Chapter(s) and Verse

By Dave Andrusko

Overshadowed, perhaps, but surely not outranked in importance at this year's National Right to Life Convention, an intense three- day special chapter leadership track drew leaders from the grassroots to frankly discuss what's already being accomplished and what they need to increase their influence and outreach at the dawn of the new millennium.

"We often talk about NRLC's over 3,000 local chapters as the 'heart' of the pro-life movement," NRLC Organizational Development Director Jacki Ragan told NRL News. "But no words could possibly explain how essential is the work done in local communities to the cause of unborn babies nor how difficult it can be when virtually everything is done by volunteers," she said.

"I compare what chapters do to what a mother does for her home," Ragan continued. "There is a lot of unglamorous work and often little recognition, but let that mom be removed and often the place comes rapidly unglued."

So...what exactly is it that local chapters do? "Keep the issue of the cause of helpless unborn babies alive," Ragan instantly responded.

She quickly ticked off examples. Chapters have a presence at state fairs, often a booth with realms of the latest information and a set of fetal models, which make a dramatic impression on young people.

Chapters also send speakers into schools to counter what often is an unconscious bias in favor of abortion. Given half a chance, adolescents immediately understand that abortion takes the life of an unborn human being.

Moreover, chapters provide videos and information packets and books for a host of situations: church gatherings, health fairs, and meetings of voluntary organizations such as Knights of Columbus, to name just a few.

Chapters collect baby clothes and cribs and strollers and much more for crisis pregnancy centers. Women in crises need help with the pressures that come along with the arrival of a new baby.

Chapters sponsor marches, not just on January 22 in commemoration of Roe v. Wade, but also on Mother's Day. All of this, and more, reminds the public that there are many unsung heroes who deeply care about unborn babies and their mothers.

Ragan said that National Right to Life dedicated NRLC '99 to chapters. "We made available talented, experienced, savvy speakers who offered hands-on advice for dealing with the day-to- day challenges people face in their hometown: growth, fundraising, recruiting and holding onto volunteers, avoiding burnout, effectively planning and managing your time, and what a chapter's expectations should realistically be."

The sessions were timed so as not to conflict with general sessions and were extremely well-received. "Almost all the responses included a note that they would be back next year," Ragan said. The number one question was, "What took you so long?"

Ragan said that if local chapters didn't hear about the track it means they are not on the NRLC Chapter list. "If you are interested in receiving information about the NRLC 2000 chapter track, write us, using your official chapter letterhead, and request to be added to the chapter list," she said. "You will receive the NRLC Chapter Newsletter, published once per month and a couple of other times during the year," she added.

The address is NRLC State Development Department, 419 7th Street, NW, #500, Washington, D.C., 20004.

"Please do get in touch with us," Ragan said. "If we are going to be as effective as possible for the babies, we need to be working as one."