HerbEly

Lay Ecclesial Movements and the New Clericalism

America magazine has two articles about apostolic movements (also called lay associations) and their relationships with parish life. (Lay movements include

• Cursillo
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter
• Communion and Liberation
• Charismatic Renewal
• Community of Saint ‘Egidio

Both articles assess their contributions and their tensions with parish life.

    Not discussed, but I think related, is what writer Russell Shaw calls the “new clericalism” and the institutional church’s attitude toward the role of the laity.

Kiwanis Division 5

On October 1st, I will be Lieutentant Governor of Kiwanis Division five here in central Virginia. Here are some basic facts about us:
Capital District of Kiwanis International Divison Five – Central Virginia

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time

Kiwanis Division 5 serves Central Virginia through its 8 clubs consisting of 406 men and women members. An additional ~800 young people are part of the Kiwanis Family, as part of our sponsored programs at:

• 3 Colleges through Circle K clubs,
• 14 High Schools through Key Clubs
• 5 Middle Schools through Builder’s clubs
• 2 Elementary Schools through K-Kids clubs

The major value of Kiwanis to the Community is in individual service, strengthening the social fabric, and in the promotion of intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship. Our total financial contribution of $101,480 during the last year provides a measure of our impact. Our sponsored organizations contributed over $16,000. When combined with matching grants and other outside funds we estimate a total year’s contribution to central Virginia at $200,000

Please visit one of our clubs in Covington, Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, or Waynesboro.

Kiwanis Makes the World Smarter

We just got back from the Kiwanis International Convention in Montreal, Canada. The United Nations representative called our service project the greatest public health project ever. Starting in 1990 Kiwanis International began a project to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder - a leading cause of goiter and mental retardation. Here is a quote from the Kiwanis International & U.S. Fund for UNICEF  website 

All children deserve the best possible start in life.Yet, every day, 113,000 babies are born at risk of iodine deficiency.

Imagine being one of these children. You might not be able to learn as quickly as others, and this could hinder your chances of success in life without you even knowing why. Worse still, you might suffer severe mental and physical retardation.

Imagine being the mother of a child who, without realizing it, is herself iodine deficient, and thereby deprives her baby of iodine during pregnancy. Much of the damage caused by iodine deficiency may be done before a child is even born.

If the future of a society lies in the health and talents of its children, imagine how iodine deficiency hampers the development of entire nations when, child by child, its young people are unable ever to reach their full potential.

Kiwanis clubs throughout the world have raised and contributed $80 million towards eliminating IDD throughout the world. Every year 90 million children are protected by our ongoing efforts. For a  testimonial from a public health worker in Guena, West Africa click here. For an assessment of progress click here.

The average IQ of a population iodine deficient population can be some 15 points lower than a population with adequate iodine.

One teaspon of iodine, worth five cents, will protect a child for a life time. If you would like to contribute, click here. If you live in central Virginia and are interested in Kiwanis, contact me.

NOTE: this post linked with Beltway Traffic Jam

I'm so Proud

Last week I had the opportunity to put together a press release on the achievements of the Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville. Here is the release:
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.--Kiwanis defining statement, adopted October 2004. Our motto is “Serving the Children of the world.”

The 43-member Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville is open to adult men and women volunteers from all walks of life. We sponsor youth organizations at the University of Virginia (Circle K clubs) and Key Clubs at five area High Schools. (Albemarle, Charlottesville, Covenant, Fluvanna, and Monticello High Schools). We meet for dinner on Monday nights at 6:15PM the Ponderosa – except for the 4th Monday when we perform service projects. (See below)

Taken together, we represent a total volunteer force of approximately 425 persons, responding to needs of the community as a whole and of the individual schools that we serve. (See below for short description of specific projects and a comprehensive list.)

In addition to direct service, Kiwanis, Circle K and the Key clubs contributed $118,826 to the Charlottesville community during the past calendar year.

Kiwanis Disaster Relief Will Have Impact

Kiwanis International Foundation has established a special relief fund for children victimized by Hurricane Katrina. the Foundation will work through the Kiwanis district and clubs in the affected areas. To contribute, go here.

To learn more about our local club, go here.

Political or Religous Discussion at Work?

Amy Joyce, in Sunday’s WaPo raises the question of the proper role of political discussion in the workplace. During this election season discussions can become disruptive, generate animosities and even get people fired. The same can be said for religious discussions – except that firing a disruptive employee might generate a lawsuit based on religious discrimination.

Publisher Gregory F.A. Pierce and Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs provide some models for the proper use of workplace spirituality.

Gone till Monday

We are headed for the Capital District Kiwanis Convention. Check Blog from the Core while I'm gone. And thanks to Lane Core for featuring my mother's poetry over the past 4 weeks.

Smarter Children - Worldwide

We just got back from the Kiwanis International convention in st. Louis where we heard, once again, the story about Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD). Iodine deficiency is a leading cause of mental retardation, blindness, goiter and other childhood illnesses. Lack of iodization can reduce the IQ of a population by as much as fifteen points. The cure is simple: iodized salt. Delivering the solutions isn’t. In 1990, less than 20 percent of the world population at risk of iodine deficiency had access to iodized salt.

Kiwanis, an organization of men and women joined in service clubs dedicated to “Serving the Children of the World” joined together to raise over $75 million to fund UNICEF programs for helping indigenous peoples to iodize their own salt and educate them to use it. The result is that, every year, 90 million children are protected from this disease.

I am proud to be a member of the Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville. Together we are changing the world.