In case you missed it, reprinted below is an article from In the Vineyard last month describing the efforts to launch a BostonVOTF umbrella organization. A ten-person Organizing Team has been meeting regularly since September to create a mechanism for the Boston affiliates to act together in a coordinated manner.

This coordinated action will enable us to implement the recommendations from the June 7 BostonVOTF Conference, and develop plans for carrying out National VOTF*s Strategic Plan here in our Archdiocese.

The Organizing Team will be sharing their recommendations, and seeking your feedback, shortly.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the two representatives on the Team from your region.

Regards,
Ann Carroll

PS. Some Team members have changed since the original publication of this article - the list below has been updated to reflect the changes.

In the Vineyard, October 2003

The 45 VOTF affiliates in the Archdiocese of Boston have taken the first step towards the separation of BostonVOTF from National VOTF with the creation of a ten-person BostonVOTF Organizing Team. The Team will be developing the framework for a new umbrella organization for the affiliates in the Archdiocese.

The umbrella organization will bring together the voices of all the affiliates in the Archdiocese's five regions (vicariates), and will have the ability, when there is a consensus, to act in a unified way for VOTF in the Archdiocese. Acting as the unified voice for VOTF in the Archdiocese, the leadership of the new umbrella organization will also seek to establish on-going dialog with Archbishop Sean O*Malley and chancery officials.

The Organizing Team consists of two representatives from each of the 5 regions in the Archdiocese of Boston, selected from the affiliates in that region:

Central Region: Ellie Harnett (St. John the Evangelist VOTF, Cambridge) and Bette McNiff (St. Catherine of Siena VOTF, Charlestown), alternate is Leslie Dennis (St. Catherine of Siena VOTF, Charlestown);

Merrimack Region: Maurice (Mo) Donovan (Seacoast VOTF, Amesbury) and volunteer needed;

North Region: Bob Morris (Winchester Area VOTF/St. Eulalia's, Winchester) and Jack Whelan (St. Pius V VOTF, Lynn), alternate is Louise Aleo (Winchester Area VOTF/St. Eulalia's, Winchester);

South Region: John Hynes (St. Gerard Majella VOTF, Canton) and Anne Southwood (Mayflower Area VOTF, Duxbury);

West Region: Lois Mastrangelo (Our Lady*s Voice VOTF, Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton) and John Magilligan (St. Joseph*s VOTF, Needham).

In addition, Bob Ott, the Regional Coordinator for the Boston Central Region, has volunteered to serve as facilitator for the Organizing Team. The Team meets twice a month. Additional details on the formal launch of BostonVOTF are anticipated later this year.