| • | collaboration with colleagues from other (arch)dioceses in North America | |
| • | professional development | |
| • | spiritual growth | |
| • | choice of interesting and timely topics from multiple “tracks” at the annual conference | |
| • | opportunity to confer with conference exhibitors, experts in their fields | |
| • | members in good standing may apply for the DISC Mission Grant Program which provides small grants for various initiatives nationally and internationally. | |
| • | online members’ forum (QuickPlace), which includes: | |
| • | discussion board for technical, spiritual, moral, or other questions | |
| • | ability to search past discussion threads for interesting content | |
| • | library of forms, policies, and procedures collected from other DISC members | |
| • | information on discount programs that are available to Church organizations and other non-profits | |
| • | equipment trading/selling forum | |
| • | DISC newsletter | |
“As
a member of a poor and sparsely populated diocese that is
also very large geographically
- the western half
of South Dakota, I have to emphasize that the DISC Conference
is well worth the investment.
We try to send at least one person to the DISC Conference.
Each time we come back with a better idea of what other dioceses
are dealing with and some potential solutions to the challenges
that we face, plus there is an intangible benefit in taking
time to stop and think about why we do what we do and to
allow ourselves some credit for what can often be a thankless
job. (How many of us hear from anyone about IS when things
are working as they should?)
The DISC conference keeps us from becoming stagnant. It is
a forum for ideas that often help us small guys do big things.
It helps us to refocus our ministry and keeps us aware of
issues that we as a pastoral entity must consider outside
of the nuts and bolts of IT.”
– Teresa Spiess, Secretary to
the Bishop, Diocese of Rapid City
“Being a member of DISC makes me feel like I’m
not alone. It’s comforting to know that there are many
others out there facing the same technology challenges that
we face in our diocese. The annual conference boosts my motivation
and morale. It helps me to remember that I am blessed to
be working with information technology for the Church, as
opposed to some for-profit business. Besides, discount programs
that I have learned about through DISC have saved our diocese
enough money to pay for many years of the annual membership
fee.”
– Chris Hair, Information Systems
Manager, Diocese of Colorado Springs