Question:

Question: I have not found VOTF national very helpful with our specific issues here in the Diocese of Yakima. We have needed help in bringing national attention to local problems which has not been forthcoming.SNAP has taken an active role in assisting our VOTF affiliate in exposing diocesan mis-behavior. How do candidates understand the relationship between the national office and local affiliates and how can the national office more effectively work with local affiliates to deal with specific issues? Name: Robert Fontana Location: Yakima, WA

 

Answer:

The national office has an overworked, underpaid staff member one of whose responsibilities is to be in touch with and help affiliates. Usually the person in the affiliate who is the contact person is the chairperson of the group. Having observed many overworked, non-paid chairs it seems to me that someone else in the affiliate should be the contact with the national office. And if the dues plan takes off the way our present officers hope it will, then perhaps we can go back to one specific full time person to help affiliates. We all have to work on this problem to solve it.