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THIS I BELIEVE
1.) THAT VOTF NEEDS A COMPLETE MAKEOVER
2.) THAT OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY ALL RELIGIOUS INCLUDING NUNS, PRIEST, AND BROTHERS‘.
3.) THAT THE TRUTH AT ALL TURNS TRUMPS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE MATTERS.
4.) THAT VOTF IS IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS AND NEEDS A COMPLETE CHANGE OF FUND RAISING.
5.) THAT THE WOMEN’S ISSUE HAS LONG BEEN IGNORED BY VOTF AND NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THE FRONT BURNER
6.) THAT WE PUBLISH THE 10 BEST AND 10 WORSE DIOCESE LIST EVERY YEAR , AS SIT REGARDS OUR THREE GOALS
7.) THAT OUR WEBPAGE AND EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED TO APPEAL TO A BROADER AUDIENCE, INCLUDING HISPANICS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
8.) THAT EACH CHAPTER HAS TO NOMINATE A PRIEST OF INTEGRITY EACH YEAR TO KEEP THEIR CHARTER
9.) THAT WE ESTABLISH A SOLID WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH SIMILAR GOALS, SNAP, BISHOPS ACCOUNTABILITY, ETC.
10.) WE CAN CHANGE THE CHURCH AND IT’S THINKING. BY CONFRONTING THEM AT EVERY TURN WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ISSUES. STAYING POSITIVE AND DETERMINED.

Candidate Statement for
David Lewis Biersmith

I have the management and leadership skills and experience to provide new direction and energy for VOTF. I have been a member of VOTF for years. I will serve as an officer for two years. I fully support the VOTF Mission Statement, Identity Statement, and all three VOTF goals. Currently I am the leader of the Kansas City, MO, affiliate. I was elected to the National Representative Council from Region 9; and am a member of the Survivors Support Working Group.

I have eight children and five grandchildren. I am a member of the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, where I am President of the parish Finance Committee. I am a graduate of Rockhurst (Jesuit) College, majoring in physics and mathematics. I also studied graduate physics at Kansas State and studied for the priesthood at Conception Abbey. I served in the United States Marine Corps for 8 years before establishing my own medical supply firm. Currently I own Industrial Medical Center, an occupational medical center. I am an avid long-distance runner, competing in over 100 marathons, and several triathlons. Also, am a graduate of the "New Wine" Program for Social Reform.

As the father of two sons who were raped by Father Hugh Monahan of the Kansas City-St., Joseph Diocese, I have personal experience of the effects of the clergy sex abuse scandal.
My accomplishments during the past year include: meeting with the lawyer for most of the victim/survivors of clergy sexual abuse in our Diocese and with the Diocesan lawyer and spokesperson; recruiting local priests to join VOTF; inviting the editor of The National Catholic Reporter to an affiliate meeting; and managing the design and implementation of the region’s website.

On Goal 1, we will implement a straight-talk approach to survivor support issues; we will not fear confrontation with bishops. We will reach out to those abused by nuns. On Goal 2, we will not be driven by political correctness in acknowledging the real issues of the crisis in the priesthood. On Goal 3, we will set achievable expectations and sub-goals for structural change. I will lead the effort for VOTF to call for, as a start, women deacons. I fully support The Lay Council/Synod Working Group and support VOTF’s leadership in this area.

Within 30 days of my election I will form an audit team that will assess and report on VOTF marketing and communications, making recommendations for improvement including, possibly, the use of new tools (e.g., a website that is updated daily, blogs, YouTube) and new procedures to get VOTF’s message to appeal to younger Catholics, and get timely and frequent press coverage. I will appoint a committee to recommend policies (e.g., attendance at each other’s conferences), and procedures to govern relationships with survivor support and church reform groups, (e.g., SNAP, CTA, National Leadership Roundtable). I will work with the development committee of the Board of Trustees, to introduce a VOTF dues structure to address VOTF’s financial problems.

Statement of Support for

David Biersmith for VOTF Vice President

I am honored and happy to provide this statement of support for the candidacy of David Biersmith as VOTF vice president. He meets all the qualifications for this important national leadership position.David possesses the management and leadership skills and experience to contribute significantly to a more dynamic and productive VOTF.
I have served with David on the National Representative Council and the Steering Committee of the Survivors Support Working Group. I have heard his prophetic voice and experienced his dynamic leadership skills first hand.

David is the leader of the Kansas City, MO, affiliate and is the elected representative to the National Council from Region 9 (Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas).
He is the President of his parish’s Finance Committee, invaluable experience for VOTF’s next national leadership team. He is also a member of the Survivors Support Working Group. The father of eight and the grandfather of five, David is a graduate of Rockhurst (Jesuit) College, majoring in physics and mathematics. He also studied graduate physics, studied for the priesthood, and served in the United States Marine Corps for 8 years. His ownership of a successful small business, Industrial Medical Center, an occupational medical center, with total responsibility and accountability for the financial success of the business, makes him ideally suited and qualified to contribute to the solution of VOTF’s financial and membership challenges.

David is an avid long-distance runner, having competed in over 100 marathons, and several triathlons—demonstrating qualities of high energy and discipline. This Renaissance man from America’s heartland will make an ideal VOTF national leader.
As the father of two sons who were raped by Father Hugh Monahan of the Kansas City-St., Joseph Diocese, David has deep personal experience of the effects of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

David’s recent accomplishments as his affiliate’s leader include: meeting with the lawyer for most of the victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse in his Diocese and with the Diocesan lawyer and spokesperson; recruiting local priests to join VOTF; inviting the editor of The National Catholic Reporter to an affiliate meeting; and managing the design and implementation of the Region 9 website.

David Biersmith makes things happen and gets things done--that's why I endorse his candidacy.
Respectfully submitted,

Frank J. Douglas
Tucson, AZ, Affiliate Leader
Member, Survivor Support (National) Working Group
Former Member, National Representative Council
Former Member, National Representative Council Steering Committee