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?

 

Answer:

I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps if we step back to look at the responsibilities of the National Office, we might both garner some perspective.

The National Office like many other nonprofit entities has enormous day to day responsibilities that are national in scope: responding to member/donor/media requests, responding to local traffic on volunteer needs that guarantee that we have a full contingent of people helping us with mail, donations, databases, etc.

The National Office is in many ways the expediting entity of the organization looking to be proactive wherever possible on innumerable issues; driving our fundraising efforts and the many arms of communication to membership and stakeholders.

In many ways, they are keepers of the brand guaranteeing that we are consistent in our messaging to all by checking our messaging for quality, tone and tenor.

We know that historically not all issues were directly responded to only because of lack of time and personnel. Toward that end, our Voices in Action campaign has developed a team that specifically deals with affiliate issues: to respond to questions, to direct attention to where answers can be found and to support the sustainability and growth of each affiliate with solutions that match the problems experienced. This team is geographically dispersed and is currently in an outreach effort to all affiliate leaders through phone or email contact. I can assume that by now you may have heard from a member of that team to support your efforts in Yakima.