NATIONAL PRESIDENT COMMUNIQUÉ
22 August 2023
NATIONAL PRESIDENT COMMUNIQUÉ
CONGRESS 2023+ – LISTENING FORUMS
Dear Vincentian Brothers and Sisters,
National Council is busy preparing for a membership Congress which is to be held from October 27 – 29 in Sydney, at Olympic Park. The Congress is centred around thinking creatively together in order to revitalise the Society and its good works.
As part of the Congress 2023+ design, National Council recognises the importance of ensuring that all members are provided an opportunity to engage in these conversations, and to share their own innovative ideas and hopes for the Society now and into the future.
To this end, I warmly invite Society members to participate in a Listening Forum, which forms a vital element of the Congress 2023+ program of activities.
The expression of ideas and opinions during a Listening Forum session will be recorded so they can be considered during the discussions, in Sydney, on the challenges and opportunities facing the Society.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LISTENING FORUMS?
Listening Forums provide Society members with an opportunity to provide input to Congress 2023+. Your feedback, thoughts, and ideas can be provided, to help inform and support the conversations that will occur at Congress 2023+. This is a chance for each of us to all listen to others around the country, and to invoke a time of reflection and opportunity for us to journey together, sharing and listening with a Vincentian heart.
Congress 2023+ will bring together Society leaders from across Australia to reflect on the Society’s future strategic vision on critical matters relating to the Society’s membership, mission and spirituality, and to guide the direction of the Society into the future. But, we know that nothing beats local knowledge, and diverse inputs. Your participation in the online feedback form, the Workbook reflections, and the online Listening Forums will be captured and shared with delegates to the Congress. Your views will ensure that diversity of thought is expressed early on in the Sydney conversations.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A LISTENING FORUM?
Each Listening Forum session will comprise an opening and closing prayer, short reflection and a discussion led by our chosen external Facilitator. Some participants may want to use the chat function to contribute to the facilitated discussion. Notes will be taken of all contributions made, and these will be summarised and provided to all delegates who attend Congress 2023+.
80 MINUTE DURATION via VIDEO CONFERENCE (ZOOM MEETING)
Dates / Times (all AEST)
Tuesday 29 August at 10am
Saturday 2 September at 3pm
Wednesday 6 September at 12pm
Thursday 7 September at 7pm
Register for one listening forum session, to share your thoughts ahead of Congress 2023+.
You will receive an email from ‘no-reply@zoom.us’ with the login details. Please check your junk mail if you don’t receive this email.
If you have any questions, please email: congress2023@svdp.org.au
Mark Gaetani
National President, St Vincent de Paul Society Australia