Grassroots Participation by VOTF Members

On April 16, 2009, the Board of Trustees announced that it would propose by the end of 2009 a new model to incorporate the voice of VOTF members in governance of the organization. This announcement followed the Board's decision to declare the National Representative Council (NRC) inactive after the NRC ceased to conduct business from October 2008 until April 2009.

In accordance with the announcement, the Board also appointed a committee to consider alternatives to the NRC model. The committee consisted of:

Board Members: Elia Marnik and Mary Pat Fox (co-chairs), Bill Casey, Ron DuBois and Svea Fraser.
Non-Board Members: Jim Beyers, David Biersmith, and Anne Wilson.

After the committee considered a wide variety of ideas over six meetings between May and September, a majority of the committee recommended that existing structural elements within VOTF offered the best means to encourage and achieve grassroots participation. These elements consisted of:

The Affiliate Listserv which consists of 66 affiliate leaders across the country and which meets by teleconference on a regular basis.
The Strategic Plan Core Team of 20 members that steers communication and coordination of the Plan among more than 50 platform members.
VOTF communication vehicles: Website, In the Vineyard, and member surveys.

The committee majority also recommended that a replacement for the NRC was neither warranted nor in the best interest of VOTF because the lived experience revealed that a third arm of governance (along with the Officers and the Board) proved too time-consuming, inward-focused, and unproductive, notwithstanding the good faith and best intentions of those who conceived of and participated in the NRC over a four-year period.

One committee member recommended instead that VOTF reform and retain the NRC as an important third governance entity. However, the Board adopted the majority recommendation at its meeting on September 22, 2009.

The Board is now in the process of amending the VOTF By-Laws to eliminate the NRC and its governance roles. It expects to complete that process by the end of 2009 and will inform members when it is completed.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact the VOTF office at office@votf.org or 781.559.3360.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees,

Bill Casey, Chair

VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL

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Grassroots Participation by VOTF Members

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	Grassroots Participation by VOTF Members On April 16, 2009, the Board of Trustees announced that it would propose by the end of 2009 a new model to incorporate the voice of VOTF members in governance of the organization. This announcement followed the Board's decision to declare the National Representative Council (NRC) inactive after the NRC ceased to conduct business from October 2008 until April 2009. In accordance with the announcement, the Board also appointed a committee to consider alternatives to the NRC model. The committee consisted of: Board Members: Elia Marnik and Mary Pat Fox (co-chairs), Bill Casey, Ron DuBois and Svea Fraser. Non-Board Members: Jim Beyers, David Biersmith, and Anne Wilson. After the committee considered a wide variety of ideas over six meetings between May and September, a majority of the committee recommended that existing structural elements within VOTF offered the best means to encourage and achieve grassroots participation. These elements consisted of: The Affiliate Listserv which consists of 66 affiliate leaders across the country and which meets by teleconference on a regular basis. The Strategic Plan Core Team of 20 members that steers communication and coordination of the Plan among more than 50 platform members. VOTF communication vehicles: Website, In the Vineyard, and member surveys. The committee majority also recommended that a replacement for the NRC was neither warranted nor in the best interest of VOTF because the lived experience revealed that a third arm of governance (along with the Officers and the Board) proved too time-consuming, inward-focused, and unproductive, notwithstanding the good faith and best intentions of those who conceived of and participated in the NRC over a four-year period. One committee member recommended instead that VOTF reform and retain the NRC as an important third governance entity. However, the Board adopted the majority recommendation at its meeting on September 22, 2009. The Board is now in the process of amending the VOTF By-Laws to eliminate the NRC and its governance roles. It expects to complete that process by the end of 2009 and will inform members when it is completed. If you have any questions about this change, please contact the VOTF office at office@votf.org or 781.559.3360. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Bill Casey, Chair	VOTF™ Mission Statement To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. Our Goals To support survivors of clergy sexual abuse To support priests of integrity To shape structural change within the Catholic Church.