Some highlights of the meeting were:

1. A Liturgy at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by the Most Reverend Justin F. Rigali, D.D. Archbishop of St. Louis. This beautiful Mass began with the procession of school banners followed by all the RSCJ in attendance. After the Mass, there was a solemn blessing of the statue of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in the Hall of American Saints.
2. The wonderful day at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart at which outstanding workshops were presented prior to the Cor Unum Awards Luncheon. Award recipients were: Helen Bruns Ryan- Central Region; Jane Burke O' Connell- Eastern Region and Marcelle Eason Amony- Western Region. The Woman of Conscience Award was presented to Anne Dyer, RSCJ. We are very proud of these special honorees!!
3. An evening at the Washington Press Club highlighted by a panel of personalities and moderated by Cokie Roberts.
4. The Home Dinners by Stone Ridge Alumnae at more than 30 homes.

There were many other wonderful events, too many to list, but enjoyed by all!

I compiled and distributed AMASC folders to representatives of each of the 46 Associations. Each folder contained:

1. The Draft Study Plan for the World Congress-2002. The importance of this Plan was stressed and all were encouraged to review and address the issues therein either with their respective Boards, a designated commitee, or with any group of interested Alumnae/i. In other words, all were urged to handle in a manner suitable to their particular situations. They were told that their input is invaluable to us and that we know that as children of the Sacred Heart, they will participate in this very worthwhile project! I asked that the first two phases be completed and returned to me by the end of this year(1999). The final phases are to be completed by the end of the year 2001.

   Also included in the folder were information sheets on AMASC (and a listing of the Presidency and Secretariat), OMAEC and WUCWO.

2. The Jublilee 2000 Petition (each Association was sent a packet from the Office in Washington, as well as Petition Sheets to be completed, reproduced as needed, and returned to me, ASAP! I explained the "debt crisis situation" as concisely as possible quoting from the letter written by Mother Patricia Garcia de Quevedo, Superior General of the RSCJ to all RSCJ. I stated that Trish Burns, our AMASC President had urged all to give this matter their immediate attention if they had not already done so, as many more signatures are needed. All were thanked on behalf of Trish and her AMASC team.

I concluded my report by encouraging everyone to attend the AMASC Congress April 7-12 in Sydney, Australia.

Sue Lane reported on the Hospitality Commitee encouraging other interested Alumnae to participate by having their names and addresses placed in the Hospitality Roster. Sue also asked those on the Commitee to give all updated information (i.e. changes) to her as soon as possible.

The next AASH Conference will be held April 25-29, 2001 in San Francisco. It will be presided over by our newly elected President Maryliz de Vito Lincoln. The other elected officers and directors are:

• Nancy Ross Agnew-Vice President
• Barbara Brown Lopiccola- Corresponding Secretary
• Mary Ann Keyes- Recording Secretary
• Wallis Gunn Strobach- Treasurer
• Barbara A. Sullivan- Eastern Regional Director
• Patricia Eldredge Kolojeski- Central Regional Director
• Beth Lowry Speck- Southern Regional Director
• Susan Nerney Schumann- Western Regional Director

  We were very delighted to have our AASH President, Marion Glennon, extend the greetings that had been sent by Trish Burns and Kumiko Oshima, AMASC Advisor (Japan). We were also honored that Ana Elena Ogarrio de Reyes Retena, AMASC Advisor (Mexico) attended our AASH Confernece.

  Love in the Sacred Heart,

  Olga S. Rome
  AMASC Advisor (USA and Canada)

  ---

  REPORT ON THE AASH CONFERENCE

  Ana Elena Ogarrio de Reyes Retana

  The Washington AASH Conference was beautifully organized. I had the pleasure of seeing Marion Glennon, Sue Lane and Olga Rome among the many other old friends that attended.

  The highlight of the Conference was the blessing of a beautiful Italian marble statue of Saint Philippine Duchesne by the Archbishop of St. Louis Missouri in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. A most solemn High Mass was sung and about 45 rscjs took part in a procession followed by banners representing each of the U.S. Alumnae/i Associations and Network Schools in the U.S.A. It was a truly moving ceremony.

  Later on, we had dinner at the National Press Club, where several alumnae and friends of the Sacred Heart have distinguished themselves as anchors in television newscasts, showing us how news is gathered and edited for broadcasting . Most interesting, but when I suggested that I could get them a great story on Chiapas, they told me there was very little interest in news south of the border. How sad.

  I did however gather some good ideas for alumnae projects, one of which could bring together young students about to graduate from high school and the alumnae association. In Mexico we had never heard of "internships". Alumnae working in companies, on their own, or in government, arrange for a student to "intern" without pay for a week or so in their workplace, getting the feel of what the real workplace is like. This gives them a chance to decide if they really want to dedicate their lives to, for instance, publishing, or the media, or the State Department. Many a young person has an idealized picture of corporate life and many are turned off when they realize they may have to be file clerks for a couple of years. This is a thought that might just work for Mexico City at least. There is so much to do.