The Catholic Women's League of Canada (CWL)
Alberta Mackenzie Provincial Council
( Updated October 08, 2010 ; CWL-ABMK Home Page <www.cwl.ab.ca> ; Contact us at <cwlabmk@cwl.ab.ca>)

PAST PRESIDENT / ARCHIVES COMMUNIQUES

Past President / Archivist (2009-2011): Donna Prevost <donnapre[at]telus.net>

| Communique [#2] - Sept'10 [PDF web version] | Communique #1 - Jan'10 |

Communiques from previous chairperson:
| Pennies for the Poor project info - Oct'07 (upd. Oct'09) // Thank-you letter - Apr'08 |

September 2010  CWL ABMK Provincial Past President Communique [#2] - | PDF web version |
Dear Past Presidents:
Greetings and welcome to another start-up season of the CWL. I hope that you all had a great summer, are rested up and ready to go. No, past presidents you are not finished, you may not sit back and relax.
  1. The immediate past president provides guidance and serves as a resource to council officers and members. The immediate past president usually chairs the nominating committee, assists in the preparation of the council success plan and promotes the council’s efforts to reach its goals.
          Are you prepared to do this? Discuss these topics with your president and executive. Start now.
  1. Elections: This may be an election year for your council. Past presidents chair the nominating committee if asked or give assistance to the elections chair.
          Refer to Constitution & Bylaws ARTICLE XV (pages 33-39). Past President can be a resource person.
         Refer to the National Manual of Policy and Procedure (pages 85 to 93).

Start compiling the eligibility list now at the diocesan level and keep it up to date. Keep this list with the secretary’s records. At the parish level, all are eligible. Start nominating now as elections are usually in January.
At the provincial level, 2011 will be an election year. Talk it up in your diocesan council; ask those former diocesan presidents who are eligible if they will consider letting their name stand at the provincial level this coming election. In the New Year, watch for nomination papers in preparation for voting after January 2011.

3. Archives: Past Presidents, as the year winds down (only 4 months away), start thinking about the year-end records. Your job is to collect information for the history of your council. Sort, file, and index all that is in your history files. After 5 years, information should be archived and kept in a safe place. Not your basement as a flood may happen! Include the minutes, as this is the history of your council, any awards handed out, annual reports, membership list for the year, and the president's annual personal report.

May God bless you all, and thank you for your wonderful dedication to the CWL and its history.

Donna P., Provincial Past President

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January 2010  CWL ABMK Provincial Past President Communique #1

Greetings and Happy New Year
I send greetings to past presidents and am sure by now you have settled into the role of “she who must be consulted” when a question of  constitution, policy or procedures arises. I do hope this year will be as fun and fulfilling as can be. (Lorette N., National Past President)

Elections 
As the time draws near for elections, many past presidents can encourage renewal in councils. All three aspects of faith, fun and fulfillment are vital in this renewal process. Past presidents are urged to encourage those who have never held office to let their names stand, and those who have already been chairpersons to try a new standing committee. The comment is often heard, “I’ll let my name stand only if I can be the chairperson of … standing committee.” Interest in new positions and challenges allows members and the League to grow in wonderfully unexpected ways. It’s never too early to start encouraging members to let their names be added to the nominations list. May there be many happy outcomes this coming year.

New past presidents following elections
I hope that you find this position as fulfilling for you as when you were in the president’s chair.

I would suggest that past presidents should download two important and informative documents which are useful in focusing the approach to laws and archives. One is the Handbook for Past Presidents <http://www.cwl.ca/supplies&forms/Past President.pdf> and the other is the Archives Guidelines for League History: Provincial, Diocesan and Parish Councils <http://www.cwl.ca/index/laws/archives guidelines.htm>.  

Archives  
Adding new material to archives is a task best done at least on an annual basis.

So, new past presidents start immediately. Some councils, from parish to diocesan, to provincial level, will have celebrated significant anniversaries this past year. All of these councils should update their histories, and send at least two copies to national office. For those who have not yet compiled their council’s story, now is as good a time as any. Life members and others with years of League experience are wonderful resources. Try the interview method of getting their stories. Use tape recorders so that the reminiscences are lively. This could be a wonderful exercise for younger members and an interesting way for them to learn about the League. The stories can be shared at monthly council meetings.

League Policies  
The Constitution & Bylaws and the National Manual of Policy and Procedure are often consulted as reliable references. Past presidents are asked to facilitate and encourage the study of these two documents to better understand and appreciate how the League works. Margaret Ann J., past president of Ontario, has created an Activity Package on the Constitution & Bylaws with, as she puts it, “10 short, fairly easy, and hopefully fun activities that could be used at parish council meetings.” Contact Ontario Provincial Council via <http://www.cwl.on.ca> if you are interested and you will receive the package via e-mail. (Lorette N., National Past President)

May Our Lady of Good Counsel continue to smile upon us and guide us and may God bless us all.

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April 2008  Pennies for the Poor letter of thanks
To: Provincial Council officers
      Diocesan Presidents

Dear Ladies:

After a wonderful holiday, I have finally settled down to the work I love to do for the League.


For me the highlight of the past two years has definitely been the “Pennies for the Poor” project. I have just completed recording and sending thank-you letters to all councils who have contributed since last summer. The most amazing thing that comes to my attention is that in less than two years (September, 2006 to February, 2008) we have collected and forwarded just over $10,500 to Sister Maria Goretti in Burundi. This has by far surpassed my greatest expectations for this project. I cannot even imagine the wonderful assistance that this amount has given to the children in Burundi. Many of them are orphans because of the AIDS pandemic in Africa and are most grateful for any help we can give them, no matter how small. I know that the terrific response from our C.W.L. sisters throughout Alberta/Mackenzie is also far beyond their expectations as well.

I would ask the Diocesan Presidents at your 2008 Conventions to express our thanks to all who have contributed to Pennies for the Poor and encourage them to continue doing so. Remember that no amount is too small (or too large, for that matter).

Also, would you encourage your councils to forward any Pennies for the Poor funds to the Provincial Treasurer before the Provincial Convention if possible. [address available by request to <cwlabmk[at]wl.ab.ca>]

You are an amazing group of women and I feel so very privileged to be a part of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada.

God Bless you all.

Ella M.E.
Provincial Past President
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October 2007 Pennies for the Poor Project

At the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization (WUCWO) Assembly in Arlington, Virginia in June 2006, the women spoke often on the theme of Peace, suggesting that Peace may be attained through the education of their children.

At the Provincial Fall Meeting in September, 2006 we discussed a plan to raise money for women and children in the developing world and began an initiative called “Pennies for the Poor”. We invited every council in Alberta Mackenzie to consider working with us to raise funds for this cause.

Many councils have participated over the past year enabling us to send $4,655.96 U.S. to Sister Maria Goretti N. in Burundi, Africa. These funds are used to purchase school supplies and provide medical assistance for children, many of whom are orphans, in her country.

We will be continuing this project over the next two years and encourage all of you to continue collecting pennies to help the poor.

Money collected should be forwarded by cheque made out to Alberta Mackenzie Provincial C.W.L. Council indicating that the money is for the Pennies for the Poor project.
Send to the Provincial Treasurer (upd. Oct'09): Ruth B.  [address available via request to <cwlabmk[at]cwl.ab.ca>].

Thank you to all of you who have participated in this project. With very little effort on our part we are making a huge difference for the poor. What a wonderful way to carry out our theme of “Love One Another.”

God Bless you all.
Ella E.

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