Paul Carew and Hugh Tilson, Every Member Canvass Chairs

The 2001 Every Member Canvass should prove to be a new and exciting departure from the Neighbor to Neighbor Campaigns of the last few years. In response to the recent EMC Survey in which a significant number of respondents saw the need for change, a campaign by direct mail and the use of the Internet received high marks and was chosen for the campaign this fall.

As currently planned, the campaign will begin in late September with a parish-wide dinner, culminating with a presentation of the proposed goals and objectives for the coming year. There will be a question and answer period and ample opportunity for input into the planning process. More direct parish involvement in the planning and budgetary process was another important concern drawn from the EMC survey.

Another major change in the 2001 campaign is the role of the vice-chairs and the neighborhood captains. Where they previously distributed and monitored the progress of the pledge packets, the vice-chairs and neighborhood captains will be asked to participate in a parish phone-a-thon immediately after the pledge cards are mailed out. The phone-a-thon will be held at a central location and each parishioner to whom we mailed a pledge card will receive a phone call noting that their pledge card is 'on the way' and asking that prayerful consideration be given to their stewardship commitment for the coming year. The phone-a-thon will offer the opportunity for personal contact as well as an immediate responses to questions and concerns about the campaign and its goals and objectives.

The 2001 Every Member Canvass offers excitement and challenges and the breaking of new ground by The Chapel of the Cross. We are looking forward to it.

© 2001: Chapel of the Cross