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Contents:
1. Executive Director’s reflection
2. Another Local/State Model: Wisconsin Chaplains Association
3. Chaplains to Gather in Chicago
4. NACC Conference 2008 Workshop Proposals
5. New Certification Appeals Panel Chair and Members
6. Karen Pugliese and Sr. Norma Gutierrez Re-Elected to NACC Board
7. A Reminder for Pastoral Care Week, October 21-27, 2007
8. NACC Awards – Nominations end November 1, 2007
9. NACC Member 24 Hour Swim Marathon
10. Share Your Resources
11. Share Your Reading
12. Oops! Sorry, Linda!
13. NACC Staff News
In the prior NACC Now, I mentioned the gathering of North Central Prairie Chaplains in Alexandria, MN. I had the privilege of joining this group of 50-plus chaplains who gather annually, even after the end of NACC’s regional structure. Organized by a handful of volunteers led by Robert Barnes from Woodruff, WI, the meeting lasts from early afternoon Thursday until noon on Friday, with 8.5 CEUs of theological content available. This year Paul Alexander masterfully led the group through practices of grief care with music and reflections. Next year a moral theologian will join them. Given the rural nature of South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Northern Wisconsin and these chaplains’ distance from each other and from theological resources, such a gathering is highly rewarding and supportive. I was so impressed with their deep spirituality and sense of professional collegiality - an imitable model for rural chaplains. Let us know if we can help you organize or create something like this for you. dlichter@nacc.org.
Another Local/State Model: Wisconsin Chaplaincy AssociationThe Wisconsin Chaplaincy Association, whose membership includes Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists, is another model for hosting an annual educational event for chaplains that is known for its high quality program. While primarily Wisconsin chaplains attend, participants come from throughout the nation. This fall's conference is October 21-23. Each conference always includes breakout sessions with the certifying agency. See this year’s program here.
Chaplains to Gather in ChicagoThe NACC, in conjunction with Loyola University of Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies, will be offering members the opportunity to spend a day with Rev. Richard Rohr, OFM and gathering with our new Executive Director, David Lichter. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, December 1, 2007. Information will be made available on the NACC website regarding cost, location, and time.
NACC Conference 2008 Workshop ProposalsThe 2008 Conference Committee is gathering proposals for workshops for the 2008 Conference in Indianapolis, IN, April 5-8, 2008. Please follow the link below to find the proposals and cover letter with information regarding the theme, suggested topical areas, and critical questions for you to address as you put your workshop proposal together. Members have the opportunity to submit both pre-conference workshop and 90-minute workshop proposals. Proposals are due to the NACC National Office by Monday, October, 29, 2007. Click here to submit.
New Certification Appeals Panel Chair and MembersWe are very grateful to Ms. Mary Denise Davis for agreeing to be the new Chair of the Certification Appeals Panel. The Appeals Panel plays a vital role in reviewing appeals of certification decisions to ensure the highest quality and fairest certification process. Also, we thank Mr. Eric A. (Rick) Erickson, Dr. Gordon J. Hilsman, and Dr. Daniel A. Petronella who have joined the panel. Current Certification Appeals Panel members include: Sr. Maureen Mitchell, RSM, Rev. Andrew Sioleti, IV Dei, Sr. Virginia Yeager, SSJ. Thanks to all of you for your service to the members!
Karen Pugliese, M.A., and Norma Gutierrez, MCDP, Re-Elected to NACC Board43.3 % of the members voted in this fall’s NACC Board elections. Karen Pugliese and Sr. Norma Gutierrez were both re- elected for another three- year term. Karen and Sr. Norma have been vital members of the Board, and we look forward to their wisdom and passion for the next three years! Congratulations and thank you!
A Reminder for Pastoral Care Week, October 21-27, 2007Just a reminder to you that Pastoral Care Week is October 21-27, 2007. Please visit www.pastoralcareweek.org
NACC Awards – Nominations end November 1, 2007Just a reminder to you that NACC will honor one of its own members and an outside person or entity at our NACC conference next spring. We want a wide pool of possibilities to choose from. If you are interested in nominating someone, click here.
NACC Member 24 Hour Swim MarathonLong-time NACC member, Mary Johnson (Rochester, MN) is a participant in a 24 hour swim marathon. In May of 2006, she completed a 12-hour swim and raised nearly $12,000 that was used to launch a new chapter to support women with ovarian cancer in southeastern Minnesota and to fund critical research on the disease. This year she is planning a 24-hour swim to raise $25,000. Go, Mary! For details visit this site.
Share Your ResourcesOne of NACC’s goals for assisting members is to facilitate learning from each other's work and sharing resources and samples. We will be dedicating a members-only area on the NACC web-site to access these samples. We are grateful to Chaplain Michelle Lemiesz, M.Div., BCC, Director, Chaplaincy Services, Mount Carmel East, Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital for sharing the brochure she is using for chaplaincy. You can read the brochure here.
Share Your ReadingWe also want to encourage members to share what they are reading. By way of example, Linda Piotrowski, MTS, BCC, Pastoral Care Coordinator and Palliative Care Chaplain at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, alerted me to an excellent article by Ira R. Byock titled, “To Life! Reflections on Spirituality, Palliative Practices, and Spirituality.” You can connect to it this link.
Oops! Sorry, Linda!In the last NACC Now we mentioned the NACC members who were part of the SCC Conference 2009 planning teams. We failed to include Linda Piotrowski, who is a member of the publishing sub-committee. Thanks so much, Linda and all the NACC members representing us in planning the 2009 Conference!
NACC Staff NewsWe congratulate Phil Paradowski, NACC’s Administrative Specialist/Special Projects/IT, and his wife, Anna, on the birth of their first child, Veronica Ivy! Sleep is an option these first weeks!
Over the past weeks, more than one of you have remarked about the high quality of support the NACC office has provided, specifically through Marilyn Warczak, Administrative Specialist/Certification. Over the past five years Marilyn has embraced and fulfilled these responsibilities in the only way she can – 120 percent plus. Her care for the members, communication with yourselves, understanding of your roles and personal circumstances, diligence to detail and processes, and conscientiousness have made a very complex role work well to your benefit and the benefit of all those affected by the processes.
I am saddened to report to you that Marilyn informed us that she has decided to leave NACC, and will be doing so on October 5. I know you join me in thanking her for her years of service, and wish her God’s blessings.
Cathy Connelly’s comments represent what so many members feel about Marilyn’s service. “This will be a tremendous loss for all of us. Marilyn has been faithful, helpful, and a good friend. She has been the voice of NACC for countless members, interviewers, ITEs, and candidates needing not only information but also pastoral care during the certification process.”
Also, Barbara Hempel, who has been our Administrative Specialist/Membership Services, will be leaving NACC in the near future in order to dedicate her time to her family, especially her daughter and anticipated grandchild. Barbara has expressed deep appreciation for you as members, and the NACC staff for the spirit and life we have given her. In turn, so many of you have commented on Barbara's sensitive and caring approach to your membership questions and concerns. She will be missed. We wish Barbara God’s peace.