Print Issue: October 17, 2002
A Tap On The Shoulder Leads Jim Rosentreter To New Avocation Of Volunteerism For SVdP
By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer
 Jim Rosentreter, left, the new St. Vincent de Paul Society president, and outgoing president Alan Urech, right, meet with Archbishop John F. Donoghue in his office last month. Urech served as council president for six years before stepping down.
(Photo by Michael Alexander) |
ATLANTA - Jim Rosentreter and his wife, Peggy, had just moved to Atlanta in retirement from Rochester, N.Y. They were sitting at Mass one day at Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain, when a member tapped him on the shoulder. Could they help him out the next day at the St. Vincent de Paul Society thrift store?
Barely having heard of the SVdP charitable organization, which didn't exist in Rochester, Rosentreter said he looked at his wife and they said, "OK."
But the couple committed to more than a one-shot deal. Peggy had suffered from breast cancer just before Jim's retirement (which she overcame). It prompted the couple to reevaluate their priorities and focus more on giving back to the community.
That was eight years ago.
On Oct. 1, Rosentreter began his term as president of the SVdP executive committee. His election is a happy continuation of that first "tap on the shoulder."
His original thrift store commitment spawned his dedication to the SVdP Society, along with other parish ministries. In two years, the couple became the thrift store's general managers. He then served for four years on the executive committee of the SVdP Atlanta Council Office, the central office and community outreach center for this archdiocese, first as the representative for its nine thrift stores and then as representative for the council thrift store and new business opportunities.
As president, Rosentreter plans to continue building on the work of former president Alan Urech, who stepped down after completing his second term.
"I look in awe at what we have in front of us. I'm feeling challenged, but I'm excited. I think we have a wonderful Christian organization with a mission to help the poor. I want us to be less invisible and more known out in the community . . . starting in the Catholic community, but hopefully we want to get beyond that" into the larger community, Rosentreter said. "I feel so much respect and love for what we do as a Society."
The Society is currently developing a new strategic plan for the next five years. Executive Director Sheila Bissonnette looks forward to continued work with Rosentreter in carrying out that plan.
"I look forward to working with Jim. He has been very active over the past couple of years as part of the executive committee and providing leadership for our strategic planning process," she said. "He has a great sense of humor while understanding the importance of our ministry. This makes him very easy to work with. The Society is truly blessed to have him as the chief volunteer officer."
Rosentreter said part of the strategic direction involves further emphasizing communications to increase awareness of the unprecedented growth SVdP has seen in the last six years. In that time the council office has moved from a 1,800-square-foot space to its current office on Chamblee-Tucker Road with 15,000 square feet. They have continued their direct aid while expanding and developing outreach programs, including temporary housing and education/ training programs in areas including life skills, GED preparation, computers and managing finances.
|
St. Vincent de Paul Society Driven By Volunteer Efforts
ATLANTA - The St. Vincent de Paul Society, known as SVdP, is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven charity that provides the poor and those in temporary hardship with material, intellectual, emotional or spiritual support as needed, working with clients and helping increase their self-sufficiency.
In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, SVdP has a small group of staff members led by Sheila Bissonnette, executive director, who reports to the president and executive committee. Both the president and executive committee members are volunteers. The central office oversees 66 conferences, mainly at parishes across North Georgia, There are 1,800 volunteer member "Vincentians."
The widespread and diverse volunteer organization is something that the new SVdP president is used to.
Jim Rosentreter, a member of Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain, believes one of his strengths is uniting people and encouraging teamwork. It's a skill he developed in his over 40-year career with Gleason Corp., a machine tool company in Rochester, N.Y., where he worked in sales and marketing and later in sales management, requiring him to travel across Europe and Asia and work closely with diverse types of people. As he works "to grow the Society" in North Georgia, he also looks forward to continued growth in faith through his SVdP work. "I'm not a born-again, I don't pray four hours a day. But every moment I'm just so much more aware of trying to help others, to be more kind and patient, all the things Jesus told us we must do."
|
In 2003, SVdP celebrates its 100th year of service in North Georgia, with the theme "Celebrating a Century of Service: Honoring the Past, Serving the Present, Preparing for the Future." The Atlanta council will also host the Society's annual national meeting Sept. 3-6, 2003. Rosentreter hopes to capitalize on these events to increase Vincentian membership.
"My job is-it's really part of the Society rules - to get people to come together and serve and also we're trying to grow the Society and strengthen the Society by sending out programs to the conferences. We're not a small organization . . . It's part of expanding services, to broaden services," he said. "What we're trying to do is bring more people into the Vincentian family."
As each president names his or her own executive committee, Rosentreter has named Sandra Hollett, director of Catholic Social Services, a member, while Bissonnette will serve on the CSS board, to increase communication between the two organizations and to avoid duplication of services. He said there is also a committee member who will focus on Hispanic outreach, which he hopes to expand. Rosentreter looks forward to working with Bissonnette. "I'm looking forward to the working relationship with Sheila. She's been in that position for 13 years. I believe in her and I'm looking forward to that relationship carrying us into the future."
While he's always cared about people, before coming to Atlanta he had never done much work with the poor. And even a year ago he had "never, never" even considered this volunteer position, but after people started dropping hints he began to pray about and consider it. Through his wife's encouragement he ran for the elected position.
"I really believe God had a plan here that moved me into this position because it's the last thing I ever thought would happen," said Rosentreter, an adult convert from Methodism. "At this time of my life people say I should be coasting, but I love it."
|
