NOVEMBER VOLUNTEER ANNOUNCEMENTS

• IOCC Sunday is Nov. 23rd – The Sunday before Thanksgiving has been designated by our hierarchs as “IOCC Sunday”. You and your priest should have received an encyclical from the SCOBA hierarchs encouraging your support. You will also receive camera-ready announcements (ad slicks) for your bulletins. Please discuss with your parish council and priest how your parish will observe this day. You can download the IOCC encyclical and ad slicks at www.iocc.org/materials.

• You should have received the first of two Christmas appeals. This package includes five Christmas cards which are a perfect way to wish your loved ones blessings of this season. Please respond to this appeal and encourage your fellow parishioners to do the same. If you or members of your parish would like to order more cards, packs of 10 for $8.95 are available at Light and Life Publishing Company at 952.925.3888 or visit: http://www.light-n-life.com

• New Financial Procedures are ready for all Metropolitan Committees to use. If you are currently in charge of your committee’s finances, please contact IOCC if you have additional questions. Help us maintain a clean audit by following these new procedures!

• Please continue posting the Priest to Priest on your parish bulletin boards and order IOCC informational materials at www.iocc.org/materialsrequest. Many times you are the only resource people have to keep them aware and up to date on what IOCC is doing!

On September 6th, Charlotte Todd competed in a triathlon to raise money for IOCC. The race was called “Tri For Your Cause” and was held at Boulder Reservoir in Colorado. The event included a 1/2 mile swim in open water, a 26 mile bike ride, and a 4 mile run. After 2 hours and 44 min. she crossed the finish line ... not to receive any awards (obviously!), but to give IOCC over $1,700 for its humanitarian programs around the world. Competitors were allowed to choose a charitable cause but the charity had to be on the race list. If it wasn’t, the only way to get it on the list was to raise at least $1000, so that’s what Charlotte set out to do. Out of 300 participants, she raised the second largest amount of money for her charity. Out of $10,000 raised in total for charitable organizations, she raised 17% of it alone for IOCC. Many people in Colorado sponsored her with the hope of getting IOCC on the permanent list of recipient organizations for this triathlon. They did it! Now anyone who runs this race in the future can donate their entrance fee and collections to IOCC, no matter the amount. A little pain for world-wide gain – that was her motto and motivation. Anyone else inspired to do the same? To learn more about Charlotte, www.iocc.org/faithinaction!

NOVEMBER YOUTH INVOLVEMENT — IOCC School Kits
Written by Chris Vellios from Eagle Scout Troop 531: When I decided that I was going to use the IOCC organization for my Eagle Scout project there was an array of packets to choose from. First I decided to use IOCC because my Boy Scout troop is primarily made up of Orthodox Christian scouts. I felt it was my obligation as an Orthodox Christian to give back to my religious community. After I decided to use the IOCC organization I had to decide what packet I would want to use. I was told that school packets were greatly needed so I decided to use those. Posting fliers around my church and local shops various people donated. Whether the contributors gave me money or supplies their contributions were greatly appreciated. With the help from my fellow scouts we posted fliers and packed and shipped the supplies. There was a total of 50 packets collected. Thanks for all the assistance from my scouts and contributors. Please visit www.iocc.org/pastevents to see pictures from events in Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C.