ECDV Secretariat Meeting
Saturday, November 18, 2001
Minutes of the Meeting of the Secretariat of Cursillo in the Diocese of Virginia
The meeting took place on the Sunday of Weekend #122, between Mananitas and Clausura at 1 p.m. in a meeting room at the 4-H Center in Front Royal.
Present were: Walt TeStrake, Ed Schneider, Jo Freeman, John Symonds, Mark Hopkins, Geoff Davis, and Connie Smith.
The date of the next meeting was determined: Saturday, December 8, location TBA via email. It has since been set at All Saints Church in the Richmond area (right next to Roslyn), with a gathering time from 9:30 - 10 a.m. (Please see the email from Jo for directions.)
Minutes. > The minutes of the last meeting were unanimously approved.
Report on the National Seminar. From Virginia, the seminar was attended by Ed Schneider, Kathleen and Dave van Esselstyn, and Geoff and Sue Davis. Kathleen was elected to the NECC, the National Episcopal Cursillo Committee. Congratulations to her! The Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswald, gave the keynote address on Friday night. Ed went to workshops on How to Deliver a Rollo, Spiritual Guidance, and the Servant Community. Jo went to Cursillo Music, Revitalization, and Electronic Communication. One discussion was about putting pictures on the Web page. Some dioceses have a routine release form; others do not do it at all (because of issues of battered women or other protection programs). The van Esselstyns offered a fine workshop on "Living the Fourth Day Daily." Another workshop had as its theme "Back to Basics," with a reminder that we can't do it all. Everything has to start with God and prayer. One thing stressed was getting people involved right away, with a team application in the Fourth Day packet.
Treasurer’s Report. Walt TeStrake distributed his report, which reflects the costs of canceling weekends and the large cost of mailing out the last newsletter. Walt announced that he was planning to step down as Treasurer; he has done the job (surpassingly well, if I might editorialize) for five (5) years now, and he would like to see the Community advertise for a new Treasurer. His report was unanimously approved
Current Weekend, #122. Receipt of candidate applications is still a problem. Three applications went erroneously to Richmond. Ed feels that the Lay Director should not handle the applications, that this task should be given to Pre-Cursillo. He wasn't sure what to do, for example, with applications that were checked "No, I have not been informed about the Fourth Day." If Goodwin House is the correct address, it must be prominent and understood. Even in the latest newsletter, it is correct on page 1 and incorrect on page 3. The final candidate list on the Web, however, was correct - and went out fast. Jan Welch is the one who has the correct list; it is the job of the team to communicate the list to the Webmaster. Mark pointed out that it should go to the region rep. Walt reminded the group that every newsletter should carry the names and contact information of all the Secretariat members. Getting an accurate candidate list out in hard copy is almost impossible. The Web page is the best vehicle. John averred that the Web page is also the most cost effective. The Weekend Chair position should normally have the candidate list. On this team, Shirley Hopkins was the contact person for Jan. Geoff asked whether we need both an email list and a Webpage. The feeling was that a flash update function is definitely useful. Ed pointed out that we do need a policy statement on who has access to changing the Web site; right now, only Ed Schneider, Lay Director, and Joe Kokalas, Webmaster, have passwords. Geoff suggested adding the assistant Lay Director. Communications is a topic for the Secretariat Retreat. Geoff again stressed that we need to get applications in EARLY, but Walt pointed out that the reality is that people serving on team often recruit. John Symonds liked the new compacted schedule for team formation meetings and spoke in favor of it.
Weekends 2002. Bob Tedesco will serve as a Spiritual Director for the Men's weekend in March. Jo has given a list of suggested names to Bishop Jones. For the Fall weekend in October, Shirley Hopkins will serve as rector. Walt suggested a motion: that the May (2 - 5) weekend be made co-ed, with Harry Furney serving as rector, which would mean canceling the Men's weekend (March 14-17) at Shalom and making sure that a co-ed weekend is all right with Mary Mother of the Church Abbey. Geoff moved it; John seconded. If both the Abbey and Harry are willing, the Spring weekend, May 2-5, will be a co-ed weekend.
Day of Deeper Understanding. The date is January 12; the place is in the Richmond area - either at Christ Church, St. Matthews, or All Saints; the time is beginning at 9 a.m. The format Geoff has in mind is four talks: an Instructed Ultreya, a Fourth Day talk, a Sponsorship talk, and a Personal Contact Technique talk. He will email details. The event is taking place the same date as the Secretariat Retreat; we will figure out which activities we can all attend as a group.
A husband/wife team from Charlottesville may be joining the leadership. We still need reps from several regions; Ed suggested that he might be willing to serve as his region rep when he steps down as Lay Director.
The meeting adjourned at 3:22, with prayer by Geoff Davis, especially that Cursillo be a welcoming community.
Respectfully submitted,
Constance Fletcher Smith
Secretary
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