Power of People Petition to Milwaukee Council Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul

We the people, a voice for people in need,

Because the mission of “Society of St. Vincent de Paul is “Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering…”.*

Because “St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores throughout the United States are an association of lay employees and volunteers dedicated to serve our needy sisters and brothers. All who come to are stores are welcomed with dignity and respect. We hope they leave as friends to shop with us again. Those who cannot afford the clothing, furniture and other household items they need will be provided for through a Vincentian initiated referral system……Serving Christ’s needy is the first purpose of all St. Vincent de Paul stores.” **

Because Milwaukee is one of the poorest cities in the U.S.A., the most racially segregated city in the USA, with the highest rate of incarceration of African American males in USA and a city increasing in impoverishment of African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods, *****

Because In the Society, all our money, (income, donations, and debts) belongs to the poor. (“The Society has held from the beginning that the funds donated to the Conference belong to the poor.” …… “Like Conferences, Councils act as custodians of funds given to the Society, understanding that they belong, ultimately, to the poor.” ***

Because “Councils may receive funding requests from charitable organizations outside the Society. Funds donated to the Society, however, must be used only for works that involve the personal service of Society members.”***

Because of an outdated conference referral system operated by Central Office many calls for home visit from persons in need are not served or are delayed for up to six months,******

Because the Milwaukee SVDP Greenfield store, after seven months of operation and over four million dollars of investment shows no signs of being sustainable let along profitable,****

We the people, who all SVDP money belongs to, demand there be No More Money of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Milwaukee County be invested in the Greenfield SVDP store but rather being invested in the SVDP conferences, new or present, that serve the needy and to create, not investigate, a SVDP Thrift store in North Central Milwaukee, where it is needed.

(*)Rule of Society of St. Vincent de Paul
(**)Mission Statement of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
(***)Manuel of St. Vincent de Paul Society of USA
(****) Based on the projected and approved 2014–2015 SVDP budget and small bits of information given to members of Milwaukee SVDP.
3.2 million dollars of loans from Securant Bank and Investment firm managing SVDP Trust Fund.
$488,000 plus Reported lost in first seven months of Greenfield store including Interest on two loans $160, 000 per year, Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to City of Greenfield $15, 000 per year, Property Management Fees $37, 940 per year, Condo Association Fees $15, 000 per year and Compensation (40 employees) and Operating Cost for Greenfield Store not covered by sales.
Equals -----------------------------------------------
Four Million Dollars Plus of Money Belonging to Poor investing in Greenfield Store

(*****) See MAPS http://www.nonviolentworm.org/Main/MAPS

(******) Present central office system is based on a computer system using old parish boundaries when there were 17 Catholic Churches in North Central Milwaukee and many on Southside with SVDP conferences.

“We must do what is most agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go to the poor. ” Blessed Frederic Ozanam founder of Society of St. Vincent de Paul (1813–1853)