Dear Members of the National Council of L’Arche Canada:
As we embark on this four year experiment, we thank you for agreeing to be part of the National Council. We welcome you as members and also congratulate you on having the confidence of the leadership of the region who has named you to this role.
In preparation for our meeting, we want to share some important details with you. This is an opportunity for you to contribute your wisdom to the discussion about the work of L’Arche Canada. The National Board and the National Coordinators are seeking your counsel based on your experience of L’Arche, the discussion papers and questions and prayerful reflection as well as conversations with other members.
There will be an evaluation of the National Council’s ability to fulfill this role prior to the General Assembly in 2013.
Purpose of the National Council.
The National Council is a new body that was approved at the General Assembly in November 2009. Given its composition, this group has the authority to determine the strategic orientation of L’Arche Canada by giving direction to the L’Arche Canada Board and the National Coordinators.
The combination of regional delegates and the leadership of L’Arche in Canada allows for broader participation in creating, developing and owning the work of L’Arche Canada. Previously our structures did not allow for a place where the National Coordinators could articulate, develop and deepen their vision for L’Arche in Canada. The National Council is a place where this is now possible. Our hope is that the National Council will also serve as another way to respond to the first point of the mandate: Strengthen the collaboration between L’Arche Canada, its communities and regions.
In Summary
A. The responsibilities of the National Council are to:
a. determine the strategic orientation of L’Arche Canada between
the General Assembly which occurs every four years.
b. review and change, if necessary, the national mandate (see
attached) in order to keep it current and relevant; and,
B. We will strive for consensus as we make decisions. If consensus is not possible the co-chairs will have the authority to determine how to proceed on any given issue.
C. It is important to note that a strategic plan will not be developed at this meeting; this is the task of the national coordinators after the direction has been set by the National Council. Our goal in September is to set a clear strategic direction for the work of L’Arche Canada by supper Saturday September 11th.
Expectations of the Members of the National Council:
Along with your L’Arche experience and prayerful reflection, you are being asked to stretch your thinking beyond the local and regional levels. The National Council meets once a year. As a member, you will be asked to dedicate time outside the meeting. As the work of the National Council is ongoing, you may be asked to be part of a working group, read documents, or other activities between meetings. The expected time commitment is about half a day a month.
Another aspect of the role of members of the National Council is to seek opportunities to dialogue face-to-face with members of L’Arche in Canada whenever possible (e.g. at regional assemblies, regional councils). Your mandate is for four years.
Preparation for the meeting
Prior to coming to the meeting, we ask you to send us your answers to the two following questions that relate to the national entity of L’Arche Canada:
- What three things about the work of the national entity “L’Arche Canada” do you give thanks for?
- What three things are concerns you carry regarding L’Arche Canada?
Please send your input to Hollee Card no later than August 27th at hcard@larche.ca
Along with this letter and the mandate, you will find other documentation to help
you prepare for the meeting. Because this is our first meeting we will begin our reflection by focussing on three topics chosen by Hollee based on her awareness of the challenges and
opportunities that face L’Arche at all levels. Each of these points relates to the L’Arche Canada mandate that was approved at the General Assembly in November 2009.
- Leadership
- Money; and
- Engagement with Canadian society.
In preparation for the discussion at the meeting and in an effort to help you engage these topics, we ask you to read the attached reflection papers and to answer the following questions:
- What in the paper resonates with you? - What seems to be important in what has been written?
- What questions, ideas, issues does the paper provoke in you?
- Is there anything missing in the paper?
- In what way (s) do you feel that this topic could be a major priority for L’Arche Canada? - How would you formulate our goal in this area?
You will also find the agenda of the meeting included with this WebSite.
Steering Committee and Facilitation of the meeting:
This meeting is being prepared by a Steering Committee whose members are Nathan Ball, Joe Egan and ourselves. The meeting will be facilitated by Claude Gravel, a long time friend of L’Arche
Agapé and a member of the International Council of Faith and Light.
Dates of the National Council and its location:
The National Council will begin with supper Thursday, September 9th and end with supper Saturday, September 11th. The meeting is being held in Montréal at Villa St. Martin. Closer to the meeting, other transportation details will be sent to you. Please do not book your return travel arrangements before 7 p.m. on Saturday September 11th, 2010.
Members of the National Council:
The members of the National Council are:
The members of the L’Arche Canada board: Jane Burke-Robertson, John Rietschlin, Bernard L’Abbé, Linda Nette, and Sonia Larouche, Jean Dansereau;
The National and Vice National Coordinator: Hollee Card and Joe Egan
The Executive Director of the L’Arche Canada Foundation: Nathan Ball;
The Board President of the L’Arche Canada Foundation: Dean Levitt;
The vice and regional coordinators: Pat Favaro, Landys Klyne, Tammy Bartel, Peggy Keaney, Sylvie Morin, Robert Morrison and John O’Donnell ; and
The regional delegates: Marni Davis and Annette Kuhn (West);
Warren Pot and Peggy Keaney (Ontario); Marie-Claire Hardy and
Judith Larouche (Quebec); and, Beth Wolters and Donny MacIntosh
(Atlantic).
Unfortunately, John Guido will not be present at this meeting as he will be on
sabbatical.
Others may be invited as guests depending on the agenda.
Transportation:
If you are coming by train or by plane, please send your receipts to Guillaume Richard at the L’Arche Canada office or by email at grichard@larche.ca. L’Arche Canada will reimburse you or the community for the cost of travel. In return, we ask that you select the economical fare.
Registration:
The registration form for this meeting is on-line through the Meeting Ground.
Please go there to complete the information requested.
Conclusion:
In closing, we wish to thank you for your willingness to work with L’Arche Canada in this manner. We look forward to being together soon.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Hollee Card at hcard@larche.ca or at 780-465-1724.
Sincerely,
Jean Dansereau, L’Arche Canada Board President
Hollee Card, National Coordinator