Communique #6 — Resolutions
National Chairperson of Resolutions Rolande Chernichan, January 31, 2023.
I greet you with the message of Pope Francis, who, in his January 1st address, said that the secret that can make this year truly new is that “we cannot stand around complacently, waiting for things to get better. We need to get up, recognize the moments of grace, set out and take a risk. We need to take a risk! Today, at the beginning of the year, rather than standing around, thinking and hoping that things will change, we should instead ask ourselves: ‘This year, where do I want to go? Who is it that I can help?’”
A starting point might be to ask oneself, “how involved am I in our world?” What can each member resolve to do this year to make things better in the world around them? Two actions that come to mind that are in keeping with the resolutions standing committee are:
· initiate a resolution to address a social injustice
· write a letter to government about a League resolution or a social justice issue
Pope Francis invites us “to set aside many of our routines and our comforts in order to open ourselves to the new things of God, which are found in the humility of service, in the courage of caring for others.”
I am filled with hope as I await the report of provincial chairpersons regarding resolutions in development across Canada. The end of this month will reveal the number of resolutions being worked on and the scope of topics being addressed. Councils at all levels are encouraged to not give up on a resolution if they cannot meet a deadline for it to be submitted this year. It is important to persevere and take the time needed as long as the resolution’s topic remains relevant and its resolved clause has not become outdated.
A few members working as a committee can ease the work of developing a resolution. With that in mind, the newly published Resolutions Handbook (#618), available on the national website (cwl.ca), provides detailed guidance for developing a resolution. The handbook contains several examples of wording for resolved and bridging clauses. Its appendices provide example for a brief, works cited list in MLA format and sets out information for assessing resources of a resolution using the RADAR tool. The new Checklist for Reviewing Resolutions is also an appendix of the handbook that must be used when submitting a resolution.
Every member can give voice to the intended advocacy of adopted resolutions by writing a letter to elected members of government. Without the letters from members, the resolution will have minimal effect and remains mere words on paper. Encourage your diocesan counterparts to ask parish councils if they have taken action on Resolution 2022.01 Enact Federal Legislation to Reduce Food Loss and Waste.
Personal letters to government draw more attention than form letters, postcards or signing petitions. Please ask your diocesan counterparts to circulate this information to members and encourage them to refer to the Personal Letter Writing Guide (#173) on the national website for writing letters. To get started, I have attached a document in Word format to serve as a template for writing a letter in response to a resolution. This new year invites members to open themselves to new things. Writing a letter in support of a resolution is a service that speaks about caring for others and it is about being Catholic and Living It!
Rolande Chernichan
National Chairperson of Resolutions