Sisters of St. FrancisDubuque, Iowa

COMMONVENTURE

franciscan

SUMMER 2010

• Community: Volunteers make a commit-ment to a shared way of life that supports,encourages and challenges each person togrow.

• Simple Living: FCV invites volunteers tolive a simple lifestyle and to be reflectiveabout the use of money, time and materialpossessions.

• Prayer: Faith sharing, reflection on theday’s experience, and group prayer are a regular part of the shared life.

• Service among people who are poor:FCV provides volunteers an opportunity tolive out this value while serving in a varietyof social service and church agencies.

• Social Justice: FCV Volunteers, motivatedby faith, take an active part in the healing ofa hurting and troubled world. Challenged by the causes of injustice, volunteers search forcreative solutions and faith-filled responses.

It is understood that volunteers for any ofthe sites listed in this brochure would commit themselves for a minimum of oneweek. They will be invited to come to MountSt. Francis for orientation; and asked to contribute $100 to help cover program costs.(Scholarships are available upon request.)Transportation will be provided from MountSt. Francis to and from the place of service.

The service options at each of the sites willbe matched with the skills, background,interests, and personal gifts of the volunteer.Programs are well coordinated to providemaximum benefit for both the volunteer andthose served.

To apply for any of the programs, returnthe Application and Recommendation formsfound on pages 15-20 as soon as possible.Applications will be processed as they arereceived.

Franciscan Common Venture

Values

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FRANCISCAN COMMON VENTURE

Franciscan Common Venture,sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa, is a volunteer program which provides the opportunityfor persons to contribute their talents,time and commitment in service among people who are poor.

Together, the Sisters and volunteersstrive to give expression to Franciscanvalues of community, simple living,prayer, service among people who arepoor, and social justice.

For more information contact:Sr. Marie Therese Kalb, OSF

Sisters of St. Francis, 3390 Windsor Ave.Dubuque, Iowa 52001

Email: kalbm@osfdbq.orgPhone: 563-583-9786 ext. 6164

Web: www.osfdbq.org

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DES MOINES, IOWA

June 11 - 192 volunteers • Women age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live withSister Virginia Jennings and serve atCatholic Charities, St. Mary FamilyCenter.

Service Options:• St. Mary Family Center is one of the largest

food pantry sites in the state of Iowa, servingthe very basics to 200-400 families a day.Volunteers work in the food pantry – boxingnon-perishable food items, distributing fooddirectly to clients; or in the clothing closetsorting and hanging clothing, and monitoringthe clothing closet.

St. Mary’s serves a large Spanish-speakingpopulation. Those who know Spanish, wouldlike to learn more Spanish, or would like tobrush-up on their Spanish-speaking skills areespecially welcome. However, bi-lingualskills are not a requirement.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

June 4 - 126 volunteers • Women and men,age 18+

Community: Volunteers will servewith Sisters Janet Kreber, MaryLechtenberg and Mary Klisart.They will be assigned a place to stay.It will be simple living – perhaps sleeping on a floor with a sleeping bag.

Service Options:• Volunteers will be coordinated by Pastor

Melissa, and the United Methodist ChurchProject of which the Dubuque ArchdiocesanCatholic Charities is a partner. Service willbe part of the “Block By Block” project, consisting of manual labor – e.g.: painting,beautifying outside space, cleaning base-ments, putting up dry wall, etc., in homesravished by flood waters.

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GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

May 28 - June 12 or June 4 - 121-2 volunteers • Women, age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live withSister Margie Hosch, praying, worship-ping, playing and working together.

Service Options:• Work with the community organizer in meet-

ing some of the needs of an extremely poorneighborhood community surrounding aCatholic hospital - for example:

• Spending time with the children andyouth of the area

• Visiting the sick and homebound

• Sharing compassion and love

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DUBUQUE, IOWA

June 11 - 17

A volunteer family(s) and/or individuals age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live andserve with Sisters Ginny Heldorfer,Mary Peter and others.

Service Options:Be a part of a team for a FranciscanSummer Camp to assist girls, grades 5-6 to develop spirituality, social andleadership skills in an atmosphere offun.

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MORTON, MISSISSIPPI

May 28 - June 12; July 2 - 102 volunteers • Women, age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live andserve with Sisters Charlotte Enright,Rita Goedken, Eileen Hauswald, andCamilla Hemann.

Service Options:• As teachers, tutors and aides for

grade school-age children

• As tutors for adults in basic reading,language and math skills

• As assistants in answering phones,and light cleaning tasks

Bilingual English-Spanish skills helpful, but nota requirement.

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MACY, NEBRASKA

June 4-12, 11-19; or June 4-192 volunteers • Women, age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live withSisters Gwen Hennessey and GraceAnn Witte in Sioux City, IA, at theClare Guest House and serve at TheValentine Parker Youth PreventionCenter on the Omaha IndianReservation in Macy, NE.

Service Options:• Assist with week-long Summer Camps for

Native American Children, grades K – 12.Each day is focused differently: educational;activities; arts/crafts; cultural; field trip

• Join in showing hospitality to women at theClare Guest House

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POSTVILLE, IOWA

June 11-19 • 6 volunteersWomen and men, age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live andserve with Sisters Kay Gaul, AnnaMarie Manternach, Amelia Thole andthe Postville community.

Service Options:• Experience the reality of the Iowa

immigrants. Volunteers will be involved in:• Conducting a summer Bible camp for

grade school children

• Tutoring Spanish-speaking adults

• Distributing food and clothing

• Visiting homes, listening to their stories, etc.

Bilingual English-Spanish skills helpful, but nota requirement.

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OKOLONA, MISSISSIPPI

June 4-12, 11-19, 18-26, 25-July 3, 2-10, 9-173 volunteers • Women/men, age 18+

July 16-24, 23-311-9 volunteers • Women/men, age 18+

Community: Community life is shared withsisters of several congregations and with thestaff of EXCEL. Living situation varies basedon length of service and number of volun-teers. Situations include living in a volunteerhouse, with a sister, or at St. Theresa’sCatholic Center for volunteers.

Service Options:• As teachers and teacher assistants in after-school

learning programs; as GED tutors working withadults or older youth; as guides in a computer lab

• Sorting and preparing donated items in One-of-a-Kind resale store

• As administrative and secretarial assistants(Computer skills are helpful)

• Doing physical work: building, home repair, cleaning, etc.

• Assisting with a variety of senior citizen activities.

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SIOUX CITY, IOWA

June 4 - 123 volunteers • Women, age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live andserve with Sisters Renae Hohensee andKathy Knipper.

Service Options:• Serve as teachers and aides at the Vacation

Bible School

• Assist at the Soup Kitchen / Gospel Mission

• Sort and sell items at the Catholic BargainCenter

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

June 4 - 192 volunteers • Women, age 20+

Community: Volunteers will live andshare community with Sisters CarolHawkins and Maureen Leach; SallyMitchell and Janet Taphorn.

Service Options:Volunteers will serve with and through the SanAntonio Inner City Development Program

• As Recreation Supervisors: working directlywith teens and children by leading, organizingand assisting them in recreational activities toinclude arts and crafts, field trips, indoor andoutdoor sports and games, etc.; and directingand encouraging teenage volunteers

• As Special Activities Coordinators: helpingwith special events such as: a talent show,the Luau, the ‘50’s party, barbeques, etc.

• As Emergency Food and ClothingAssistants: helping families in need of foodand clothing; sorting and packaging rice,beans, etc.; and coordinating other volunteers

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VARDAMAN, MISSISSIPPI

One or two weeks: June 4-12, June 11-19; July 2-10, July 9-17 Two women volunteers, ages 18+

Community: Volunteers will live inOkolona with Sisters Terri Rodela, LizDonahue, and "Micah" (cocker-mix dog).

Service Needs:Experience the realities of the rural poor andLatin American immigrants in Mississippi, asyou work with Sister Terri through CatholicCharities, Northeast Mississippi Office, locatedin Vardaman, the “Sweet Potato Capitol.”

• secretarial/administrative assistance (computerand organizational skills helpful)

• research and data collection

• outreach and translation for the immigrant community

• physical work - maintenance, cleaning, yard work,painting, etc.

• assist with preparation and set-up of programs andspecial events

Ability to be flexible as needs arise. Bilingual English-Spanish oral/written skill helpful, but not a requirement.

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TYLER, TEXAS

May 28 - June 5; June 4 -123 volunteers • Women, age 18+

Community: Volunteers will live andserve with Sisters Sarah Kohles andSusan Seitz.

Service Options: Each is a ministry of“presence” providing the opportunity to workdirectly with people in need, and each wel-comes volunteers with the ability to speakSpanish—though it is not a requirement.

• With Immaculate Conception Parish:meeting a variety of parish ministry needsand experiences

• With St. Vincent de Paul: aiding 90 familiesweekly who are the poorest of the poor in thearea. Volunteers help in the food and cloth-ing areas – sorting and distributing

• With PATH: working in the food pantryhelping lower income people with food, bills,etc.

• With Birthway: providing help for expectingand new mothers, offering assurance andassistance

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Prescribed Medication: Please list any medication(s) youtake on the advice of your physician:_______________________

_______________________________________________________

Allergies: Please check those to which you are allergic:

____Aspirin ____Codeine ____Penicillin ____ Bee sting ____Sulfa

Other drugs, environmental, food:_________________________

_______________________________________________________

Do you have bilingual English-Spanish skills?

____ Yes ____ No Other?___________________

Immunization Information:

_______ Tetanus / Diphtheria (Valid only if within 10 years)

_______ OR Tetanus/Diphtheria. Accelular Pertussis

Have you ever been or are now being treated for drug addition or alcoholism? (If yes, please explain)

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Is there any chronic health condition or physical limitationthat might effect the type of work you do? (If yes, pleaseexplain)________________________________________________

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Do you bring any specific skills to this project? (i.e. playingan instrument, carpentry, etc.)____________________________

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Do you have personal concerns/hesitations about beinginvolved in this project?__________________________________

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Franciscan Common Venture APPLICATION FORM

(Please print clearly)

Name:_________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________

City: ____________________ State:_________ Zip: __________

Phone: _________________Cell phone:____________________

Date of birth: _________________________________________

Email address:_________________________________________

Choice of service site: ________________________________

Dates for which you are volunteering:

Beginning: __________________

Concluding: _________________

Person to be notified in an emergency:

Name:_________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________

City: ____________________ State:_________ Zip: __________

Phone: ________________________________________________

Will your health insurance coverage be in effect duringthis experience? _____ Yes _____ No

Insurance Company Name:_____________________________

Policy #_______________________ Group #_______________

Policy Carrier__________________________________________

Return this Form to: Sr. Marie Therese Kalb, osf 3390 Windsor Ave • Dubuque IA 52001 • 563-583-9786

e-mail: kalbm@osfdbq.org • Fax: 563-583-3250

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I will abide by the directives of trip sponsors and coordina-tors, and of the local site directors. I realize that participationin this service is contingent upon meeting the expectationswhich they specify. I do not / will not hold either the coordi-nators nor sponsoring institutions responsible for illness,injury or accidents incurred during this time of service.

Signature:______________________________________________

Date:_____________________________

Write a brief description about yourself. Include area(s)of education / ministry; why you are applying; how yousee yourself serving at the site you have chosen.

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Description continued...

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1) How long, and in what capacity have you known theapplicant?

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2) What is your overall impression of this person?

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3) What is your assessment of the applicant’s ability tolive and work with others? What type of influence doyou believe she/he will exert? What qualities mighthelp or hinder her/him?

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4) Are you aware of any problem — psychological orphysical — that would indicate that this person wouldnot be suited to this program? Please explain.

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5) Please check the item below that describes youroverall rating of the applicant:

____ Exceptional, a rare find

____ Recommend, no strong feelings

____ Good, better than many

____ Might be okay, some reservations

Comment:________________________________________

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Franciscan Common Venture RECOMMENDATION FORM

Summer 2010

(Please print)

Applicant’s Name:_______________________________________

Name of Reference: _____________________________________

Address:________________________________________________

City: _______________________ State: ______ Zip: __________

Home Phone: __________________________________________

Cell Phone: ____________________________________________

To the Reference: Franciscan Common Venture,sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa, is avolunteer program which provides the opportunity for personsto contribute their talents, time and commitment in serviceamong people who are poor. Together, the Sisters and volunteers strive to give expression to Franciscan values ofcommunity, simple living, prayer, service among people whoare poor, and social justice.

Franciscan Common Venture seeks mature, well-balancedand spiritually motivated women and men to work with theDubuque Franciscan Sisters. We count on you to give us anhonest evaluation of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses.Omit any section you do not feel qualified to answer. Thankyou for making and taking the time to complete this form.

If you wish the applicant to be considered for CommonVenture Summer ’10, please return this form ASAP.

Form can be accessed on our website at www.osfdbq.org /Get Involved / Volunteer Opportunities / Common Venture

For mailing address, Fax number or E-mail – see above.

Return this Form to: Sr. Marie Therese Kalb, osf 3390 Windsor Ave • Dubuque IA 52001 • 563-583-9786

e-mail: kalbm@osfdbq.org • Fax: 563-583-3250

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For more information contact:Sr. Marie Therese Kalb, OSF

Sisters of St. Francis, 3390 Windsor Ave.Dubuque, Iowa 52001

Email: kalbm@osfdbq.orgPhone: 563-583-9786 ext. 6164

Web: www.osfdbq.org

"No act of kindness, no matterhow small, is ever wasted."

— Aesop