My social work career started at Catholic Family Service, Inc. Diocese of Amarillo http://www.cfsama.com/our-story.html in 1977. At that time, the Diocese of Amarillo included Lubbock, Texas. It also had a mission program: Laymen in the Amarillo Mission Program (LAMP). LAMP recruited teachers for the diocesan schools.
When I graduated from the College of Our Lady of the Elms http://www.elms.edu/, I was looking for experiences outside of Western Massachusetts. I applied to the Peace Corp http://www.peacecorps.gov/, VISTA http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp and several domestic programs, including LAMP, and asked them if they could use a social worker. LAMP was the program that responded first.
Foolish though it may have been, I was eager to get out of Western Massachusetts. I had a telephone interview with LAMP, accepted their offer, and was off. I flew to Amarillo (I had never flown before) and after a week of orientation, took an agency car from Amarillo to Lubbock. (Thinking back, what a leap of faith these people had in me.) I was planning to stay a year. Hmmm. Before my year was up, I was offered a paid position, versus the stipend position, and that was that. I spent 10 years at Catholic Family Servi, Inc
I moved to Texas in June 1977. In December, 1977, I was contacted by the Peace Corp. They were looking for people to go to Nicaragua. I had a commitment to the Diocese of Amarillo, and declined, but told them to contact me in June 1978. I never heard back from the Peace Corp.
I thought and even tried to leave CFS a couple of times, but something always intervened. I was there when an assistant director was hired, with the plan that this person would become the director, because the Diocese of Amarillo was being changed, and Lubbock was going to become its own diocese. So, I also worked for Catholic Family Service, Diocese of Lubbock.
It was good for my social work career that I moved on to other things. Some years later, I was asked to serve on the board of directors, but the changes in my personal life made that untenable.
I attended the 25th anniversary of Catholic Family Services, Inc. Diocese of Lubbock. I winced at the mangled history that was presented. If you were not there, you would not know, and it did not matter. One of the board members, who I had known since I moved to Lubbock, asked me if I would be willing to be on the board. I said yes. In 2010, I became a member of a committee that worked with membership recruitment and commemoration activities. The next year, I was asked to join the board of directors.
As of January 1, 2012, Catholic Family Service, Diocese of Lubbock, has become Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock. I was firmly in favor of that change. I had sentimental ties to Catholic Family Service, Diocese of Lubbock, but the reality is that we needed the change. The Catholic Charites name gave us national alignment with Catholic Charities USA http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/. I am all for change for progress, but not change for change. I want to see the agency move toward accreditation.
When I was working for Catholic Family Service, Inc. Diocese of Amarillo, we worked for accreditation. I believe that Catholic Charities,Diocese of Lubbock, needs accreditation.
I try to be as helpful as I can as a board member, but am not sure what my contributions can be. I did a training on documentation and confidentiality. I have helped with some fund raising activities. I helped organize a committee to look at counseling options and needs. I have looked at some grants. I have sent out information about job positions. I have met with potential employees.
As a board member, I have had the opportunity to attend a legislative forum luncheon. It was organized by multiple agencies who are concerned that state funding for child abuse prevention programs will be cut in the upcoming legislative session. Because I am considered a state employee, this is tricky.
I applied for leave, so I would not be considered "on the clock." My supervisors concurred that there was no conflict of interest in this activity.
The Catholic Charities staff and board members were at one table. I sat next to the Bishop. I had the opportunity to tell him how much serving on the board of Catholic Charities has been a blessing to me. He seemed to understand.
I will just say that this is a great service. I am blessed to be able to do it.
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