Minutes April 2008

St. Thomas Aquinas Human Concerns Committee Meeting Minutes April 22, 2008

Attendance:

Paul Chestnut, Mary Fong, Carol Schaffer, Patricia Markee, Chris Lundin, Laura Chiu, Kieran McCarty, George Chippendale, Ruth Chippendale

1. Faith-Sharing/Question of the Week - Carol
Carol gave us several "I am" statements of Jesus, and we discussed which ones speak to us and our faith.

2. The March minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS

3. Bread for the World's Offering of Letters May 17 and 18 - Paul
We discussed the plans for the Offering of Letters on May 17 and 18. Paul provided proposed pulpit announcements for May 11 and May 18, and a proposed letter that the parishioners will be asked to sign, and a lengthy description of the campaign which was obtained from he Bread for the World web site. Paul asked if anyone would volunteer to summarize this description so that it would be appropriate for inclusion in the bulletin. Chris and Carol volunteered. Everyone volunteered to gather signatures after the masses. Mary asked for an early copy of the final letter so that she could get people to sign it.

4. Web site revisions - Paul
Revisions are underway. The HCC Profile, which appears in the "Parish Organizations" page has been updated.

5. Death Penalty - Terry
Terry was unable to attend the meeting, but he sent a copy of the petition for an end to the death penalty in California. We signed the petition and will mail it back to Terry.

6. Update on Day Worker Center - Patricia
The board of the Day Worker Center gave authorization to buy a building on Escuela.

NEW BUSINESS

7. PSC Retreat May 17
Names of attendees are needed immediately so that food can be ordered. Chris and Laura will attend as representatives of other groups.

8. Opportunity Center update
We discussed the following idea from Walt Lundin: "A good number of our parishioners contributed to the O.C. building fund. They might be interested in hearing a report on their investment. We could ask a speaker to give us some facts and figures, their current needs and volunteer requirements. (During our annual Time & Talent campaign we could re-state the volunteer needs.) Questions on our survey to pass on to folks include:
- Would the parish or the Human Concerns Committee like having a speaker from InnVision make a presentation to the parish?
- Would folks like to take a tour (e.g., of Opportunity Center)?
- Is there interest in further volunteer activity, such as helping with meals or donation drives?" The notion of a Burning Bush event that includes several concepts involving social justice activities was proposed.

9. Opportunity Center's Faith Community Breakfast
Date: Wednesday, May 14. Time: 7:30 a.m. Place: All Saints' Episcopal Church parish hall (Waverley and Hamilton - lots of parking at that hour). Topic: Community Solutions to Homelessness. We will consider how Palo Alto's faith community can give focus and coordination to improving our efforts and outreach. Who is invited: ANYONE in the faith community with an interest in helping with this issue! Jeff Rensch: "I believe people will come away from the breakfast feeling that there *are* solutions to homelessness if we all work together. It would be great if 4 or 5 interested folks from the parish wished to come. Or even more!"

10. What's On Your Mind?
George discussed the budget and his desire to ask for $600 for the Heroes' Luncheon and also $2000 for our annual PIA membership dues. [The dues paid for 2007-2008 were $1000.] He will Call Terry McCaffrey (our treasurer) about this. We need to get the data in now because the fiscal year is July 1 to June 30.

George: We have 55 scholarships for the Hidden Villa Camp this year. We will need drivers.

Mary brought a shopping bag made by women of Life Bloom Services International in Kenya. The Thomas Merton Center sells the shopping bags at the 8:45 Mass at STA. We were considering selling these bags at others Masses, but Margo McAuliffe told Mary that the main problem is the prohibitive shipping cost of the bags. They sell only a small quantity of bags that Margo brings back from Kenya from her annual trip there. The money from the sale at the 8:45 Mass goes to benefit the Kiriti Fund.

Kieran: There will be a rally on Saturday at the Sequoia CalTrain stop re the impact of the war on the recession. Similar rallies in Berkeley on the twenty-fifth, and in San Francisco on the twenty-sixth.

11. Volunteer for Faith-sharing/Question of the Week
Carol volunteered.

Next meeting - May 27