San Antonio Executive Al Notzon Appointed Next Chair of the National Review Board

WASHINGTON—Al J. Notzon III of the Archdiocese of San Antonio has been appointed the next chair of the National Review Board (NRB) by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He will succeed the current chair, Diane Knight, at the conclusion of her term following the June 2011 meeting of the USCCB.

Notzon retired after 35 years as executive director of the Alamo Area Council of Governments, a Texas association of local governments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Mary’s University, and has done graduate work in economics, law and urban planning. He is active in his community and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was appointed to the Archdiocesan Review Board in 2003 and currently serves as its chairman. In 2008 he was also appointed to the NRB.

In making the appointment, Archbishop Dolan thanked Notzon “for graciously and generously agreeing to accept the responsibilities of chairing the National Review Board” and said he looks forward to working with him over the next two years. His term will extend until June of 2013.

Archbishop Dolan also said, “The bishops of the United States greatly appreciate the prayers, advice, and support of the NRB as we continue our efforts to fulfill our promises to reach out to victims/survivors, assure the safety of our children and young people, and foster the holiness of our clergy.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops established the National Review Board during its meeting in June of 2002 as a consultative body tasked with reviewing the annual report of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection on the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the recommendations that emerge from it, and offering its assessment to the president of the USCCB. The Board offers its advice in cooperation with the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People, especially with regard to policies and practices related to child and youth protection. It also reviews the work of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection.

Archbishop Dolan also took the opportunity to thank outgoing chair Diane Knight for the manner in which she has led the NRB over the last couple of years.

"I wish to acknowledge the excellent and collaborative manner by which you have guided the work of the NRB and related that to the Committee on the Protection of Children and Youth and to the bishops as a whole,” Archbishop Dolan said. Knight was appointed to the NRB in 2007 and has served as its chair since 2009.

Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington, chairman of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People, also welcomed the news of the appointment commenting, "I look forward to continuing our collaboration with the members of the NRB under Mr. Notzon’s leadership. They make an enormous contribution to the Church in helping the U.S. bishops to foster a safe environment for children and outreach to victims."

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Keywords: National Review Board, NRB, child and youth protection, victim outreach, safe environment, Al Notzon, Diane Knight, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Catholic bishops, USCCB

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