*----------------------------------------------------------------------* | The following is the first of two parts of the ASCII version of | | the Citizens Project Newsletter for Dec. 92. | | | | The Citizens Project is a Colorado Springs, CO - based group of | | volunteers who seek to prevent extremists from eliminating our | | fundamental freedoms. Amendment 2 is the extremists' most obvious | | success to date. | | | | Slight reorganization of the articles was necessary in order to | | convert this text from a newsletter multi-font format to an | | electronic 80-column one. No alteration of wording was done. The | | bumper sticker 'Celebrate Diversity' was omitted. | | | | Please contact me if you have any comments | | or want any information, | | | | Ken Farmer | | Internet: kfarmer@oldcolo.com | | Voice: 719-685-9899 | *----------------------------------------------------------------------* F R E E D O M W A T C H ======================================================================= The Citizens Project Newsletter ======================================================================= Vol. 1, No. 3 Dec-Jan. 1993 WHO WE ARE ======================================================================= In the Pikes Peak area, we are seeing a push toward prayer in the schools, pressure to modify school curriculum to reflect religious views, the rise of stealth candidates in elections, increased anti-gay activity, and growing religious intolerance. Citizens Project was formed to challenge these trends. We represent citizens from a broad spectrum of political parties and religious beliefs who are concerned about these threats to our constitutional freedoms by local sectarian and political extremists. We are dedicated to maintaining the traditional American values of separation of church and state, freedom of religion and speech, pluralism, individuality, and tolerance and compassion for others. Citizens Project will monitor attempts to challenge these time-honored American values in our local community and will disseminate information on these challenges to our supporters. With your help we will provide a countervoice to extremist views in the Pikes Peak region and right the balance against those who would threaten our basic freedoms. We invite you to participate in this process with us. IN THIS ISSUE ======================================================================= * CFV and Amendment 2 * News Briefs of Interest * Community Impact Seminar * Ground Zero Information * Religious Right Organizations * Library Controversy * Boards and Commissions * How to Make a Difference * Notable Quotes Centerfold * CP General Meeting A COLORADO SPRINGS LEGACY ======================================================================= Although Freedom Watch is designed primarily to provide information, in certain circumstances we must also state our opinion. The campaign for and subsequent passage of Amendment 2 provides issues so clear, evidence of chicanery by Colorado for Family Values so strong, and potential for harm to the community so great, that Citizens Project Board member Richard Skorman wrote the following on behalf of Citizens Project: The election was over a month ago, and many of us at Citizens Project are still stunned by the passage of Amendment 2. The Pikes Peak Region has a new legacy: Colorado Springs originated the Colorado For Family Values (CFV) group and Amendment 2; we were the home of one of the most vicious campaigns of misinformation in recent American politics; and El Paso County voted nearly two to one (105,000 to 54,000) in favor of Amendment 2--a margin decisive to its statewide victory. This is the first major success of the religious right in our community, and one with serious implications across the country. Soon after the election, CFV moved from temporary to permanent offices. Phone calls and money have been pouring in from across the nation. Will Perkins was quoted on television the day after the election as saying, "We have learned a great deal from this election, and we think we can help many others with similar campaigns across the country." A California-based group, Traditional Values Coalition (led by Rev. Lou Sheldon), has already announced its intention to push a similar ballot initiative in California and other states. CFV'S CAMPAIGN What did CFV learn in their successful campaign? They learned to hire constitutional lawyers to write the amendment using confusing language and voter-negative buzzwords such as "quotas, protected class, minority status". They learned to convince the media to call this a "special rights" amendment, and reporters obligingly spoke and wrote about Amendment 2 during the entire campaign as the "special rights" amendment. (Ironically, the words "special rights" do not appear in the amendment.) CFV learned how to cleverly write and market this amendment so that voters in Colorado didn't have a clear choice. Amendment 2 contains two types of language: language prohibiting "quotas, protected class, and minority status", and language permitting discrimination. Voters were not allowed to choose between these two, but were sold Amendment 2 "as a package". Throughout their campaign, CFV steadfastly maintained that Amendment 2 didn't discriminate against anyone. Yet, discrimination was clearly written in the last clause of Amendment 2. (Amendment 2 is reprinted on page 4, and the discrimination argument is analyzed on page 16.) And finally, CFV learned that two weeks before the election was the best time to flood Colorado with vicious, grossly inaccurate and fear-producing misinformation about gay and lesbian behavior, because countering this mass of misinformation in the short time remaining would be very difficult. Fears, stereotypes and misinformation about gays and lesbians are already ingrained in our culture. CFV added new fuel to those fires in order to mobilize voters against gays and lesbians. Legally, Amendment 2 makes Colorado gays and lesbians a pariah class--the only group in the United States specifically barred from receiving protection from discrimination. The message that voters have given, whether real or perceived, is that the vast majority of the El Paso County electorate doesn't care if gays or lesbians are denied employment, housing or public accommodations, or actually wants to deny them those rights. WHAT ABOUT HOMOPHOBIA? Three issues surrounding Amendment 2 and homophobia are especially disturbing. First, why weren't Coloradans outraged about this amendment from the first? If any other of the groups now receiving legal protection from discrimination (such as Jews, African-Americans, veterans, women, parents, handicapped or Christians) had been substituted for gays and lesbians in this amendment, the public outcry would have been tremendous. Second, why was this the only statewide election or amendment campaign where the polls were so inaccurate (at least 10 percentage points different than the final result) going into election eve. Could it be that many voters intentionally misled pollsters even as they planned to vote for discrimination? And finally, since Amendment 2 passed, many of our local public officials, clergy, civic, and business leaders have been afraid to publicly address the issue of discrimination and the level of fear and hatred that now divide our community as a result of Amendment 2. Amendment 2 is one of the most significant discrimination issues we've faced in our community for many years, and one with serious economic and social impacts for the future. Why don't our community leaders grapple with this issue? WHAT CAN WE DO? We can all help the enormous legal challenge (which may go to the U.S. Supreme Court) to declare Amendment 2 unconstitutional by making contributions to: Colorado Legal Initiatives Project, Box 44447, Denver, CO 80201 (voice phone 303-830-2100). This will likely be a long and expensive battle. We can also place an amendment to repeal Amendment 2 on the ballot next November. Our new Amendment 1 now allows for state referendums in every November election. A ballot approach, if pursued, would require the collection of 49,271 valid signatures to be filed with the Secretary of State at least three months prior to the election. However, waiting for a successful court outcome before pursuing a new ballot campaign may be an appropriate approach, because a decision declaring Amendment 2 to be unconstitutional may effectively block similar amendments elsewhere in the country. If Amendment 2 is repealed in a new election, pending court actions about this amendment may be terminated without a decision. BOYCOTT? We can also support the boycott. A national boycott of Colorado by various groups is underway, and a local group, Ground Zero, recently restated the need for a boycott (see page 4). This national boycott has both pros and cons, but it has been almost singlehandedly responsible for keeping Amendment 2 and its aftermath alive in the press. At this stage in Colorado's very fragile economic recovery, a threatened boycott might help to educate voters in our state and elsewhere about the discriminatory aspects of Amendment 2. One of the arguments made against a boycott is that "the people have spoken" and that should be the end of it. However, economic boycotts for moral reasons have a long and honored history in America. Three of the more recent examples are: 1) the boycott of Arizona that persisted until that state established a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, 2) Focus on the Family's 1990 article calling for a boycott of American Express to protest their financial support of certain disapproved groups (which resulted in cardholders canceling their accounts), and 3) the ongoing American Family Association's boycott of certain businesses in response to their social policies. To quote American Family Association on the morality of boycotts: "AFA ..believes economic boycotts are an effective way to bring about change and voice Christian principles and stewardship in the marketplace." American Family Association's Journal (Nov./Dec. 1992, p. 15). The question remains whether visitors and businesses will view Colorado discrimination against gays and lesbians as equal to Arizona's refusal to recognize the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Is it all right to boycott a state that sent a message of racism, but not all right to boycott a state sending an anti-gay message? Who will suffer the most from a statewide economic boycott? Boulder, Denver, and mountain resort towns--all communities who solidly voted no on Amendment 2. Colorado Springs, paradoxically, may fare better in a boycott than most of the rest of the state. WHAT MUST WE DO? We at Citizens Project believe that all of us, particularly the heterosexual community, must let gay and lesbian citizens know that we will not be complacent if others in our community attempt to isolate or vilify them. We must let them know that we will not tolerate anyone being denied employment, housing, public accommodations or simply being harassed because of their sexual orientation. We must let our gay and lesbian neighbors know that they are wholeheartedly welcome in our lives. Citizens Project is in the process of formulating a broad-based, city-wide coalition and educational campaign to support these goals. We would like individuals, civic leaders, clergy and business leaders to actively share our commitment to diversity and tolerance in our community. If homophobia, fear and intolerance are as widespread as some have suggested since the election, then our commitment to education must be a long one. OUR ANSWER TO THE MESSAGE We have heard a number of interpretations about why Amendment 2 passed, ranging from hatred to misunderstanding. We do not know where the balance lies. We do know that, whether intentional or not, the voters of El Paso County sent a message of discrimination on November 3rd: a message to many in our community who already live with the constant fear of having their sexual identity discovered; a message to many who have courageously come out of the closet hoping to be accepted and welcomed by a city that now seems to hate them; a message to many who have gone through a lifetime of discrimination, humiliation and mental anguish for loving someone of their choice; a message to many in our community who have lost the people about whom they care most to the long, painful disease of AIDS and who live daily with the fear of becoming sick themselves. We at Citizens Project can't live with that message. All of us need to get involved. NEWS BRIEFS OF INTEREST ======================================================================= MYTHOLOGY LAWSUIT THROWN OUT; MAY BE APPEALED. The Woodland Park "mythology" lawsuit to promote the Bible in schools, discussed in our last newsletter, was dismissed October 14, 1992 by the Teller County District Court. The five plaintiffs (including the Reverend David Skipworth, leader of "Cowboys For Christ") were also ordered to pay the defendant's attorney fees and costs because the lawsuit was "frivolous and without any foundation in law". The Plaintiffs have vowed to appeal to the next higher court, the Colorado Court of Appeals. More information in our next newsletter. CFV CARRIES ON. Colorado's Amendment 2 proponent, Colorado For Family Values, is soliciting funds for future activities in Colorado and nationwide. CFV has connections to other "family values" groups, including California's Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) through the director of Colorado's chapter of TVC, Barbara Sheldon, who sits on CFV's executive board, and Focus on the Family, which provided $8,183 in in-kind contributions to CFV's recent Amendment 2 campaign here in Colorado. TEACHERS UPHELD. Arbitration over the cancellation of gay and pagan panelists in School District 11's "Diversity Symposium" last April took place November 9. This arbitration was between the teachers and the school administration on the issue of cancellation of the panel members. The result: the rights of teachers to bring controversial panelists into the school was reaffirmed, consistent with the school district's written guidelines. The affected teachers have not decided whether to host another "Diversity Symposium". You can anticipate further controversy, however, if school staff should again attempt to "expose" any local students to any politically/biblically incorrect elements of our diverse society, such as the aforementioned gays or pagans. GETTING THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE ACROSS. The November issue of Focus On The Family's teacher magazine Teachers in Focus has an article on how teachers can make use of Thanksgiving to present to students the American values of biblical beliefs, the Ten Commandments, prayer, and hymns. The article is titled "A Journey To American Values: Mapping a Course For Thanksgiving". "Use the spiritual values of the Pilgrims" the article says, to teach kids "in need of a life preserver." To avoid church-state problems, the article advocates using direct quotes: "By citing original sources, you are less likely to receive criticism." DISNEY SLAMMED. Just when you thought it was safe to let your kids watch "G" rated Walt Disney movies... The Family Research Council, allied with Focus on the Family, is complaining that the recent Disney children's film "The Little Mermaid" constitutes a media attack on fathers. "The film is a lot of fun, but it makes a mockery of fatherly authority." WORRIED ABOUT YOUR AFTERLIFE? Father Louis Marx of Riverside, California told his parishioners that a vote for Bill Clinton was a "mortal sin". Similarly, a member of the audience at the recent Focus on the Family Community Impact Seminar asked the presenter how anyone who voted for Clinton could possibly claim to be Christian. Is the road to Hell paved with Democrats? FOCUS BECOMES NONPOLITICAL? Paul Hetrick, representing Focus on the Family in a November panel discussion in Colorado Springs, stated: "We do not take political stands on issues." As pointed out by the Gazette-Telegraph, that declaration surprised some in the audience, as "Focus has publicly opposed abortion, pornography and women and gays in the military". DIVERSITY IN RADIO. Colorado Springs is the 110th largest radio market in the country, with six Christian radio stations. Denver, the 24th largest radio market, has two Christian radio stations. COMPUTER MESSAGE SPURIOUS. In October, a note came through the Internet computer network, purportedly from the Oregon Citizens Alliance. This note stated that OCA was planning a new ballot proposition to make Christianity the only acceptable religion in Oregon. However, Citizens Project checked, and this computer note was a "plant" by unknown persons, and does not reflect anything planned for Oregon. CITIZENS PROJECT GROWS. Citizens Project now has over 3,000 participants. As a result of the November Associated Press and Denver Post articles on the religious right with extensive coverage of Citizens Project, we also mail Freedom Watch to interested people in the Denver, Boulder, and Ft. Collins areas. FOCUS ON OUR COMMUNITY ======================================================================= On November 9, Focus on the Family and Rocky Mountain Family Council presented an all-day Community Impact Seminar at Pulpit Rock Church on Austin Bluffs Boulevard. This was the second Community Impact Seminar this year in Colorado (the first took place at Cherry Hills Community Church in Denver) and Focus' 25th Community Impact Seminar nationwide. Some 600 people participated in the Colorado Springs seminar, including three Citizens Project members. After participants heard why the Bible mandates community involvement by good Christians, the discussion moved on to the loss of morality in contemporary American government and culture, the "myth" of the separation of church and state, and opportunities for community and political involvement in Colorado Springs. A Leadership Failure Seminar leaders stated that today's crisis in American cultural and political institutions is a direct result of a variety of "gatekeepers"--educators, politicians, journalists and moderate Christians leaders--who have lost touch with bedrock principles contained in the Bible. This crisis is a "top-down" problem, where the leaders of our society have "abandoned their responsibility to preserve our heritage." Community Impact Curriculum: A Biblical Case For Social Involvement, p. 16 (Focus on the Family, undated). This Christian heritage, first carried over to America by the Pilgrims and other colonists, has increasingly been ignored or misinterpreted by these societal leaders. Because the absolute biblical truths no longer control these leaders, our society has sunk into subjectivism and even further into "tolerance". According to the seminar, what is necessary to save our communities is a return by our leadership to the strict morality of the Bible. Most Everyone's To Blame The seminar leaders made clear, however, that most Americans do not believe that this more restrictive biblical morality should control society. "The fact is, despite all the Christian activism in the last 25 years, America has continued to grow increasingly secular; and there seems no end in sight." (p. 23) However, the seminar continued, don't pay attention to the "politics of sheer majoritarianism". Rather, act to pressure and persuade our leaders to "do the right thing", or try to replace them with leaders who will. Because the number of sympathetic voters is not there, the seminar acknowledged that a new "Moral Majority" campaign is not possible. How then should sincere Christians act to effectively change their communities? The Politics of "Principled Persuasion" The way to proceed, according to the seminar, is four-fold. First, live a good Christian life. Second, organize through your church. Third, and most important, act upon the Bible by persuading your leaders and neighbors of the reasonableness and morality of your biblical position by using "principled persuasion". Principled persuasion means getting your facts together, consulting with experts on how to be effective, and then going public with reasoned arguments and evidence to convince others about your truth. Principled persuasion works because "God invites men to reason, to use their minds in the search of truth". And these truths are the moral absolutes of the Bible. The last step is to work to replace the leadership of our society, if necessary. Of course, America's present civil war of values can use help. The seminar leaders recommended a plan of action involving soldiers (people), intelligence (information), and leadership to impact today's wayward leaders. Specifically, here is what the seminar recommended for the Pikes Peak area. Organize Through Your Church The primary way to have the necessary impact, the speakers said, is to organize through your church and become part of Colorado's Community Impact Network. This Network, to be organized under the leadership of the Rocky Mountain Family Council in Denver, will "disseminate the information provided by the Rocky Mountain Family Council" and use RMFC's expert advice to effectively impact communities. The organization and role of these local Community Impact Committees was clearly laid out in Focus on the Family's Community Impact Handbook. Always, these Community Impact Committees must be under the authority of a pastor, preferably from a church "that most exemplifies a respect for moral authority", but the committees must also expect to lead and persuade their sometimes lethargic churches into action. Stealth Activists? When the seminar proceeded to Christians becoming involved in their community, the speakers strongly encouraged participants to work from the ground up to replace the present leadership. However, the advice was blunt: If you want to get appointed or elected, don't identify yourself as a Christian. Don't quote the Bible, because the majority is not sympathetic. Instead, use your platform of "principled persuasion" to reason with people and convince them of the benefits of your truth. Don't ever represent yourself as part of a church group--500 independently concerned citizens acting on the same issue are much more effective than a single church with 500 outraged congregants. However, the seminar leaders also stressed that the doctrine of "principled persuasion" mandates that good Christians meet with and greet their opponents in a friendly and reasonable manner. Effective public persuasion requires more than just having moral arguments and facts; it requires a personable and sincere approach. And indeed, Focus on the Family was most gracious and open in specifically inviting members from Citizens Project to attend this Community Impact Seminar. What It Means This seminar was called a "community impact" seminar for good reason. Here's what it means for our local community: You can expect an increased push by the religious right in the Pikes Peak area to impact our community decision-making bodies--from elected positions to appointed boards to volunteer committees. You can expect that the religious right will have its ducks in a row when it comes to effective (although not necessarily correct) arguments and evidence, as illustrated by Colorado For Family Values' well-orchestrated and successful Amendment 2 campaign. You can expect members of the religious right to run for election as stealth candidates, organizing and campaigning in churches and with parachurch groups, but reluctant to identify their "hidden biblical agenda" if and when they campaign in public. You can also expect them, acting as good and friendly citizens, to press for policies not friendly to traditional American values of diversity and tolerance. And, you can expect a greater impact on the lives of ordinary citizens if the religious right gains more control over our community. You should understand that opposing these groups is not easy and will require increasing effort by everyone. When their arguments and evidence are effectively prepared in advance, unorganized opposition is likely to fail. Their "principled persuasion" campaigns must be countered with organization, study, preparation, commitment, and action. As Focus on the Family's Community Impact Seminar acknowledged, a majority of Americans do not agree with a return to strict biblical morality. The duty of that majority now becomes to effectively formulate and promote truly representative social and public policy alternatives to these new pressures from the religious right. To Learn More: One of our Citizen Project members has prepared a multi-page analysis of the philosophical and historical arguments presented at the November Community Impact Seminar. You can receive one free by calling Citizens Project at 719-685-9899, and leaving your name and address. "GROUND ZERO" GROUP FORMED ======================================================================= A new group, Ground Zero, has formed in Colorado Springs to "Undo 2" and to counter gay, lesbian and bisexual "ethnic cleansing". According to their mission statement, "Ground Zero is a grassroots lesbian, gay, bisexual and gay supportive movement dedicated to securing and maintaining basic civil rights for lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens and to unifying and promoting full participation of lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens in the community at large." Ground Zero actively supports the boycott, will increase the visibility of the local gay and lesbian community to combat stereotypes promoted by Colorado for Family Values, and is planning a national march in Colorado Springs next spring. For more information or to volunteer money, time or support, contact Ground Zero at P.O. Box 1982, Colorado Springs, 80901; phone 719-635-6086. AMENDMENT 2 (AMENDING THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION) "Neither the State of Colorado, through any of its branches or departments, nor any of its agencies, political subdivisions, municipalities or school districts, shall enact, adopt or enforce any statute, regulation, ordinance or policy whereby homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships shall constitute or otherwise be the basis of or entitle any person or class of persons to have or claim any minority status, quota preferences, protected status, or claim of discrimination." WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT ======================================================================= Many people have asked for a primer of politically active fundamentalist and religious right organizations and a summary of their political positions. Here is a brief overview of some local organizations and their issue areas and political stands. Focus on the Family--An international traditional-values organization using radio, books, magazines, films, video and public policy efforts for family ministry. Annual income: $77 million. Colorado Springs employees total nearly a thousand, and that number is predicted to increase dramatically when Focus moves to its new 46-acre campus at the north end of Colorado Springs. Focus is very active, very visible, and very professional. Focus founder Dr. Dobson is said to have the second most listened to radio show, on 3,000 radio stations worldwide. Press reports state that Focus receives 8,000 letters and 2,000 phone calls per day. To keep up with Focus, call them at 719-531-5181 for a complimentary subscription to Focus on the Family magazine, or spend $20 for a subscription to Citizen, their monthly political magazine. Rocky Mountain Family Council--A Colorado political and legal arm set up with the assistance of Focus on the Family to provide "advocacy for traditional families". Location: Denver; estimated annual budget: $96,000. Recent achievements: produced and distributed 150,000 voter's guides in Colorado; assisted Colorado For Family Values in its work for Amendment 2; involved in Denver and Colorado Springs church-state court cases. To keep up with their latest activities, you can call their Family Hotline at (303) 292-1800. Colorado Family Coalition--A Colorado Springs-based group founded by Amber Jorgensen, state coordinator of Citizens For Excellence In Education. Chief activity of this group to date appears to be countering Outcome Based Education in public schools. CFC literature on Outcome Based Education states: "[O]ne of the primary goals [of outcome-based education] is to take the teachers out of the teaching process and, instead, make them 'facilitators,' 'coaches,' and 'fellow learners' of all the new progressive, affective, new age materials. Children are taught to accept 'alternative life-styles', such as homosexuality. This is called, 'learning to accept our diversities.' New age globalism is to transcend all national patriotism....That would be the end of America! Why isn't that spelled out..?" Citizens For Excellence in Education (CEE)--A nationwide activist group founded by Bob Simonds, with over 500 local chapters. Very vocal against sex education other than total abstinence, psychological testing, exposure to religions other than Christianity, and a host of other issues. Colorado Springs' local CEE chapter has monthly meetings; its head (and also state-wide CEE coordinator) is the same Amber Jorgensen, Colorado Springs resident. Concerned Women For America. Concerned Women For America (CWA), the national group headed by Beverly LaHaye, pursues an educational and lobbying role covering the scope of the religious right political agenda (see below). As part of CWA's educational function, LaHaye has a nationally broadcast daily half-hour radio show, carried in Colorado Springs at 2PM on KGFT (100.7 FM). CWA has a local chapter, headed by Paula Stern. Colorado For Family Values (CFV)--Our own home-grown group of far right conservatives. Their present objective: Focus on the Homosexuals. Watch for them to broaden out geographically and philosophically as a result of the victory of Amendment 2. COMMON AGENDA The above groups share all or a portion of the following agenda. This agenda was concisely stated in the "HELPFAMILY 1992" platform, designed to "...help candidates develop a platform for their campaigns [and] to help California citizens determine pro-family candidates." The platform was published by the Capitol Resource Institute, California's counterpart to our Rocky Mountain Family Council. Following are excerpts: 1. God and government: "[T]he powers of the government are limited first by God given and natural laws and second by the consent of the governed. Government shall not endorse a religion, but government may acknowledge the Creator God and government shall provide the highest constitutional protections to religious faith and practice." 2. Marriage and Family: "The family is the primary social unit of civilization and is established and blessed by God Almighty... The natural family, consisting of the union between a man and a woman in marriage and the bond between parent and child, represents the living foundation sustaining American culture, civilization and government. Marriage shall be preserved as available only to members of the opposite sex. Marriage, parenthood and the family deserve constitutional recognition as sacred human rights and shall be accorded honor and respect when taught in the public schools. Government is most helpful to families financially when policies and tax codes reward stable family life and increase deductions for child-raising while deterring the dissolution of marriages, especially those with dependent children." 3. Education: "Families have a rightful expectation that schools will 1) offer a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes basic core subjects, 2) not force doctrines of moral relativism on children, 3) teach children about traditional concepts of right and wrong..." 4. Life Issues: "The abortion of almost a third of our children, the medical neglect of disabled newborns which results in infanticide, and the acceptance of euthanasia for others with disabilities and for our elderly, demand that we work to restore laws which will protect these innocent human beings. The right to life is the foundation upon which all other issues of human rights and justice depend..." 5. Public safety: "Law enforcement and corrections should be fiscal priorities... The right of a person to bear arms against any entity that would threaten life or property must not be abridged. Finally, exceptions for first degree murder which allows the use of the death penalty should be defended and implemented." 6. Taxation: "Families and businesses are most helped when government is limited in their taxing and regulatory authority and when regulatory agencies are directly accountable to the voters they tax..." 7. Land use and environment: "Present regulations often violate property rights, retard development and inhibit economic growth. A reformation must occur that accomplishes the following: 1) economic impact of all proposed regulations must be determined so that benefits outweigh the costs, 2) private property rights must be protected, 3) command-and-control regulations should be replaced by market-based policies that are founded on property rights and economic incentives..." If you would like to receive a copy of the two-page "HELPFAMILY Platform", please call the Citizens Project office at 719-685-9899. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* | The following is the second of two parts of the ASCII version of | | the Citizens Project Newsletter for Dec. 92. | | | | The Citizens Project is a Colorado Springs, CO - based group of | | volunteers who seek to prevent extremists from eliminating our | | fundamental freedoms. Amendment 2 is the extremists' most obvious | | success to date. | | | | Slight reorganization of the articles was necessary in order to | | convert this text from a newsletter multi-font format to an | | electronic 80-column one. No alteration of wording was done. The | | bumper sticker 'Celebrate Diversity' was omitted. | | | | Please contact me if you have any comments | | or want any information, | | | | Ken Farmer | | Internet: kfarmer@oldcolo.com | | Voice: 719-685-9899 | *----------------------------------------------------------------------* NEW AT THE LIBRARY... ======================================================================= In the wake of the recent controversy over the possible addition of Madonna's book Sex to the collection of the Pikes Peak Library District, Citizens Project interviewed Bernie Margolis, Library District Director, regarding the role of the library in our changing, and increasingly divided, community. Following are excerpts from that interview: On Madonna: "[W]e did with Madonna what we would do with any book. The only thing that may have been different about our treatment of Madonna was the time frame with which we did it. [The] normal time frame would have meant that the Madonna book probably wouldn't have been looked at for several more weeks, and [we would] have continued answering the phone day and night and spending enormous amounts of staff resource just answering the phone...not serving the public, not in a sense of what our real job is...[W]e needed to set Madonna aside in the sense of expediting what would have been the normal process anyway of scrutinizing it." On Calls Received Regarding Madonna: "We've had hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of calls...and they were calling with different perspectives...people making it real clear how they felt about the issue, and as we explained that we had a process underway, some people were more appreciative of that than others... [T]he phone calls indicated the sense of greater urgency in terms of people wanting us to conclude our process...I took enough of the calls that I don't think those calls were organized. Now the only sense that I have is that several of the Christian radio station did tell people to call, so if that's organized and structured then yes, I think some of it was...but as soon as that happened we also were getting calls from people who thought we should have it so it didn't seem to me anyway to be any structure, any plot to that process." On Selection Process and Criteria: "We have 12 pages of criteria that guide [the 24 professional librarians] in terms of deciding what's in and what isn't...[I]f we had our choice and unlimited resources... we would buy at least one copy of all books [published] ...the decision process wouldn't be a decision one at all; there would be no exercise of scrutiny or discretion or taste or appropriateness or personal prejudice or community prejudice or anything else. It would be real easy, but the millions of dollars that would require just aren't available, so what we do is make choices, we call it selection, other people may call it all sorts of other things, censorship, book burning, you can imagine and conjure up all those words that people may apply to someone, not them, making a choice and a judgment for them and we do that and ... that's our public charge." On Controversial Material: "A news reporter asked me...after the Madonna press conference...what book could you defend? I said I could defend The Satanic Bible, I could defend Mein Kampf, I could defend a book by William Shockly who thinks blacks are inferior, I could defend a... kids book about a child who lives in a gay family... Our criteria doesn't say that we shy away from controversy, our criteria doesn't say that because something is controversial it shouldn't be in the library, our criteria doesn't say that this is the philosophy, modern America, Colorado Springs 1992, that has to fit in this box to be in the library. What our criteria say is controversial ideas are welcome, differing views are welcome, different perspectives are welcome. The caveat that it imposes on us, and not on the individual book, but on the collection, is that we do that with some sense of balance, so that it doesn't appear to anyone that we are promoting William Shockly's ideas or that we're promoting fascism or Nazism or any other kind of atrocity or that we're promoting anything that might be good or bad. I mean that we don't want in the same breath to appear to be promoting Adolph Hitler, nor do we want to appear to be promoting James Dobson. What we want is the whole, is as broad a brush perspective of what ideas exist in our world, so people can understand them... What one person may see as dangerous, another person may see as the antidote to those same things, an ability to be educated and informed in response... If you go through the list of books that indeed have been challenged, you see that many of them do reflect philosophies, attitudes that are pretty controversial that are unacceptable to a lot of people. Well, that's not in the criteria at all. We don't propose to have a popular vote or referendum on books in terms of whether they're added or not... Some libraries, by their Board decisions and sometimes by pressure, have gone to public review processes...[like] a referendum, and I think what happens is that you tend to sieve out all those things that smell of controversy. You then have a collection that's pretty dull and may serve the needs of some people, but it certainly doesn't get the kind of depth of inspiration or motivation that a good well rounded collection that has controversy should provide." On Balance in the Collection: "[W]e have people on our staff who participate in Focus on the Family...just as we have people who belong to the American Civil Liberties Union or who knows what other kinds of groups--we're all over the map. We're trained as professional librarians to do a job, separate from those prejudices and values that we bring to that job, so while I may dislike intensely a certain political perspective about issues, that doesn't mean that I impose that personal perspective on the task at hand when I decide whether this book is appropriate to the collection or isn't. But that sensitivity in terms of my values helps me also be in touch with issues of balance, because I may have a strong interest or knowledge in terms of the collection...let's pick on Focus on the Family as a case, that I would be as attuned to knowing that there are views contrary to James Dobson's that need to be reflected in this collection by virtue of maybe a more intimate knowledge of what his views are." In Summary: "What's tolerable and acceptable varies, and we know that, but we try to be evenhanded in offending everyone." THE NITTY GRITTY ======================================================================= The elections are over, and now we can all relax--right? Of course not! Changes in our community are happening every day, and we need to be a part of them. Much of the work of defining our community values happens at levels that are not very visible, through the various boards, commissions and task forces that exist at the city, county, and state levels. We must be participating on all these levels if we are to have an effective voice in protecting community diversity and civil liberties. The religious right is well aware of the opportunities for influence on these boards, and their members are active in volunteering. Openings on various boards and commissions are announced on local Christian radio stations. The Colorado Springs Human Relations Commission already has representatives from Focus on the Family and from Every Home For Christ. Kevin Tebedo, director of Colorado for Family Values, participates on a committee evaluating health education in School District 11. These individuals are welcome to contribute to the community we share, but we feel it is vital that Citizens Project participants, and others with a civil liberties orientation, also be present to balance their perspectives. Citizens Project has been sending letters to select participants with notifications of openings in local boards and commissions of interest. We match openings with participants based upon information you have provided to us about your residence location, your interests and background, and your willingness to volunteer. To make this system work, we need information from you. This newsletter, if it was mailed to you, includes an "Information and Phone Tree Form". If you would like to be notified of openings, please fill out this form and return it to us. This form combines two previous forms; please fill this new form out, as it will provide us with updated information. Some current openings of note: * The County Board of Health has a vacancy for a medical doctor. This board is involved with general policy making to guide the Department of Health and Environment. * The Department of Social Services' Consumer Review Board has openings for a private citizen, a consumer/parent, and a representative from a client/child advocate group. Call our office (719-685-9899) for more information on the above opportunities. If you hear of openings we should know about, please call us with the information (or send it) so we can pass it on to interested persons. 12 STEPS TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE ======================================================================= One question we are often asked at Citizens Project is: "What can I do?" Most people are asking how they can get more involved with Citizens Project. However, Citizens Project is limited in the activities we are undertaking at any one time. Nonetheless, in addition to volunteering with Citizens Project, a number of activities can help make an impact. Here is our handy-dandy, quick and easy 12-step program to making a difference in our community: 1. Display your bumper sticker. Let our community know that there are people who value diversity and dislike the intolerance of extremist groups. 2. Sign up for the Citizens Project "Get Involved" seminar scheduled for February 20. Details are on page five; the signup sheet is in this newsletter. Cost is $10 per person cheap. 3. Return the Citizens Project Information Sheet. When something is happening in your school district or political district, or when we have volunteer opportunities, we need to be able to contact you (see our story on page 6). If we don't have sufficient information, you may get bypassed when we send out special mailings or make calls. If your newsletter was mailed to you so that it included an Information Sheet, please take a minute now to complete that Information Sheet and return it to Citizens Project, Box 2085, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Thanks. 4. Talk to your friends. The religious right groups and their sympathizers are making gains in Colorado Springs not because they represent the majority view (see page 3), but because they are becoming organized and active. If you and I and your friends and my friends don't get together and speak up, we are acquiescing to these "squeaky wheels". So go ahead and network with your friends; call us if you need a few extra copies of Freedom Watch to pass out. 5. Invite someone from Citizens Project to speak with your local group or coffee club. Citizens Project has been active and growing for the last eight months, and we have become better speakers over that time. So, for a good time at your next meeting, call Citizens Project--we guarantee we aren't boring. 6. Call Governor Romer to: 1) express your feelings about Amendment 2 and encourage him to continue his opposition to it, and 2) express support for him in the upcoming recall drive. You can reach the Governor's office at 1-800-332-1716. You can also call Mayor Webb in Denver to express your support for the legal action Denver is taking against Amendment 2; call (303) 640-2721. Colorado For Family Values is pushing its people to call the governor, and reports are such calls are running strongly in favor of Amendment 2. That apathy on our part is what got Amendment 2 passed! 7. Write Channel 11 to support them for reporting the aftermath of Amendment 2's passage. They have reported the story consistently, and they have been the only local TV station to do so adequately. We know that print and TV media (particularly Ch. 11) covering the post-election Amendment 2 story have received numerous calls demanding that they quit talking about Amendment 2 because "the people have spoken" and then accusing individual media people of being gay or lesbian. We need to balance out this outpouring of hate, and thank the more responsible media for not backing down in the face of this pressure. You can write the news director of KKTV Channel 11 at 3100 North Nevada, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, call KKTV at 634-2844, or fax them at 634-3741. 8. Learn about the religious right. The "Notable Quotes" we included in this newsletter (on pages 8 and 9) illuminate key Christian right beliefs and policies, but you should also take the time to read their own publications. Focus on the Family has their open-to-the-public bookstore at the old United Bank building (corner of Kiowa and Cascade). While most of Focus' material concerns family problems and counseling, books in the current events section illustrate their slant on political issues. Cost for these materials at the bookstore is whatever you care to donate (although suggested donation amounts are shown on each item). To keep on top of the religious right's political agenda for Colorado and learn about community and political opportunities in Colorado Springs, tune your radio to Christian station KGFT (100.7 FM) each Thursday at 1PM and each Saturday at 9AM to hear Rocky Mountain Family Council's half-hour program "You Can Make A Difference". 9. Read your newspaper, and then write a letter to your local newspaper. While editorials in the local Gazette-Telegraph have not received any recent awards for endorsing tolerance and encouraging diversity, yet the G-T deserves the opportunity to publish letters from the other side. Who knows, the editorial staff might even come to see the error of their ways. You can write them at Letters To The Editor, Gazette-Telegraph, Box 1779, Colorado Springs, CO 80901; fax your letter to 719-636-0202; send via modem at 719-636-0127; or call them at 719-473-1919 to have your opinion recorded (and maybe published) in the Tell It To The GT section. For broader coverage of state-wide issues (particularly Amendment 2), you should consider subscribing to the Denver Post, which has home delivery in this area. 10. Get involved with your local school. Find out about school committees you can join and then volunteer for a committee. Don't be surprised if members of the far right are already on your committee. Most often, you don't have to be a parent or have children in school to be a part of these committees. In addition, you should join your Citizens Project school group (see our story on schools on page 4). 11. Join your local political party. That's standard advice, but good advice. Most people are politically inactive, but local political parties know a lot about what is happening in our community, and they have an impact on much of it. Don't worry that the elections just ended. A whole lot more is happening day by day (see our "Nitty Gritty" story on page 6). To join, call the Republican Party at 719-578-0022, or the Democratic Party at 719-473-8713. When you call, be sure to find out the name and address of your precinct captain, and then go and talk with this person. He or she is your first step to making your political party work for you. 12. Pay attention to elections coming up. Elections already? Four Colorado Springs city council seats are up for election in April, and school board elections will be this coming November. Will the religious right run candidates? You bet! Will they identify themselves as religious right candidates? Not if they were listening to the speakers at their own Community Impact Seminar last November (see our story on page 3). These candidates will be the new wave of "stealth candidates" in the Pikes Peak area, and you will have to take the time to question them closely to find out what they believe and why on the relevant issues. Citizens Project will provide more information on these elections as it becomes available. If you successfully work your way through all the above twelve steps and have energy for more, call Citizens Project at 719-685-9899. We will help you find more to do! NOTABLE QUOTES ======================================================================= ON GOVERNMENT: "Government and true Christianity are inseparable! Government cannot rule fairly without morality. There can be no morality (right or wrong) without the Bible--man's only reliable book on right and wrong. Christians can properly apply Bible principles to government, because they are the ones reading the Bible and trusting its teachings to be true." From How To Elect Christians To Public Office, by Citizens For Excellence In Education (CEE) president Robert Simonds (undated). "[T]his [the United States] was really a Christian nation and, as far as its founders were concerned, to try separating Christianity from government is virtually impossible and would result in unthinkable damage to the nation and its people. Much of the damage we see around us must be attributed to this separation." >From Focus on the Family's Community Impact Curriculum: A Biblical Case For Social Involvement (undated), p. 20, used in the November 9 Community Impact Seminar at Pulpit Rock Church in Colorado Springs. "[W]hen we look at our country's founding, we find that this whole system was designed to work only on a Christian foundation. Without a Christian foundation it will not continue to work, but will gradually wind down and cease to function." From Focus ' Community Impact Curriculum, p. 23. "The Constitution was designed to perpetuate a Christian order." Community Impact Curriculum, p. 18, quoting Robert Flood. ON EDUCATION: "We have been teaching multiculturalism instead of Americanism, for ten years now, and indoctrinating our children with values clarification and 'self-esteem.' Multiculturalism emphasizes diversity among races rather than our commonalities ('created equally') and thus breeds prejudice. Self-esteem teaches children they are the best and they deserve the best, and values clarification encourages them to create their own standards of right and wrong, thus allowing them to justify stealing... Any common-sense person of average intelligence can see this hate-filled teaching will produce a fractured, warring society which will eventually self-destruct." From the June 1992 CEE President's Report. "73% of people without a high school diploma said religion can answer most of today's problems. That number drops to 61% for high school grads, and only 49% of college grads think religion can answer most of today's problems. The education system appears to hammer religious convictions out of students." From Focus on the Family's Community Impact Curriculum: A Biblical Case For Social Involvement (undated), p. 13. "Jefferson County public school officials are adopting rhetoric that avoids terminology such as 'evangelical Christians' or 'conservative right' in favor of 'lunatics,' 'fanatics,' and the 'fringe element'." From the November 1992 Denver Christian News, p. 19. "Many years ago Christian pioneers who settled the American West had to fight savage Indians. Missionaries were sent to the Indians to civilize and Christianize them. Today the reverse is true: missionaries of these former cultures are being sent via the public school to heathenize 'our' children." From the Fall 1992 Eagle Forum, published by the Eagle Education Fund of Colorado. ON AMENDMENT 2: "I submit to you today, to every one of you, this issue with Amendment 2 is not about homosexuality. And it's really even not about sex. It's about authority. It's about whose authority takes precedence in the society in which we live. Is it the authority of man,..or is it the authority of God? ..Now the authority of man would dictate that homosexuality is perfectly okay, that there's nothing wrong with it. The authority of God says no, that there is plenty wrong with homosexuality. .. And so I say to you today that Amendment 2 is about authority; it's about whose authority gets to make the decision." Kevin Tebedo, Director of Colorado For Family Values, speaking at the First Congregational Church in Colorado Springs (August 23, 1992). ON TOLERANCE: "Tolerance enslaves." Statement by a speaker at the Focus on the Family/Rocky Mountain Family Council Community Impact Seminar, November 9, 1992, at Pulpit Rock Church. "Colorado Springs has been inaccurately portrayed by some as intolerant or hostile to diversity. Our city is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds and many points of view... There's room for everyone in Colorado Springs." Statement by Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce President John Fowler, as reported in The Colorado Springs Business Journal, Dec. 1, 1992, p. 25. MISCELLANEOUS: "Current expressions of human dignity, morality and social order are possible only because of our Christian heritage." >From Community Impact Curriculum, p. 25. "Christians are not just another special interest group; we are an 'everyone's best interest group'." From Community Impact Curriculum, p. 49. BUMPER STICKER ======================================================================= Included with this newsletter is a "Celebrate Diversity" bumper sticker that you can proudly display on the bumper or rear window of your vehicle, in your home or business window, or on your bulletin board. These bumper stickers have two objectives. First, they show our support for the incredible diversity of citizens here in the Pikes Peak region, and especially for the gay and lesbian citizens who have been under vitriolic attack by Colorado For Family Values and their like-minded supporters. And second, these bumper stickers remind our community that the religious right is not the only group of consequence in this area. We urge you to display your "Celebrate Diversity" bumper sticker, and look for others in our local communities who also support diversity over narrow-minded intolerance and bigotry. If you want more bumper stickers (for your second car, for example, or for a friend), please call the Citizens Project office at 719-685-9899. THANK YOU! ======================================================================= We at Citizens Project would like to say "Thank You!" for your generous contributions of time and money. With your help, we will continue to spotlight the increasing far right influence here in the Pikes Peak area. We will also explore, publicize, and debate the viewpoints of the religious right as they attempt to make over local communities in their image. We expect this work will continue for quite some time in our Pikes Peak region. CP GENERAL MEETING ======================================================================= You asked for it, you got it! The first-ever Citizens Project General Meeting will be held January 24, 1993 at 7 PM at Patty Jewett Clubhouse (just east of the corner of Prospect & Espanola, at 900 E. Espanola). All Citizens Project participants are invited. Although the meeting will not start until 7PM, you are invited to come early to meet other Citizen Project people. We will have complimentary food available starting at 6PM, and the clubhouse bar will be open. This is the first of what is anticipated to be regular (perhaps quarterly) Citizen Project General Meetings. These "General Meetings" are different than the monthly "Introductory Meetings" that we have for people who have just signed up for Citizens Project. This general meeting will be an opportunity to meet other Citizen Project people, to hear what is happening in the Pikes Peak area and in Citizens Project, and to weigh in with your opinion on what actions Citizens Project should be taking. We will look forward to seeing you January 24th. Please mark your calendars with that date. CP CALENDAR ======================================================================= Introductory Meeting------January 7 (for new participants) General Meeting-----------January 24 (see above for details) Introductory Meeting------February 9 (for new participants) "Get Involved" Seminar-February 20 (see page 5 for details) "Imposing Morality" Seminar-Feb. 21 (see page 7 for details) SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ======================================================================= Citizens Project receives numerous calls from parents, teachers and students regarding apparent or possible violations of church / state separation in our schools. We need to improve our ability to respond to these reports. We are restructuring the schools committee to better meet this need. We would like to have at least one parent, teacher or student volunteer for each school in the Pikes Peak area. A committee will exist for each school district, discussing and responding to issues within that district. Each volunteer will be involved with his or her chosen school and will be in a position to help us understand and respond to incidents as they occur. Citizens Project will provide training on school policies and church/state law. If we wish to have public schools that serve all of the public, we need to stay involved. To volunteer, call Citizens Project at 719-685-9899. CITIZENS PROJECT'S "GET INVOLVED" SEMINAR ======================================================================= Citizens Project is pleased to announce an information-packed "Get Involved" seminar. This seminar will take place Saturday February 20, 1993 at the First Congregational Church (corner of North Tejon and St. Vrain) from 9AM to 4:30PM. Dynamic speakers will provide nuts-and-bolts information about how to get involved in the politics of our community. We will talk about local political parties, city government (Colorado Springs city council elections are in April), our state legislature, school boards and school-related involvement opportunities, volunteer opportunities on boards and commissions, and opportunities to act on your own or within your own group or organization. Speakers include Daphne Greenwood (District 17 state representative), Mary Ellen McNally (former city council member), Chuck Green (Denver Post writer), and others. The seminar will start at 9AM. We will have a morning break with refreshments. Lunch will be on your own. Cost is $10 in advance; $12 at the door if space is available. Please register using the sign-up sheet included with this newsletter. Come to learn and meet other interested citizens. Call Citizens Project at 719-685-9899 if you have questions. We will provide a more complete listing of seminar speakers in our next Freedom Watch newsletter. SEMINAR ON IMPOSED MORALITY SCHEDULED ======================================================================= A seminar will be held February 21, 1993 from 2-4 PM on "Imposed Morality: Where Will It Lead?" A panel of four will speak on censorship, Amendment 2, the effect of religious groups in politics, and separation of church and state. This seminar will be held in Gaylord Hall, in the Worner Student Center (corner of Cascade and Cache la Poudre) at Colorado College. Co-sponsors of this seminar include Hadassah, Colorado College, Citizens Project, and ACLU. INAUGURAL BALL ======================================================================= The Democratic Women of El Paso County are hosting an inaugural ball January 20, 1993, 7PM to 1AM, at the Patty Jewett Clubhouse (900 East Espanola). An invitation to this ball is extended to citizens from all parties and affiliations willing to work together for the future. Cost is $10 per person, and reservations are necessary. Call 596-2027 or 597-2104 for reservations or more information. YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS ======================================================================= If you want the announcement of your upcoming event listed in the next Citizens Project newsletter, send the information to Citizens Project with a request. Our next newsletter will be out in February. DISCRIMINATION? ======================================================================= The last clause of Amendment 2 says gays and lesbians can make "no claim of discrimination". What does that mean? Everyone agrees that this language bars lesbians and gays from protection if, because they are gay, they are fired from their jobs or kicked out of their rental homes. Will Perkins described protection from these types of discrimination as a "special right", and in a Dec. 11 Gazette-Telegraph article said: "I don't have a special right to keep my job as a heterosexual. Why should they if they are homosexual?" In Colorado Springs and in most of Colorado, Will Perkins is correct. There is no protection from those types of discrimination for either heterosexuals or gays or lesbians. However, the fallacy in Will's reasoning is that heterosexuals simply do not encounter much, if any, discrimination in these areas due to their heterosexuality. However, lesbians and gays suffer significantly higher levels of discrimination in those areas. Due to Amendment 2, such discrimination cannot ever be remedied by law. This is, in a sense, "equal rights", but the result is very unequal justice and an unequal right to petition for redress of grievances. In the cities of Boulder, Denver, and Aspen, Will Perkins is not correct. Each of those cities had by ordinance extended discrimination protection to all people on the basis of sexual orientation. Amendment 2 now withdraws that protection from gays and lesbians. But note that Amendment 2 does not alter these ordinances as to protection from heterosexual discrimination. Thus, in those cities, the result of Amendment 2 has been to grant heterosexuals "special rights" against discrimination by virtue of these pre-existing city ordinances. Consequently, for those three cities, the Amendment 2 argument was not one of "special rights", but one of "equal rights", which lesbians and gays now no longer have. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! ====================================== CITIZENS PROJECT Box 2085 Colorado Springs, CO 80901 (719) 685-9899 Amy Divine and Doug Triggs Coordinators Printed on Recycled Paper ====================================== *----------------------------------------------------------------------* | | | | | Citizens Project Information and Phone Tree Form | | | | Following are a number of questions that will help us build | | Citizens Project. In order for Citizens Project to maximize our | | effectiveness, we must build a broad-based coalition of interested | | citizens. Knowing more about you, and the role you play in the | | community, will help us know how we may be able to call upon you to | | help us build this coalition. And, knowing your particular areas of | | concern will allow us to notify you with information regarding | | particular issues or actions (such as board openings), when we may | | not be able to notify the entire mailing list. | | We realize that we are requesting personal information. If you | | are not comfortable answering any of the questions, then just leave | | them blank. All information will be confidential, and again, is | | solely for internal use in strengthening our efforts. | | This form combines past information and phone tree forms. If | | you have not filled these in, or have filled out only one, please | | fill in the additional information. | | Thank you for your participation! | | | | Name_________________________________________________________________| | Address____________________________________________________________| | Phone Number(s)____________________________________________________| | Occupation___________________________________________________________| | Name of Company / School_____________________________________________| | Political Party______________________________________________________| | School District where you reside___________________________________| | Political Districts where you reside (State Senate, State Rep, Cnty| | Commission)_______________________________________________________| | Schools your children attend_________________________________________| | Primary Concerns (ex. religion in schools, gay/lesbian issues, pagan | | issue, religion in politics, etc.)__________________________________| | Organizational Affiliations (ex. Chamber of Commerce, PP Ed Ass., NOW| | EPOC, etc.)_________________________________________________________| | Church / Synagogue you attend________________________________________| | Fax Number___________________________________________________________| | Will you participate in a phone tree?_____________If yes: | | ___I am willing to make seven phone calls | | ___I am not willing to make calls but would like to be called. | | Skills you wish to volunteer_________________________________________| | Other comments or ways you can help__________________________________| | _____________________________________________________________________| | | | | | Please email to Ken Farmer at kfarmer@oldcolo.com | | | | | *----------------------------------------------------------------------* *----------------------------------------------------------------------* | | | | | CITIZENS PROJECT "GET INVOLVED" SEMINAR | | | | Yes, I am (or we are) planning to attend the February 20 Citizens| | Project "Get Involved" Seminar. Enclosed is payment of $10 per | | person for registration (make check payable to "Citizens Project"). | | I understand this entitles me to the all-day seminar, the written | | materials, refreshments at the morning break, the chance to meet a | | lot of nice people, and a generous "thanks" from Citizens Project for| | attending. | | Number of people who are signing up for this seminar:__________ | | Please put your name(s) and address at the bottom of this page. | | | | | | CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! | | | | You bet--newsletters, postage, and long-distance phone calls | | all cost money, and we can always use your help. We welcome your | | donation and will use it to promote constitutional rights and | | diversity in the Pikes Peak area. | | Enclosed please find my donation of: ___$20;___$35;___;$50___;$100; | | $____other | | Please put your name and address at the bottom of this page. | | Please make your check payable to Citizens Project. Because we | | lobby to protect civil liberties, contributions are not tax | | deductible. Thanks! | | | | | | HOW COULD I HAVE WAITED SO LONG? | | | | I'm not currently on the Citizens Project mailing list, but I | | would like to be. I have provided my name and address below. I | | understand that if I have any questions I am welcome to call Citizens| | Project at 685-9899. | | | |======================================================================| | | | I am providing my name and address below in response to the above | | items (check which ones apply):____The "Get Involved" Seminar; | | ____A contribution; _____To get on the mailing list. If you are | | signing up for the "Get Involved" Seminar, please include the $10 | | per person fee. | | | | Name:___________________________________________________ | | Address:________________________________________________ | | Phone(s):______________(day); _________________(evening) | | | | Comments or suggestions:________________________________ | | ________________________________________________________ | | ________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | Please send checks to: Citizens Project, | | Box 2085, | | Colorado Springs, CO 80901 | | | | Alternatively, if you only wish to get on the mailing list: | | please send email to Ken Farmer at kfarmer@oldcolo.com | | | | | | | *----------------------------------------------------------------------*