Minutes of the Board Meeting of Durham Congregations In Action

October 17, 2006

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

 

 

1.       Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas welcomed the assembly and called the meeting to order.  She introduced Father Dan McLellan, pastoral leader at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

          ICCC's first church was built in 1906, with 100 worshipers.  In 1956 it had 400, and has grown much in the last several years.  ICCC is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all people in Durham.  Father McLellan offered an opening prayer.

 

2.       The DCIA Affirmation was read.

 

3.       Treasurer Bill Youngblood reviewed the Finance Report.  He pointed out that 51out of 58 member Congregations donated to DCIA in 2005.  To date, 16 Congregations have matched or exceeded their 2005 donations.  Eleven Congregations have donated less than their 2005 donation.  There are 31 Congregations who donated last year who have not yet donated in 2006.  If these 31 match their last year's contribution, income for 2006 would have a shortfall of about $4000 from budget.  Bill asked Congregations to please consider how they can help DCIA reach its target for 2006.

          The Finance Report was approved.

 

4.       Youth Projects.

A.       Maryann Crea updated the status of YO:Durham.

          Discussions with other youth programs are continuing regarding possible collaboration.

          We are advertising again for a Program Director.  A summer facility search is underway.  A mentoring team has begun.  The Fundraising Committee is hard at work.

          Lucy Haagen mentioned that we are also forming an Internship Committee, which includes Robin Miller of BlueCross BlueShield of NC and Kathy Hoffmeier of the Chamber.  Others are welcome to become part of the Internship Committee, to realistically determine what workplace experiences will be most helpful to teen participants and employers.

 

B.       Rev. Lindsay-Lucas said that DCIA's Teen Teams Building Bridges is bringing teens 13-17 together to do Meals on Wheels and/or another community project on November 21.  Good relationships are being built.

          Nancy Safrit praised Rev. Lindsay-Lucas for her unflagging work with TTBB.  Trinity UMC, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, First Chronicles Community Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church are all engaged.  We need the name of a responsible adult from other congregations who can recruit 3 or 4 youth for TTBB.  

 

5.       Guests were welcomed:

          Eric Breit, Development Director with Housing for New Hope.

          Ashley Pickeral and Missy Allen, students at Duke Divinity interning with Interfaith Hospitality Network.

          Cynthia Avail, St. Bart's Episcopal Church in Roxboro.

 

6.       Bob Newlin pointed out that we are making available YO:Durham Fact Sheets and Bulletin Inserts.

 

7.       Announcements

          Mark Prokop: Meals on Wheels has an upcoming fundraiser on November 17 and 18, a Santa program for seniors, and an open house at the Durham Center for Senior Life on November 15.  He provided a newsletter.

          Rev. Laurie Hayes Coffman: The film "An Inconvenient Truth" will be shown at Calvary UMC on the evening of October 18.  Also, on October 26 health care issues will be discussed in workshops at the church.  Fill out a Registration form today.

          Rev. Duke Lackey: If you like bluegrass music, Trinity UMC is sponsoring an event on November 4 with proceeds to go to YO:Durham.  There is a $10 charge.

          Maurice Ritchie: World AIDS Day is December 1.  From 6 p.m.8:30, there will be education about HIV and inspiring stories.  Youth groups are invited to prepare a banner and be part of this.

          Vic Moore: If you like to eat out, Tuesday, November 14 is RSVVP day. Restaurants give 10% of their proceeds to the Community Kitchen at Urban Ministries of Durham.

          Olive Joyner: Saturday, November 11 is the annual gala of Interfaith Hospitality Network.  Tickets are $50.  The keynote speaker will address spirituality and medicine.

         

8.       David Winer, Executive Director, provided the following report:

A.       DCIA ran an advertisement for Program Director for YO:Durham in last Sunday's News & Observer, Herald-Sun and other local print media.  The advertisement reads:

          Durham Congregations In Action seeks Program Director for Teen Career Mentoring and Internship Program. Master's degree, management skills, background in education and commitment to promoting academic achievement among at-risk students preferred. Salary 40K - 48K. Apply with letter of interest and resume to dwiner@nc.rr.com. Details at dcia.org/yody. 

          We have already received some promising responses.  If anyone knows of qualified people, please encourage them to apply.

 

B.       For the past several weeks David has greatly enjoyed being part of a weekly Bible study group at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, led by Rev. Bob Kaynor.  The presence of people of different faiths enriches the discussion and learning for everyone, and reveals many more commonalities than differences.  David encourages Congregations to invite people of other sects or faiths to participate in their study groups on a regular basis.  David would be glad to help organize this if that would be helpful.

 

9.       Durham System of Care

          David introduced Bea Laney and Alisa Huffman.

          In 2002 many groups from government and Non-Profit-Organizations came together to develop a System Of Care (SOC) in Durham, and signed onto basic principles.

          SOC is a team based way to work together – organizing realistic, practical affordable services.  Most people appreciate that systems don't work as effectively or efficiently as they could.

          Child and Family Teams are made up of people working with the families; and parents and older children are part of this.  The Teams develop an individual plan for the family, and design the services to be coordinated with family involvement.  Spirituality is recognized as an important part of a family's values.

          The main principle is collaboration - of management, support and accountability.  Objectives are to measure improvement and foster change.  There are protocols regarding whom to contact within agencies to clarify how they work, and make agencies more user-friendly.

          Teams meet on the 4th Thursday of every month at the Durham Center to assure services are coordinated.  There is ongoing training for social workers

          The Durham Faith Web, a message board for the public, helps connect providers with congregations.  Providers post needs of families and the impact of meeting them, and Congregations can fulfill them.  For example, a young girl needed a violin that a congregant found in their attic.  This is a result of recognizing that the faith Community wants to be involved in ministering to specific families.

          Alisa is administrator of Family Court.  She sees youths with problems and lacking basic needs very often.    

          People are invited to be part of the faith-based work group that is part of SOC.

 

10.     Prayers for those in need

          Claire Bowen.

          A young mother, Tanisha, who is in Duke Hospital and needs a heart.  She is a former partner in Families First, and one year form finishing college.  Tanisha has two children in public housing with strangers while she is in hospital..

          Kaaren Johanson, who was in hospital this weekend.

         

11.     Rev. Duke Lackey offered a Closing Prayer

         

 

Minutes by David Winer