St. Vincent de Paul

October 2005 Meeting Minutes

Present: Fr.Tom, Bryan Dawidowicz, Josie Holzner, Joan Maxwell, Rosemary Micklinghoff, Lorraine Margan, Richard Morton, and Phyllis Ramseth

1. Minutes: Sept. minutes not available for review.
2. Treasurer's Report - After 3 years, Jim Beien has resigned his post due to other responsibilities. Lorranine Morgan and Joan Maxwell have volunteered to take over as of October 1, 2005. As far as they could determine, the bank balance is approximately $1,300, with Labor Day collection still to be deposited by Fr. Tom, as well as poor box funds.
3. Thanksgiving Food Drive: Ann McC is out of the country, not returning until Nov. 15, two days after the Nov. meeting. Prior to that, Joan will coordinate publicity in the Guide and school, and Ann will take care of further preparations upon her return.
4. Home visits: Richard & Ann a couple, who had both been temporarily out of work and asked for payment of a month's rent. Ann called the Landlady, who refused to accept any rent, said they were 3 months behind, and would speak to her lawyer. The couple said they were negotiating with the Landlady but were unsure if they would stay or move. Richard & Ann decided not to get involved.
5. Joan reported that she had spoken to Claudia Pieske, Exec. Director of SVDP, to clarify assistance guidelines. She said rent is not usually paid, but if it is, no more than $300 to $500, and a % of other bills. The visitors would refer the client to other agencies for additional help, and question their future ability to pay bills. Father Tom said in the past, SVDP never paid rent, and he suggested that we return to that procedure. The group agreed to this by vote.
6. Queens will be in charge of My Brother's Soup Kitchen on Oct. 29, and sometine in November we will reimburse John Peters for food purchased. Anyone should feel free to volunteer.
7. Richard Morton has some emergency telephone numbers for our group but says Ann is making a list for work and will provide us with a copy.
8. No donation will be made for Hurricane relief until our balance in the Treasury increases.

August 2005 Meeting Minutes

Present: Joan Maxwell, Ann McCormick, Rosemaire Micklinghoff, Loraine Morgan, Richard Morton, John Peters

1. Minutes: Not available from 6/05. No meeting 7/05.
2. Treasurer's Report: Not available. Next collection for SVDP is Labor Day.
3. My Brother's Soup Kitchen: 60 people were fed July 30th. Cost was $236.50. The next date is the last Saturday in July. The soup kitchen could use more volunteers. Thanks to John Peters for coordingation this.
4. Ravenswood Outreach Food Pantry will be closing. Rosmarie will keep us up to date. She suggests the soup kitchen on Sunnyside as the closest to our parish. Thanks to Rosemarie for continuing to her work with the food pantries.
5. Soup kitchen and pantry referral list. Thanks to Lorraine for updating the list now that Ravenswood is closing.
6. Food drive: Ann will be gone for October and November. Thanks to Joan for agreeing to coordinate the information for the Guide and the school.
7. Home visits: Richard made phone referrals. There were two home visits: one for rent for a school family and one for an air conditioner, food and blood pressure machine for a seriously ill person.
8. Phone referrals: Richard has become well acquainted with available social services and has been provinding counseling by phone for those clients who are not in our service area. He continues to look for new ways to provide assistance. If you have any sources of assistance, pass them on to him. All agree that this is an important service to the community. Thanks to Richard for this hard work.
9. Next meeting: Thursday September 8th. We will begin coordinating the Thanksgiving Food Drive at this meeting. If you can help, but can't come to me meeting, please let me know ASAP. I will be in Poland from 10/15.

Ann