Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 06:37:46 -0800 From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Federal Action Alert; Miscellaneous Resources =46rom: Pennsylvania Expose - March 13, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose is a project of the FTRN Communications Working Group and People for the American Way. It is available by fax and email. Subscription information is below. Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act- a wolf in sheep's clothing by Brian Gocial, People for the American Way 1-800-326-7329 The Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995 (S. 984/H.R. 1946) is a key component in the Christian Coalition's "Contract with the American Family." The danger of this legislation is in its innocuous, pro-family "mask" which misleads legislators and the public. None would dispute that active parental involvement in the care, upbringing and education of our children is the cornerstone of a strong, healthy society. Unfortunately, increasing parental involvement in education is not what this legislation is about. If the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995 were to become law, Religious Right groups would be empowered to challenge, in federal court, virtually every decision of public schools, libraries and health and welfare programs. In addition, it could prevent minor's access to comprehensive health care and sex education and thwart child abuse and child labor laws. Communities would be paralyzed under the threat of lawsuits about virtually all the services and programs they provide. Representative Largent's (R-OK) stated goal for introducing the legislation is to "re-affirm the fact that the majority of parents have the best interest and safety of their children at heart..." In the Religious Right media, however, the message takes on a much different tone. Of the People, the Arlington, VA-based group sponsoring the state initiatives, has been a frequent guest on right-wing radio programs. When asked about the amendment by Focus on the Family, Of the People's Executive Director, Greg Erken, responded, "We talk to parents every day across this country and they tell us that they have no effective vehicle to challenge something like outcome based education, condom distribution, etc." He also stated that the legislation is necessary to stop the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child as it could interfere in the discipline and training of American children. =46urthermore, Erken "believes that the amendment could also be used to restrict or remove materials from public libraries." Suggested Actions: Write, Call, or arrange an in-district visit with your Senators and Congresspeople. You can email all three by going to the Human Rights Campaign site at http://www.hrcusa.org/actncntr/index.html OR use the mailbot, as described below: MAILBOT. This is a unique service that will forward your message to ALL members of the House or Senate that have E-Mail mailboxes. Just send your message to HOUSE@MAILBOT.COM and/or SENATE@MAILBOT.COM, and your message will be expanded and resent to all members of those specified houses as if you had E-Mailed each and everyone of them yourself. [for those interested in subscribing to Pennsylvania Expose: Pennsylvania Expose is a project of the Fight the Right Network (FTRN) and People For the American Way (PFAW). It is for sharing information which will help the advancement of progressive values in the Commonweath of Pennsylvania and across the nation. The =46TRN and PFAW do not have positions on every issue presented through Pennsylvania Expose. =46or information about the Pennsylvania Expose Internet lists, send a message to: pa-expose-request@critpath.org put a one-line command in the body: info pa-expose To inquire about faxletter distribution, to contribute articles, or to post your group's event, contact ---FTRN Communications Working Group (FTRN) --- 215.389.1400 http://www.critpath.org/ftrn/ ---People for the American Way (PFAW) --- 800-326-7329 http://www.pfaw.org/ ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =46rom focus group research conducted by Lake Research Inc. and published by= the Human Rights Campaign comes the following: When focus groups of voters were asked "What should we call right-wing religious groups such as the Christian Coalition to help frame the debate on our terms?" The answer was "RELIGIOUS POLITICAL EXTREMISTS." This term is the most effective, one that is strongly negative for every group of voters asked, even the most religiou= s. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Raising Money for Activism =46undraising for Social Change by Kim Klein Completely Revised & Expanded Everything you need to know. The nuts-and-bolts strategies all nonprofit groups need to raise money successfully. Learn how to: * Motivate your board of directors * Use direct mail techniques * Plan and implement major gifts campaigns, endowments and planned giving programs * And more. 350 pages. ISBN: 0-9620222-3-3 $25.00 plus $2.00 postage/handling from Chardon (see below). =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Getting Major Gifts The Grassroots Fundraising Journal's ten best articles on how to develop a major gifts program-putting the most lucrative fundraising strategy within reach of smaller non profits. Details on how to find prospects and ask them for money, then ask them for more money. $10 from Chardon -- see below (in CA add .82 tax per each). =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Grassroots Fundraising Journal This bi-monthly magazine wlll help you raise money from community-based sources. Learn how to increase your income and diversify your sources of fundingrams, membership campaigns, and more. Six packed issues for only $28.00 annual subscription (two years for $48; Canada and other countries subscriptions higher, contact Chardon Press for details as shown below. Please allow 6 weeks to process new subscriptions. All of the above are available from the Chardon Press. Chardon Press P.0. Box 11607, Berkeley, CA 94712 Phone: 510/704-8714* Fax: 510/649-7913 *** e-mail: Chardn@aol.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D A Resource for People Concerned About Their Local Public Libraries... Library Advocacy Power Tools is a 27-page booklet that contains a wealth of information about how to keep your local library well-supported, well funded, thriving and changing-from a citizen's point of view. Whether you're a "friend of the library," civic leader, union member, PTA member, senior citizen or neighborhood advocate, the library needs you as much as you need it! As local budgets tighten and technology changes the way people receive and exchange information, some people think public libraries will go the way of the dinosaur. But 166 million Americans use and depend on public libraries each year-and their numbers are growing. With your help, libraries can continue as the vital information and learning centers they've been for almost two hundred years. The public deserves nothing less. Ordering the Power Tools makes you part of LFF's nationwide Library Advocates Network. We'll keep you up to date on advocacy around the country with our quarterly LFF Update and send you Action Alerts when nationwide action for libraries is needed. Be part of the nationwide effort to save and strengthen an American treasure, our public libraries! Libraries for the Future is a national non-profit organization that supports grassroots citizen advocacy for public libraries across the United States. To join LFF's national Library Advocates Network and receive a copy of Library Advocacy Power Tools, contact Libraries for the Future 521 Fifth Avenue Suite 1612 New York NY 10175-1699 212-682-7446 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D A small but good booklet called "Gay Teens at Risk" is available from Phi Delta Kappa, POB 789, Bloomington IN 47402-0789 for $1.25. It is item #357 and was published in 1993.