Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Submitted by: Sandra Stajduhar

Sheila Quinn, outgoing Resolutions chairperson, has been busy finishing up all of the work on the 2008 resolutions – so I have been able to enjoy the summer with nothing more to do than read the Resolutions appendix from our P&P.  Thank-you, Sheila!  Now, with Resolutions from National, a communique online from the outgoing National chairperson, the appointment of our new National Resolutions chairperson, Barb Dowding, and Fall meetings coming up – it’s time to get busy.

Summary of Resolutions Work to August 15, 2008

Outgoing chairperson, Betty Anne Brown, sent out a communique July 21, 2008.

This communique is on the National website for your information – it deals with this year’s resolutions and some information on review committees, referencing, etc.

A brief recap of the tremendous amount of work done from the parish level up. There were 10 resolutions forwarded to the Provincial Resolutions Committee.  Four of these were not accepted for presentation at the Provincial convention and the Diocesan presidents who submitted the resolutions have been given letters with the reasons detailed and two with suggestions for further work.  BRITISH COLUMBIA & YUKON RESOLUTION
One resolution directed to the Provincial government was carried and is now BC & Yukon Resolution 2008.1 – BAN THE USE OF CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING.  The resolution, brief, bibliography and action plan are attached.  I encourage members to follow the action plan this Fall.

RESOLUTIONS FORWARDED TO NATIONAL CONVENTION
Five resolutions directed to the National level were carried at the Provincial convention.  Of the five forwarded to the National Resolutions committee, three were not accepted – and, as at the provincial level, councils have been advised by letter.

Awareness, Prevention & Treatment of Depression was not presented to be voted on as a resolution but has been given to the National Chairperson of Education & Health for further action.

Preventing Human Trafficking at 2010 Olympics was modified as requested, and was presented to the National convention and was carried (2008.01)

The following resolutions were adopted by national council at the 88th annual national convention, August 10-13, 2008 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

2008.01 > Preventing Human Trafficking at 2010 Olympics
2008.02 > Restrictions on the Sale of Products Containing Triclosan
2008.03 > Toxic Substances in Household Products
2008.04 > Accurate Food Labeling
2008.05 > Transportation Tax Credit for Rural Post-Secondary Students
2008.06 > Revision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act

Please check the website for details. These resolutions will be included in the next League Magazine, and are attached for copying if desired. Action on 2008.01 (Preventing Human Trafficking at 2010 Olympics) should begin as soon as possible.

I congratulate all councils who submitted resolutions.  To those councils whose resolutions were not accepted at any level – please do not be discouraged.  The very fact of working on and presenting a resolution has educated many on the resolutions process and, more importantly, has brought the issue to the attention of many other members.  Thank you.

NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON
How lucky can I (we) get?  My prayers were answered and the National Chairperson of Resolutions is BARB DOWDING.  I look forward to working with and learning from Barb over the next two years.

There will soon be a communique from Barb, and I will share it with you – but for now I think that becoming familiar with the 2008 Resolutions in order to help members follow the action plans is a good starting point.  I also ask that you promote resolutions workshops in your own dioceses – and ongoing education at the parish level.

Please share your communiques with me and also with the other diocesan chairpersons – I hope to learn from you.  My preferred means of communication is by email – but I will gladly send printed material if requested.  If any of you do not have good internet access, please let me know – in the interests of giving you enough material to do your job without overloading you, I tend to reference/give links to information.

GOALS

RESOLUTIONS!!  Why me?
I must confess that was my first reaction.  Although my parish council works well with the ‘finished’ product, I have never been involved in forming a resolution other than at workshops.  But here I am, so I will do my best to learn all that I can – and I know that I can count on all of you to help me out.  I can definitely “walk humbly” as I try to lead those who I’m sure know a lot more than I do.  AND – if I want to really learn the job, I need some resolutions to work with – so I am counting on our members to address their concerns in the form of resolutions.

At the beginning of any term of office, we try to set goals for ourselves.  My term needs to be one of education for myself, and hopefully I can communicate what I learn to all of you.  I would like to take some of the ‘fear’ out of Resolutions.

Practical concerns, other than studying the 2008 resolutions and passing information on to the dioceses, will be to begin work on arranging a meeting with government.

I welcome your questions, and promise to do my best to help in any way I can.  I look forward to working with all of you, and hope that we can offer the education and encouragement our members need to turn their concerns into resolutions.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide us in our work.