I submit my candidacy for the office of Vice President with two years experience already served. I am well prepared to co-lead the organization at this vulnerable time.  Why is this a vulnerable time?  Globally, change surrounds us in every sector of society prompted by a tsunami of violence everywhere, global relationships are being redefined, “successful” business and government icons are serving prison sentences, ethics is part of the core curriculum in many business schools and the Vatican is facing more challenging inquiries from the faithful and being taken to task by the secular media and legal system.  Global pressure to change is the era we live in and we are not exempt.

Nationally, we experience an economic downturn; unemployment at record numbers and job losses threaten families, communities and the service sector with nonprofits suffering a donations plunge of 30% and greater causing them to re-evaluate everything.  Nationally, our Church has never been more “ripe” for change and we have taken a prophetic stand to realize that change.

Two years ago, I offered my work experience/education as credentials to serve.  Now, I offer my experience; no learning curve necessary!  While I respect process a great deal, my skills are best focused on outcomes/results.

• Dan Bartley and I began our tenure as perfect strangers who found a collaborative relationship so profound that working together is not work at all.  The best example was the Papal Visit, announced as we took office, challenging us to hit the ground running.  We tapped the best known talent to help us craft an accountability campaign to deliver the NY Times full page ad message to Catholics primarily and secondarily to the Pope.
• We developed a survey that drove the development of a strategic plan and our members responded where they felt VOTF was strong and weak as well as defining future opportunities and threats the organization may face.  That was our template for change.
• That plan evolved into the Voices in Action Campaign, a campaign engaging the best gifts our supporters have in leadership teams across the country to create change locally, regionally and nationally.  See the website for further information and join us!  We need people and funds to make a difference.  Please invest in us as we invest in change.  Change cannot happen without a majority of us investing themselves in this process!
• At Dan’s request, I co-chair the American Catholic Council, a national collaborative initiative to define the national changes we want to see in our Church by becoming the change we want to see.  Vatican II gave us the template.  We are re-claiming that momentum in an era where change and pressures demand it.
• Morally I cannot co-draft a campaign without being there to support teams by working alongside them to bring our collective mission to life.  It is not who I am.
• I know change is possible in our lifetime IF we work together!  Join the dream!