Outreach LRP

ST. MARY’S LONG RANGE PLAN

OUTREACH

CHAIR: LISA BARR

508-362-3839


The Outreach Committee

V. Outreach

A. Where we are
1. Committee structure
a) The Outreach Committee consists of six active members who participate regularly in meetings and activities. Traditionally, the committee has met on a monthly basis, although meetings have been somewhat sporadic and informal. We are considering meeting in alternate months, with meeting dates linked to upcoming Days of Hospitality. In addition to committee members, there are approximately 35 parishioners who participate regularly in events and activities sponsored by, or funded through, the Outreach Committee’s annual budget.
b) For several years, the chair position has been vacant, although Lisa Barr recently agreed to assume the role.
2. Budget and funding
a) Each year, the Vestry designates a specified percentage of the church’s investment income toward the St. Mary’s Charities Fund. That fund, however, is not synonymous with the budget of the Outreach Committee, as not all expenses typically included within the Committee’s budget are really within the control of the Committee. Examples include the Deanery, Rector’s Discretionary Fund, and dues for the Cape Cod Council of Churches. In the proposed budget for 2006, however, the Committee has requested that the Committee budget include only those expenses within its control.
b) For many years, the Committee was level-funded. In recent years, however, financial constraints have reduced the contribution of the church’s investment income toward St. Mary’s Charities Fund. The Outreach Committee was directed to “spend down” its carryover balance to meet its expenses.
3. Activities
a) The single most important activity of the Outreach Committee is the Days of Hospitality program. The Committee also sponsors the NOAH Shelter sandwich program, the recently-reinstated Overnights of Hospitality program, and (occasionally, on an as-needed basis) Safe Harbor. Additionally, the Outreach Committee funds Miracle Kitchen, although its participants have essentially spun off into a separate group which has little communication with the Committee. The Committee also supports the grocery certificate program. Outreach formerly sponsored the return of bottles and cans, which was designed as a church school outreach activity and funded the Heifer Project, although no one from the church school community was able to take on the project after a long- term volunteer resigned from that position.
b) The Committee has also sponsored a variety of other programs, including Angel Tree, Cape Aids Ministry, Adopted Family, Housing with Love Walk, Housing Assistance Corporation’s Annual Cape Walk, Dress a Live Doll, Baby Center.
c) In addition to activities sponsored directly by the Outreach Committee, there are other significant outreach activities, most notably by the ECW, which budgets approximately $3500 annually for charity and parish community needs. Additionally, the Youth Group has been organizing its own outreach activities.
d) Finally, St. Mary’s provides community outreach by offering the use of its facilities to the Fatherhood Program at the Barnstable District Court, for AA meetings and the like.

B. Objectives: Where we want to be
1. Define the mission of the Outreach Committee
a) Focus on discerning a call: outreach efforts should be truly an expression of faith
b) Develop a policy for allocation of resources (emergency relief and planned programs; local and direct services, advocacy and international relief)
2. Coordinate activities and charitable giving with other committees and groups within the parish (e.g., ECW, Miracle Kitchen, Youth Group)
3. Increase parish participation in outreach activities

C. Strategies and tactics
1. To define mission:
a) Meet with clergy for spiritual guidance and to establish a Steering Committee
b) Conduct a needs assessment and select needs we want
to address
c) Determine how to direct solicitation requests from nonprofit agencies
d) Determine how requests for personal assistance from the local community and from within the parish should be directed and addressed—e.g., define role of emergency relief funds and how they differ from Rector’s Discretionary Fund
2. To coordinate activities and charitable giving within the parish:
a) Delineate missions and activities of each committee
b) Partner with ECW to coordinate charitable giving (possibilities include having an Outreach Committee member attend ECW board meeting, having an ECW liaison to the Outreach Committee, exchanging reports and minutes between the two groups)
c) Partner with Youth Group for outreach activities and charitable projects
d) Improve communication with Miracle Kitchen volunteers; solicit a volunteer to sit on the 3. To increase parish participation in outreach activities:
a) Increase clergy involvement and support. As clergy involvement becomes more visible, parish participation will undoubtedly increase.
b) Create an Outreach Opportunities notebook with description of existing programs and contact information. Include service and advocacy opportunities.
b) Use parish resources—e.g., questionnaire—to identify available time, talent and skills
c) Publicize activities and meetings; cultivate new committee members

D. Resources needed
1. Clergy time for discerning mission of Outreach Committee, developing policies
2. Communications support: Cross Currents, weekly Bulletin, annual reports
3. Volunteer time: maintaining existing activities, directing solicitations for funds, responding to requests for services in local community, maintaining and updating bulletin board

E. Open issues
1. Delineate role of ECW vis-à-vis Outreach Committee
2. Bring Miracle Kitchen program within the purview of the Outreach Committee
3. Designate a vestry liaison to the Outreach Committee



Milestones

1st Quarter 2006
• Through the leadership of Ann Canedy, ECW President, and the ECW board, we have already accomplished a significant goal contemplated in our strategic plan: On January 9, 2006, the Board of the ECW voted to contribute $6,000 to fund the Outreach Committee. Although we should continue to delineate our respective roles in this new partnership, we have begun exchanging information—e.g., sharing minutes, budgets and the like.
• Identify a vestry liaison to the Outreach Committee
• Launch a coordinated effort to boost participation in grocery certificate program

2d Quarter 2006
• Establish a Steering Committee to define mission and develop policies. The Committee should include: Outreach Committee chair, ECW designee and a member of the clergy, and should also include a designee from the Miracle Kitchen volunteers and the vestry liaison to the Outreach Committee.
• Create an Outreach Spotlight feature for the monthly editions of Cross Currents.
• Create an Outreach Opportunities notebook with clear descriptions of existing programs and contact information. Include unmet needs in the community and opportunities for advocacy.

3d Quarter 2006
• Complete mission and policy development.
• Conduct a needs assessment of the local community.
• Meet with ECW Board to assess continued support and develop a budget designed to further mission and policies.

4th Quarter 2006
• Evaluate existing Outreach programs vis-à-vis mission, policy statement and needs assessment.
• Determine what additional services are needed and how we can fulfill these unmet needs.
• Plan budget accordingly.