53rd Biennial National 2010 Convention
by Terrie Vacek
Friday morning began with a very moving Memorial/Patriotic Mass. The volunteer choir for every Mass was incredible! Celebrant Rev. Donald Rupert in his homily emphasized that “Remembrance brings the deceased to the present. Life stories are the sharing of their value to our family, church and country”. Candles were brought in procession representing the following; Deceased National Officers and Directors, Deceased State Officers, Deceased Members, Deceased Spouses of all CDA Members, and Deceased Children and Grandchildren of all CDA Members. In the Communion Meditation Libby Ramirez, National Regent, said, “Life is unending because love is undying and the boundaries of this mortal life are but a horizon and a horizon is but the limit of our sight”.
Election results: Second Vice National Regent, Letty Calvetti and the 2012 Nominating Committee- Penny Martin, NY; Linda Colletti, MA; Irene Duda, OR; Daphne Bernstein, CA; Carolyn Malik, TX; Della Santos, IL; and Nancy Bambenek,MN.
One resolution was presented and approved. With a voting strength of 683 following much discussion (6 hrs. over two days), all but two National Bylaw committee proposed Amendments were adopted as amended. The Bylaw Chair, Anne Nelson, National Regent Elect did an outstanding job presenting the proposed amendments on five separate color coded handouts. A large block of changes were the movement to the New Procedural Handbook incorporating the changes to the Tools of the Trade new edition. Five hundred tools of the trade booklets & CD’s were available for state and local courts; they sold out. All courts wanting the new edition will be required to order from National in September.
Libby Ramirez, Sheila Martinka, Duchess Collins, Bishop Fellhauer, and Fr. Don attended the State Regents Luncheon. The National Officers, Directors, Chaplain and Clergy Consultant presented National Regent Libby Ramirez a CDA Gold Heart in appreciation for her outstanding service as National Regent.
Broadway Fun Night was a blast! CDA members and guest dressed up in their favorite Broadway costumes. Sister Act, Phantom, OZ, High School Musical, Grease, Cats, Chorus Line, and Wizard were only a few of the wide variety of themes that decorated the banquet tables and dance floor.
