Member Voting Guide
Member Voting Guide
Voting Results
The Chair of the Nominating Committee, Louise ‘Duce’ Dussault, presented to the membership the results of the items on the voting ballot, on Monday, February 3. The results are as follows:
2024 Annual Membership Meeting Minutes: Passed
2025 Board of Directors Slate: Passed. The five (5) directors terms will renew on July 1, 2024. Those four are: Louise ‘Duce’ Dussault, Bill Leonard, Paul Sifuentes, Kent Schmitz, and Archbishop Nelson Perez.
Next, the nominating committee will work on a timeline for the voting process for the upcoming fiscal year.
Notice of the 2026 Annual Membership Meeting – Voting
The annual membership meeting of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry for the conduct of all membership business shall be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 12:15 pm ET to 2:00 pm ET, at the Marriott Louisville East, 1903 Embassy Square Boulevard, Louisville KY 40299, US. This meeting is held in conjunction with the 2026 Exchange. To learn more about Exchange, Click Here >.
Items on the Ballot and Supporting Documents
There are three items on the ballot.
- Approve the Annual Membership Meeting Minutes that took place in February of 2025 at NFCYM’s 2025 Exchange held on Monday, February 3, 2025, in Atlanta, GA.
- Approve the amended and restated bylaws as presented.
- Approve a slate of five (5) candidates to fill the five (5) open positions on the NFCYM Board of Directors for FY 2027. Terms begin July 1, 2026, and end on June 30, 2029.
Who is Eligible to Vote?
Each member has the right to vote on all matters that the board brings to the members for a vote and all additional rights that the board determines, as follows:
- Associate Members – Associate members are grouped by episcopal regions as defined by the USCCB. The designated associate regional representative in each region can cast a vote on behalf of all the associate members of that region in a manner discerned by those associate members.
- Constitutive Members – Constitutive members have one vote per episcopal region, to be cast by a designated constitutive regional representative in a manner discerned by the constitutive members in that region.
- Diocesan Members – Each Catholic Latin-rite diocese member and Eastern-rite eparchy member has one vote, to be cast by its designated diocesan representative in a manner discerned by each diocesan member.
- Organizational Members – Each organizational member has one vote to be cast by its designated organizational representative in a manner discerned by its members.
How does the Designated Member Representative Vote?
The voting period will take place using NFCYM’s online platform, Connect, beginning January 26, 2026, at 12:00 am ET until February 1, 11:59 pm ET. In January, an email will be sent to confirm all designated member representatives for voting.
Per the bylaws, 25% of the voting members constitute a quorum. As of January 15, 2026, there are 224 eligible voting members. Therefore, 56 votes are needed to meet the quorum requirements.
On January 26, via Connect each designated member representative will receive a link to the ballot. Reminder notices will be sent during the week of the voting period to those designated member representatives who have not yet voted.
For the vote to carry, an affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes cast by voting members is needed.
In order for the vote to count, the voting representative must cast a vote no later than February 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET | 8:59 pm PT.
Per the bylaws, 25% of the voting members constitute a quorum. For example, since there are 229 eligible voting members as of January 1, 2025, quorum would be reached if 58 voting representatives were to cast their vote. The final cut-off day to determine the final number of eligible votes is January 15, 2026.
Summary of Bylaw Review and Proposed Revisions
The Governance Committee conducted a comprehensive review of NFCYM bylaws from October 2024 through October 2025, engaging board committees, the membership, and legal counsel to ensure alignment with governance best practices and the organization’s evolving mission. After multiple rounds of consultation and refinement, the board unanimously adopted the amended and restated bylaws on November 5, 2025, and now presents them to the membership for a vote.
To view the full text of the amended and restated bylaws, Click Here > .
To read about additional details on the revisions and the review process, Click Here > .
Board of Director Slate
On November 5, 2025, the NFCYM Board of Directors affirmed the slate for presentation to the members and authorized the chair of the nominating committee to present it to members. The nominating committee is grateful for all the nominations submitted. Each potential candidate, as well as any current director eligible for another term, was prayerfully considered. Recognizing the need for continuity, the committee recommended a slate that includes experienced leadership to guide NFCYM’s mission forward. To maintain the momentum of the work and in recognition of their dedicated service and willingness to continue, the nominating committee selected existing board members to renew their terms.
It is important to note that some nominees are completing their first term on the board and seeking a second term, while others were appointed by the board to fill a vacancy and are now seeking appointment for their first full term. According to the bylaws, a director may serve two consecutive terms and may only pursue an additional two consecutive terms after a break in service. Additionally, while some directors have served for over three years, years of service prior to 2022 do not apply under the revised bylaws.
At-Large Candidates
Diann Bruno
Diann Bruno is completing her first term on the NFCYM Board of Directors. Currently, Diann is the Executive Assistant to the Publisher of OCP and a member of
its General Management Team. With over 35 years in the liturgical music industry, her heart remains rooted in ministry, especially with youth. Her journey began at North American Liturgy Resources, a family ministry founded by her husband’s family. She joined OCP in 1994 as part of the team that led NALR’s acquisition. At OCP, she helped launch spiritandsong.com, blending her love for contemporary music and young discipleship. Diann has attended every National Catholic Youth Conference since 1991. Her love for the Church—especially the young Church—is the driving force in her life. Diann and her husband, Bruce, are blessed
with three children and ten grandchildren.
Angie Greulich
Angie Greulich is completing her first term on the NFCYM Board of Directors. She is currently part of the Charitable Giving team at Catholic Relief Services. Prior to this role, Angie led the major gifts department for the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana. The foundation of her experience, however, lies in
interpersonal relations and ministry. For eight years, Angie led and developed youth ministry strategic plans for parishes, schools, and dioceses around the country. In her spare time, she writes for Liturgical Training Publications, and she and her husband, Josh, give retreats and workshops on the vocation of marriage. Angie is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive and holds a master’s degree in Theological Studies from St. Meinrad School of Theology, where she also serves on the Board of Overseers. She and her husband have two teenage children and a goofy Bernadoodle pup named Gus
Gary Malone
Gary Malone is completing his first term on the NFCYM Board of Directors. He is a certified public accountant who retired from the role of Executive Partner of his practice at H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, where he provided financial advice for numerous local government projects, including bond financing, financial analysis, and economic development throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Gary also served as Director of Operations for the AIM Medical Trust, a healthcare pool providing health coverage to over 4,200 municipal employees throughout the State of Indiana. The Indiana CPA Society honored Gary as the 2006 CPA of the Year in Public Practice. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Hamilton County Catholic High School Corporation. Gary and his wife Tina live in Carmel, Indiana, and have three children.
Regional Candidates
Angel Barrera
Angel currently leads parish engagement efforts in the Diocese of Brownsville and coordinates local initiatives for the Synod on Synodality and the National
Eucharistic Revival. With over 20 years of ministry experience, he is a Leadership Consultant with the Catholic Leadership Institute and a Consultant to the National Community of Catechetical Leaders. Angel holds a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley. He and his wife, Ashley, live in Mission, TX, with their six children
Chenele Shaw
Chenele Shaw is completing her first term on the NFCYM Board of Directors. She grew up in Central Florida in a vibrant Catholic Caribbean family and earned her bachelor’s degree in Theology from Ave Maria University in 2015. She has served in ministry at the school, parish, and diocesan levels. Currently, she lives in Florida, where she is the co-director of the Before Gethsemane Initiative, which focuses on educating and equipping Catholics to work against racism in the Church and beyond. Chenele is also a national speaker and writer who inspires faith and community through authentic stories and impactful conversations.
Episcopal Liasion
Archbishop Nelson Perez
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez is completing his first term on the NFCYM Board of Directors. He was born in Miami in 1961 and grew up in West New York, NJ. He earned a BA in Psychology from Montclair State University and completed his M.Div. and MA in Theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1989 and served in various roles within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including as founding director of the Catholic Institute for Evangelization and pastor of Saint William and Saint Agnes parishes. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, where he was Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and oversaw numerous diocesan committees. In 2017, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Cleveland, and in 2020, Archbishop of Philadelphia. Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he chaired the Standing Committee on Cultural Diversity and led the V Encuentro process. He is the current bishop liaison for NFCYM and was appointed to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2020. In 2022, he began a three-year term as Chair of the Board of Catholic Relief Services.
Timeline
Location section includes hyperlinks. Click links in orange under location to participate.
Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
Aug., 1 2025 | Open Nomination Period to Submit Candidates for Open Positions (*Did not take place in FY26) | Online Form |
Sept. 30, 2025 | Close Nomination Period (*Did not take place in FY26) | Online Form |
Oct. 9, 2025 | Nomination Committee Reviewed all Nominations (*Did not take place in FY26) | |
Dec. 12, 2025 | Slate Presented to Membership | Email |
Jan. 26, 2026 (12:00 am ET) | Voting BEGINS – (Designated Member Representative Only*) | Online Form |
Feb. 1, 2026 (11:59 pm ET) | Voting ENDS – (Designated Member Representative Only*) | Online Form |
Feb. 2, 2026 (1:00 pm ET) | Exchange – Announce Voting Results | Exchange |
FAQ
Yes, a member can vote if they did not attend the Annual Membership Meeting. To read a copy of the minutes, Click Here >.
There is no objection to a member approving the meeting minutes that he or she did not attend. The approval is not an attestation that the person was there but simply an affirmation that the minutes are a record of the meeting.
The NFCYM Board of Directors is responsible for both the governance of NFCYM and furthering the mission of NFCYM.
The NFCYM Board of Directors created a document outlining the expectations it has for board members. To view the document, Click Here >
Articles 3, 4 and 5 of our bylaws cover more information regarding the board of directors.
A regional candidate must be a current member of NFCYM (diocesan, associate, organizational, or constitutive) residing in one of our episcopal regions in the United States.
An at-large candidate is someone who brings specific expertise or experience that the board determines is in the best interests of NFCYM. Membership in NFCYM is not required.
*In fiscal year 2026, NFCYM did not hold a nomination process due to the strong list of nominees produced in the previous year.
From August through September, notices via Engage were sent to members, inviting them to put forth possible candidates. Social media posts drew attention to the process, and regional leaders were encouraged to share the opportunity with their regions. An online form was created to collect submissions, which were accepted until September 30, 2025.
During the nomination process, several candidates were brought forth. The nominating committee of the board of directors reviewed and considered all nominations. Each potential candidate, as well as any current director eligible for another term, was prayerfully considered. Recognizing the need for continuity, the committee recommended a slate that includes experienced leadership to guide NFCYM’s mission forward. To maintain the momentum of the work and in recognition of their dedicated service and willingness to continue, the nominating committee has selected existing board members to renew their terms.
It is important to note that some nominees are completing their first term on the board and seeking a second term, while others were appointed by the board to fill a vacancy and are now seeking appointment for their first full term. According to the bylaws, a director may serve two consecutive terms and may only pursue an additional two consecutive terms after a break in service. Additionally, while some directors have served for over three years, years of service prior to 2022 do not apply under the revised bylaws.
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors has put forth four candidates for membership to approve. Two of these candidates will fill open roles as “regional” directors of the board, while two will fill open roles as “at-large” directors of the board. Bios and headshots are available to view above.
To comply with NFCYM’s amended bylaws, the board of directors proposes a slate of candidates to fill the open positions. Members are asked to vote for the slate, not per candidate.
If there is not a quorum for membership to vote or the vote does not carry, then the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors will submit a new slate to the membership for voting.
Per the bylaws, 25% of the voting members constitute a quorum.
For examples, as of January 16, 2026, there are 224 eligible voting members. Therefore, 56 votes are needed to meet the quorum requirements.
For the vote to carry, we need an affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes cast by voting members.
Per the bylaws, a vote must take place by electronic ballot conducted in advance of meetings. The results are announced during the Annual Membership Meeting portion of Exchange, which takes place in February.
The nominating committee of the board of directors has closed the nomination process at the moment. More information will be shared in the spring for the following nomination window.
Contact Louise ‘Duce’ Dussault, Chair of the Nominating Committee at [email protected].
Questions?
If you have any questions about the bylaws or the annual membership meeting, please email Paul Sifuentes, Chair of the Board, at [email protected].
If you have any questions about the slate or voting process, please email Duce Dussault, Chair of the Nominating Committee, at [email protected].
If you have questions about membership or designated voting representatives, please email Molly Schorr, Membership Coordinator, at [email protected].
If you have general questions regarding voting, please email Jackie Coutinho, Office Administrator, at [email protected].
