St. Augustine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at 6501 Waltho Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32277 US - Organization Concerns Commission

ST. AUGUSTINE DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

ORGANIZATION COMMISSION

ANNUAL REPORT  2008-2009  

            St. Augustine DCCW is very excited to be hosting the National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida in September, 2009!  CCW members in all affiliations have eagerly begun preparations and assisting Diocesan CCW with the many duties involved in implementing such an enormous event.  Everyone is planning for their contributions for the auction, making items to sell at the arts & crafts exhibit, holding raffles to raise money to fund the convention, gathering donations of gifts and specialty items for the convention bags, and checking their schedules for times to help at registration tables, concierge, etc.  Rated by volunteer hours, our entire DCCW has surely doubled the number of hours spent last year toward Council events, and their energy grows as the National convention approaches. 

What does Organization Commission offer?   Mentoring          Leadership          Idea Sharing

St. Augustine DCCW takes an active interest in Right to Life initiatives, assisting the Women’s Help Center when we can and making sure everyone is aware of the awesome work these women do to preserve the rights of the unborn.  Members from all over the diocese took an hour vigil as we marched and prayed during the 40 Days for Life Campaign.  Camp I am Special and Faith in Sharing Camp at Camp St. John are two initiatives of St. Augustine DCCW.  Every year we sponsor a fashion show to raise funds to send these physically and mentally challenged kids to camp.  Members also provide dinner while at camp, and help organize and supervise the camp activities.  We also supported and attended the Fashion Shows for All Saints Home, a Catholic retirement home for the elderly.

            Our untiring women in Council even make time to support DCCW goals by donating to the girls orphanage in Ecuador, by training and attending the Diocesan Leadership Seminar, collecting donations for CRS “Water for Life” campaign, supporting All Saints Home Luncheon/Fashion Show, and the Bishop’s Anniversary Mass for couples married 25 years or more. 

Membership/PR:         To increase membership, many continue with the personal invitations, phone calls, posters in local businesses, and the Church Bulletin.  Most affiliations reported an increase in membership, parishes have renewed their enthusiasm for Council and grown their membership.  Affiliations reported the programs most beneficial for increasing membership are Council Sunday, membership parties, having CCW newsletter or brochure, and the most successful is by personal invitation.  Council Sunday was promoted in many ways, members speaking from the pulpit, special article in parish bulletins, and handouts with affiliation activities listed.

Bylaws:  At the Leadership seminar in September, the importance of bylaws was stressed and that each affiliation board member, as well as Deanery boards, should read and understand the bylaws.  Many affiliations are either reviewing or have updated their By-Laws.  Not all affiliations have an Historian, but they strive to maintain an up-to-date history book with current pictures of their events.

Programs:       All affiliations planned a variety of programs to support their church and their Council; Living Rosary, parish picnics, Bunco parties, Christmas bazaar, and craft fairs have benefited the parishes greatly.  Some affiliations have a scholarship/tuition assistance programs for families that come on hard times unexpectedly.  Affiliations also try to introduce programs that will strengthen their own Council, such as Leadership seminars, Council Newsletters, designing name badges for members to raise awareness of Council.

Respite Care, Bishops’ Born Free Program, Anniversary Mass, “Water for Life”, Camp I Am Special by hosting the Fashion Show and providing dinners at camp, are only some of the many Diocesan Projects that the affiliations continue to support. 

We are very grateful to all the women as they continue to strengthen the St. Augustine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, by all their incredible works of love.

Donna Padgett, Organization Commission Chairman