Saint Ambrose Men's Club Update

This is an outline of the background and summary of a proposal that was presented at our January 26^th meeting.     

During the 4^th quarter of 2005, the outgoing and incoming officers looked into possible ways of  improving our effectiveness as an organization.  In particular, on ways to foster fellowship; to being a welcoming community; to reducing the need to focus monthly meetings on business topics and increasing the focus Faith, Family, Fellowship and Fun -- not exclusively to the membership, but to the parish as a whole.  The proposed changes with modifications were ratified…the highlights of which follow:  

1.       Formation of a Business Administration Committee to look after the business affairs of the club and keeps members informed with periodic reports.  This committee will meet monthly to focus on Budget/Finance including funding requests, Accounting, Events Planning and Control, Special Requests, Communications and Publicity.

2.      Formation of ”Standing Committees" -- teams of 4 to 6 men who take total "end-to-end" ownership for a specific event established around the major events and functional responsibilities of the Men's Club.  These will model two already established and highly successful committees both of which were self appointed and both of which came into existence in 2004:  The Breakfast Faith Development Group that meets Tuesday mornings at Perkins Restaurant and the Taste of the Season Wine Auction committee.  The first two such committees to be formed will be for Pancake Breakfasts and Oktoberfest. 

After these, we hope to form more like them limited only by the availability of resources and responses to a call to serve.  Examples: 

• Community & Fellowship Planning
• "New Ventures" – e.g. Social events, spiritual, family, social justice, outreach
• "People in Transition" Outreach – a compassionate focus on individuals and families in transition (e.g. between jobs, from "career" to "retirement", families in crisis).
• Spouse Events 

3.       Formation of a Membership/Development Committee to:

o        Develop and grow active membership, attractand welcome new members.

o        Understand wants, needs, and a willingness to serve

o        Keep members and the parish community at large informed

Future Meetings:

On a quarterly basis:  One business meeting; one "Faith-Topic" meeting; One social meeting with publicity about the topic/discussion of upcoming meetings – those who want to participate will come, those who don't won't. 

2006 Events:

•          Apr. 9         Prophetic Leadership "Part Two" 

•          Apr. 23        Pancake Breakfast 

•          May 3         Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

•          May 26       Golf Outing and Steak Fry

•          Sep.23        Oktoberfest

•          Oct. 29       Pancake Breakfast 

•          Nov. 10       Toast of the Season Wine Auction 

•          Dec. 21       Christmas Party

Wanted:  more good men!

Our ability to promote new activities or do more of what we currently do is directly on strength in numbers.  With a good response of interest and support, there is no limit to what we can do.