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.

Happy All Saints Day everyone:

I am preparing to leave for Arizona shortly but before I go I have to communicate with you. For your information I am enclosing my oral report given to the Mid Term meeting at Rosemary Heights Oct 20-22, 2006. There isn’t a formal communique from National at this time but I do have some thoughts to share with you that may be of some help in fulfilling your duties listed in your handbook. These duties are what we are to be concerned with; the other chairpersons of standing committees take care of the duties listed under their standing chair. Many people “complain” for lack of a better word about all the overlapping reports. Perhaps if we contain ourselves to our own duties we can alleviate this overlapping. We received copies of the annual report forms that have been revised while at the fall retreat. Our year end is coming soon so when you communicate with the parishes remind them to report on the new forms.

Report to Fall Mid Term/Retreat COMMUNITY LIFE

“COMMUNITY LIFE ROCKS” is the theme song chosen by Rayleen DeLuca, my National counterpart. We hope that we will be rocking with this large standing committee by years end. It has been years since I had this standing committee at the parish level.

The aim of Community Life as described in our handbook is to show that we are Christians by our love. The Christian virtue of charity is personified by our action to help others. Call to mind the song “Whatsoever You Do” to remember all the ways to help others.

I am seeking individuals from each diocese to work on the sub committee. I believe that having an enthusiastic member from each Diocese researching or touching on the pulse of events taking place will benefit us in the province as a whole. These ladies will not be infringing on the work of the Diocesan Chairpersons. This is to aid us to keep abreast of the many issues under Community Life.

My short term goals:

• To encourage councils to support the one resolution passed under Community Life “Increase Old Age Security” by writing letters;
• To promote the wearing of Red on Fridays to support the military and to remember the troops in our prayers;
• To promote care of the environment, recycle, reduce, re-use;
• To promote a greater support and awareness for the CWL 1% program. Are councils donating 1% of their revenues to the program? A few are, but many are not.
• To keep the trafficking of women and children awareness programs going throughout the dioceses by encouraging councils to sponsor workshops and education nights.

Long term goal:

• To communicate frequently with the Diocesan chairpersons to get to know them better and to keep them up to date on any developments.

Now onto some new items. Vancouver ArchDiocesan in association with the Sisters Association will present “The Lost in Traffic” play at two venues in the Greater Vancouver area November 11 and 12^th I believe. Pat D………, Vancouver Archdiocesan President had tickets for sale. Her address is in the roster.

Pope Benedict XVI has written his first encyclical entitled “Deus caritas est” (“God is Love”). Social Doctrine and charity lie at the heart of this encyclical. This is great reading for the laity. If you visit www.prolifesearch.com and type in the encyclical name in the search area, you can print off your own copy. I used the heading “Deus Caritas Est Encyclical letter to Bishops, Priest and Deacons, Men and Women Religious and all the lay faithful.” The print was larger. Part 2, starting at chapter 19, deals with Christian Charity.

For another “hot topic” keep abreast of developments with emission of greenhouse gases and the Clean Air Act. The National Post, Friday October 20, 2006 edition in glaring headlines stated that emission rules begin in 2010 and we have 44 years to cut greenhouse gases in half. There’s moving and shaking going on in Parliament. It’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen.

Provincial Council has received a request from a Catholic Organization named “The Call of the Poor” based in St. Norbert, Manitoba to help make their cause better known. I know that we support many missions and worthwhile charities at home and abroad right now and we support our food banks in our own home towns but if your heart feels touched to distribute appeals to your parishes please let me know and I can forward some material to you.

The United Nations released statistics on Child Poverty in the world and it is not good news. This topic has been on the slate for so many years without headway. Can you think of ways to address the issue?

May our Lady of Good Counsel Guide you in this important work of caring for others. God Bless

Carol P….