President’s Monthly Report for April 2011 - Closing Speech

It was 4 years ago at the Biennial in Peterborough that Bill Love asked me to consider taking on the role of AOTS president. It was an unexpected request. I had left Toronto looking forward to enjoying a weekend of fellowship and spiritual renewal as a member of AOTS and as president of the Toronto Conference of the organization. I was taken aback by the request. I was preparing to take my leave from my position as communications manager at Statistics Canada and had scheduled my retirement for July of 2008. I was looking forward to starting a consulting practice and hadn’t planned on any more volunteer work.


A decision like that isn’t taken without consultation with one’s life partner and I told Bill that I had to consult with my wife. I did and she gave me her blessing and I ended up saying yes. So began my journey – two years as president–elect followed by two years as president. I have not regretted the decision. The burden has been light and the rewards manifold.

This organization is one to treasure. It has a rich history of service and dedication to Christian principles. I have been blessed with the opportunity to uphold both that tradition and honour those principles – in a time of great change in our world, our country, our society, our church and our families. Several years ago I did a workshop here at Jacksons Point – one in which we asked attendees to discuss their understanding of God and if and how God had changed for them in their eyes over the years. For most men God had changed. One man even said the that he concluded that God was a women – seeing as all the bad things men had done in the world like war etc. It was a brave comment and it got a lot of laughs. AOTS has been that forum for me. It has been a place of spiritual renewal – a place of searching for meaning – of openness and inclusivity – where we examine and discuss what spirituality means for us in community, in church, in society in politics and in family.

We have examined those issues here; of what is family and what is kinship – who is the “other” especially when we know that the message of Jesus is that every child is a child of God. So the opportunity of having these discussions, of having these spiritual insights provided by so many wonderful speakers at these rallies, roundups and conventions is why I will never say that I gave to AOTS – no AOTS gave to me. I got more that I gave – I was uplifted by this organization – by its dedication to service and therefore to the inclusive message of Jesus. There are so many to thank. I will name only a few now. My apoloigies to thoise I do n ot mention. My gratitude extends to all AOTSers. Many of those who helped me, who gave to me more that I could give to them are here in this room with me know. People like my immediate past president, Bill Love – and absent is his brother in arms Wally Shoults, with whom I disagreed about the tar sands; although in fairness he would call it the oil sands. And others like our faithful servant, Jim Upright, who held up the entire western end of the country and vice president Gary Ross organizing tours of Newfoundland or Ed Macdonald making sure links with other men's groups were strong in Central Canada or Harvey Douglas who was such a stalwart of giving and service in Western Canada and who carried so much of the Dondi project on his back. It is surprising what one man can do. And he so often keeps us sharp with his email messages.

Or Garnet our past, past president - Sometimes I don’t know what he’s saying but I do know it’s full of love. I am going to give you a kiss later on. Or Al Anthony and Jim Waterfall who are just there – who do the work – organize the events and provide the backbone and spine to club, conference and national initiatives. Or John Cooke who so marvellously took everything good in this organization and carefully remoulded our constitution and bylaws devoting countless hours of work and research. Or Howard Will and Wally MacDonald who are here tonight I am delighted to say sojourning with us one more time and who so actively served us so well, carrying our banner. And Ernie Orpin the wise one who knows where the money is and is buried and who so carefully managed the books for so long. I have learned from you all. And Marvin who does his own work – managing our books controlling the finances and doing such a great job with all of that, as we embrace the internet, website and email age. He makes it looks easy it isn’t. I know I was a treasure once upon a time. I didn’t do so well at it. And Ken Lane who puts together programs and knows the history like no one else and has been there. And is ready to change with the times so long as the course is set to the message of Jesus. It is. And Ray Cockburn my colleague in Toronto Conference who dutifully takes minutes and makes them correspond to reality with whom I have worked for so many years on conference programs. And Harold Lorenz – in my mind’s eye I call him the horse. It is a moniker of respect. Perhaps one of the strongest men I have ever met. I recall him organizing work parties to climb roofs at Lake Scugog. He has managed finances for years for Toronto Conference and at Roundups. He does so many things including acting as our great Handshake editor. And Keeling Little, the registrar/organizer who puts these programs together with such a careful eye for detail and such great respect for the allocation of our budget. And Mark Browning our fresh faced and website manager who is alive with new ideas and the enthusiasm we need to sustain this organization through the changes in front of us and the challenges ahead. And our incoming president who I turn the reins over to this evening, whose steady outlook and patient wisdom will guide us over the next two years. We are in good hands with Dave Morris. And George Bishop who has so often been my voice of reason – the one who has the ability to sit back and see the big picture and the one whose social conscience burns so brightly. He has not been one to trade his capacity to think for the security of being told. I have learned much from him. And Harry Wolfraim who has been my mentor for so many years. Not because he told me to listen to him because he had something to say as I would have done. But simply because he did what had to be done so many times, in so many ways and with such unbridled enthusiasm for the spirit of service that AOTS, the United Church and the message of Jesus represents. I am in debt to you all. It has been your gift to me to bestow upon me the honour of being your leader. Thanks be to God.

Note From Rev Kristy About Electing a Government You Believe In

Rev. Kirsty Hunter is the minister in Minesing Pastoral Charge in Minesing, Ontario. She is currently the co-chair of the Community Connections & Right Relations Commission in Living Waters Presbytery in Toronto Conference.

Poverty is a problem throughout the world, even in Canada. It is important that we do what we can to overcome the unbalance in the availability of the necessities of life. Kirsty emphasizes the need and some of the ways to get our politicians more involved.

Whether or not we agree with Rev. Hunter, we should ensure we take advantage of our opportunity to elect the members of our parliament.

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Hello Everyone,


As we get closer to the federal and provincial elections I promise to be a broken record reminding you to vote.

We are watching people all over the world lose their lives as they fight for this right and privilege and responsibility that we take so lightly. So plan to vote, and plan to bring someone you care about, and bring someone who has not voted before or who has not voted in a while, and bring someone too young to vote so they can see you model being a part of our democracy, and most important of all think and talk about who and what you are voting for ahead of time.

Below this email and links is a message from an organisation called Make Poverty History. They believe in holding politicians accountable to the promises they have made about world poverty and poverty in Canada. They are not affiliated with any party but they do have a set of core beliefs. I encourage you to read through the material to see their approach. You may or may not agree with them but please notice these important things about what they suggest. First pick three or four things that are important to you. Some of them may be big picture, some may be practical steps you want to see governments take. Second, get involved by asking questions. Third, tell the candidates that you will vote based on your issues. Fourth, talk to other people. Fifth, and most important, vote.

Think about these questions. What is most important to you (education, health care, poverty, security etc.) What are your core beliefs about those issues? What does your faith and the teachings of Jesus mean to you in the voting booth? What questions should you be asking candidates to find out if they share your core values? What answers are you looking for?

I do not endorse any candidate or party. However, as a person of faith I will be looking critically at all candidates and parties to find the one that is a best fit for when I go in and vote. Freedom of religion means the government can't tell me how to worship or what to believe. It does not mean I won't vote based on my beliefs and values. I will make my own decisions and vote just as I hope all of you will.

Below are some links to resources that may be helpful to you or at least stimulate discussion.

Peace and Blessings to you all.

Rev. Kirsty

Elections Canada Info

http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=41ge&document=index&lang=e

Faith Based Resources from United Church of Canada

http://www.united-church.ca/files/getinvolved/takeaction/2011-election-kit.pdf

Fun Quiz to see how you agree or disagree with parties - take it in a group or as a family and talk about it!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/

AOTS Biennial/Roundup Message from the President

Plans are moving forward for the combined AOTS Biennial/Roundup and I am delighted to report that our featured speaker, Michael Blair, will be able to join us for the entire weekend. Michael serves as Executive Minister of the Communities in Mission Unit of The United Church of Canada. He is the former Executive Director of the Toronto Christian Resource Center which is a ministry of the Toronto Southeast Presbytery serving the homeless and marginalized housed in Toronto's eastern downtown area. Previously, Michael served as a congregational minister of a number of Baptist churches in Toronto and St. Catherine’s. As a community chaplain with the Ontario Multifaith Council's Reintegration Program, he worked with individuals leaving the provincial jail system.

Harold Lorenz reports that we have received 21 registrations to date for the Biennial/Roundup. As many of you know the early bird cut-off date is March 31st so it is time to send those registrations in and plan to be with us for an exciting weekend of men’s fellowship and spiritual renewal.

An excellent workshop program is planned and our chaplain for the weekend is Brigadier David Estey (ret’d). Our Saturday evening program will feature the Cruisin Accapella Quartet and John Groeneveld will lead our sing-along’s.

All that will take place in the wonderful surroundings of the Jackson’s Point Conference Centre with the great cuisine provided by kitchen chefs. Don’t miss it!

As this is a combined national convention and biennial our agenda is packed. Please plan to be there for the National Convention where the AOTS national council will present our proposed new constitution. The l Convention begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 15.

Thank you all.
Jim

For More Information Check out the AOTS Biennial/Roundup Website
Get Your Registration Form
Contact the Round-up Registrar Keeling Little
Or call him at (705) 476-1126 for more information

President’s Report For March, 2011

Throughout the past two years I have attempted (with a modicum of success) to write a monthly report for our website. This will be my second last report as I am now in the final six weeks of my presidency.

Last week I received an email from Bay of Quinte Conference president Jim Waterfall that one of our clubs in Picton has decided to close up shop due to a lack of members. At the same time last month I had some correspondence with Richard Friedrich of our Duncan club which was reviewing whether they should stay on as members of AOTS. I am happy to report that they have decided to stay the course.

These are challenging times for AOTSers. We age. Our members become too old to carry on and our clubs pass away into non-existence. But non-existence is not really an appropriate phrase. Our clubs have left their mark on our society, in our communities, and on behalf of our church. I know that with president –elect Dave Morris taking over the reins of the presidency that we will be in good hands.

Hopefully our membership will see fit to adopt the new proposed constitution which has been so ably and carefully constructed by national council member John Cooke. It will allow the incoming executive to do some of our work without the encumbrances of a constitution belonging to another time, when we were bigger and much less top heavy.

While we are going through these challenges to our existence, so is our church. Yet another staff cut took place at our national church office and that is a reflection of how we are changing. Quite simply we are not the church we once were and we have to become the church that the future demands, if we are to have any relevance in Canadian society at all.

Next week, as president of AOTS I have been asked to sit in on a focus group about a new church initiative called United Cares. The long and short of United Cares is that is it a program designed for those members of our communities who do not see themselves as church goers but would still like to participate in valid social justice and compassionate programs through a solid organization that they can trust and know that their money is being spent wisely and with care. We know how important that is from our charitable work on projects like the Dondi drum circles and Drumathon.

And speaking of the Drumathon please allow me to pass onto you why our work will never go into that state on non-existence. Simply because we did it.

Yesterday I received a note from Chris Cullen who many of you know as a focal point contact for the Drumathon itself. Chris is in Kingston attending to her elderly mother. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Chris passed on to the following email she received about the Dondi project itself.

It is funny how things turn out and how in one way of another we are all connected. The note speaks for itself and it mentions the videos that were produced by Men's Ministry Network folks who visited Angola to touch base with those at IECA, our church’s partner, who were struggling to rebuild the Lutamo School.

It brought a tear to my eye. That may happen to you as well. All I can say to all of you is thank you for your support in this. I have called Janice Johnson to give her an update on the Dondi Project.

Until next month... Jim

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Hello,


Yesterday I came across the videos for the Dondi Project through Nancy Henderson's web page ( www.nancyhendersonjames.com ). They were tremendously moving. The first video, as you are aware, shows the grave of Amelia DeMorais Wilson. Amelia was my grandmother. Our family had assumed that her grave was destroyed during the revolution, and were shocked to find it still intact. We have a picture of my grandfather placing flowers on my grandmother's grave taken in 1957, the year of her death. It is the only time we have seen the grave--until yesterday on the video.


Two of my grandmother's three children are still living: my mother and my aunt. These videos have had a tremendous effect on our family, as you can well imagine. My grandfather drew the plans for the Currie Institute and oversaw its construction. He and my grandmother taught there (teacher training) for about thirty years. Several years ago, my mother wrote a history of her parents' lives and the work at the Dondi mission, particularly their involvement at the Institute, the printing press, and chapel. I believe you would be most interested in reading it.


I am most interested in receiving current information regarding this very ambitious and worthwhile goal to rebuild the school.


Janice Johnson