MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Historisches Dokument · Webfassung / Historical document · web edition
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF BLESSED GÉRARD HELD ON 11th NOVEMEBER 2001. PRESENT: Fr. Gérard T Lagleder, Dr. P Z T Thabethe, and Mrs. N Thabethe & Mrs. C A Kalkwarf Fr. Gérard opened the meeting with a prayer at 19.15hrs. MINUTES were read, with some corrections they were proposed as true and correct by Dr. Thabethe and seconded by Fr. Gérard. MATTERS ARISING: Father Martin Trieb from St. Ottilien Arch abbey was here from 10th October to 26th October 2001. He was enthusiastic about our work and has recorded many videocassettes, which he will now edit into a film for fundraising purposes. Fr. Gérard thanked all those who made it such a great success. LEGAL MATTERS: STAFF: N. Radebe : The caregiver who was helping in the Children's Home, Miss Ntombizethu Radebe, complained to the CCMA. Fr. Gérard and Mrs. Kalkwarf were called to the Labour Court in Durban for an arbitration meeting. Miss Radebe stated that she did not know why she had been dismissed. After hearing the full story from both Miss Radebe and the Management Committee of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard, the Mediator spoke privately to Miss Radebe. Consequently the complaint was withdrawn and Miss Radebe apologised. Miss Radebe requested that she remain a member of our organisation. N. Dlamini: Mr. Nkosinathi Dlamini, who was a very good Basic Ambulance Assistant informed Mrs. Beaumont at approximately 15:30, just before he was due to report for night shift, that he had found a new job with the government and therefore would not be available to do the shift for which he was rostered that night. No further apology or explanation was forthcoming from Mr. Dlamini. The unanimous decision was taken to expel both the above people from the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard. DEDICATED MEMBERSHIP. Dr.s Peter & Roux Martinez have both submitted their applications to begin their one year of preparation, with the intent of becoming dedicated members. The unanimous decision was taken to accept their applications (with pleasure) backdated to the 13th October 2001. (The date on which the letters were submitted.) REPORTS ON PROJECTS: BLESSED GÉRARD’S BURSARY FUND: Dr. Thabethe requested information on how a decision is made who receives a bursary. Mrs. Kalkwarf explained that there are several criteria. The applicant’s family should be genuinely poor, the applicant must be educable, the family must reside in the greater Mandeni area and in the case of tertiary education, the medical and social fields are preferred. It was also pointed out that the school fees for the children from the Children’s Home are paid out of the Bursary Fund. BLESSED GÉRARD'S PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL & CRÈCHE: Mrs. Kalkwarf reported that there are no problems at present and that the school will close for the Christmas Holidays on 7th December 2001 and will reopen on 23rd January 2002. BLESSED GÉRARD'S CARE CENTRE & HOSPICE: Father Gérard reported that for the first time in history, the Care Centre has a waiting list for patients to be admitted. There are three volunteers at present, Jennifer-Jane Neumann and Melanie Weiss from Germany and Donna Conlin from the USA. Dr. Thabethe expressed his concern about the heat in the wards. Fr. Gérard explained that the sick patients feel the cold more than normal and that the Zulu people are not used to airconditioning and complain that it is too cold, even if the temperature is set at 22° C. He explained further that management had spoken to a “services” engineer about the new building and had included the existing wards and the extensions in this discussion. He is looking into a way of solving the problem with a ducted system which is much more cost effective than the individual split units which are in the wards at present. 3. BLESSED GÉRARD'S MALNUTRITION CLINIC: Mrs. Thabethe reported that she has 47 children on file. Father Martin Trieb had filmed during Saturday morning at this project on 22nd October 2001. 4. BLESSED GÉRARD'S AIDS EDUCATION: Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting: Fr. Gérard gave a talk on our work in AIDS at this meeting, which was very well received. Loungefurn: The management of Loungefurn have been very co-operative by allowing us to give a talk on AIDS to their staff members to facilitate the filming of such a talk by Fr. Martin Trieb. Because of the short notice, Loungefurn expected only 15 – 20 people to attend. Mrs. Kalkwarf reported that in the end there were between 50 – 60 people. World AIDS Day: Loungefurn management have invited the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard to participate in the daylong function on 30th November 2001. SAPPI: Mrs. Kalkwarf had a visit from the AIDS counsellor at SAPPI, Mandeni with a view to establishing some kind of co-operation between their company and the BBG. A second meeting was held with the Personnel Manager, the AIDS counsellor and the manager’s secretary. They stated that they could not understand why SAPPI has done nothing to work together with or to support the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard. BLESSED GÉRARD'S CHILDREN’S HOME: A new caregiver, Miss Ntombiwenkosi Ndlangamandla, has been asked to come in on a regular basis for an honorarium, to replace the caregiver who was expelled. Durban University RAG have given a donation to this project of R2000.00 towards the cost of the purchase of a jungle gym. 7. FINANCE REPORT: Father Gérard gave the report. He pointed out that the biggest expenses are food and catering and medical costs. Donations have been received from CAFOD (a Catholic Organisation in London) for £20 000 and one from Aktiondreikonigsingen (in Aachen, Germany) for 30 000 Euro. This has been a big boost for our building fund. Fr. Gérard suggested that we go ahead with the building as soon as possible. This was agreed to. 8. GENERAL: i. New Prospectus: Dr. P. Martinez designed a new prospectus for the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard and after our approval has sponsored the printing of it. ii. Constitution: Fr. Gérard reported that he had been in discussion with the Grand Hospitaller of SMOM, Baron Boeselager. He said that SMOM had changed their policies with regards to principles of relief organisations of the SMOM and that we would have to look into our constitution. There being no further business the meeting was closed with a prayer at 21.15hrs DATES FOR FORTHCOMING MEETINGS: Dedicated Members' Meeting Thursday 22nd November2001 at 19:00 hrs Dedicated Members' Meeting Saturday 27th December 2001 at 19:00 hrs Executive Council Meeting To be advised at 19:00 hrs A G E N D A for the Executive Council meeting on 8th November 2001. 1. Minutes 2. Matters arising Legal matters Report on Projects: Blessed Gérard’s Poor Sick Fund Relief Fund Bursary Fund Malnutrition Clinic Community Development Centre Friendship Club AIDS Education Pre-primary School & Crèche Care Centre & Hospice First Aid and Emergency Service Disaster Relief Children's Home Finance Report General: i. ii. iii.