Meet the Office!

Without the ongoing stream of volunteers in our Newton, MA office, alongside our small and committed staff, Voice of the Faithful would have long since faded. Instead, our Catholicism is framed by spirited dialogue and faith-filled inquiry, increased understanding and steady learning, and the attention of thousands in the US and growing numbers abroad. Voice of the Faithful has become a chapter in the Roman Catholic story (This is literally true - see the review in these pages of Fr. Cozzens new book Faith That Dared To Speak.) because of a) a handful of workers willing to stand up to the challenge of repairing our Church and b) your invaluable support.

The office, of course, is only the beginning. Our officers and working groups, affiliate members and ad hoc committees have volunteered countless hours in the process of animating our mission statement and goals. Working together, bearing witness together, listening and speaking together have made a mark on our millennial landscape.

All photo credits go to Aimee Carevich, with many thanks.

Front Desk and Communications
Communications Suzanne Morse (left) and Peggie Thorp (right); Interim Executive Director Rick White (center); not shown and also in Communications, volunteer Julie Rafferty. Seated Office staff/administration job-sharers Anne Coursey (left) and Ruth Kiley; not available for this photo were volunteers Lou Songer, Dot Winslow, Joan McLoughlin, Mary Moran, Pat Merlo, and Clare Keane. Photo credit: Aimee Carevich

Data Processing/Development

Shown are manager and co-manager Donna Salacuse (4th from left, standing) and Beverly Spencer (1st from left, seated) with volunteers Helen Dolan, Fran Tolland, and Mary Carrigan

Back row: Edward Flynn, Jean Kelly, Martha Rowland, Donna Salacuse, Nancy Chandler. Not available for this photo were volunteers Ann Hynes, Donna Manganaro, Pat Merlo, John Naughton, Bob Petitti, Chet Zwonik.

Our department is made up of thirteen volunteers who work weekly shifts of 3-4 hours. They are divided into two functions (check processing/banking) and data entry. Two part-time staff members work closely with the volunteers and offer ongoing training and support.

Working closely with the Development Committee that initiates fund-raising appeals, the Data Entry department has been called on to process a record 2,337 donations in one month alone. We are also responsible for processing all non-donation revenue for VOTF, registering participants for VOTF-sponsored conferences, and registering new members to VOTF. During the current year almost 6000 donations were processed by our group.

Office of Development

Voice of the Faithful is a non-profit organization entirely dependent on donations from generous contributors to support many of its efforts, including the activities of the National Office and its paid staff, the website and e-communications, many of its media relations activities, and coordination of parish voice affiliates nationally and internationally. The Development Committee, working with the President, Executive Director and others at Voice of the Faithful, raises money to support these efforts.

Money is raised primarily through individual solicitations -- via phone, email, in-person solicitations and through direct mail. Development Committee members are involved in all of these activities. The Development Committee also periodically sponsors events for VOTF, such as the recent "Rejoice with Voice" event.

All members of the Committee have significant prior volunteer and/or paid experience in fundraising, marketing and sales, or communications -- and all committee members are donors to VOTF themselves.

November, December and January are particularly busy months for the Development Committee -- gifts to Voice of the Faithful are tax deductible, and many people focus on their charitable gift giving as the calendar year comes to an end. Voice of the Faithful raises a significant portion of its annual operating budget during these three months. Donations in the past have ranged from $10 to $100,000 -- so no gift is too large or too small!

There are many ways to make a charitable gift to Voice of the Faithful. If you'd like to give, you can do so online, or you can contact Julie Rafferty, chair of the Development Committee, at (617) 277-2977 or julierafferty@comcast.net to discuss your charitable giving interests.

Currently, VOTF is recruiting a full-time Development professional to work with the President, Executive Director and the Development Committee to build on and expand our fundraising efforts. Interim Executive Director Rick White is receiving resumes and responding to inquiries. Applicants are asked to submit cover letters and resumes to Rick White at VOTF, P.O. Box 423, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464-0002. For additional information, call the VOTF office at 617-558-5252.

Committee members include: Jean Boyle, David Castaldi (Trustee), Bill Fallon, Cathy Fallon, Frank McConville, Julie Rafferty (chair), Midge Nealon Seibert, Bill Sheehan, Mary Sheehan, Tony Vallace. Interim Executive Director Rick White is an ex officio member of the committee.

Parish Voice Office

	Alice Campanella, Mary Ann Keyes, Suzy Nauman, and Aimee Carevich
Web Manager - Eileen Hespeler Somehow, Eileen manages three children and a career with time to spare for VOTF's many e-needs. Most of what comes to you from VOTF goes through Eileen where it learns how to "behave" in your hands, including In the Vineyard.
Accounting - Jim Bertorelli Jim Bertorelli comes to the VOTF office weekly to keep us financially accountable and he does it with the same smile you see here.

Voice of the Faithful, VOTF, "Keep the Faith, Change the Church,"
Voice of Compassion, VOTF logo(s), Parish Voice, and
Prayerful Voice are trademarks of Voice of the Faithful, Inc.

Voice of the Faithful is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.