Bartley Presents Plan to
Wellesley Affiliate
"We have a big talented membership,” he said, noting a problem in defining our "brand." He named inefficient organizational structure as the root cause of our inability to facilitate meaningful change.
After doing a realistic analysis of success in reaching objectives, the officers created an execution-model based on the analysis. Officers, in servant-leadership mode, will each head a "platform," which will allow members to plug into the model based on their own passions and abilities. Bartley stressed the guiding principles in developing the Strategic Plan: consistency with VOTF mission, goals, identity statement, and core values; reasonable expectation that it could be executed within our resources; capacity to energize members and be easy to understand.
The Plan has five designated action-platforms. A leadership team is now being recruited for each platform, and most people asked to serve have agreed. These are "people who feel this is what they are called to do," said Bartley. This core will recruit others around the country in a connected but centered approach to action.
The platform bases are: diocese/local action, reform to protect children/support survivors, universal Church reform, networking (to include the American Catholic Council initiative), and spiritual/communal growth. Bartley said that a national synergy can result from coordination between platform groups as well as outreach to other reform groups and to pathways in existing Church structure.
There was a strong presence of open communication and connection to the Plan presentation and in audience questions and comments. Bartley also moves fast. When Andrew Genovese spoke as a young Catholic, he motioned to Donna Doucette, VOTF’s Executive Directo, to sign him up. Andrew, naming Newman Clubs as very conservative, said VOTF needs to "brand" itself as not being against the Church. Ron Dubois followed, recognizing the communication genius of the young. He suggested creation of a website for each platform. Kathleen Cerruti, affiliate leader from the MA South Shore later echoed this sentiment. "Don't make fun of blogs, you have to build interactive communication" she said. People feel involved when they have input, she explained. She had said that people can feel disconnected from national action.
At the conclusion, comments by Pat Gomez and Ted Breau summarized reaction to the plan. "The enthusiasm demonstrated by Dan is contagious," said Pat. Ted added that he wanted to commend Dan and the officers for the new platform approach. "It will invigorate VOTF," said Ted with certainty.
