Past President Communique #4

Submitted by: Barbara Dowding

Dear Past Presidents,

Dear Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my standing committee and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness or impatience. Please bear with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to serve you in the person of each member of the Catholic Women’s League. Increase my faith, bless my efforts and work ‘For God and Canada’.

I came across this Chairperson’s Prayer when I was looking through the Past President’s Handbook. I thought what a beautiful prayer for us in our role as we strive to assist and advise without being intrusive or overbearing. We all need to pray this kind of prayer from time to time. I especially liked the part about bearing with my faults….

ANNUAL REPORTS: Thanks for sending your reports on time. Now its my turn to get busy and send off to National. It is obvious you have been keeping busy and working hard for your councils. It was also very helpful that you shared your communiqués with me and each other as there are so many good ideas to share.

NOMINATIONS/ELECTIONS: While I touched on this in my last communiqué it is critical that we follow the nomination and election procedures as outlined in the National Policy and Procedure Manual. If you are the chairperson for your diocesan elections, work closely with the secretary to ensure all those eligible are contacted, that confidentiality is respected and the policies followed correctly. Your role too is to offer advice and speak to a candidate’s suitability from your experience. With so many parish presidents who are new and others who don’t attend many diocesan meetings, it is important to help the process with fair and kind observations.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS: Nominations/election time is a good opportunity to focus on the little white booklet to education and inform all members about the process. Now that the manual of Policy and Procedure follows the C & B so well, it is easy to do a short information piece at a meeting. Allowing questions is an important part of the learning process.

ARCHIVES: Does your council have a place to safely store your archives? Are you involved in a hands on way with this? Have you ever done a workshop on the importance of preserving your history? Not every past president has an aptitude or particular interest in this, but it is really important to keep archives up to date. Consider a sub chair who loves old stuff! For me, I am eternally grateful to Pat Battensby and Ann Dobie who have been working on the Provincial box for months. By the time I get it, I am sure I will be able to handle my small part. How can I ever thank them?

HISTORY: For those who have not yet compiled their council’s story, why not think about it. Lorette Noble suggests asking Life members and others with years of League experience are wonderful resources. Try the interview method of getting their stories. Use tape recorders so that the reminiscences are lively. This could be a wonderful exercise for younger members and an interesting way for them to learn about the League. The stories can be shared at monthly council meetings.

DID YOU KNOW: There is a neat resource if you want to help members better understand the C&B and the National Manual of Policy and Procedure. Margaret Ann Jacobs, past president of Ontario, has created an Activity Package on the Constitution & Bylaws with, as she puts it, “10 short, fairly easy, and hopefully fun activities that could be used at parish council meetings.” Contact Ontario Provincial Council at http://www.cwl.on.ca/ if you are interested and you will receive the package via e-mail.

PRAYERS: Please keep our Lorrilee Jordan in your prayers on the recent death of her dear sister Deanne Mack. Also our other League sisters who are suffering ill health and/or the loss of loved ones. We are all called to support one another through prayer and sisterhood.

Easter blessings to you all!

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile”

- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta