The Brockton District held a president's meeting at 7:00 p.m on March 26, 2008, hosted by St. Bridget's Conference in Abington, Massachusetts.

There were representatives from the following conferences in attendance:

• Sacred Heart, Middleboro
• St. John, E. Bridgewater
• St. Thomas Aquinas, Bridgewater
• Our Lady of the Lake, Halifax
• St. Thecla, Pembroke
• St. Bridget, Abington
• St. Joseph the Worker, Hanson,
• Christ the King, Brockton

First, and most important, District president Ray LaPre discussed the Uplift program. This is administered by the District and has a goal of giving short-term, but substantial assistance to a family with a definable goal (needs rental help while finishing a nursing program, so that entry into the job market at a sustainable salary can be made was an example of a successful program given). The Central Council gives the District a $5000.00 budget, renewable once per year (so $10,000.00 max); the District gives money directly to the Conference which oversees how the family's progress in meeting their goal is coming along. There's a fairly extensive application which Ray will make available as a PDF so conferences can easily print out more copies.

The applications will be reviewed by a committee of 4-6 people. Ray asked for volunteers, and specified it needn't (perhaps even oughtn't) be conference presidents, who are busy already.

Next, he mentioned the Security Deposit Program, which has had more cash put into it. Linda Miller, who used to administer this program, is no longer with the Central office, so applications for this go straight to the executive director, Paul MacNeil.

The District and Central are investigating a partnership with Citizen's Energy (aka, Joe Kennedy for Oil) for next Winter, which might allow Conferences, the District and Citizen's Energy to each take a portion of payments for an oil drop.

Ray plans on restarting communion breakfasts, and hopes to have the first one before the end of the school year.

He needs folks to volunteer as officers for the District (at least one vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer).

Ray mentioned that the following week 30 people would be getting training by Ray Sickinger from the National Council as Ozanam Orientation formators, so that the Ozanam Orientation could "hit the road" throughout the Archdiocese and get everyone trained.

Ray and others also mentioned two grant programs conferences can look into:

1. Stop and Shop has a "Food for Friends" program, for which non-profits can apply. One winner per store, I think. This would be something for the Fall.
2. Starbucks sponsors the "Make Your Mark" program ( http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/makeyourmark.asp) that will send a supervisor to see a non-profit's volunteer event and will donate $10.00 per volunteer up to a maximum of $1000.00.

The meeting was concluded at 8:15 p.m., with Craig Martin, president of the St. Bridget's conference offering a tour of their impressive pantry after the meeting which several attendees took advantage of.

Volunteers for either the Uplift review committee or for office on the District Council should contact Ray directly.

Respectfully submitted

Steve Cavanaugh, past District president