The Networks Support & Grants Committee has the responsibility for a variety of tasks as vested by the Presbytery of the Miami Valley. The various functions of the committee include establishing, monitoring, maintaining criteria and reviewing annually each Designated Network within the Presbytery; any new network approval; and establishing, monitoring and maintaining criteria for Network financial support.
This also includes the administration of grants from the Northminster Fund and the Peacemaking Fund. Any Presbytery matching grants from General Assembly and/or the Synod are provided oversight, as well as are all outside source grants for Designated Networks.
The Network financial support is provided through the annual budget voted by the Presbytery. The committee then reviews the requests for funding from each Designated Network and divides the budget to meet those requests as best it can.
In 2015 the annual Network funding was delayed until after the February Presbytery meeting when its budget was approved. A total of $23,820 was awarded to the eight Designated Networks.
Three grants awarded were of Peacemaking funds to four Teaching Elders to attend the NEXT conference, as well as to RE Marvella Lambright, College Hill Presbyterian Church, Dayton, and TE Aaron Saari, First Presbyterian Church, Yellow Springs, to attend two other conferences. All recipients were to share information with the presbytery as requested by the committee. Another Peacemaking grant request was from the Dayton chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus for eight members from College Hill and Trinity Presbyterian Church, Dayton to attend the National Black Presbyterian Caucus Biennial convention.
Two Northminster Fund grants went to Bellefontaine First United Presbyterian Church for meal assistance for “Tuesday Nite at the Pres” and to Sidney First Presbyterian Church for the “Munch Bunch” program to provide weekend food packs for over 160 children attending local elementary schools. Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton requested Northminster funding for its ID program, which was granted.
A new designated network was approved. Sew Faithful Network became the tenth network of the PMV. In December 2015 the annual Designated Network funding went to ten networks.
In 2016 the Dayton chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus requested a Peacemaking grant to fund three concerts presented at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Dayton in March and April. In March a Northminster Fund grant was awarded to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton to continue the ID program for another year.
In June another Designated network was approved. Third-Thirty Network is the eleventh PMV network.
A Peacemaking grant was awarded for Dr. Carolyn Peters of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Dayton to attend the World-wide Blind Union Convention. Her report of the event is deemed worthwhile to share and is to be included with this information*. RE Marvella Lambright also requested a Peacemaking grant to bring a speaker to the Dayton area, however that individual could not attend the planned event.
Southminster Presbyterian Church, Centerville, requested a Northminster grant to assist with a Habitat for Humanity build. The NS&G Committee decided to use Peacemaking grant funds to support the community effort.
Six teaching elders and six ruling elders make up the NS&G Committee, appointed for a three year term, with one renewal term possible. We strive to diligently monitor the Designated Networks through the review of their annual reports and funding requests. We carefully consider requests for the specialized funds for the Peacemaking and Northminster Funds as well. We encourage new network developments. Through these efforts we support the mission and ministry of the Presbytery of the Miami Valley.
Ann Peters
Chair, Networks Support & Grants Committee
*Report of Carolyn Peters, Scholarship Recipient 2016
To: Mrs. Ann Peters and Grants and Scholarships committee
From: Carolyn Peters, College Hill Community Church, Dayton, Ohio
Thank you, so very much for your support in attending the Worldwide Blind Union and International Counsel of the Education of Blind and Visually impaired Conference, held in Orlando, Fl. August 18, 2016.
There were 99 countries and 16 International organizations represented. 700 plus blind and visually impaired persons and 300 plus family members and or personal assistants, first time held in the United States.
This was an awesome experience, one of a lifetime. Knowing, sharing, and networking with individuals around the world having like experiences, and making multiple efforts around the globe to mange the loves we live with blindness, be it daily living, employment, careers. Confronting barriers and obstacles along the way, trying and hoping to make a difference, by impacting the world and the lives we wish to live.
The WBU and ICEBVI accepted 100 plus abstracts, from youth to adulthood, tools and opportunities for many and encouragement for others. Many countries did not have the support systems in place. Things we take for granted, like paved roadways, easy access to buildings.
One week does not begin to explain the encounters I had. The pain, the struggle and despair was real, yet the good things outweighed the not so good things and hope was alive and well.