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This is the e n held in th conventio in seven Twin Cities years.
Inside • The Director’s View..... 2 • More Breakout Session Details........................... 2 • Bus Ride Info................ 2 • Heather’s Corner.......... 3 • Tentative Convention Schedule....................... 3 • Silent Auction Change.......................... 3 • New Stipend Option... 4 • Star Councils................ 4
Fraternal Dispatch
Work and Play Balance at 2009 Convention
July - August 2009
The 2009 CAA Convention in the Twin Cities is just one month away; consider this issue of Fraternal Dispatch your inside peek into convention activities. One page 3 you’ll find a tentative convention schedule which reveals the times of the business sessions, committee meetings and breakout sessions. But don’t worry, along with the work we’ve mixed in some times to play. On Friday night you will enjoy a delightful dinner, silent auction, social hour and casino night with games of chance galore! Events for young people and first-time delegates are scheduled, along with breakout sessions. If you need a ride to the convention, view the bus schedules on page 2. Questions or comments on convention details are welcome: 1-800-568-6670.
Topics To Be Tackled at Saturday Breakout Sessions
A publication of the Catholic Aid Association 3499 Lexington Ave N. St. Paul, MN 55126 Tel: 651.490.0170 Toll Free: 800.568.6670 Fax: 651.766.1007 www.catholicaid.org fraternal@catholicaid.org
The Fraternal Department will sponsor two breakout sessions for delegates on Saturday afternoon of the Annual Convention. If your council has multiple delegates, we encourage you to have someone attend each breakout session. Breakouts will be held from 1-1:45 p.m. You do not have to pre-register. Session locations will be available at the convention. Session 1 – CAA Councils in Today’s Church Structures. Catholic parishes, schools and CAA councils are faced with changing structures, geographic and ministerial boundaries than they had in the past. Fraternal Liaison John Sullivan will lead the group in discussion, describe examples and lead brainstorming about these issues: • What happens to your council if your parish closes? • How does the council function if more than one council is part of your parish cluster? • What happens when a council become inactive (by CAA internal guidelines)? • What options does your council have to merge with another CAA council? Session 2 – Service and Catholic Social Teaching: Building them into your events. Geralyn Nathe-Evans, president of St. Benedict council in Avon, Minn., will share her thoughts about ways that a council can bring energy and excitement to service by continued on page 2
The Director’s View Kathleen Moriarty Fraternal Director kmoriarty@catholicaid.org At its June 18 meeting, the Fraternal Advisory Council members swung into high gear with preparations for the annual convention. This team, plus other CAA members appointed to the Mission Sales committee, is an integral part of the convention’s fundraising efforts. Please share this issue with your members who are attending as delegates. Every year there are several changes to the convention activities and we want delegates to be as informed as possible. Come for the Socializing, Stay for the Meeting! We hope that CAA members will attend the full convention, starting on Friday afternoon. This year
our Silent Auction will begin and end on Friday, with bidding closing at 10:30 p.m. during the socializing. So remember, if you don’t arrive until Saturday morning, you’ll miss out on contributing an item, or to be the successful bidder on items. The focus is Membership! But the best reason to attend the full convention is the opportunity to reconnect with fellow delegates and meet new ones! Each year we welcome first timers who bring new energy and ideas to the gathering. Catholic Aid is an association, a group of members committed to shared values and beliefs. What better time to solidify friendships and working relationships in a positive and prayerful environment? I look forward to my time with delegates and I thank all those who read this newsletter for your dedication and service to our excellent organization.
Breakout Sessions - continued from page 1 its connection to the Gospel message of Jesus. With a model of Catholic Social Teaching as foundation, she will explore and describe how to make service projects more than an event, but rather a life-changing experience. Those attending will come away
with a practical and successful approach to Service. Geralyn received her master’s degree in theology from St. John’s University and is a certified Lay Ecclesial Minister at the master’s level in both youth ministry and catechetical leadership. She has
served as the Director of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation at St. Benedict’s in Avon for many years. Come to learn and share your ideas about this important aspect of Church ministry.
Need a ride? Bus service to convention available
If you need a ride to the convention, CAA is sponsoring free bus rides along I-94 and Highways 14 and 169. Bus rides are free, but you must call the Fraternal Department to reserve your seat by July 31??. We will mail bus itinerary information to delegates in mid-July. Buses are provided by Mayer’s Bus Service and New Ulm Bus Service. Remember to call and reserve your seat!
May - June 2009
I-94 Corridor
Hwys 14 & 169
Noon–Leave Melrose Bus Garage 12:15 p.m.–Freeport city lot 12:30 p.m.–Seven Dolors, Albany 1:15 p.m.–St. Mary, St. Augusta 2:30 p.m.–Arrive at St. Thomas Saturday Departure: 6:30 p.m.
11:35 a.m.–St. Boniface, Springfield 11:55 a.m.–St. Mary, Sleepy Eye 12:15 p.m.–New Ulm Cathedral 12:45 p.m.–SS Peter & Paul, Mankato 1:30 p.m.–Our Lady/Prairie, Belle Plaine 2:30 p.m.–Arrive at St. Thomas Saturday Departure: 6:30 p.m.
2009 Tentative Schedule Friday, Aug. 7 2 - 8 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 4:10 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 6 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
Registration Silent Auction, Mission Sales and Displays Committee Meetings: Appeals, Constitution, Good of the Association, Resolutions Rosary Opening Convention Mass Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Banquet Silent Auction, Casino Night and Social Gathering Young Delegate Social Silent Auction Ends
Saturday, Aug. 8 7 – 8:45 a.m. 7 – 8 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 9 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10:45-11:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 11:45 -1 p.m. 1-1:45 p.m. 2 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 3 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
Breakfast Registration Credential Committee Meeting First Time Delegate Get-Together College Information Session Convention Session I Break Convention Session I Election, Committee and Marshals Meeting Lunch Breakout Sessions Convention Session II Break Convention Session III Mass for Deceased Members Dinner
Heather’s Corner Heather Vargo Youth Fraternal Liaison hvargo@catholicaid.org
We’re Goin’ Old School We’re goin’ old school at the second annual Young Delegate Social! As part of the Annual Convention, delegates under age 40 are welcome to attend this Young Delegate Social on Friday, Aug. 7 at 9 p.m. Sit back and relax in this living room setting with board games, good company, and old school Nintendo games! It will be held in the Murray-Herrick Fireside Room (MHC 260) with easy access to the Casino night and the Silent Auction area (which are taking place at the same time).
College Information Session Catholic Aid is hosting a College Information Session for students who are going into their first year of college. Save the date. It’s Aug. 8! More information is available on the enclosed flyer.
NCYC Scholarships Still Available We still have $100 scholarships available for youth attending the National Catholic Youth Conference. Email Heather Vargo for more information at hvargo@catholicaid.org.
Silent Auction Change
Please note: this year’s Silent Auction will END on Friday night, unlike previous conventions when the auction ended on Saturday. Please make all of your bids on Friday night by the 10:30 p.m. cutoff. Happy bidding!
Rosary Collection
Last year’s rosary collection, a project led by the Richfield and Millerville councils, was an amazing success with more than 3,400 rosaries collected. These councils are again asking CAA members and delegates to bring their used, new or broken rosaries to the 2009 Convention for delivery to Catholics in Haiti. A collection box will be in the missions area.
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3499 Lexington Avenue N.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID St. Paul, MN Permit No. 4454
St. Paul, MN 55126
New Stipend Option Available Thanks to the suggestion of the Fraternal Advisory Committee, convention delegates have a new charitable option available regarding convention stipends. You now have the option to donate your stipend check and/or mileage check directly to Mission Sales, the CAA Foundation or the Schuler Fund for Seminarians,
if you so choose. You can designate your choice on the Stipend Options Form, which you will receive at the convention. If you have questions about this, please contact the Fraternal Department.
The Stars Are Out! Congratulations to the 56 councils who earned a Platinum Star rating in 2008 -- our highest amount of Platinum Stars ever awarded! We’re also happy to report we had a record-setting year for Councils that held JOIN HANDS DAY events. Excellent work! The Star Awards are given to councils based on the number and kind of activities they hold through out the year. See page # in your Fraternal Manual for more information on Star Awards.
56 Platinum Councils
71 Gold Councils
21 Silver Councils