LONG ISLAND VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

LOCATION: HAUPPAUGE VILLAGE HALL, HAUPPAUGE, NY

DATE: DECEMBER 16, 2004

PRESENT:

Board Members: John Ryan Sr. Regina McAuley Joan Bedosky Dan Bartley Kevin Connors Phil Megna Anne Kerrigan

Guests: Tom Lloyd, membership Committee Ernie Herrington, Vigils Committee Leo Cuomo, Vigils Committee

The meeting began with a prayer led by Phil Megna.

The minutes of the November Board meeting were unanimously approved.

Announcement:
The Hauppauge Village Hall has been secured for Board meetings through June 2005.

Discussion:
December 12th Mass at St. Anne’s:

There was much positive feedback from VOTF members re the Mass at St. Anne’s on December 12, 2004. This was a regularly scheduled parish Mass with an Advent presentation by Sister Pat Duffy and then a social afterwards. All agreed that the social aspects of the Advent celebration were very positive and there are strong feelings that a similar event should be planned for the future. It was agreed that the VOTF leadership would encourage the membership to ask their pastors, or priests they know, if they would welcome VOTF members to a regularly scheduled parish Mass.

Anne Kerrigan will send a thank you note, on behalf of VOTF, to Father Gerry Twomey thanking him for his generous spirit on December 12th.

Tri-State:

Kevin Connor will not remain as Treasurer next term for Tri-State.

Committee Reports:

Victims Support::
This is a small committee consisting of Anne Marie D’ Angelo and John Ryan. At the moment, the Vigils Committee is picking up the banner of victim support and this info will be put in the next Newsletter.

Communication/Website:
Joan Bedosky has been spending time educating/orienting Danny Rivera, the new data communication employee. Kevin Connors will work with Tom Dowling to develop a “method of communication” form which will assist in a “request for change” on the website and thus clarify communication procedures. Everyone is very positive re the new employee and there is hope that Danny will alleviate the workload for the previous data people as well as improve the data communication and the website.

Compliance:
A proposal was approved to draft a letter to Bishop Murphy requesting the annual report that is required by the Diocesan policy and to ask that the Diocesan Review Board be convened to review the cases of all 68 Rockville Centre priests who were enumerated in the John Jay study.

A letter will be drafted to Bishop Murphy re the above issues.

Safety Committee:
VOTF LI will be working on a prototype of a Safety Committee and present it to the membership when complete. The info from National’s Safey Committee protocol will be used as a resource.

Finance Committee:
The Finance programs of the LI VOTF are designed to get the attention of the leaders in this Diocese.
As a result of the recent poll of the membership, it has been decided that LIVOTF will advise boycotting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal (also known as the Catholic Ministries Appeal:CMA)
LIVOTF will encourage members to contribute to the Compassion Fund and will also expand the
“ $ Make a Difference” program.
These matters will be more fully explained to the membership at the January Regional meeting.
Mr. R. Grafer will be the guest speaker and he will address many different diocesan financial issues. It was decided that LIVOTF would not specifically communicate with the diocesan priests regarding the January regional meeting. LIVOTF has already issued the White Paper concerning financial issues and that material is available if any member of the clergy wishes to review it.
A motion was made by Kevin Connors that $1000.00 from the Compassion Fund be distributed
to the “Open Word” program which is conducted by the Amityville Dominicans in Wyandanch.
Motion approved.

Membership Committee:

Tom Lloyd made mention of a new “one-on-one” recruitment program, initiated by VOTF Boston and which will soon be discussed at a LIVOTF Regional in the near future. There are more details which need to be finalized before the program is presented to the membership.

Liaison Committee:

The LIVOTF Liaison committee will meet with Bishop Murphy’s liaison team on either January 19th or January 20th. Confirmation of the specific date awaited. The meeting will be held at St. Thomas More Pastoral Center in Hauppauge.

Legislative Committee:

The Legislative Committee will request a meeting with NYS Legislators Saland and McEaney.

Planning/Events Committee:

The 2nd LIVOTF Conference is scheduled for March 19th. Possible speakers are John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter and Fr. Tom Doyle. More details to follow as plans are finalized.

Vigils Committee:

The Board of Directors support and encourage the wonderful work of the Vigils Committee.
The Vigils Committee respectfully encourages the presence of Board members at the Vigils.
The next Vigil is January 2nd at the Cathedral in Rockville Centre.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne Kerrigan