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AAA committee visits agencies, files report on use of appeal funds

Serving on committees can be challenging, time consuming and sometimes tedious, but that’s not the way members of the diocesan Agency Allocation and Accountability Committee see their service.

The committee recently met and put together its report on the allocation of funding to various diocesan agencies, but that report was compiled after months of visiting and meeting with people all over the diocese to see not only what their ministry is but how they spent the money that was given to them last year as the committee prepared to make recommendations about this year’s funding based on donations to the diocese’s Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal (CSMA).

“It’s soul-searching,” Phyllis Dumstorff of Breese said. “When you’re going through the process, you really want to be fair.”

Dumstorff is committee chair and described her fellow members as all gifted and committed people who come from all over the diocese.

Several were contacted about their work on the committee and all said their work was rewarding and inspirational as they spoke to people ministering in the diocese.

“Since we come from all over the diocese,” Kappy Scates of Shawneetown said, “we have a unique perspective that we bring of our area, and we learn so much from the other committee members.”

At the same time, they agreed their work was difficult because the appeal fell short of its goal, meaning less money was available to allocate.

“It’s not the easiest job in the world,” Bill Weber of Wendelin said. “We only have a certain number of dollars to go around.”

Members of the committee divided into teams to visit each of the agencies or ministries that receive money from the CSMA. Those groups had already sent written reports and answered questions about their work to the committee for review.

The process of visiting, Dumstorff said, gives committee members a chance to meet face to face with those ministering.

“You see their passion,” Dumstorff said. “People feel so strongly about the work they do and the service they provide.”

People in the agencies are dependent on the CSMA, Weber said, which means they depend on the generosity of the people in the diocese.

Yvonne Shepherd of Red Bud said she “enjoyed going to the different places to see how our money was spent.”
Committee members become the eyes and ears of the people of the diocese as they go to the different agencies to see how diocesan donations were spent.

The committee spends hours going over the reports the agencies submitted and the notes they made on their site visits. They share these packets with each other. The packets include a report of the results of the site visits, the application the agency makes for funds and budget information.

The group works for a day and a half, she said, discussing the reports.

One thing she noticed: “People don’t ask for anything extra,” in their budgets. They just ask for what they need.
Weber said the committee work “is so rewarding. We have done the best we can do with that money.”

Scates agreed. The committee serves, “knowing that the work is essential to the smooth and responsible running of the agencies.”

Following is the latest report of the committee:
“The AAA Committee met June 27 in Mt. Vernon to discuss the results of the CSMA thus far this year and to begin planning its oversight work for next year.

“At a previous meeting, the committee made a difficult decision to decrease the amount of funds allocated to the CSMA services and ministries for 2009-10. This decision was based on expectations of fewer contributions to the appeal.

“During the June 27 meeting, a presentation was made on the funding decisions approved by Bishop Edward K. Braxton and the Diocesan Finance Council for CSMA services and ministries.

“Funding recommendations made by the AAA committee were well received and approved without changes.
“Recommendations for funding were based on site visits or telephone conferences with every agency receiving CSMA funds.

“The presentation also cited significant decreases in the CSMA budget due to personnel reductions in staff and salary at several diocesan departments or ministries.
“Even with the belt tightening across the diocese, the funds collected or pledged thus far to the CSMA do not equal the funds required for the year.

“The current level of contributions to the CSMA is viewed by the committee, however, with some positive aspects.
“It was noted that the generous nature of the diocese’s donors means that if the current pledges received were increased by $40 per donor, the appeal shortfall would be eliminated and the funds required by CSMA services and ministries in 2009-10 would be available.

“Committee members would like to thank those who have already given to this year’s appeal and call upon their prayers and influence to help them reach the CSMA goals so that as a diocese, the needs of all our people can continue to be met.

“The committee’s work over the next few months will focus on reaching the CSMA goal, adopting a collaborative approach to preparing the year-end report to the laity, improving the site visit data collection and scheduling the next round of site visits over the late summer and early fall.

“Next year will also bring new member appointments to the committee.”

If anyone is interested in serving on the committee, please call David Spotanski at 235-9601, ext. 112.
For a list of current committee members, please see the story on the diocesan web site.