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NRL News
The National Right to Life
Convention Is Coming! There is no event more instructional, motivational, or inspirational for pro-life Americans than National Right to Life’s annual convention. And the next one is right around the corner. If you haven’t already, start making plans to attend the 35th National Right to Life Convention in Kansas City June 14–16. “Bringing LIFE to the Heart of America ... Bringing the Heart of America to Life!” is the theme of this year’s convention. Be assured that we’re bringing some of the world’s leading pro-life voices, along with the unsung experts on issues relating to life, to headline general sessions and conduct seminars that are educational and instructive. For instance, Wesley J. Smith, J.D., will open the convention with “How the Politics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Has Corrupted Science.” Other featured speakers include former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, Archbishop Joseph Naumann, and Reverend Richard John Neuhaus, editor-in-chief of First Things magazine. Seminars explaining the Abortion-Breast Cancer Link, the connection between Planned Parenthood and the eugenics movement, myths and realities of stem cell research, an outline of human fetology, post-abortion syndrome, and abortion law developments are just a few of the topics covered by experts on each subject. In addition to learning all about the issues to better educate your communities, there will be many workshops that will provide nuts-and-bolts ideas and projects that will help your chapter operate effectively. These technical workshops will run the gamut from dealing with chapter finances and the IRS to “Terri’s Legacy: Building a Network that Will Save Lives,” presented by Bobby Schindler and Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri Schindler Schiavo’s brother and sister. But wait, there’s more! Chapters will go on information overload and quickly fill their calendars with plans after attending workshops such as “The Importance of Grassroots Organizing,” “Pro-Life and In Print: Using Signature Ads to Promote Life and Demonstrate Community Support,” “Chapters and Money Management,” “List Development and Maintenance,” “Respecting Time: The Art of Managing Your Meetings,” “The Strongest Link: How National Right to Life and Your State Affiliate Assist Grassroots Efforts,” and “Non-Profit Mail: The Price We Pay for Discounted Rates.” Many chapters wrestle with involving more local churches in their efforts. If that is a problem for you, there are a number of workshops to prime chapters in the basics of effectively communicating with their community’s pastors. Priests for Life Chairman Fr. Frank Pavone and Steven Ertelt, editor of LifeNews.com, are among the presenters of a workshop entitled, “The Church, The Media and The State.” They will share information and ideas about how to overcome the perceptions created by the media which prevent many pastors and churches from speaking out and taking action today. A favorite workshop every year, “We Are the Sheep ... Where Are the Shepherds?” will be presented by experienced pro-life leaders and pastors from the National Pro-Life Religious Council. The panel will present practical suggestions on how to motivate and support your pastors and church leaders so they can make pro-life a highly visible issue in their churches. “Overcoming Pro-Abortion Op-position within a Congregation or Denomination” will be presented by Rev. Ben Sheldon and Rev. John Brown, both pastors working to establish a pro-life base in denominations that do not currently hold a pro-life position. They will review the process and activities they are pursuing to build pro-life support with pastors and members at a local level as well as coordinating efforts to pass pro-life resolutions at the denominations’ annual meetings. Practical suggestions will be made by these experienced leaders on how best to begin the process of changing hearts and minds by being living witnesses of the Gospel’s message of life. On the other side of the coin, there will be a workshop on increasing local pro-life effectiveness in already pro-life religious denominations. But all this, the workshops and general sessions, are only a part of the experience. As a chapter leader, you will meet other chapter chairs from throughout the country to share and compare experiences, glean ideas, and form friendships. The camaraderie of attending the convention with thousands of others who share your commitment to restoring a culture of life is inspirational beyond description. Seeing hundreds of teens who are spending their summer vacation preparing themselves to more effectively champion life among their friends and in their schools is a cause for pride and confidence for the future. And the vendor booths offer all the materials you could possibly need to grow and to share the pro-life message. Whether your chapter is going gangbusters or seems to have plateaued, whether you’ve been in the Movement for years or are just now looking for ways to get active, NRLC 2007 will give you what you need to go forward and defend life. And we need you to attend the convention to share your experiences and enthusiasm, and to show the media, the public, and the politicians that the pro-life movement is strong, vibrant, and not going away. We are bringing the heart of America to life! |