The CWR Board of Directors held its first meeting of 2020 on January 28 and 29 at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare and met again via videoconference on February 13. As both meetings were held after the January e-newsletter was distributed, we present highlights from both gatherings:
The January meeting was the first for new Board members Tricia Buxton; Linda Romey, OSB; and Tammy Townsend Denny. Cecilia Rupell (Chair), Jane Strittmatter (Vice Chair), Jean Merry (Treasurer) and Kim Westerman (Corporate Secretary) are the Board officers for 2020.
During the Executive Team report, the 2020 Board meeting schedule was finalized and the 2020 CWR budget was reviewed and revised.
Interim Executive Director Kathy Gatliff provided updates on and collaborated with the Board in preparation for both reporting on the current CWR Conrad N. Hilton Foundation grant and applying for the Hilton grant renewal. It is estimated that the new grant will be reviewed for acceptance in April or May.
2020 Conference Committee Chair Rob Cogswell outlined the latest plans for the 2020 conference schedule and for conference promotion. We anticipate making early bird registration available on the CWR website in the early spring. Please note: all conference registration will be conducted online this year rather than via mailing.
The Conference Scholarship Task Group was officially granted committee status and revisions to the conference scholarship program were approved by the Board. Changes for this year include offering the scholarships for conference registration only.
The CWR Marketing Committee and the CWR staff took on joint oversight of the CWR awards program, which was rolled out at the 2019 Conference. Watch for more information on the CWR website in the near future.
Catholic Sisters Week Task Group Chair Linda Romey, OSB, detailed the group’s preparations for Catholic Sisters Week 2020 and the resources available on the Catholic Sisters Week website.
Education Committee Chair Jennifer Brandlon previewed CWR educational offerings for the remainder of 2020.
The Board was updated on Membership Committee plans for new member recruitment—including outreach to communicators for sponsored ministries—by committee Chair Tammy Townsend Denny.
Patricia Lenihan, RSC, announced that registration has opened for CWR Ireland’s April one-day conference. To register or view program information, go to: www.c4wr.org/ireland/.
Maxine Kollasch, IHM, reported on plans for multiple Cycling with Sisters rides to be staged in 2020. The new Cycling with Sisters website is nearing launch.
Kim Westerman presented the conference sponsorship and exhibitor packages that have been drafted by the Conference Development Committee for 2020 and will be posted on the CWR web site in March.
The Board will next meet March 12 via videoconference.
CWR 2020 Board of Directors
Cecilia Rupell, Chair
Jane Strittmatter, Vice Chair
Jean Merry, Treasurer
Kim Westerman, Secretary
Jennifer Brandlon
Tricia Buxton
Robert Cogswell
Tammy Townsend Denny
Joanne Gallagher, CSJ
Spalding Hurst
Maxine Kollasch, IHM
Patricia Lenihan, RSC
Stephanie Manseau
Janice Parrott
Linda Romey, OSB
CWR Staff
Kathy Gatliff, Interim Executive Director
Michelle Izguerra, Business Operations Manager
Brian Lavelle, Communication & Membership Manager