National Teens for Life Elects New Board at Annual Convention in
Orlando, Florida
By Heather Clapsaddle

National Teens for Life (NTL) held its annual convention in conjunction with the National Right to Life Convention on June 18, 19, and 20 in Orlando, Florida. About 150 teenagers came from all over the United States to learn more about the life issues facing them today.

During the convention the attendees elected a new group of people to the NTL Board. I thought that rather than having me try to introduce the new board to you, I would have them introduce themselves and tell a little about their pro-life involvement. So without further ado, here is your new NTL Board:

Joe Biffar, President (Ft. Myers, Florida): "Greetings to everyone in the pro-life movement. My name is Joseph Biffar, and I'm from Ft. Myers, Florida. I am the newly elected NTL president. My start in the pro-life movement came after learning a little more about my own life.

"As a baby, I almost met the same fate as the millions of our brothers and sisters who have been aborted. My biological father did not want anything to do with me and refused to stay with my mother if she kept me. I thank God for giving my biological mother the strength and pro-life spirit she needed to make the choice of life.

"I was adopted by a Navy nurse and have a little brother who is also adopted.

"Over the past few years, I have become more deeply involved in the pro-life cause. For the past three years, I have been a delegate to the Florida Youth for Life Congress and have traveled annually to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. I am looking forward to this coming year and hope to reach out to educate and help other youth learn and fight to end abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia."

Joy Ashby, Vice President (Naples, Florida):

Joy is a senior from Naples, Florida. Her past experience has included Naples Youth for Life vice president, the Life Chain, and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. - - just to name a few. She believes that education should be a major goal for NTL. She says that once you educate teens as well as adults to the horrors of abortion, reform occurs.

Amy Steiner, Secretary (Mott, North Dakota):

"Hello, my name is Amy Steiner and I'm NTL's newly elected secretary. I'm from Mott, North Dakota, and have been very involved in the local teens for life chapter for the past six years. Last year I served as president, and today am vice president of that chapter. I am also active on the state level. I currently serve as treasurer of North Dakota State Teens for Life.

"I am a senior in high school and spend a lot of time in many school activities. My other pastimes include various volunteer work with my church, younger children, the mentally handicapped, and elderly people."

Cheryl Breiner, Region One Director (Flasher, North Dakota):

Cheryl is a senior from Flasher, North Dakota. She is very active in her local teens for life chapter and attends many state events. Her two major goals for NTL are to improve communications between national, state, and local teens for life and right to life chapters, and to educate her peers. To her, education is the key to changing the minds and hearts of the American public.

Marcie Erickson, Region Two Director (Naples, Florida):

"Hi, I'm Marcie Erickson, Region Two director of National Teens for Life. This is my first year as an officer on the NTL Board. I've been involved in the pro-life movement for as long as I can remember. My mother has always been involved with the Emergency Pregnancy Center, one of our local crisis pregnancy centers. I used to organize the baby and maternity clothes in the back room on the days my mom volunteered. One evening my mother had to drop something off and I saw a small group of teenagers there. I later found out that the group was Youth for Life, a Naples and Fort Myers, Florida, pro-life group. I've been involved with the group for four years now.

"Youth for Life attends the March for Life in Washington, D.C., every year. I've attended with them the last four years. It is such a great impact to see multitudes of pro-life people gathered around in a non-violent march. Knowing how many other caring, pro-life people there are is such a source of strength and encouragement for me and pro-life involvement for the rest of the year.

"I enjoy visiting the elderly people in the nursing homes. I also enjoy doing volunteer work with disabled children and at the hospice center. When I see a big smile on an innocent child's face, I feel like melting and I know the pro-life movement is the right movement."

Mary Kertz, Region Three Director (St. Louis, Missouri):

"Active participation in the pro-life movement has always been a big part of my life and always makes me feel like a better person. My involvement is due to my mom's influence. My mom is the director of the St. Louis pro-life office, so I've been around the movement all my life.

"I've participated in L.I.F.T. (Life Information From Teens) and attended meetings before I was in high school. I started going to these meetings with my mom who is also a leader in this area. The group presents an understandable display presenting both information and lifelike skits to bring across important life issues faced by society, particularly teenagers, today. Our presentation covers topics such as abortion, euthanasia, suicide, bulimia, anorexia, complications faced by women who've had abortions, secondary virginity, and child, drug, and alcohol abuse.

"I've used the experience and information I've gathered over the years to help educate my fellow classmates on the different life issues. I have been involved with the Respect Life club at my high school and have taken part in the Life Chain. I have attended St. Louis' pro-life conventions since I was young and the NRLC and NTL conventions for the past three years.

"I continue to work occasionally at my mom's office. I have really benefited from watching my mom and her co-workers in action, trying to educate the St. Louis area one person at a time. I watch C-SPAN and CNN to possibly catch some abortion debates and other life issues. I read the National Right to Life News and the Choose Life newsletter when I get the chance."

Carrie Baumgartner, Region Four Director (Strasburg, North Dakota):

"My name is Carrie Ann Baumgartner and am a regional director for NTL. I am also a member of the North Dakota South Central Teens for Life group. Our chapter is currently raising money to put a tombstone in remembrance of all the aborted babies in front of the Hazelton, North Dakota church.

"Since, the nearest abortion clinic is in Fargo (about a three- hour drive), we aren't able to do many prayer vigils. However, we do try to influence people in our surrounding communities by having breakfasts and giving talks to religion classes and other Christian groups.

"Just some stuff about me. My birthday is June 22, so I just recently turned 16. I am going to be a junior at Strasburg Public High School and I come from a Catholic family. I have been in the pro-life movement since the fifth grade and I hold a firm belief in the National Right to Life Committee and the movement."

Ed Elkins, Region Five Director (Hebron, North Dakota):

Ed is a senior from Hebron, North Dakota. He's attended a number of state and national teens for life conventions and has spent two years on the North Dakota State Teens for Life board. He has one major goal for NTL and that is to get out and educate fellow teenagers.

So, there you have it. The 1998-99 National Teens for Life Board. As their advisor, let me just say that I am excited about this crew of young adults. I have already begun to see them working in their respective areas, and I hope they reap great results. If any of you are contacted by any of this crew, I hope you will respond to them in a positive and helpful manner. They need your help to further their message to the youth of our country.

Heather Clapsaddle is co-advisor to National Teens for Life and the new NTL Board.