1. Executive Director’s reflection
2. USSCB/CCA approves NACC Standards
3. Participate in CHA/NACC pastoral care survey
4. Advent Musings
5. NACC Annual Appeal needs your support
6. Conference plans proceeding
7. 2008 conference to offer Red Cross training
8. Don’t change homes without us!
9. Register for Northwest gathering Dec. 14

I was recently reading an article by Ann Carvelli titled “Building the Future on Member Value” in the Spring 2007 Journal of Associational Leadership. “Given the fact that most members avail themselves of only one or two of the benefits their professional associations offer,” she writes, “the choice between a conventional associational model and a targeted support network resembles one between shopping at a crowded retail shop and having a personal stylist identifying the best of what is available and customizing it to your needs.” She recommends creating a network, characterized by dynamic relationships, online conversations, and building a knowledge base. She calls this a developmental and value-generating model through a learning community. Member relationships are based on lifelong engagement rather than credentialing or one-time events. Success is judged by learning outcomes and results — e.g. quality of online interactions, or access to collaborative learning. One should focus on value over time versus benefits.

These comments reflect well what the future of the NACC can be. Co-developing the association’s value with members is the recommended best practice. We have a good start with last year’s Vision and Action Initiative and this fall’s engagement of diverse members in task forces and the Pastoral Care Summit. I am committed to improve NACC’s value to you and its future for and with you.

At the heart of our professional practice are our Common Standards. We are delighted to announce to you that the USCCB/CCA has formally approved the NACC Standards. As you know, in 2004 the Spiritual Care Collaborative developed and agreed to the Common Standards. Over the past two-plus years, our Standards Commission worked hard to add the elements that reflect our Catholic teaching. The NACC Board approved these NACC standards in July 2007. Now they are fully accepted and can be implemented. You can find them on our NACC website here.

Over the past months, we have worked with the Catholic Health Association to design a survey that will provide us invaluable data on pastoral/spiritual care in Catholic health ministry. It will be accessed on the CHA website. The results of this survey will include data on how pastoral/spiritual care is being provided, staffing structures, qualifications/certifications, CPE programs, deployment of staff and resources provided by pastoral care staff, compensation/supports being offered, and other vital data. It will help us compare programs across the ministry, identify key challenges, and aid us in supporting pastoral care ministry. The information will only be as good as the level of participation. PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS SURVEY! We will send you an NACC Now notice when the online form is ready, with specific instructions to follow. At the beginning of the survey, you will be asked to identify yourself as an NACC member.

Nearly bi-polar,
	I vacillate 
between the ecstasy of knowing
I am made of stardust
(as is all of creation)
and the painful awareness
of humanity denying its potential.

The Rev. Arthur Schmidt, president of ACPE, shared his seasonal reflection with our office recently. To read the complete text, visit this page.

In the coming days, you will be receiving a letter from David Lichter inviting you to support the NACC’s Annual Appeal. We hope you consider a gift for personal reasons of gratitude flowing from your ministry. Funds from this appeal have been a welcomed and needed resource for special projects, such as last year’s Vision and Action Initiative. Some of our strategic plan initiatives will require resources through collaborations and outside funders. These outside partners always look to indicators of member support, such as an annual appeal, to determine their level of partnership.

The executive planning committee for our 2008 conference met this past weekend at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites, where hundreds of our members will be gathering April 5-8. Plans for a rewarding, engaging, and stimulating conference are rapidly coming together. Watch your mailbox in early January for a registration brochure with full details.

Following the success of Spiritual Care Response Team training by the American Red Cross at our 2007 conference, we are pleased to announce that it will be offered again when we gather in Indianapolis next spring. The training will be Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5. Participants will learn to offer management, leadership, and guidance to local clergy/chaplains as they provide spiritual care in critical disaster response to aviation and other transportation events, mass casualties, terrorism, or by government request. Applicants must be certified chaplains with strong leadership and management skills and prior crisis intervention experience. The deadline to apply is Jan. 14. For full details, visit this page

As you move to new homes or new jobs, please remember that we won’t know your contact information has changed unless you tell us. Keep us posted on any changes in your street address, phone number, or e-mail address by calling (414) 483-4898 or e-mailing membership@nacc.org.

On Friday, Dec. 14, David Lichter will be leading an Advent Day of Recollection for all chaplains in the Northwest at the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Palisades Retreat Center in Federal Way, WA, from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The $40 registration fee includes lunch and 5.5 Continuing Education Hours. Attendance is growing quickly; current registration is at nearly 30! For registration information, click here. We have extended the deadline to Dec. 7. Register now to take part in this day!