Presbyterian Committee on Theself-Development of People

PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE ON THESELF-DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE

NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING

January 26-28 2017

Miami, FL

DRAFT MINUTES

On Thursday January 26, 2017 at 9:00 A.M. new SDOP National Committee members, the SDOP National Committee Chairperson, SDOP Financial Committee Chairperson, and staff convened with breakfast at the hotel with the new member’s orientation. The orientation last until 3:00 p.m.
The Self-Development of People National Committee convened at 4:00 p.m.
The following Committee members were present:
Rebecca Reyes, Chairperson Sarah Jane Moore
John (Pat) Osoinach Joseph Johnson
Wesley Woo Lawrence Low
Laura Krauss Phyllis Edwards
Lisa Leverette Karen Brown
Susan Dobkins
The following staff members were present:
Alonzo Johnson, Clara Nunez, Margaret Mwale, and Teresa Bidart.
Excused Absence:
Sharon Ware, Johnnie Monroe, Shavon Starling-Louis, John Etheredge
Rebecca introduced the staff and the new National Committee members introduced themselves.
The meeting was opened by Alonzo with prayer.
The Committee VOTED TO APPROVE the Proposed Agenda with the following changes. The Northeast Task Force will start the Task Force reports on Saturday and Sara Lisherness, Director of Compassion, Peace and Justice, will address the National Committee on Saturday at 1:00 P.M.
The Committee VOTED TO APPROVE the May 21-24, 2016 National Committee minutes.
Friday, January 27, 2017 theSelf-Development of People National Committee meeting re-convened at 9:00 a.m.
Rebecca Reyes, Chairperson of the National Committee,opened the meeting with prayer and Alonzo conducted a bible study.
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVE the Financial report presented by Joseph Johnson.
Reviewing the report, it was noted that in 2017 there was a discrepancy in percentage allowance between the International Task Force and that of the Domestic Task Forces. PatOsoinach recommended to reduce $2,359 the domestic grants and add it to the International grants allowance.
The Committee VOTED TO APPROVEto reduce $2,359 the domestic grants allowance and add it to the International grants allowance.
The National Committee thanked Joseph for his works regarding the current financial picture of SDOP.
The Self-Development of People National Committee and staff engaged in a conversation about strategic thinking led by Alonzo and Rebecca. Alonzo initiated the conversation on how he has been focused to let the SDOP program be known by people in the church and in the building.
Rebecca presented the recommendations made by the Steering Committee in July 2016 to be approved by this National Committee meeting. They are:

• Number of members on the National Committee to be reduced to 12 members, with each Task Force having 3 members. This recommendation is to be implemented no later than 2018.
• The Steering Committee will combine its work and responsibilities with the National Committee. Only one committee, the National Committee.
• The work of the Community Relations Committee and the Churchwide Relations Committee to be performed by each Task Force.
• Steering Committee will recommend to the National Committee to have 4 meetings per year for 3 days. The meetings will be one in each region.

The Committee VOTED TO TABLE
The 2017 and 2018 meetings dates were presented and discussed:
2017
•San Francisco, CA (Spring) May 18- 20
•Cleveland, OH (Fall) September 14- 16
•Conference Call – December 7
2018
•Albuquerque, NM (Winter) Jan 25-28
•Charlotte, NC (Spring) May 17-20
•Philadelphia (Fall) September 13-16
•Conference Call - December
The plenary adjourned at 12:00 p.m. for lunch and recessed into Standing Committees and Task Force meetings.
1:00 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.Domestic Task Force Meetings
3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Members, Engagement meeting
Community Relations Meeting
International Task Force Meeting
4:00- 5:30 P.M. Church-wide Relations Meeting
6:00- 7:30 P.M Steering Committee meeting
Saturday January 28, 2017, the Self-Development of People National meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m.
Three members of YAVS Florida joined the meeting with the National Committee members and staff: Annie McAlister, Savannah Caccamo, and Jillian Gardener. They addressed the meeting explaining how they are involved in this youth program.
Michelle Muñiz Vega, City Director of DOOR Miami, conducted the bible study.
The CommitteeVOTED TO RECEIVEthe Staff report presented by Alonzo Johnson.
Alonzo made a summary of the work done by the staff since May 2016 National Committee meeting. He informed that he was thankful for the support received by the staff. Other than their regular responsibilities, Teresa has been assigned other duties from the people who took the early separation packages, Clara has been working with the IT department in the design of a new SDOP database, and Margaret assumed all the work related with the churches, presbyteries and Synods engagement. Alonzo has been very active promoting the SDOP ministry in the Presbyterian Center building and outside in congregations, churches, etc.
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe International Task Force report.
Lisa welcomed Susan Dobkins, the new International Task Force member. She reported on the West Africa Initiative, who has been SDOP partner for almost 10 years. This year will be the transition out of this partnership. Alonzo will visit Liberia and Sierra Leone in March. The Committee has also supported the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. Two of the three SDOP intermediaries are Presbyterian. The International Task Force members are discussing how the funds will be allocated in this year. We are working with the Department of Cooperatives in Belize to write a document who compile all the works that has been done by SDOP supported by members of this department and other people in the country. After 6 years of work in Belize we won’t be able to leave an intermediary there but we will continue to do some funding there at less scale. The next trip has been scheduled by the end of February. The Task Force is working to start their work in the new country of focus, which is Panama. Teresa and Lisa are looking for new contacts and potential partners.
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVE the Northeast Task Force report.
One précis was presented for validation and funding.
Picture the Homeless, New York, NY
Validation/Funding: $15,000
Payment Schedule: Quarterly
The CommitteeVOTED TO APPROVE
The Committee authorized to to do a site visit to Taxi workers Alliance of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia and Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Inc., located in Rochester, NY; rejected three projects because they do not meet the criteria.
The Task Force VOTED TO RESCIND the following projects:
SN15015 Damayan Cleaning cooperative, New York, NY. Validated in 2016 for $15,000. It has RESCINDED for $15,000
SN15005 Rockaway Wildfire, Queens, NY
Validated in 2015 for $15,000 It hasRESCINDEDfor $11,250 because of lack of communication.
Baltimore Presbytery SDOP Committee National Capital training completed on 09/23/2016 by Selma Jackson and Karen Brown. Long Island Presbytery SDOP Committee training completed on 11/05/2016 by Selma Jackson and Laura Krauss.
New Brunswick Presbytery will be recertified by Karen Brown.
The next Northeast Task Force meetings have been scheduled as follow:
March 14Telephone Conference Call
May 18-20National Meeting in San Francisco
SummerNETF TBD
September 14-16 National Meeting in Cleveland
November 14Telephone Conference Call
December 7National Committee Conference Call
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVE the South Task Force report.
One précis was presented for validation and funding.
Georgia Women in Agriculture Association – NWIAA, Hampton, GA
Validation/Funding: $15,000
Payment Schedule: Quarterly
The CommitteeVOTED TO APPROVE
The Committee authorized to do a site visit to ReFresh Project Community Garden Leadership Program located in New Orleans, LA.
The Presbytery of Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley certification application was reviewed and approved.
The committee reported that the Mid Council Committees in the South that need to be recertified in 2017 are: Charlotte Presbytery, New Hope Presbytery, Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, South Alabama Presbytery. Florida Presbytery, New Harmony Presbytery, and Providence Presbytery.
The next South Task Force meetings have been scheduled as follow:
Conference call before May National meeting depending on Joseph site visit report to Broad Community Connections in New Orleans, LA
June 14-15 in Nashville, TN
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVE the Midwest Task Force report.
The Task Force VOTED TO RESCIND the following projects:
SM13019 Peace together, Eclipse Graphics, Chicago, IL – The group has gone through changes. It has rescinded for $6,500 due to lack of communication with the office.
SM16007 Flint Democracy Defense League, Flint, MI – It has rescinded for $3,000 due to lack of communication with the office,
The next Midwest Task Force meetings have been scheduled as follow:
Conference call or St Louis, MO - March or April
July or October – Columbus, OH – United Way Conference
The following SDOP Presbyteries Committees were re-certified: Scioto Valley, Minnesota Valleys, Northern Waters, and Twin Cities Area.
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVE the West Task Force report.
Two précis was presented for validation and funding.
Union Popular de Vendedores(Popular Union of Street Vendors), Los Angeles, CA
Validation/Funding: $15,000
Payment Schedule: Quarterly
The CommitteeVOTED TO APPROVE
Southside Worker Canter, Tucson, TX
Validation/Funding: $15,000
Payment Schedule: Quarterly
The CommitteeVOTED TO APPROVE
The Committee authorized to do a site visit to Youth Rise Organizing Institute located in Austin, TX.
The Task Force voted to certify a joint SDOP Committee for San Gabriel and San Fernando Presbyteries. Wesley will be in contact with the committee regarding possible training dates.
The Task Force also reviewed the Certification Status Report. No committees in the West region need to be recertified in 2017.
The Committee recessed for lunch at 12 noon.Rev. John Vaughn and Rev Dennis Andrews Senior Pastor – Head of Staff, Miami Shores Presbyterian Churchjoined the group.
The National committee reconvened at 1:00 p.m.
Tirso Moreno and Claudia, members of the funded group Bolitas Harvesters Association, joined the national Committee and made a presentation of their project, their challenges and success.
The Community Relations and Church-wide Relations committees met together on Friday and by consensus decided to merge. They were convinced that the combined committee is still needed and they will engage the Task Force in the majority of the projects especially as it makes sense geographically. The committee is important to generate the overall outreach project ideas and strategies and to share those with the Task Forces.
The committee is responsible for certification trainings. They need trained certification trainers in each Task Force. This cuts down on travel expenses. Minutes for mission in cities where we meet will continue to be a priority.The committees completed a follow up of 15 cities where we have met and minutes for missions have been done. Nine of the cities giving is up, and in 6 it is down and in 4 the reported number needs to be questioned. It is recommended to all National Committee members to review the websitespreadsheetsto check the numbers in the cities you have done minutes for mission. If the numbers don’t make sense, please contact the financial person and ask for clarification.
Increasing connections with Mid-Councils will continue to be a priority. Margaret and Alonzo are setting up conference call in each region. Connecting with mid-councils needs to be something each Task Force does as well encouraging them to reach out to presbytery assembly and churches in their area.
Contacting funded groups and congratulating them on turning in their first report, asking them how it is going, asking them if they be able to host a community workshop, or if they know of other groups that might apply or if they would make SDOP materials available in their location needs to be done in each Task Force.
John Etherdge is doing a workshop with the Richmond Seminary on February 6 for senior students, local Presbyterian Pastors, and members of the local SDOP committee. He also sent copies of the big check presentation and newspaper publicity he could do in Vredenburgh, AL.John is also going to have a table atJames River Presbytery assembly, the first week in February, at Charlotte Presbytery the second week, and at New Hope Presbytery the third week.
These Committees want to pilot a buddy system where a newly trained mid-council chair can have a more experienced buddy to help them and answer questions. Rebecca and Joseph have already volunteered to be the buddies. The deadline for mid-councils to submit their funding request will be November 1, from November on to give staff a chance to disburse the funds by the end of the year.
Sara Lisherness, Compassion, Peace and Justice Director, addressed the group. She informed the changes in the staff at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville and other offices who belong to the ministry, 6 new positions have been added to the staff. She also made a comment on how the One Great of Hour Sharing offering has declined. She highlighted the work of Alonso doing outreach activities in and out of the center.
The Committee reviewed the recommendations and agreed to keep the first and second recommendations as they were:

• Number of members on the National Committee to be reduced to 12 members, with each Task Force having 3 members. This recommendation is to be implemented no later than 2018.

• The Steering Committee will combine its work and responsibilities with the National Committee. Only one committee, the National Committee.

and made changes in the third and fourth as follow:

• The Community Relations Committee and the Churchwide Relations

Committee will merge and they will work with the Task Forces as
required.

• The National Committee will have 3 meetings per year for 3 days. The

meetings will be in each region.
The committee is doing three minute for mission/preaching in Miami churches.
Rebecca closed the meeting with prayer.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Bidart
Bilingual /Meeting Planner / CONVENED
ROLL CALL
ACTION: 01-0117
ApprovedAgendawith additional changes
ACTION: 02-0117
Approved May 21-24, 2016minutes.
RE-CONVENNED
ACTION: 03-0117
Received the Financial Report
ACTION: 04-0117 Approved change in the Domestic and international allocations.
ACTION: 05-0117
TABLED Steering Committee Recommendations
ACTION: 06-0117 Approved 2017and 2018 National Committee dates and locations.
ACTION: 07-0117
Received staff report
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
ACTION: 08-0117
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe International Task Force report
ACTION: 09-0117
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe Northeast Task Force report
ACTION: 10-0117
VALIDATION/FUNDING
SN16005
ACTION: 11-0117
Rescind SN15015 for $ 15,000
ACTION: 12-0117
Rescind SN15005 for $ 11,250
ACTION: 13-0117
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe South Task Force report
ACTION: 14-0117
VALIDATION/FUNDING
SS16004
ACTION: 15-0117
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe Midwest Task Force report
ACTION: 16-0117
Rescind SM13019 for $6,500
ACTION: 17-0117
Rescind SM16007 for $ 3,000
ACTION: 18-0117
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe West Task Force report
ACTION: 19-0117
VALIDATION/FUNDING
SW16006
ACTION: 20-0117
VALIDATION/FUNDING
SW16007
RE-CONVENED
ACTION: 21-0117
The Committee VOTED TO RECEIVEthe Community Relations and Church-wide Relations report
ACTION: 22-0117
Remove Steering Committee recommendations fromthe TABLE
ACTION: 23-0117 Approved recommendations from Steering Committee.

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