Directive #3 (12/Jan 10) |Directive #2 (20/Sept 09) |Directive #1 (25/Aug 09)
Coventional Report (Jul 09)

Directive # 3 - 12 January 2010

Chair: Marlene Pavletic

Greetings! Happy New Year and best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful 2010.

Recruit Members and Maintain Membership

Although 2009 membership numbers have not been finalized, provincial membership has decreased by approximately 900 members. Some members have not been asked to join or to renew. We welcome suggestions. One suggestion might be that councils, if able, could offer to pay the 2009 membership fee if the member pays the 2010 membership, or pay for the 2010 fee if she pays for 2009. Parish councils have received new recruitment material from national which includes several well designed postcards and a pamphlet Faith, Fun Fulfillment- Why am I a member? Use these in your recruitment campaigns and provide feedback as to their effectiveness. We need to develop new ways to attract members. We cannot continue doing "the same thing" if it isn't working. So, please review your approach to recruitment and do something different this year. I invite you to share success stories with me.

Membership Incentive Plan

National is promoting an incentive plan as an all-out effort to obtain the 10% overall increase the National President Danielle McNeil-Hessian has challenged us to accomplish. The per capita fees for 2011 will be waived for all members in two councils- the one with the highest absolute increase in members and the one with the highest percentage increase in members from the 2010 membership drive. Diocesan and provincial per capita fees will be paid from the national treasury so that councils at those levels will not be out of pocket. More info will appear in the winter edition of The Canadian League. Let's meet the challenge!

Leadership Training/League Resource Material

Elections are taking place in some parishes and archdioceses this year. Councils have difficulty filling executive positions. Chairpersons of organization are encouraged to promote leadership workshops. Both provincial and national funds are available. Provincial council can provide assistance with planning so please organize a development day in your diocese. A provincial team will come when invited. Workshop material is available on the national web site. The Handbook for Organization Chairpersons is an excellent resource designed to develop leadership qualities and provide training to enable members to take active roles. Leading the League is a comprehensive teaching manual which includes tips on recruitment, membership drives and executive training. Resources are available. Are we using them?

Encourage members to attend conventions at all levels. First time attendees at the 2009 provincial convention were impressed with the learning and sisterhood they experienced. Watch for forthcoming information on the provincial and national 2010 conventions.

• Provincial Convention - Cornwall, Ontario, July 10-14, 2010
• National Convention - Ottawa, Ontario, August 8-11, 2010

Annual Reports

Deadlines for annual reports are fast approaching. Diocesan standing committee reports should be given to the Diocesan President prior to her leaving for the provincial winter executive meeting on February 5^th. Parish presidents should have completed reports and forwarded them to diocesan presidents. Hopefully, all councils will have submitted reports. It can be rewarding to review the good works achieved over the year.

We can promote membership by projecting a positive image. In the words of National President Danielle McNeil-Hessian, "Be the image you want the League to be." My request of you is to be that positive image!

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Directive #2  20 September 2009
Chair: Marlene Pavletic

Isn't it wonderful to be living in a country where the changing seasons challenge us in various ways?  Someone once suggested that when you become reluctant to change, remind yourself of the beauty of autumn.  I plan to comment under the headings for this committee as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws.
 
Recruitment and Maintain Membership
As of July 31st, 2009, membership in Ontario shows a total of 46,723 members which represents a decrease of 7,582 members from 2008.  This is a major concern.  Membership is a year round activity and the challenge from national to increase membership by October 31st is ongoing so I urge you to contact those members who didn't renew as a final resort.  As you prepare for next years membership drive, please revisit the challenge from national council. The goal is to achieve a ten per cent increase in membership nationally before the convention in Ottawa and the rules of the challenge are simple. For parishes with 25 or less members, recruit ONE new member; between 26 and 60 members, recruit TWO new members; between 61 and 100 members, recruit TREE new members and over 100 members, recruit FOUR new members.  There are still women who don't belong because no one has asked them.  A high percentage of women don't renew; are they possibly "snowbirds" who go south?  Make an effort to approach them before they leave.  Perhaps a small parish committee could work together to develop strategies. Where there's success, share the ideas.  I look forward to hearing success stories.  Please note that the Bellelle Guerin Award criteria have two changes: the deadline date has been removed and it has been further stresses that Life members are not eligible for the award.
 
Leadership and Development and League Resource Material  
I encourage you to survey both parish /archdiocesan levels to ensure councils have parish/archdiocesan manuals of policy and procedure and an updated National Manual of Policy and Procedure.  These resources provide structure.  All levels of the League are having difficulty filling positions.  New leaders rely on good resources.  Mentoring is vital as we encourage members to assume positions.  Leadership training and funds from both national/ provincial councils are available to provide training.  Various workshops are available on the national web site.  I will be conducting a survey asking for feedback on training needs.  The League magazine, the provincial Trillium News and Views and the e-letter on the national web site are excellent resources.     
 
Annual Reports
Attached are the templates for completing reports.  The task would be made easier if everyone used the same template.  However, what works best for an individual parish may not be the suggested format.  I have enclosed guidelines and suggestions.  It is important that deadline dates be respected.  The archdiocesan presidents will bring reports to the provincial executive meeting on February 5th 2010.  Take time to create a professional report free of spelling and grammatical errors.  Have another person proof read it.
 
Life Membership
Dorothy Meehan, provincial life member liaison is in contact will life member liaisons so keep in touch with the archdiocesan liaison for updates.  If there is a candidate eligible for life membership, be aware of deadlines and criteria for application.
 
Report time can be a tiring task but it can be rewarding if we approach it with a positive attitude. I wish you well as you reflect on the past year and review the good works accomplished by members in each archdiocese.
I am open to questions and suggestions so please call or email any concerns or assistance you may need.
 

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Directive #1 25 August 2009
Chair: Marlene Pavletic

Greetings,
I am honoured to have been selected to serve League members on the provincial council for the next two years  and am commited to work hard to fulfill the role.  A warm welcome and congratulations to all the newly elected organization chairpersons.  Greetings and best wishes to those in their second year.  Since I met some of you at the provincial and national conventions recently, I am now able to put a face to a name.  Hopefully I will get to meet all of you over the next two years.  A brief introduction. I was born in Kenora, completed RN training at St Josephs Hospital in Thunder Bay and received a BA in pyschology and sociology from Lakehead University in 1991.  I retired in 2002 from a rewarding career in health care.  In 2005, my husband Bob and I downsized and moved to Thunder Bay.  We have been blessed with two sons, Thomas and David and a lovely daughter-in-law, Amy.  Recently, I have had the opportunity to volunteer in missions in Peru and Honduras which has given me a greater understanding of service.

I joined the League in 1989 when a parish council formed in the town of Geraldton located in the Diocese of Hearst.  I served on various committees both at parish and diocesan levels prior to becoming Hearst Diocesan President in 1997.  I was appointed to provincial council in 2003; elected provincial education and health chairperson in 2005 and provincial resolutions chairperson in 2007.  I am very grateful for the gift of the League in my life and thank you for choosing to serve the League on this committee.

The Organization Standing Committee has the following critical responsibilities according to Article XII in the Constitution & Bylaws, 2006:
    a) recruit members and maintain membership
    b) leadership development
    c) League resource material
    d) annual reports
    e) life membership

The Constitution and Bylaws, 2006 Article XI, Section 8 outlines the duties of chairpersons of standing committees.  The Executive Handbook, pages ORG 1-3, further identifies the activities associated with this committee.  Please refer to these resources and to the National Manual of Policy & Procedure as you set goals and plan for the year ahead.
My goals for 2009-2010 are:

• To focus on recruitment and retention
• To improve the quality of annual reports
• To assess needs for leadership development

Report To Convention July 2009
Chair Shari Guinta

Madam President.

My focus was membership and leadership training these past 2 years.

In my visits to parishes and dioceses I found that there were many councils that reported that they had a loss of membership but did not report having a membership drive. I was sometimes disappointed to see that we had not been very progressive in ideas overall for getting new members to join and keeping the ones that did not renew. I found that many of the reasons for reduced membership were the same or similar and in my directives I tried to give advice and ideas to correct and help with these problems.

I experienced an amazing and happy experience in Hamilton diocese where a council was "dying" and asked for help. The pastor of the parish was very involved and determined to have a thriving healthy Catholic Women's League in his parish. With his help and direction, as well as encouragement from the diocesan council and some input that I could offer that council has absolutely blossomed. Many new women joined and there is an exciting new full executive. It was a joy to experience.

I was pleased to learn that national has hired a marketing company to pursue membership. This is a step in the right direction. There is an e-newsletter now on the national website. This is a fun kind of read on line and you can email national office to comment on the newsletter and offer articles. Computer savvy women are on line. This is certainly a selling feature for membership. At the end of last year Ontario had 54,020 members. At the end of May, membership in Ontario was 35814.

Recruitment postcards were to be put in with the second membership remittance package in sufficient quantities for each unpaid member. Each parish council received a new remittance form, list of unpaid members and recruitment postcards, list of paid members and permanent membership cards for each.

The theme "Women of Peace and Hope" seems to have connected with members. All dioceses I visited at convention really used the theme throughout their activities, speakers and spiritual programming.

The CWL Day of Peace and Hope activities kit was a hit too. I thought this little kit was such a subtle, simple way to highlight the theme and create an activity that many women would relate to. The prayer for peace and hope on the back of activities kit package was used as well and I saw it on prayer cards and program books.

I encouraged dioceses to offer leadership training and was encouraged to see many dioceses offer days of training with qualified speakers and workshops. Women of the League want this.

I was fortunate to be invited to St. Catharine and Kingston dioceses to present a workshop on membership recruitment and structure of the League. I was happy to see several dioceses learning more about parliamentary procedure. This is very important to quality, smooth flowing meetings.

Last fall I invited all diocesan chairs of organization to Toronto to a day of leadership training. All dioceses were represented. And this was the highlight of the year for me. We met on the Friday evening for dinner and Margaret Ann Jacobs addressed everyone for a few minutes with a very positive personal experience presentation. It was a terrific opportunity to get to know future diocesan presidents. We had a little social time and then the next day met for the day where we discussed membership, did some role-playing and talked about common problems and solutions. Jim Lochrie a registered parliamentarian gave an entertaining presentation. This was a useful and entertaining, educational day. I would like to see it offered again.

In the reports from the dioceses this year I was pleased to see life members being used in many different capacities including serving on committees and offering workshops and presentations.

With a committee including Mary Lou Watson, Shirley George and Annette Kelly I reviewed the Provincial Policy and Procedure Manual.  Changes were made and all members of the executive now have a revised copy. There are more changes to make and these will be presented at future meetings. All dioceses and even parish councils are encouraged to have a policy and procedure manual.

I attended 3 diocesan conventions in April and May and was so impressed with the work done and the quality of meeting. Excellent guest speakers, workshops and spiritual programs were offered.

I attended the resolutions presentations to government in Toronto with Margaret Ann Jacobs and Marlene Pavletic. Marlene had everything well prepared for us to discuss with ministers and policy advisers and we were well received. I am sure Marlene will report on that in her report.

A committee consisting of myself, Mary Van Dyk and Joleene Kemp prepared the annual report book for provincial council. As with all reports, these annual reports outline the amazing work done in this province by the League. I am sure you will be impressed when you read through these reports and share them with your councils.

I encourage diocesan councils to plan leadership-training sessions in their dioceses. Women are hungry for this and if planned and executed well, will enthuse women to join, to be involved and to recruit others to join the League. Resources are available to help make a Leadership Development Day a success and relatively easy to plan. I encourage you to take advantage of these resources.

Organization is an exciting, fulfilling position to hold and I hope through more fruitful use of workshops and training materials that are already available that chairs of organization will use their talents to recruit many more women to belong and to become leaders in this terrific organization.

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