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DignityUSA
PO Box 376
Medford, MA
02155
tel: 800.877.8797
202.861.0017
fax: 781.397.0584
email:
info@dignityusa.org
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RETURN TO > 1999 > DATELINE
HOMEPAGE > HOME
DignityUSA DATELINE
JUNE 1999
VOL. 8, NO. 6
Board Highlights
National Secretary Jerry Deas submitted the following report highlighting news from the quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors in mid-March. The Board gathered in Denver, the site of the August, 1999 Convention. Membership and fund raising were two important topics of conversation. During this very busy weekend, the Board discussed various ways to look at our membership programs and increase membership. The new four color membership brochure, developed with the help and expertise of New England Region members, was hailed as a giant step in positive publicity.
Past President Marianne Duddy then presented a timely fund raising seminar which found Board members participating in an interactive fund raising program. As part of this activity, directors committed themselves to working on fund rasing as a major task before the end of this administrative year. Following this exercise, Janet O'Day, the national CWC Co-Chair, presented information on tithing and how this can work for DignityUSA. The board also revisited the Basille/Ryan Report and examined how this impacts the work of DignityUSA especially in our area of membership and chapter development.
Another highlight of the weekend was a tour of the convention facilities at the Adams Mark Hotel and a lovely reception and dinner hosted by the Convention 99 committee and the Dignity/Denver chapter.
In other business, officers, directors, and executive director submitted reports highlighting accomplishments, activities, and efforts since the last meeting. Vice-president Mary Louise Cervone presented reports from the national committees and task forces. A new Co-Chair is still needed to assist Bruce Jarfster in our Solidarity Sunday Program slated for the weekend of October 10, 1999. Director Mike Hogan presented to the board the final draft of the Vision Statement which the board adopted. Information on the budget, the audit and our financial picture was presented by National Treasurer Joe Sinico and Executive Director Charles Cox. The Board also approved the selection of the Michael Bushek and Kevin Calegari Awards which will be presented at the Denver Convention.
Springtime is Meeting Time!
Springtime is a busy time with meetings and gatherings across the nations.
In outreach, Dignity continues its substantive participation in the regional Call To Action conferences. Past President Marianne Duddy spoke at the Chicagoland regional meeting in Itasca, IL. Our New England members were planners and participants in the CTA New England annual conference in Worcester, MA. Our Northeast Region was represented at the first New York State CTA conference in Syracuse, NY, and the Pacific Region chapters are deeply involved in planning for this summer's third annual West Coast CTA conference in San Diego.
President Bob Miailovich represented Dignity at the recent 29th Annual Interfaith Public Policy Briefing, a project of Washington's advocacy coalition of national faith-based public policy agencies and organizations.
Regions were also busy with their own meetings during April and May. The Pacific Region met in San Francisco, the Northeast Region gathered in Buffalo, NY, and the Mid-Atlantic Region convened in Alexandria, VA. The Mid-West Region meeting in Detroit was unfortunately replaced with a telephone conference call. The Mountain-Plains Region met earlier in the year in Dallas and the New England Region gets together on a regular basis.
Convention Corner:
"Two Shining Stars" Added to Denver Lineup
"Two more shining stars" was the term used by Terry Mischel to announce that John McNeill and Maureen Fiedler, SL will participate in Dignity's biennial gathering in Denver from August 5 to 8th.
"These two personalities personify the convention's theme "The Spirit of Jubilee -- A People of Hope" according to Kent Epperson. McNeill will present a workshop on his recently released autobiography Both Feet Firmly Planted in Midair. Fiedler will be the homilist at the convention's major liturgy.
McNeill, a former Jesuit and preeminent name in our movement "will enrich the convention experience ," noted Terry. Fiedler, a member of the Sisters of Loretto, is Co-Director of the Quixote Center where she manages Catholics Speak Out, a project organizing progressive Catholics who work for equality, justice and democracy in the church. These two speakers along with already announced keynote presenters Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, activist David Mixner, and former DignityUSA President Marianne Duddy will offer a lineup which can't be missed.
Convention Site On-line
In addition to the convention mailing, all information and registration forms can also be found on the DignityUSA website: www.dignityusa.org.
Registration Due!
Be sure to send in your completed Convention registration TODAY! If you can't attend the entire event, consider checking out the special one day registration fees. The Convention Committee is thrilled to offer attendees a wonderful line up of speakers, a bevy of workshops, three spirit filled liturgies, and the comforts of fabulous hotel.
Thank You Donors. . .
DignityUSA expresses its recognition and thanks to all those who continue to provide financial assistance to us. This month we recognize:
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Uncommon Clout Visa Card and its card holders who gave Dignity/SUA $564;
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Equifax Corporation which matched a $2,500 donation from one of its employees;
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AIDS National Interfaith Network (ANIN) who provided us with a $5,000 subcontract on a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for AIDS education prevention. These funds will be used to fund programs at our Denver convention.
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Jeff Stone and Jim Morris who hosted a cocktail party in New York Citythat raised $3,595.
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A San Francisco member who underwrote the airfare for Executive Director Charles Cox to visit some of our California chapters during his April visit which included the Pacific Region's meeting in San Francisco.
Happy Anniversary:
GREATER
COLUMBUS 4
LEXINGTON 7
SOUTHERN COLORADO 7
SAN JOSE 15
LONG BEACH 19
PORTLAND 23
HOUSTON 25
