March 2003

Board Sets Strategies for the Next Triennium

At part of its meeting in Miami, the NEAC board of directors met at St. Stephen’s Church to set strategic directions for the next three years. With the Rev. Fred Howard‹consultant, long-time friend of NEAC, and retired vice-president of pastoral care for Episcopal Health Services of the Diocese of Long Island‹acting as facilitator, the board chose to focus the attention of the organization in two areas: (1) education and (2) promoting and furthering AIDS ministry. (NEAC co-chair Bruce Garner comments on his reactions to the process here.)

Board members (l-r)Todd Ferguson, Bruce Garner, and Tyrone Fowles with the Rev. Wilifred Allen-Faiella (2nd from l), Rector of St. Stephen’s Church, Coconut Grove.

Board members (l-r)Todd Ferguson, Bruce Garner, and Tyrone Fowles with the Rev. Wilifred Allen-Faiella (2nd from l), Rector of St. Stephen’s Church, Coconut Grove.

The directors envision three major activities under the teaching aspect of education:

  • Youth resource
  • A revision of tap
  • Prevention education for people over 50

The second aspect of education to be covered is informing, where five activities are planned:

  • Making the web site more informational
  • A campaign making it clear that “After 22 years, our Church still has AIDS”
  • A media campaign both within the church and in collaboration with related groups
  • Preparation of fact sheets for general distribution
  • Collaboration with the Episcopal public policy network, for which NEAC will continue to be a resource

Under promoting and furthering AIDS ministry, the directors will work through six channels:

  • The church leadership at all levels, with special attention to members of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
  • Conferences, retreats, and general caregiver support
  • Preparation of a skills and resources database
  • NEACtion articles that highlight existing AIDS ministries
  • Articles in diocesan newspapers (to be coordinated with the media campaign under education
  • A survey of diocese and parish AIDS ministries

Project shepherds have been appointed for each activity; working in some cases with committees, they are currently preparing action plans, timelines, and evaluation criteria for their activities.

Other Business

TAP: In reviewing its recent activities before the strategy session, the board heard director Elizabethe Payne’s report that the TAP resource will be ready for distribution by the first week of July 2003, at which time NEAC hopes to also have a Spanish translation ready. The board is also considering a culturally specific TAP revision for South Africa. The board had previously reviewed the written curriculum, which will be published as written except that a component will be added on adolescent public health. The board commended Elizabethe for her work on this program.

Tony Hinds (l) at his last NEAC board meeting with fellow directors (l-r) Sue Kuebler, Valerie Thomas, and Alberto Macayo.

Tony Hinds (l) at his last NEAC board meeting with fellow directors (l-r) Sue Kuebler, Valerie Thomas, and Alberto Macayo.

General Convention: NEAC does not meet as a board at General Convention, but NEAC members who are delegates and alternates participate in Convention committee meetings and NEAC will again have a booth, to be designed by NEAC director Alfredo Macaya. It will incorporate AIDS Quilt panels and will have computers so that visitors to the booth can look up individuals remembered with panels. Board members are setting up a schedule to make sure the booth will be adequately staffed.

Exhibiting at General Convention is an expensive proposition for such a small organization. We invite your contributions.

NEAC has been invited to coordinate healing stations for celebrations of the Eucharist during General Convention; the board is recommending the dates of Friday, July 1, and Wednesday, July 6. Three clergy stoles will be made to be used as part of the healing rites.

Administrative Actions: The board renewed the Administrator’s Contract with The Rev. Richard F. Brewer with minor revisions and authorized the administrator to spend up to $2,500 for a new computer system. The NEAC web site is being actively revised and should be up and running in its new form by March.

The board is exploring options to pursue the NEAC History Project.

Mary Ellen Honsaker was named chair of the nominating committee for the board Class of 2008, with Rodney Michel and Bill Frampton as committee members. In separate resolutions the board also expressed its appreciation to:

  • Todd Ferguson and Bill Frampton for their outstanding work in chairing the NEAC New Directions Conference in Austin
  • Alfredo Macaya and Hanno Mueller for their hospitality during the board’s stay in Miami
  • St. Stephen’s Parish in Coconut Grove and Trinity Cathedral in Miami for their hospitality (a donation was sent to the St. Stephen’s AIDS ministry)
  • The Rev. Fred Howard for his assistance in the NEAC strategic planning process.

All NEAC members who will be in Minneapolis for General Convention are invited to help staff the booth for brief periods. If you can do this, please contact Chris Haley-Walden at HaleyWalden1@aol.com or 612.375.1296