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Fr�d�ric's E-Gazette
An e-newsletter from the
National Council of the U.S.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
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End Poverty Through
Systemic Change
Image: Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. |
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Dear (Contact First Name),
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Do you know what the 14th, 15th, 19th and 26th amendments to the U.S. Constitution have in common? They all relate to the right to vote. Strange as it may seem, they had to be added to the Constitution because the original document did not guarantee that right. When the original document was written, the thinking at the time was that only certain individuals would be allowed to make decisions about government. And that didn't include women or people of color.
Given all the effort, struggle, and laws that have gone into ensuring that right, I would think that Americans would turn out in droves to vote. In the 2008 presidential election, voter turnout was the highest in any presidential election since 1960, yet almost 80 million American who were eligible to vote didn't.
If you're inclined not to vote, remember this: The people who are elected to public office are going to decide on the laws that affect those we serve. That ought to be enough of an impetus to get every Vincentian to the polls next month.
Thanks and God bless,
Roger Playwin
Chief Executive Officer
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The Cause for Canonization | |
 The President General of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has established a Commission for the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Fr�d�ric Ozanam, chaired by Amin A. de Tarrazi, president of the Society for France.
The commission has established five steps to help accomplish the goal:
- Seize all opportunities to make Fr�d�ric Ozanam better known though the Church and all media channels. (The 200th year of his birth will occur in 2013);
- Encourage the publication of works dedicated to him in all fields for all types of audiences;
- Organize religious celebrations, retreats, conferences, discussion groups, etc.
- Produce special events, plays, films and other communications to foster a deeper understanding of the Society's founder; and
- Pray unceasingly, with fervor and perseverance.
Regarding the last item, the commission has created a new prayer, which all Vincentians are encouraged to use for obtaining a miracle through his intercession: Click on Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Frederic Ozanam.
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Celebrate Blessed Fr�d�ric's Birthday |  Next year, 2103, marks the 200th birthday of Blessed Fr�d�ric Ozanam. The Council General International has created a poster that can be used by any council or conference in the coming year to promote his birthday. (Note the white space on the poster, which will allow for local contact information or promotional messages.) If your council or conference is planning any celebrations, events or programs in recognition of the event, please contact Charles Henderson at the National Council Office. He and other members of the Communications Task Force want to share some of the ideas and events that other councils and conferences can consider to mark the birthday: chenderson@svdpusa.org |
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Definition of Succcess:
2012 Friends of the Poor� Walk/Run | 
The numbers are in and the 2012 Friends of the Poor� Walk/Run was a resounding success! The fourth quarter 2012 edition of Ozanam News will feature a more in-depth analysis and summary, but here are just a few of the preliminary stats: - Online dollars: $245,600 (vs. $174,479 in 2011)
- Online participants: 4,089 (vs. 3,349 in 2011)
- Teams: 259 (vs. 157 in 2011)
- Locations: 217 (vs. 144 in 2011).
Nathan Martin, the National Development Programs Manager, said he's received many comments like the following:
"Thank you for an excellent job of keeping the participants informed through conference calls and with all the ideas to obtain sponsors, etc. This was the second year for our Walk and we doubled the amount of funds we took in."
Reminders:
- The individual reports are due back to Nathan Martin ASAP.
- Save the date for the 2013 FOP Walk/Run : Sept. 28, 2013.
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Annual Reports | |
It's time to start assembling your Annual Report. For those SVdP's whose fiscal year ends Sept. 30, 2012, the deadline to have your annual report in is Jan. 31, 2013. For those SVdP's whose fiscal year ends Dec. 31, 2012, the deadline to have your annual report in is Feb. 28, 2013.
Annual Report Forms are now on the website, and you can click on the following link to take you there:
Annual Report Form.
IMPORTANT: The web administrator for each council is empowered to put in the appropriate information, and he/she can grant access to others to do so. The exception is isolated conferences, which must contact the Information Technology Department of the National Council Office:
Mike Schottenhaml
Manager of Information Technology
Email: mschottenhaml@svdpusa.org; or
Wendy Jones
Information Technology Specialist
Email: wjones@svdpusa.org |
| Time to Donate a Vehicle |
 That tinkling sound you hear isn't tinsel, ornaments or wrapping paper, although Christmas will be here before you know it. Rather, it's the sound of coins clinking into your council/conference's coffers from donated vehicles -- or it could be if you're participating in the National Council's Vehicle Donation Program.
Traditionally, the fourth quarter of the year is when most vehicle donations are made and this holiday season should be no different. More people donate their used vehicles at this time of the year than any other so they can deduct the donation from their taxes for the year. And a donated vehicle, in turn, can become additional revenue to help those served by your council or conference.
Here are some simple steps you can take to boost awareness of the National Council's Vehicle Donation Program and encourage donations: - Place ads and/or announcements in your parish bulletins and diocesan/archdiocesan publications.
- Place the vehicle donor pamphlets in car repair shops, vehicle rental firms, car dealerships -- anywhere there's a business with a countertop. The National Council will supply the pamphlets in whatever quantities you want, including holders, and send them to you at no charge. The pamphlet is also available in Spanish. (NOTE: Supplies are being drawn down quickly, so please let us know as soon as you can; see Jeff Morse's contact information below.)
If it rolls, floats or flies, we can accomodate the donation. To order donor pamphlets, please contact: Jeff Morse Materials/Sales Specialist
jmorse@svdpusa.org Phone: (314) 576-3993, ext. 210 Need help with promotion? Contact: Charles Henderson National Director of Communications chenderson@svdpusa.org Phone: (314) 576-3993, ext. 214 Mobile: (314) 623-6505 |
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Support World Youth Day | 
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be well represented by 15 young people from across the country at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These young Vincentians are filled with the Holy Spirit and long on enthusiasm. They lack only cash to make the trip a reality.
"If every conference could contribute as little as $20, we could adequately fund them and their travel expenses," said Sr. Christian Price, National Director of Youth and Young Adults for the National Council. "World Youth Day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these young men and women to grow as Catholics and as members of the Society. For the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the event offers the opportunity to firmly establish them as the next generation of leaders of our mission."
To help support the young Vincentians on their journey, click on the following link to donate online: Donate Now. NOTE: Make sure you check the box on the right for "Youth and Young Adults Fund."
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Midwest and South Central Regions Eligible for
Friends of the Poor� Grants | |
 Here are the winners of the Friends of the Poor� grants for conferences in the Midwest and South Central Regions:
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hiawatha, Iowa
- St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist in St. Louis, Mo.
- St. Mary in Littleton, Colo.
- St. Peter in Greeley, Colo.
- St. Rose of Lima in Denver, Colo.
- Holy Ghost in Albuquerque, N.M.
- St. Therese in Albuquerque, N.M.
- Our Mother of Mercy in Fort Worth, Texas
- St. Paul the Apostle in Nassau Bay, Texas
Applications for the next round of grants will be open from November 15 through November 30 for conferences in the East and Northeast Regions.
The Friends of the Poor� grant program is an original program sponsored by the National Council to provide direct funding for services to those living in poverty in the United States. Grants are specifically targeted to direct services which meet the current needs of the poor, which are above and beyond their available conference and community resources. Only conferences can apply for grant funds.
For guidelines and application forms, go to: Friends of the Poor Grant. |
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Voice of the Poor Has a New Look | 
The Voice of the Poor has a new look and feel. The easier-to-navigate site offers a wealth of information on how Vincentians can become more engaged to make those we serve more visible to our elected leaders as well as the community at large. Just click on the following link: Voice of the Poor Website
While you're there, don't forget to sign up for Capwiz (if you're not already signed up). Capwiz is the system used by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to alert Vincentians regarding legislation that affects those living in need or in poverty, and allows you to reach out and let your nationally elected representatives know what you think. Click on the following link: Sign Up for Capwiz. |
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What Type of Donors Does Your SVdP Have? | 
Hope Consulting identified six categories of people who donate to nonprofit causes and organizations. The top two are: - Personal Ties: People who give to organizations when they know the leadership or when they are asked by a friend.
- Repayers: People who give to causes or organizations that have directly affected their lives
If you count by the amount of donations, the most popular category is personal ties (about 25 percent). If you count by the number of people, then repayers are the most common (23 percent). These two categories have something very significant in common: in both cases, donors see a deep personal relevance in their causes. If you want to read more, click on the following link:
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Let's Have a Round of Applause for...
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Vincentians John Feldner, Leona Katorski, Mark Morand and Thomas Parslow were recognized by Catholic Financial Life (CFL) with the 2012 Archbishop Listecki "Servant of the Poor" award for outstanding service to people in need. John is a member of SVdP in Oshkosh, Wis.; Leona is a member of the Society in Milwaukee, Wis.; Mark is a member in Bay City, Mich.; and Tom is a member in Madison, Wis. Named for the Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki, the archbishop of Milwaukee, Wis., the award was established to honor Catholic Financial Life members who exhibit an ongoing commitment to serving the needs of the poor, as well as the spirit of prayerful giving demonstrated by St. Vincent de Paul. A partner with SVdP, Catholic Financial Life is the second largest Catholic nonprofit financial services organization in the United States and has had a partnership with the Society since 2008. CFL is also a national sponsor of the Friends of the Walk/Run. Roger Playwin, CEO of the National Council, joined Archbishop Listecki to present the awards.
Dolores McKeever Donahue, a long-time volunteer with SVdP's Archdiocesan Council of San Francisco, was honored at a special dinner with the Society's Frank Brennan Award for Service to the Poor. The award is named after a former board member of the San Francisco SVdP who founded The Seven Seas, a home for alcoholics and the homeless on San Francisco's waterfront, co-founded what is now St. Vincent de Paul's Ozanam Center, and helped to establish SVdP's Riley Center for Battered Women and Their Children.
Maxine Pellis, president of the Blessed Sacrament Conference in Greensburg, Penn., was honored as "Partner of the Year" by the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Maxine received the award from Kim Ward, a state senator who was a recipient last year. The food bank feeds some 70,000 disadvataged people every month.
SVdP's Diocesan Council of Shreveport, La., was honored by Bishop Duca of Shreveport when he named September "Society of St. Vincent de Paul Month." The Bishop also referenced the Society's good works is his monthly column in the archdiocesan magazine.
Nineteen SVdP conferences in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, N.J., received a $9,500 grant from the OceanFirst Foundation. Yvonne Haddock, president of the SVdP Ocean County District, said many of the conferences will use the money to purchase food for their pantries. "Donations to the food pantries have been decreasing and the demand for food has been steadily increasing," she said. "In these tough economic times, many of the people who used to donate to the food pantries are now requesting food from the food pantries." The OceanFirst Foundation was created in 1996 by OceanFirst Bank of Toms River, N.J. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed more than $23 million to more than 600 charities in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. This is the second year that SVdP has received a monetary award from OceanFirst Foundation.
CEO Roger Playwin was invited to join the board of directors of the Association of the Miraculous Medal. The association is an apostolate of the Congregation of the Mission (Western Province) that promotes devotion to the Blessed Mother through the Miraculous Medal and provides financial support for the other works of the province.
SVdP St. Michael's Conference in Gainesville, Ga., was given a $10,000 grant by the Jackson EMC Foundation to provide families and individuals in Hall County in need with funds for housing assistance, including rent, mortage payments or temporary housing.
SVdP of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was recently awarded a $5,000 "Community Impact Grant" by the Home Depot Foundation. The grant will be distributed to low-income veterans for home repairs dealing with weatherization and safety.
SVdP's Donation Processing Center in South Bend, Ind., was filmed as part of a video segment to air on NBC on October 20 during halftime of the Notre Dame/Brigham Young University game. During every Notre Dame home football game, NBC broadcasts a two-minute video as part of the university's "What Would You Fight For" series, which highlights the research, scholarly achievements and social initiatives of the faculty and the students. |
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Invitation to Renewal
Date: November 7 - 11, 2012;
February 20 - 24, 2013
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. (Seton Cove)
2013
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
Date: February 10-13
Location: Washington, D.C. (Washington Marriott Warman Park)
Midyear Meeting
April 10-13
Location: St. Louis, Mo. (Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark)
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 Does your council or conference have good news to share? Has someone in your council or conference done something remarkable? The National Council would like to know about it:
Contact: Charles B. Henderson National Director of Communications |
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Can We Keep Talking...Online? | |
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