Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Communities
Ministree. Purpose • •
Bring volunteer opportunities and members of the parish together. To fulfill unmet needs in the parish or community.
Benefit •
$5 to the parish or school for each separate task completed by a volunteer (CAA member or non-member); maximum of $500 per council or parish per calendar year.
Guidelines • • • •
Parish or school staff come up with tasks. Tasks are written on cards and displayed in a prominent place in the parish or school. Completed tasks are collected by field representative and submitted to the Fraternal Department. (A minimum of 25 cards must be sent in at a time for check approval) The council presents a check from the CAA to the parish, school or religious education program.
Examples of Ministree Volunteer Activities • • • • • •
Visit a shut-in Mentor a Habitat for Humanity family Invite an elderly person for dinner Invite a new parishioner to coffee Make First Holy Communion cards for 2nd graders Help with a new parishioner welcome reception
• • • • • •
Deliver Meals on Wheels for a designated time Make a meal for someone in need Yard work around Church grounds Bake cookies for an elderly couple Help with reception after Easter Vigil Set up for rummage sale
Sample of Ministree Card. Step One: List a volunteer opportunity representing an unmet need in the parish. Step Two: Print the coordinator’s name and telephone number. Step Three: Complete the Council Name, Phone Number, Parish and Date Completed. Step Four: Put the Ministree Card on a tree or bulletin board. Step Five: A volunteer picks a card and completes the task. The volunteer writes their name, address, and comment on the card and returns the card to the coordinator. Step Six: The volunteer coordinator turns in the Ministree card to his/her local field representative.
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Communities
Ministree: Frequently Asked Questions Can I give a volunteer a card to someone after he/she has completed a task that was not on our tree and have them fill it out? No. The Ministree program is designed so that unmet and often overlooked tasks can be identified and listed on the tree. Each task should be written out and taken from the tree in advance of the work being done.
Is it okay to use the Ministree for fundraisers? The Ministree is not an effective way to staff fundraisers. Sign-up sheets work better, since the event organizers need to know who is working and at what times.
If we put 100 cards on the tree for one service project and fill all the unmet needs for that day, is that okay? The Ministree program should be used to provide a variety of service opportunities to the parish throughout the year, not to provide a large number of volunteers for one event. You may recruit people for multiple tasks, but the numbers should be limited.
What happens if we get 100 cards turned in, and it’s only August? You should keep the Ministree program in effect even if you have already earned your yearly maximum of $500. Your parish and community are benefiting from the tasks being completed even after the yearly payment has been made. Publicize how the Ministree money is being used and recognize groups that volunteered.
If one of our other committees or groups puts a tree out in December, what should we do? During these high commitment times, the Ministree should be given a temporary rest so as not to compete with another worthy cause.
Is it okay to make up task cards specifically for our confirmation students needing service hours? Absolutely. Just be sure you have an adequate number of tasks for the rest of the community.
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Communities
Student Life Benefit Program. Purpose: • • •
Provide financial security for both your family and your Catholic school and religious education program. Promote and support school/religious education programs. Provide safety and stability of life insurance protection for your family.
Benefit: • •
$25 donation for each student and immediate family member (parents or siblings) who becomes a Catholic Aid member. The donation is made to their school or religious education program.
Guidelines: • • •
School/Parish endorsement is essential. Field Representatives must provide follow-up to the mailings. Promotion continues throughout the school year.
Project: Volunteer. (Formerly Youth Parish Program) Project: Volunteer combines youth volunteers and valuable assistance to the pastor and parish. This program encourages youth to become more involved in their parish and promotes volunteerism. There is a benefit of $2 per hour worked up to $400 with a minimum of 25 hours required to apply.
Purpose: • • •
Combines youth volunteers and valuable assistance to the pastor and parish. Encourages youth to become involved in their parish. Promotes volunteerism.
Benefit: •
$2 per hour worked by Catholic Aid youth (ages 19 and under) up to a maximum of $400.
Guidelines: • • •
Complete the ‘Project: Volunteer Application’ and return to the Fraternal Department by December 31. (The application is a list of Catholic Aid youth, ages 19 and under, who have participated in service projects and how many hours of service were performed) Minimum combined total of 25 hours is required to apply. Not included in hours of service performed: o Parish Liturgy Services. o Volunteer work done in conjunction with other Catholic Aid youth programs like ‘Project: Multiply.’
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Communities
Project: Multiply (Formerly Youth Grant) Project: Multiply is a fundraiser for local youth programs. Catholic Aid provides $25 seed money to help raise funds for the youth programs. Provides 20% bonus on monies raised (minus the $25 seed money) up to $500 maximum per council. Additional awards given for most creative idea.
Purpose: • •
“Do all you can, in the time that you have, in the place that you are.” Nkosi Johnson, South African Child Victim of HIV/AIDS
Fundraiser for local youth programs. Increase awareness of Catholic Aid.
Benefit: • • •
Provides $25 seed money to help raise funds for the youth programs. Provides 20% Bonus on monies raised (minus the $25 seed money) up to $500. Two $100 prizes will be awarded to councils: o 2 - $100 awards for ‘Most Creative Idea.’ Creativity is determined by the creativity demonstrated in publicizing the event and the creativity in planning a unique fundraiser.
Guidelines: • •
Before the Event: Complete the ‘Project: Multiply Seed Money Request Form’ six weeks before the event. After the Event: Complete the ‘Project: Multiply Completion Form.’
Examples of Project: Multiply: Grow Vegetables and Sell Them Brat Stand Ask Parishioners to Fill M&M Tubes with Quarters Mother’s Day Brunch Valentine Card Sale Soup or Chili Supper
Bake Sale Holiday Bingo Silent Auction Plastic Easter Egg Sale Valentine’s Day Dinner
Sample Bulletin Announcement for Project: Multiply: Specific Example: The Queen of Peace Catholic Aid Council would like to invite you to come to the rummage sale next Friday and Saturday, August 1 (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) and August 2 (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) in Marian Hall. The rummage sale will benefit youth participating in the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) 2009 and Catholic Aid Association with provide a 20% bonus on monies raised up to $500. General Example: The <<Insert Council Name>> Catholic Aid Council would like to invite you to the <<Insert Fundraising Event>> on <<Insert Date and Time>> at <<Insert Location>>. The <<Insert Fundraising Event>> will benefit <<Insert Where is the Money Going to?>> and Catholic Aid Association with provide a 20% bonus on monies raised up to $500.
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Members
Post-High School Tuition Scholarships Purpose •
Tuition assistance for high school seniors or first year college students (of any age).
Benefits • •
CAA members receive financial support to continue their education. Positive publicity for CAA and Local Councils.
Guidelines - Eligibility Requirements • •
Must be a member of CAA for 2 years prior to deadline date (Feb. 15th) and when scholarship is awarded. Entering first or second year in college and seeking a degree, diploma, or certificate.
Guidelines - How much can you receive? • •
$500 for attending Catholic college or university. $300 for attending an accredited non-Catholic college or university, including community and technical college.
Scholarship Applications are available from: • • •
Catholic Aid Web site at www.catholicaid.org. Your Catholic Aid Field Representative. CAA Fraternal Department.
Must submit: •
Completed application.
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Members
Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions I am Catholic. Can I apply for the CAA Scholarship? Yes, if you are also a member of the Catholic Aid Association. You must be a CAA member for at least two years prior to the application deadline date to be eligible.
I am a member of the Catholic Aid Credit Union. Am I eligible to apply? Members of Catholic Aid Credit Union are not necessarily members of CAA. If you are a member of both organizations and have been for at least two years prior to the application deadline date, you are eligible.
My parents are Catholic Aid members. Am I eligible as their child? You are eligible only if you, personally, are also a member of CAA. In addition, you must have been a member for two years as of the application deadline date and at the time the scholarship money is paid to your selected school.
I have a twin. Can we both apply? Yes, siblings from the same household are eligible if they meet the membership qualifications.
Is there an age requirement? No, non-traditional age students, as well as traditional, are eligible if they meet the membership qualifications.
I want to attend a technical school. Would this be an eligible institution? Yes, any accredited college, university, community college or technical school is acceptable.
I received a Catholic Aid scholarship. Do I have to use it this year? Yes, CAA scholarships are only good for the year in which you apply.
Can I apply for this scholarship each year that I am in college? No, the CAA scholarships are a one-time only award. Once you are awarded a scholarship, you are no longer eligible for another one.
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Councils
Project: Bonus. (Formerly Youth Allotment) Catholic Aid takes a leadership role in providing financial support to local councils when they plan a social gathering for youth, ages 15 and under, that is coordinated by the Council Youth Liaison. The gathering should be for all youth members. The bonus is $1.50 per youth member on the council roster per each year, effective January 1, 2009 for events held in 2009.
Purpose: •
Plan a social gathering for youth, ages 15 and under, that is coordinated by the Council Youth Liaison and get a bonus for your council!
Benefit: •
$1.50 per youth member, ages 15 and under, per year.
Guidelines: • • • •
Complete the ‘Project: Bonus & Bonus Plus Completion Form.’ Return the form to the Fraternal Department with the council annual report. Inform the Youth Fraternal Liaison of the social gathering four to six weeks in advance via phone, email or letter. In lieu of a Council Youth Liaison, in 2009 the council can plan an event for this program. In 2010, councils interested in participating in this program must work through your Council Youth Liaison.
Examples of Project: Bonus: • •
Plan a Picnic Plan a Sporting Event
• •
Plan a Day Trip Plan a Party
Project: Bonus PLUS. (New Program) Project: Bonus Plus offers a new incentive for councils to involve teenagers in their council. This project is the similar to Project: Bonus, but offers an additional $0.50 per youth member for councils who plan a social gathering for teens, ages 13-19. The bonus plus is $0.50 per youth member on the council roster per each year.
Purpose: •
Plan a social gathering for teens (ages 13-19) that is coordinated by the Council Youth Liaison and get a ‘bonus plus’ for your council!
Benefit: •
$0.50 per youth member on council roster aged 15 and under.
Guidelines: •
Same as ‘Project: Bonus.’
Examples of Project: Bonus Plus: • •
Plan a Cosmic Bowling Night Plan a Laser Tag Event
•
Plan a Midnight Madness Scavenger Hunt
Fraternal Programs
Benefits for Communities
Youth Workshop: Survival Guide: Your Cash, Your Credit. Catholic Aid is dedicated to education. This workshop will help teens learn ways to start managing their finances. Teens will leave with practical ideas about debt management, credit cards, and savings.
Purpose: •
Teach Teens (9th through 12th graders): o How to manage their checking accounts and credit cards. o To understand finance charges and interest rates. o How to manage their debt.
Benefit: •
Counts as an activity for your council.
Guidelines: • • •
Work through your youth minister, confirmation class coordinator, council youth liaison, and/or school faculty to schedule this event. When a tentative date is scheduled, call the Youth Fraternal Liaison to schedule a seminar. Please note; this seminar is limited to two per month; therefore, schedule your seminar in advance. This workshop may work best as a joint event between multiple parishes and councils.