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Annual Development Conference
January 18-21, 2009
Carondelet Motherhouse – St. Louis


Annual Development Conference

Our time together began as a journey with Joseph. We met for a time of socializing, followed by a light French supper and concluded with the ever-present question . . . what if we had the answer all along?.

Carol Zinn, United Nations NGO Representative for Sisters of St. Joseph around the world, led us on our Joseph journey into the connection of development to the mission of unifying, reconciling, self-emptying love. She showered us with global statistics that helped us frame our work of making connections with those who want to be a part of a dynamic movement to change the world. Carol offered us observations to consider . . .

  • Ask self and others: What would you do to be a force of unioning, all inclusive love?
  • Find the charism in a particular situation.
  • Remember. . . it’s not about me!
  • Know that even this (whatever that may be) is not beyond God’s transforming frace!
  • Understand that zeal is an interior disposition that is God’s movement in us . . . it’s not about us being out there.

Listening to the timeless words captured in Sound the Trumpets video from Event 2000, Carol encircled us in transforming love and invited us to go deep into the charism to lead us to the secret of the universe that has been there all along.

Our second day on the journey brought us into the presence of Pat Clemency, CEO of Metro New York Make-a-Wish Foundation. She has a long history with the Sisters of St. Joseph and shares her time and talents with the Brentwood congregation. She was excited to bring her considerable experience and share her insights with us.

Pat offered sound methods for raising major gifts and grounded her comments in the understanding of the sisters’ mission. She reminded us that to successfully raise major gifts, we must begin with relationships and knowledge. Pat suggested methods of overcoming fear of asking with acknowledging that we, in fact, are offering a tremendous opportunity to partner in vital work with the sisters.

Pat offered some solid steps to raise major gifts:

  • Understand your mission and your need inside, outside and upside down
  • Listen, listen, listen . . . learn what is important to a donor, not what’s important to you or your cause
  • Knowing there will be fewer charities surviving in 2009-2010, position yourself to be one who survives and is absolutely sustainable
  • Talk about the urgency of the mission, not the organization
  • Be bold and be quiet!
Pat encouraged us to share our expertise with each other and stay in touch by sharing success and failure with each other.Throughout our Joseph journey, we listened to one another through panel discussion and personal experience. Eileen Rutten, Pat Milenius and Barbara Dreher focused on Embracing Change in the Mission Advancement Ministry. Kris Huber shared her efforts Engaging New Donors. Both of these conversations stimulated ideas and eagerness among those present.

Of course, no gathering with Joseph would be complete without the countless opportunities to experience amazing hospitality. Between our sessions, we dined at a local Italian restaurant, came together to witness the inauguration of President Barak Obama (with a meal of Cornish hen and sweet potato casserole prepared by the kitchen crew), networked in groups and as individuals, shared heartfelt laughter . . . prayed deeply and shared vulnerably.

Plans are already started for 2010. The Planning Committee, consisting of Barbara Mullen, CSJ, Suzanne Giro, CSJ, Terry Hayes, Jauna Torres and Carol Rohloff, CSJ, is looking at ideas and locations to bring us further along on our Joseph Journey.

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