Newsletter

Society of St. Vincent De Paul 

Council of Tyler

 Wow!  What happened to our warm winters?  

The South Central Regional meeting in January was a tremendous success! There were 120 in attendance representing all four states of the Region (Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas). We trained 98 participants in the Bridges Out of Poverty program.  What an eye-opening experience.  With the right tools perhaps we can eliminate poverty.  Our Councils and Conferences are now busy organizing thoughts and planning the implementation of these principles. 

Basically, we must hone our thought processes to be able to understand those we are attempting to help.  By changing the way we work, adopting more of a mentoring process we can help them help themselves out of poverty as opposed to enabling them to stay in poverty.

It is a big job and we need to develop community resources to collaborate in this tremendous project.

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James Davis spoke about the Vincentian Pathway.  Spirituality and growth of our members is the primary purpose of the organization with the charitable works simply a means to demonstrate love for one another.  There is a plan for the spiritual growth of our members that begins with the Ozanam Orientation, and continues with Serving in Hope.  A copy of the handouts is available Walking the Vincentian Pathway-Conference 6 20 13.

On the National Website, www.svdpusa.org, on the SVdP Members Information Site home page, there is a tab for Programs and Tools. Click on Pathway Toolbox and you will find a description of the resources available to fulfill the competencies needed for each leadership role. This is not an all-inclusive list of resources available. 

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The next Ozanam Orientation is scheduled for Saturday,  April 5 at St. Mary's (2108 Ridgewood) in Longview.  It will begin at 9AM with Mass. There is no charge for this training. A light lunch will be provided.  Call Lynn Fisher 903-597-2208 or email her at rlfisher@suddenlink.net for more information and to reserve a place.

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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Conference in Tyler is hosting a training for Systemic Change (Bridges Out of Poverty) on Saturday March 15, 2014  at the Cathedral Center  in Tyler.  This will begin about 9 :00 AM and conclude by 4:00 PM.  There is no charge for this training.  However, if you wish to purchase materials, they will be available.  Lunch will be provided.  This is the same training that was offered at the Regional Conferene in Tyler in January.  You do not need to register for this, just show up.

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Nominations for Council President are being accepted.  Please contact the Nominations Committee for application if you would like to nominate someone or would consider assuming the office.  Contact Kelly Jackman (903-570-1800 or jackcajun@aol.com) or Tom Mittler at (903-759-1678 or tjmittler@hotmail.com).  Nominations will be presented at the April. 12 Board meeting.

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Please welcome Jane Manley (jmanley.cbs@gmail.com ) to our Council Board, who joins us as our Voice of the Poor representative. During the course of our home visits and encounters with those in need of assistance, we come across that are not manageable on a personal level.  They need an advocate to bring about change, sometimes legislation at the local, state or national level.  To keep abreast of legislation that impacts our work and our clients sign up for CAPWIZ.  http://www.svdpusa.org/members/ProgramsandTools/VoiceofthePoor.aspx

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The next board meeting of the Tyler Council of SVDP will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2014 in the Saleh building in Tyler.  We will begin by 9:30 AM and conclude about noon.