Anne Southwood
Candiate for Secretary
Interview Questions and Statement
November 2004

What do you do for Church?
I've been singing in Church all my life, at 50 annual rehearsals on my own birthday and those of my children. Past liturgy committee, representative at liturgical music convention, bringing improvement suggestions back to parish music ministry. When I commit,I engage.

What have you done for VOTF?
Set up meeting with our pastor and VOTF founders to ask that he allow VOTF affiliate in the parish as the scandal broke. As steering committee, set up affiliate following his refusal. Chair of this affiliate with strong survivor support base. Representative to national Council 2 years, to Boston VOTF since inception.

Organizing committee and front-of-the-house for early MA southregion symposium on the crisis, with focus on attempt at communication with and from our regional Bishop Malone. Affiliate rep at continuing regular regional meetings following symposium.

Initiated and organized regional event with regional affiliate collaboration bringing Fr. Tom Doyle to the southern region of MA. Successful event held at St.Albert, Weymouth.

Boston VOTF organizing team. In a series of weekly meetings over 3 months, set up structure for creation of Boston VOTF, distinct from national VOTF.

Membership, Voice of Renewal Working Group from beginning in Wellesley. Now co-chair with Donna Doucette.

Boston Mass on the Common liturgy planning committee.
Choir during liturgy on the Common.

Elected to first Representative Council Steering Committee. Weekly meeting process after election established consensus on restructuring of Council for effectiveness - beyond the basic task of managing the Council and it's meetings.

Appointed VOTF Council representative on VOTF Executive Director Search Committee, now expaned from 6 to 12 in effort at national inclusivity. Weekly meetings begun. Focus, criteria, timeline process established.

Are you prepared to keep Church hopes, desires not related to the 3 VOTF goals out of public forum discussion. YES.

Why did you join?
I was hooked after attending 1 meetimg in Wellesley. It was clearly the way for me to deal with unfolding scandals evolving swiftly into the worst crisis in the American Church. I'm a Christian Catholic not just by birth, but by choice. I was horrified by revelations, worried for future of Church, determined to do what I could to address the situation. I couldn't hand on this ravaged Church to my children.

How will I contribute to the mission and goals in this position? As a member of the VOTF executive branch, I would bring a good knowledge of relationships between different segments of VOTF, having been involved in them all. I have a clear idea of who I am and what I can contribute in a position whose requirements match my experience and skill sets.

I've applied life-experience skills to VOTF from the beginning, working in a collaborative way to set up structure, offering time and talents.

My training as a regional reporter helps in creating minutes for the national Representative Council as well as the 4-sided meetings and the Executive Director Search Committee. My planning work experience and work in elected planning positions helps in establishing ways to identify and address needs as a member of VOTF committees at the regional and national level.

What are future challenges for VOTF?
Better definition and universal understanding of the different "areas of operation" in VOTF and the relationship between them. Creating structures for effective communication in a truly national organization, enabling a flexible but concerted effort to address the VOTF goals. I define success by adding just one more person, one day at a time, capable of believing that we can grow into our skin as active contributing Catholics - assumimg responsibility for our Church. I believe this requires not only change of minds, but reaching into hearts. This is why I chose VOR from the beginning. My vision and continuing hope for VOTF is organizing wide-spread grassroots response into effective action to create structual ways to allow the voice of all Catholics to move freely in the Church, following the lead of the Spirit.

Thank you for the opportunity to run for national VOTF office. I'm an able candidate for Secretary as I now create minutes for the VOTF Representative Council Steering Committee, the VOTF Executive Director Search Committee, and 4-sided meetings between officers, Council, governance committee, Parish Voice.

VOTF officers implement policy. My work experience and related public official experience as long-term local and metropolitan regional planning council member gave me experience in recommendation, initiation, and implementation of policy. I was involved in creating new structural policy in County employment and public positions;also in my appointment to the Boston VOTF organizing team and election to the new VOTF Rep Council Steering Committee.

When I commit, I engage. I've been a music minister for 50 years, representing our music ministry at national liturgy conventions. A member of Voice of Renewal since early inception, I'm now co-chair. I committed to VOTF early, long-haul driving to Wellesley. Chair of an affiliate with a strong survivor base, I was happy to organize a successful event around Fr. Tom Doyle, raising a substantial amount for SNAP.] I chose VOTF because I'm a Catholic not just by birth, but by choice. My commitment goes beyond survivor and priest support to changing minds, reaching into hearts to revitalize. The people I've met in VOTF enrich me; it flows back to church again. We're very good for each other!