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In
the Vineyard We are not freeing a Church, but raising up a Church.” Sr. Marie LaBollita, SCH, at a panel discussion on “Our Voices – In Community and in the Ecclesial Church” VOTF at Work in the World(Please note that many of the online publications require registering before viewing the articles mentioned.) Ireland’s Ferns Report Leads the International News in Sunday’s New York Times: Noting BishopAccountability.org for its documentation of the full report, the article reported Irish Catholics’ outrage over newly disclosed details of clergy sexual abuse and its handling by Church leaders; it also quoted Paul Baier of BishopAccountability.org: "It is showing what a lot of us know, that this is a worldwide problem."
BREAKING NEWS in Boston: Click here. See how it’s done and read why VOTF Boston is the Eveready battery at the Mass. State House: Opposition from Church officials to State Sen. Marian Walsh legislation (requiring financial disclosure from religious institutions) included misleading some parishioners – but not enough to keep the Senate from passing it on Nov. 9. See the recent chronology of “A Forced March – On the Road to Accountability” in Commentary. (Also, see VOTF Cleveland, OH report on their Senate Bill 17)
USCCB meeting: While bishops have more on their plates than the ongoing sexual abuse crisis, their USCCB November meeting agenda was more remarkable for its omissions than for the concerns identified. The text of USCCB president Bishop Skylstad’s opening remarks on Mon. 11/14 are available at the USCCB web site. While the bishop’s statement is a warm paean to priests and their ministry, it will strike many as hurtful that the word “survivor” appears nowhere, nor the juxtaposition of “bishop” and “accountability.” AP coverage is available here.
Meanwhile, the VOTF National Representative Council was meeting next door to the USCCB - in Arlington, VA. (NRC) met Nov. 11-13 and identified national action items. See Report from NRC. Also, see the NRC opening reflection at “Praying Together” in Commentary; VOTF officer elections to take place in late February – see details in VOTF Officer Election News.
MORE Affiliate News: Philadelphia Archdiocese says it is moving forward, following the release of documents on clergy sexual abuse that have left area Catholics reeling. The “crisis of credibility” was also noted in National Catholic Reporter, 10/28. For links to the full grand jury report and other coverage and VOTF initiatives in Phila., go to VOTF Greater Philadelphia at www.votfgp.org.
Dan Bartley of VOTF Long Island, NY: “In Nassau County, NY a 30-year incumbent (Nassau county DA) was defeated by a virtually unknown challenger. Newsday has tied this shocking defeat to the incumbent’s handling of the sexual abuse crisis on Long Island.” Follow VOTF Long Island actions at www.votf-li.org; Fred McGunagle of VOTF Cleveland, OH reports on progress with Senate Bill 17. See Commentary for “My wife and I didn’t know my son had been raped until 2002. Bishop Pilla knew in 1981.” Banning as policy continues: VOTF Maryland has been meeting on Church property for over two years – working energetically toward support for survivors and priests of integrity as well as supporting the need for greater accountability in the Church. One member testified a year ago at the Maryland State House on behalf of extending the civil statute of limitations on reporting sex abuse. Last week, this same affiliate was advised that it will no longer be able to meet on church property. See Commentary: “Banning – Challenge to Truth.” Be sure
to check bishop-accountability.org for
the most complete documentation anywhere of the sexual abuse
crisis in the Catholic Church.
Reflections from Women Religious – Not for the first time in VOTF, women religious are speaking out. As laity, their perspectives are unique, evidenced at a recent presentation on how women religious use their voices both in their communities and in the ecclesial Church. See Commentary – “A Church-Raising” Priest of Integrity: National Catholic Reporter and VOTF agree on "Fr. Mac." Read more. Site-Seeing Hans Kung visits the US: The recent, much-publicized, long and warm meeting with Pope Benedict XVI seemed to enlarge “the table of communion.” See coverage of Hans Kung’s visit this week as he received the Association for Rights of Catholics in the Church inaugural “Rights of Catholics Award.” VOTF Australia is struggling with the same issues Catholics face elsewhere. You can receive the monthly VOTF Australia newsletter by visiting their web site at www.votfaustralia.org. HEADS UP! “Vatican Education Official Warns Dissenting Catholic Colleges May Lose 'Catholic' Status” – Read this story.* QUOTE for our time: “If the Holy Spirit truly guides the Church, it is our responsibility to stand at the point God has placed us within the church and proclaim from the honest depths of our souls, ‘This is how I see God!’ and respect each vision as equally valid. If the whole church entered into such respect-filled dialogue, surely the Kingdom of God would be manifest upon the earth.” National Catholic Reporter, Nov. 4, 2005 – opinion-page column by Peg Helminski
The next
issue of In the Vineyard is Thurs., Dec. 1. Copy
deadline to pthorp.ed@votf.org is
Mon. Nov., 28.
A CHURCH-RAISING Sr. Mary Jane Sullivan, RSCJ; Sr. Betsy Conway, CSJ; and Sr. Marie LaBollita, SCH made up a panel of women religious discussing how they use their voices in community and in the ecclesial Church. The discussion was hosted by VOTF Our Lady’s at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA on October 30. So like a community that understands what a community is and what a collective voice sounds like, the women on this panel brought not only their own voices to this subject but those of the other sisters in their community, as well as the words of others no longer alive. I couldn’t help but wonder as the evening went on at the enormous amount of attention we pay to the incidence of fewer priests when women religious are also suffering declines in numbers. It is far more likely that these women will disappear from the US Catholic landscape in our lifetime than priests. On the other hand, as was pointed out by Sr. Marie LaBollita, “We are not freeing a Church, but raising up a Church.” We did not hear one of the three sisters mention the decline in their numbers (other than a perfectly timed pitch from Sr. Marie LaBolita for attendees to consider “associate” status). The focus was on God’s work in the world and for the world – nothing about the sisters’ community preservation. Throughout their stories, and clearly throughout their journeys, the place of these women in the Church has always been clear to them. It still is. Many Catholics might not know that it wasn’t politicians who were first denied Eucharist for some perceived offense. In the 1850s, Bishop Peter Lefevre forbade Mass, confession and veneration of the Blessed Sacrament in the convent of a community with whom he was having a dispute. Although patronized by the hierarchy under which they served, it seems these women religious pretty much avoided infantilization. I wondered if that was due to their integral part in the weave of real-world family life both as educators and nurses in the neighborhoods. While some Catholics will remember great cruelty from women religious and/or have learned of sexual abuse of children in some communities, the community life of these women religious today appears healthy, supportive, and empowering. Tackling the question of ecclesial authority, Sr. Mary Jane gathered advice from other women religious and added her own. She spoke about knowing one’s own voice, finding the issue that will not permit silence, and speaking the message with informed respect and dialogic participation. Mary Jane also spoke about the older history of bishops’ denying Eucharist to women religious for this and that “offense” and the creative responses delivered by past heads of her community. Advice offered to her community was taken seriously and inventively. Quoting Matthew 10:16, Sr. Maureen Chicoine advised her community, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” and added, “That works.” Sr. Betsy spoke emphatically about “access – that’s what all dialogue is about. In my community, I know I will have the ear of whomever I approach on any concern I have.” Sr. Betsy recalled the cataclysmic challenges of the 1960s and 70s. She said, “We were trying to change 300 years of a top-down institution in a matter of a few years.” Her community scrutinized the call from Vatican II and came to understand what that call was about. “We need to be willing to bring our experience to the Church, but allow that experience to be influenced by the experience of others and, in particular, we need to allow our experience to be enlightened by Scripture, the documents of Vatican II and the signs of the times.” Sr. Betsy added, “This takes a willingness to listen, to share, and to be influenced / opened to the Word AND the word of each other.” There was agreement among the panelists, as well as attendees, with Sr. Betsy’s concluding remark: “We know the power of discernment and dialogue, if we trust that the Spirit will do what we alone cannot – if we keep open to her.” PLT [For a little more history, go to http://www.cst-phl.com/050901/blackcatholic.html - web site for the Philadelphia Archdiocese newspaper, the Catholic Standard and Times] Thanksgiving – Again and Again Most of our readers have traditions honored over time, or developed in a creative moment just a few years ago, or even last year; in any case, this effort to make important one meal a year, is played out at family tables all over the US. We choose to mark the day, identify our blessings, remember the needy, and consider each other in the best of all possible lights. Why? Because regardless of personality divisions and stresses of all sorts, we know that we are better off than the great, overwhelming majority of our brothers and sisters on this planet; we are relieved that we landed in this cabbage patch and not another; we are comfortable renewing charitable efforts to others – in the next seat or the next continent. As Christians, we know we are not alone – at the table or in the world. Catholics can thank God for the good work being done by laity, bishops and priests in the work of repairing our Church; we can mourn continuing recalcitrance in this work on the part of some; and through it all, we can know again that we are not alone – at the table or in the world. The surety of c/Companionship on a shared journey is present among the poorest of the poor believers – (Read Katie LeBlanc’s reflection in this issue – “Jesus – In the Mud, too” and Steve Sheehan’s Managua Journal on our web site.). And yet the assurance of God’s presence is a struggle for many who seem to “have it all.” One evening, a friend was leaving a dinner gathering in Boston. She had parked in a garage about four blocks away. Several guests jumped up to walk her to her car. She laughed everyone away from her when she heard the answer to “Why would you be walking me to my car?”: “You just shouldn’t be out walking alone at this hour.” I was struck by her answer because it was delivered without skipping a beat, “I am never alone.” And off she went (arriving home safely). Here was an adult who hasn’t felt alone since the day she first met her faith face to Face. If you’re like me, you’re still working at it. It comes as a kind of surprise – that “Aha!” moment, as Edwina Gately says. Voice of the Faithful wishes all of our readers many such moments of light as we share in our many ways Thanksgiving – again and again. PLT JESUS – In the Mud, too Katie LeBlanc is a Youth Minister at Holy Family parish in Amesbury, MA. The words are not in me - how to explain or reflect on the most horrific visual of my life? Seeing the devastation made me feel like I was walking on corpses and beyond words to explain the feeling of helplessness. Going down to New Orleans to “help” my friends' church was a good feeling as I was boarding the plane. As soon I touched down, the feelings began to change. When is the last time you flew into an airport to see no planes in any of the gates? It was a ghost town at the airport, something that would be a theme in my quick three-day trip. The purpose of this trip was to meet a dozen families that needed temporary financial help. My friend Fr. John set up the appointments but I had preconceived ideas already. Watching many New Orleanians, on television, take from the system to buy big screen TV's and the like. This image was deep in my subconscious as I began to meet those we were “helping.” To walk in another's shoes is all I kept thinking. This could be me or anyone I know. The people we met with were uncomfortable with the thought of others helping them, although many lost everything. A few put it simply: “We are normally the givers not the receivers.” Those we met were in charge of various volunteer ministries within the local church of New Orleans. One man helped the homeless for the last few years, bringing meals to those who have nothing. Another was in charge of the volunteers – the list of their talents was overwhelming. For now, they needed to find food, clothing and shelter for themselves and their families. Many had been staying with friends and relatives for the last few months and all were out of work. We saw pictures of their ripped-apart homes filled with mud. Memories of their lives were soaking all over the front yard. In one picture, I asked if they were mistaken because I didn't see anything. The wife looked at me and said, “We can't find our house, it's gone. We found a coffee mug and a few trinkets.” As we concluded with each family, we prayed with them. Many times the emotion was too much and tears flowed from the pain that they were carrying. Each had a solid foundation from which they operated. Many shared that they would re-build and work through this experience because God was in their pain and was guiding them through. Among the most powerful words I heard were those of Helen. She showed me a picture of a life-size Jesus statue in her ruined back yard. She said, “See Jesus, He is in the mud with us. We know He feels our pain because He is right with us.” Her house was filled with mud from the inside and covered with mold as well. This is not about cleaning up, re-building by bulldozing. It's about starting over in a new place. Those words like “cleaning up," “re-building,” or “starting over” were in every person's heart. For some it was obvious what they had to do. I take this experience and know that we will try to have local families help by adopting a particular family and being in touch with their progress. That will be a good feeling to help someone in need, because they are, for sure! I am left with another haunting feeling. This is also about looking in to my own life to look at what needs cleaning-up, re-building and what needs starting over. My experience is life-changing. It's about being ministered to; amidst the brokenness, they gave me more than I will ever give them. My prayer is that there will be an out pouring of support for our new friends, but let it not go without being unchanged by this experience. Is it about cleaning up, re-building or starting over? Maybe we don't know, and that's ok. We just need to know that Jesus walks in the mud of our lives as well. A Forced March – On the Road to Accountability It isn’t easy and the outcome is never guaranteed, but there is a way to move a good bill in the right direction. Boston VOTF and others have successfully moved the Senator Marian Walsh bill (S 2267) – now S 2313 – into and out of the Senate, where it passed by 33-4. On its way to the Senate, VOTF and the Council of Parishes provided all the contact information needed in order to register support for the bill, which would put all religious institutions on equal footing with other charities already required to disclose finances (in Mass., there are 30,000 registered charities). The push has been on to get S- 2313 through the House in the current legislative session. What follows is an abbreviated chronology of communication efforts in the last week. Earlier this month [Excerpt from a Nov. 9 clarification letter sent by John Hynes of the Steering Committee for the Boston Area VOTF Council. This followed several updates from the Boston Council, as the bill changed numbers and faced various opponents and supporters.] An Act Relative to Charities in Massachusetts would require religious organizations like the Archdiocese of Boston to disclose financial information now required of all other nonprofit organizations. This Act applies to corporations and so would NOT require any reporting by individual parishes within a Diocese or Archdiocese. The key to understanding this is the fact that parishes within a Catholic Archdiocese are not separately incorporated. The only organizations required to report under this proposed legislation would be the Archdiocese of Boston and the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester a single report for each of these. I regret to have to tell you that some members of the hierarchy in this Commonwealth are spreading misinformation about this proposed legislation. I refer specifically to the memorandum dated November 8, 2005, which I have forwarded below. It is from Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, Bishop of Springfield and is addressed to All Pastors, Administrators, Parish Finance Council Chairpersons. The statement contained in that memorandum that this proposed legislation would require each parish to file an annual report of financial and real estate holdings with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office is simply NOT TRUE. Similar messages have been circulated in the Archdiocese of Boston. The Archdiocese of Boston, which includes all of the parishes of the Archdiocese, has a legal existence in this Commonwealth. It exists as a corporation sole, created by an act of the Legislature (ch. 560) in 1897. The Boston Archdiocese sought and received the Commonwealth's permission to exist as a corporation. Like all incorporated churches, it exists as a special kind of corporation, one that is exempt from taxes. Though tax-exempt, it, nevertheless, uses the services of the Commonwealth and of a host of cities and towns. Each time the church or any other tax-exempt avails itself of a government-provided service, someone else picks up the tab. Financial transparency seems like a small price to pay for such a privileged status, particularly when, as is the case with this proposed legislation, the mechanism of transparency is one that does NOT interfere in any way with the ability to practice religion. The other Archdioceses in this Commonwealth are each organized as a single corporation sole, including all of the parishes within their jurisdiction. The Steering Committee of the Boston Voice of the Faithful Council has argued for some time now that donors deserve the right to know something about the finances of the organizations to which they are donating. Indeed, it was our strong conviction with respect to the rights of donors that led us to become citizen sponsors of this proposed legislation. We believe this legislation will actually help the Church, not hurt it. It is only when prospective donors have the kind of information called for in this proposed legislation that religious organizations like the dioceses of this Commonwealth will begin to see a significant reversal of the decline in donations. Please note that we are not talking major reporting burden here. Some of the smallest charities in the Commonwealth currently provide annual reports of gross revenues, expenses, fund balances, top salaries, and other financial data to the Massachusetts Attorney General. Providing such reports is a fact of their organizational life. Why should religious charities be any different, particularly when many of them have members who would and could do the necessary work pro bono? The goals of the Boston Voice of the Faithful Council include supporting priests of integrity. We regard that goal as very important and would not take lightly any action that might be a burden to our priests. That is why we are so pleased that this proposed legislation places no burden whatsoever on parish priests, and when it is passed only a Diocese or Archdiocese will have to file the Form PC once a year. Individual parishes and pastors will not have to file anything. Senate Bill 2313 – Update November 14, 2005 Late Monday evening, Nov. 14: Working with Peter Borre of the Council of Parishes, John Hynes of the Boston Council Steering Committee, sent a brief email reminder to call representatives in support of SB 2313. Links to identifying representatives, phone numbers and addresses had already been distributed, as well as contact information to thank particular representatives and senators. The Council of Parishes and Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council urge you to support S-2313, An Act Relative to Charities in Massachusetts (the Sen. Walsh bill) by calling your representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives tomorrow morning, Tuesday, November 15, and asking your representative to support S-2313 on the floor of the House. There is strong momentum behind the bill: the Senate passed it by an overwhelming margin last week, and House Speaker Sal DiMasi has agreed to have this bill taken up in the House, perhaps as early as tomorrow, and in any case by Wednesday, the last scheduled day of this session (before a break until the new year). It is reported that several representatives have agreed to support the bill on the floor. Senate Bill 2313 – November 15, 2005 Message from John Hynes: We have learned that the substantial progress on getting the House of Representatives to pass *An Act Relative to Charities in Massachusetts* may get derailed tomorrow mid-morning. Representative Byron Rushing, Democratic from Boston, has convened a meeting around 11:00am to rally opposition to the bill by inviting colleagues to hear from Laura Everett from the Massachusetts Council of Churches (a group strongly against). The Council of Parishes and the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council urge you to [repeat your phone calls and contact efforts to support this bill]. November 16, 2005
“My wife and I didn’t know my son had been raped until 2002. Bishop Pilla knew in 1981.” Parent of an abuse victim Report from Fred McGunagle, VOTF Cleveland, OH It seems that “Father has been sent where he will not deal with children” may have surpassed “The check is in the mail” as the most common lie. That was the impression created by clergy sex abuse victims and their parents at a rally for Senate Bill 17 yesterday in Westlake City Hall. The bill would give victims of clergy sex abuse an extra year to sue their abusers for crimes on which the statute of limitations has run out. The meeting drew about 30 people, mostly members of SNAP( Survivors’ Network of Those Abused by Priests) and Voice of the Faithful, which sponsored the meeting. Before they spoke, Barbara Blaine, the founder and president of SNAP, asked for a moment to remember deceased victims of sex abuse by priests. She said, “One hundred seventy-five have taken their own lives.” Blaine described what happened when she finally mustered the courage to tell the bishop of Toledo about her rape in 1985. The bishop reacted with surprise. He told her there were no other accusations against the priest. “You’re the first one to ever come forward,” he said. Later, she obtained a report from a treatment center where the priest had been sent after accusations dating back to 1961. The report recommended he be removed from ministry. Still later, she learned he was now a chaplain at a hospital. When she confronted the bishop, he assured her the priest was being monitored by a nun on the hospital staff. When her father was admitted to the hospital, the nun told her she was unaware of any sex abuse accusations against the priest. “My perpetrator is still out there,” Blaine said. The father of Christopher Kodger told the group, “My son was raped in 1981. My son is in Alaska, where he hides.” Kodger is suing the diocese for saying that the transfer of his son’s rapist to another parish with a school had been had approved by the Kodger family. At a deposition hearing in July, Pilla admitted he learned of the rape in 1981, but reassigned the priest to other parishes. . “My wife and I didn’t know my son had been raped until 2002,” Kodger said. “Bishop Pilla knew in 1981.” Claudia Vercelotti of Toledo, head of the Ohio SNAP chapter, eventually got enough courage to report her rape to her bishop. “He told me I was the only one,” she said. “He told me to forgive.” Later she found the priest had been reported for molesting five other girls. Nevertheless, he was assigned to other parishes and is still taking little girls on overnight “retreats.” The session was a rally for support of Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Senator Bob Spada, Republican of North Royalton, whose district includes West Shore suburbs. Spada told how the bill had passed the Senate unanimously but was being fought vigorously in the House of Representatives by the six Ohio Catholic bishops. Senator Marc Dann, Democrat of Youngstown, came up for the meeting to add his plea for support of the bill. He said of Spada, “Bob has stood up to strong political interests. I know the pressure that I’ve been under in my district.” He added, “I think we’re better than even money to get the bill passed. Don’t give up at this point.” Blaine ended the meeting with a plea: “Tell your family members and friends and anybody who owes you a favor to contact their representative,” she said. Praying Together Scripture Reflection
Nothing is accomplished in human society without power. But power itself is neutral. It can be used to control or to liberate. And power is not the same as authority. Eugene Kennedy reminds us that the word “authority” comes from the Latin verb “augere,” which means “to cause to grow.” Power can be used to control, but true authority liberates those under that authority. The judges of this world do have power but often, as with the current case with American bishops, their authority is tarnished if not completely undermined. The widow in Jesus’ story (Luke, 18:1-8) found authority within herself because her cause was just. She exercised the power of a single voice by her persistent demands for justice. The judge finally, reluctantly, gave in because she was “wearing him out.” In many human endeavors, however, more than a single voice is necessary for social justice to be served. And, it may take time and perseverance to wear out those in power, or to help them convert their power to true authority. The story that Jesus related was on the necessity of praying always and not losing heart. We are to pray unceasingly, not that the Holy Spirit will agree with us, but that we are aligned with the Holy Spirit. We are to pray that we are, indeed, on the side of justice. And we are to persevere even in the face of judges who are aligned against us. We are gathered here today to continue a new era in the history of the American Church. We begin in hope, but we will persevere in the face of opposition. We will align our prayers, our voices, our minds, hearts and energy to ensure that the voice of the faithful will find its rightful place in the decision-making of the Church. We will pray without ceasing and work with perseverance. Our power, and our authority, are in our united voices. Jesus ends his parable with these words: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” We pledge ourselves to keep the faith while we seek to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to change the Church. Banning – Challenge
to Truth Bannings and silencings have been standard procedure for generations in many a government and, sadly, in our Church. While both are hurdles, they are hurdles to be overcome. History remains on the side of truth-telling just as our faith tradition also remains on the side of our prophets. Then – as now – it seems that the people of God are being called to address yet another roadblock to a healthier faith community. A member of VOTF Maryland testified a year ago against the expressed preference of diocesan leadership (Cardinal McCarrick, Washington, DC diocese – separate from the diocese of Baltimore, MD). She spoke at a Maryland State House hearing in support of extending the statute of limitations, as did over a dozen other groups. The only speaker against the bill was the Maryland Catholic Conference, the diocesan lobby group. Last week, the David Lorenz, an affiliate leader, was advised by his pastor that contrary to the past two years, the affiliate would no longer have the use of the parish property for meetings. Lorenz also learned that the diocese would quietly and slowly advise all the parishes in the diocese to ban VOTF from meeting on Church property. The affiliate was told that the reason given by the chancery was the testimony noted above. Nearly a dozen attempts by affiliate leaders, via email and phone calls to the parish office, did not produce one response. The pastor has elected not to confront diocesan leadership. Church officials have been using Eucharist as a tool to enforce conformity among politicians who support laws contrary to Church teachings. Earlier in VOTF history, dioceses and parishes chose to deny VOTF parishioners the use of church property for meetings, because those officials believed VOTF had some sort of hidden agenda (handily dismissed by the recent VOTF Study by D’Antonio et al.) or they suspected that VOTF was challenging dogma (thus the Statement of Beliefs on our web site). Clearly, the problem lies not with any hidden agenda but the one that is out there, and has been, for nearly four years – accountability. Accountability to survivors means justice for what the Church did to them – regardless of dates; accountability among priests means integrity in their ministry; accountability in Church leadership means transparency in financial dealings and other decisions that impact Catholics; accountability among laity means accepting the responsibility of and right to meaningful involvement in Church governance. VOTF Maryland will continue to meet. They and supporters will wear red to Mass one Sunday a month. They will continue to discuss their options and continue to speak out for justice and accountability. Lorenz contacted other parish-based VOTF groups and learned that, as yet, they have not been banned from the use of their church property for VOTF meetings. VOTF OFFICER ELECTION NewsIt is time for the election of Voice of the Faithful’s national officers for 2006. We invite you to take part in the governance of VOTF by nominating qualified candidates for the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. You are eligible to nominate a qualified candidate, including yourself, if you are a registered member. If you have not registered yet on the VOTF web site, we encourage you to do so. Nominations will be accepted through December 15, 2005, 9:00 P.M. If you have any questions please email nominations@votf.org Candidates
will be interviewed by the nominating committee and the election
slate finalized by January 15, 2006. Voting
will take place in February, 2006,-dates TBA. The exact dates
of terms of office will be announced shortly. Considerations for nominees should include:
Sincerely, Elia Marnik,
Reading, MA Nan Fischer,
Cincinnati, Ohio
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