HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OCDS NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(FORMERLY THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT OF THE USA)

Meeting at St Louis, Mo.
September 28th-29th, 2005

We resolved to publicize, to the greatest extent possible, to all of the OCDS membership, the items discussed at our meeting in St. Louis.

The OCDS National Council of the USA is currently operating on an interim basis pending the approval by the General Definitor of the final draft of our ‘by-laws’ or ‘statutes’. These will not be considered until all of the provinces in the US (Washington, Oklahoma and California-Arizona have their Provincial Councils in place and their Provincial Statutes approved the General Definitor.

This information is being sent to you to keep you informed of the progress being made in these areas.

i)Agreed to encourage the Provinces to have a Provincial Council and Approved Provincial Statutes and Formation Plan in place by 2008. Further resolved to generously assist, when requested by the Provinces in this process.

ii)Report of current status: Washington – in planning; Oklahoma – approved and California-Arizona – in process.

iii)Completed draft of suggested policy for transfer of Third Order Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (O’Carm) to the OCDS.

iv)Completed draft of the majority of the operational policies for membership, officers and meetings of the OCDS National Council. (Formerly ‘By-laws National Secretariat for the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites USA.)

 
v)Suggested interim policy for transfer of an OCDS from a community in one Province to a community in another Province was drafted. (Suggested form was created. It can be used for transfers within a Province if so desired.)

vi)Resolved to retain the 3 year rotation for Congresses, that is: one per year per Province except for the tenth year when the National Congress is held, the responsibility for which is also rotated among the Provinces. Since the California-Arizona Province was responsible for the Congress in 2004, and the National Congress was held in 2005 ( replacing the Oklahoma Province’s turn ), the Washington Province will be responsible for the Congress in 2006 the California-Arizona Province will be responsible in 2007 and the Oklahoma Province in 2008. The year of the Congress will also coincide with the Province responsible, providing the President for the Meeting of the National Council from the members of that Province that were in attendance at the preceding National Council Meeting. As an example, the President for the 2006 meeting of the National Council will be appointed by the Washington Province from the two delegates of that Province that were present at this meeting in St Louis.

vii)It was also decided that Congress planning committees should be encouraged to adhere to the traditional format of a Congress: advancing the interests of the OCDS, having a sense of continuity from year to year, being more interactive with workgroups discussing the topics presented in the main talks and presenting their findings, proposals, action items and observations to the full assembly. It was also agreed that the schedules of Congresses should be maintained centrally so that planners of other activities can access them and avoid conflicting dates. The mechanism for doing this was not finalized.

viii)A reminder was given that it is the Provincial or his delegated representatives who approve(s), commission(s) and monitor(s) all new groups of OCDS petitioning the Order for recognition. It was further noted that regarding the question of a large Community dividing into smaller Communities, the logistics can be proposed by the Council of the Community and are acceptable provided that the rationale behind the method was just. However, the starting of a new group, and the division of a large Community, are Province-guided and approved processes.

Note: These 'Highlights' were sent to the Provincials of each of the 3 Provinces in the US; to forward to their OCDS Provincial Councils; by e-mail and snail mail on 11/01/05. I am now sending them to the members of these egroups on behalf of the National Council, in order to keep the OCDS as informed as possible, as we all strive to implement our Constitutions. I apologize to any members that do not share our interests in the US. Those of you who have questions regarding your Province should direct them to your Provincial, Provincial Delegate or Provincial Council. If you have questions regarding the National Council, USA that may not be of general interest, please direct them to me at my address above.

Fraternally in Carmel,

PJ Gonzalez, OCDS.