from Margaret O’Dwyer, DC at the United Nations with Aidan Rooney.
Members of the Vincentian Family working as NGO representatives to the United Nations met with Fr. Aidan Rooney, CM, Wednesday, at the CM’s NGO Office in Manhattan. The group considered strategies for enhancing communication to membership. Those present were Guillermo Campuzano, CM; Catherine Prendergast, DC; Teresa Kotturan, SCN (NGO representative for the Seton Federation), and Margaret O’Dwyer, DC.
Fr. Rooney noted that there is now a dedicated time slot on famvin.org for information and education on UN NGO initiatives as they pertain to the Vincentian Family. More information about the UN will appear on famvin.org beginning the fourth of February. This was a first step in formally linking the Vincentian Family at the UN with all of .famvin, and we plan to continue on this path. The site may also include input from Sr. Monique Javouehey, who represents the Daughters of Charity at the UN Office in Geneva on human rights issues; Ed Keane, who represents the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; and Natalie Boone, who represents the International Association of Charities (AIC).
Education and Formation around advocacy issues that impact the work and direction of branches of the Vincentian Family are a key part of the mission of .famvin, so working with the UN NGO representatives seemed a natural connection. The different branches will maintain their individual communication strategies and publishing schedules, as well as their websites and pages, but more and more the UN NGO’s of the family will use famvin.org and .famvin social networking channels to communicate their information, solicit feedback, and call the Family to action on global issues.
I am thrilled that the insights and priority issues of the Vincentian Family UN NGO Reps will be available to the Family throughout the whole world, thanks to .famvin! We in New York hear about the impact of their work at the UN, but the influence will only be stronger and deeper when the entire Vincentian Family receives their information and responds with their experiences at the grassroots. Thank you, Fr. Aidan and our UN NGO Reps!