become more
familiar
with the Constitution & Bylaws of The Catholic Women’s League of
Canada. It
would be recommended that the council have extra copies of the C& B
on hand
for reference when doing the activities.
And so I wish you well in your role as past president. Your
presence for the members of our councils is essential if the League is
to
achieve its full potential. Look for ways to be true… honorable … just
… pure …
pleasing … commendable … worthy of praise …
Please don’t hesitate to call if I can be of any assistance.
“Keep on, doing the things that you
have learned and
received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with
you.”
Philippians
4:9
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Directive
#1 - 10 July 2009
Past President/Historian: Margaret Ann Jacobs
Greetings My Fellow Sisters,
By way of introduction … I am a retired intermediate school
teacher, married to Michael, editor of our community newspaper – The
Springwater News, mother of three adult sons and grandma to Ethan and
Sean in
Alberta and Sophie in Barrie. I joined Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Council in
Northern Region of the Archdiocese of Toronto as a new bride in 1969
and
through the years have worked on most of the standing committees at
parish,
regional or archdiocesan level. From 1997-1999, I served as Toronto
Archdiocesan President and then on the Ontario Provincial Council as
standing
committee chairperson for spiritual development from 1999-2001,
education and
health from 2001-2003 and resolutions from 2003-2005, organization
2005-2007,
and provincial president 2007-2009.
It is with great joy, hope and anticipation that greetings
are extended to you as past presidents. To those of you who have served
in this
office for a year, I welcome your experience and positive support. To
those who
assumed this role in the spring, we become the keeper of the history
and in a
very real way, the person whose advice may be sought as the business of
the
League unfolds over the next two years. We are blessed indeed to have
such
wonderful sources of expertise upon which we can rely, our former
executive and
life members and of course tremendous resource materials.
According to Article XI Section 7 of the Constitution &
Bylaws 2006, the past president shall:
serve in a consultative capacity
be responsible for archives and history
facilitate the study and implementation of the Constitution
& Bylaws
perform other duties as assigned by the president
The Executive Handbook Pages Past Pres-1, 2 have the Duties,
Archival Tips and Resources & References that may be helpful. These
indicate that the past president should:
prepare an archival index of materials
arrange for the safe storage of archival material
preserve the council history through scrapbooks, photo
albums, and minutes.
Please also review The National Manual of Policy and
Procedure particularly Article XI Section 7. Regardless of whether we
are newly
elected or continuing our term of office, it is essential that we
revisit our
manuals, guidelines and handbooks. They are the foundation upon which
solid
building blocks may be laid.
I am looking forward to seeing you in Newfoundland at the
national convention and certainly in working with you over the next two
years.
Because of our experience, we have the ability and unique privilege of
bringing
to life our theme, Women of Peace and Hope – Rooted in Faith. May we
each
strive to do so.
God bless,
Margaret Ann
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Report to Convention July 2009
Past President/Historian: Shirley George
A few weeks ago, I received and read a research paper entitled “ The
Catholic Women’s League of Canada and the Joy of Chicken Salad
Sandwiches”, English-Speaking Lay Roman Catholic Women of 20th Century
Ontario Working in the Communion of Saints.
Sarah Jardine, a graduate student at Saint Paul University wrote the
paper as part of her requirements for her masters in Theology
(Christian Ethics). Sarah had contacted me many months ago for any
material I might have on CWL for the period 1900 to 1950.
I photocopied the few pages of our history book that related to the
period (you know provincial council only came into being in 1947) and
referred her to “Except the Lord Build the House” and national
office.
In her thesis, she remarks on how hard it was to find copies of early
Canadian League magazines. National office has a complete set of
magazines but she found only 89 issues, primarily from 1938-1951 in
Ontario and Quebec libraries. She commented, “The fragmentary state of
these archives is evidence that the history of this national group of
Catholic Canadian women has not been considered important enough to
preserve. Their works have remained anonymous or invisible to the
general population. From a feminist point of view, this disregard for
preserving and storing the magazines is indicative of the poor
understanding of the need to reconstruct women’s history starting with
their experiences.”
Sarah is not critical of us. In a note to me she states:
“Discovering the remarkable amount of social service work and community
building that Catholic women have done over the years has been
important for me as a Catholic woman and is important for the whole
Catholic community.” Now isn’t that a description of women of peace and
hope ?
I’m sure you get the idea: history, our history, is important and needs
to be preserved.
We were asked to revisit our goals and assess our progress.
Unfortunately, Chemo has ruined my memory and I have no idea what my
goals were, so” I am doing my own thing.”
In the past few months, I have been busy sending out letters to all
those eligible to stand for office at provincial level, and from the
list of candidates, I think it was most successful. There were only two
who did not respond, even after phone calls. I thank all of you who
permitted your name to stand for office, and I feel sad that there are
not enough offices to accommodate all who have so generously responded.
I feel very confident that God will ensure that the right people for
our time and place will lead the League into the future. Keep up your
good work for God and Canada.
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