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Focus on the Positive...
Ann Madden, Gene Huffstutler & Tina Clark enjoy their time together at Ann's retirement reception held recently. |
In March, two valued members of our BCM Family retired after many years of service to BCM and the communities we serve. Ms. Ann Madden retired from her position of Chaplain to Woldenberg Village after 7 years of serving the residents. A reception was held in her honor in the BCM Conference room on March 12, 2010. It was attended by many of Ann's friends and family members. Ann plans to spend her retirement continuing the work she loves, caring for others in a less formal atmosphere, and spending time with her husband, Myron, and other family members.
Cathy Vaughn speaks to news media at a press conference concerning charter schools.  |
Cathy Vaughn retired from her position of Program Director, Education Zone on March 10, 2010. Cathy has served in this capacity at BCM for the past 13 years. She has had many successes and accomplishments within the Educational Zone including spearheading the efforts to reform the Public Education System in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and a push towards Charter Schools. Cathy has been a true champion of Education in her years at BCM. Cathy will continue to be involved in Education through the many organizations she supports with her time. |
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Foundation Facts
Baptist Community Ministries, one of Louisiana's largest private foundations, has supported the Southeast Council Boy Scouts of America since 1999. |
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Visit Project Justice NOLA
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Have a Story to Share?
Know of programs and people positively contributing to our community working with BCM? Send your story to cmarkham@bcm.org! |
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Greetings!
During the first quarter of 2010, BCM has been working diligently within the communities we serve to improve all aspects of the quality of life for the citizens of those communities. There are several reports from our zones of interest here that show the commitment of our board and staff to fulfilling our mission statement.
Please enjoy this issue of our newsletter, and as always, your comments and contributions are welcomed. |
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BCM plays an important role in New Orleans Elections
 New Orleans City Council Criminal Justice Committee Chair James Carter, Baptist Community Ministries and Vera invited major candidates for the Mayor and Council to a three-hour non-public learning session held on January 28, 2010. During this session, candidates were asked questions about moving forward with initiative to reinvent criminal justice in New Orleans. Candidates learned of the progress of the criminal justice initiatives begun in 2007 and were asked to support these ongoing initiatives. Results of the candidates' answers and comments were then posted to the Project Justice NOLA website.
 BCM introduced the Project Justice NOLA website prior to the 2008 Orleans Parish District Attorney and Criminal Court Judge elections and it is now in work to be utilized to track the new leadership's involvement in criminal justice change. Luceia LeDoux, BCM's Program Director for Public Safety and Governmental Oversight, says "BCM has funded many projects intended to improve criminal justice outcomes. Looking back on those investments and today's results we recognize the need to more closely track over time the impact of our recourses. This site will be a tool to help us share our findings, new knowledge and ideas with community partners. (For full press release, click HERE). |
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A Chaplain's Story of Help and Hope
Chaplains placed by the Chaplaincy Services Division of The McFarland Institute serve in hospitals, the New Orleans Police Department and nursing homes. Jane Mauldin has been assigned to Touro Infirmary for the past four years. Below is a story she recently shared.
I entered the 6th floor ICU unit on a routine daily visit, checking in with staff, and visiting patients and their families.
Outside the door of Mr. E's room, his nurse looked up at me. "It makes me so mad," she said. "He" (she nodded toward Mr. E) "should just be able to go when it's his time. He's a 'DNR' (Do Not Resuscitate). Why the doctors won't just let him have some peace, I don't know!" I put my arm around her, heard her frustration, and supported her care. I checked my patient list and saw that Mr. E. was an 85-year old African-American Baptist man. Then, I gowned and gloved (required in that unit) and went in to his bedside. Mr. E.'s eyes were closed. Occasionally, they fluttered slightly. He had a oxygen mask on his face, several IVs in his arms, and was hooked up to a portable dialysis machine. The monitor indicated a stable heart and breathing rate.
"Hello, Mr. E," I said to him, "I'm Chaplain Jane. I'm the chaplain here, and I like to meet the patients and see how it's going..." Mr. E. did not respond. I lifted the sheet near his hand, and slipped my hand into his. He gripped it with an amazingly strong grip. I just held it quietly for a minute, breathing and being peacefully with him. "Mr. E.," I said, "I often offer a psalm or prayer for patients. Would it be alright with you if I offered prayer?" He did not respond, but kept holding my hand. I began to pray. I prayed a prayer of thanks for God's presence, for His love which is with us now and eternally. I asked God's blessing on Mr. E., and asked that God help Mr. E. feel His blessing, His comfort, and His peace, right now. I thanked God for His promise that in Him is life, now and forevermore. Following the prayer, I began to say the 23rd Psalm. (MORE) |
Clarion Herald features story on The McFarland Institutes' Church Nurse Program.
 On December 26, 2009, The Clarion Herald ran an article that chronicals the works of many Church Nurses trained by The McFarland Intitutes Congregational Wellness Division. To view the article in its entirety, please click HERE |
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Power Corrupts; Absolutely
by Byron R. Harrell
A recent article from The Economist (Jan 21st print edition) may be very instructive to philanthropists. Recent research explores the hypocritical sense of entitlement and the moral pliability that seems to follow people who exercise power. Researchers in the Netherlands and the United States designed several experiments to elicit states of power and powerlessness in the minds of volunteers and then they were tested for their moral flexibility in over-reporting travel expenses at work. The results seem to confirm the ancient maxim that power corrupts and that it promotes a hypocritical tendency to hold other people to a higher standard than oneself. Powerful people are quick to condemn the transgressions of others before considering their own.
These findings are not particularly surprising. However, the research team went on to observe that powerful people who have been caught in their transgressions show few signs of contrition. It seems that powerful people not only abuse the system freely and hold others (less powerful) to a higher standard; they also feel entitled to abuse it. When the presence of power was viewed as justified by the powerful, they assumed it was even their right to take what they want.(more) |
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In Closing...
As the first quarter of BCM's fiscal year passes and the second has begun, there have been many newsworthy accomplishments Please visit our website for more information about BCM and our endeavors to make our communities the best they can be.
Thank you for taking your time to read this issue, and we hope you will look forward to our next issue due to you on July 27, 2010. |
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Sincerely,
Cindy Markham
BCM |
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