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Vast Array of Back-to-School Resources As you read these remarks, many of your sons and daughters are already walking across college campuses. Soon afterwards other children will be returning to elementary, middle, or high school. That’s why we spent a lot of time in this issue talking about information they can use in their studies or in profiling pro-life young people—your future, our nation’s future, and our Movement’s future. Referring to the NRL Academy, Joleigh Little recently wrote, “It’s like college, only all of the courses are on the life issues!” (More about Joleigh below.) The NRL Educational Trust Fund is sponsoring this six-week summer program to train pro-life college students in a vigorous, academic setting. I can attest that this is a very wise investment of always tight resources. Let me say upfront that all the young people who’ve energized our offices this summer—interns and Academy attendees alike—are scary smart. I was one of the first to give a more-or-less formal presentation to the college students attending the Academy. Frankly, I am not easily impressed, as anyone who knows me can attest. But these young people knew their stuff. On more than one occasion I offered up scenarios to see how well they could analyze what was really taking place. Their quick, thoughtful responses impressed me no end. I can only hope they gained as much from the vigorous back-and-forth, give-and-take as I did. On pages 1 and 5, you’ll read firsthand accounts from an intern and an Academy attendee. They represent a birds-eye view of the cutting-edge organization that leads the greatest movement for social justice of our time. Joe Landrum, administrative assistant for public information for the NRL Educational Trust Fund, was kind enough to take time to write two stories about what is available from the Trust Fund, either by ordering or by downloading materials from NRLC’s web page at www.nrlc.org. It is no exaggeration to say that there is an amazing depth and breadth of material on the web page. In addition to all the brochures, factsheets, books, DVDs, and videos available, a visit to www.nrlc.org offers access to all the thousands of stories that have appeared in NRL News going back to December 1997. On top of that, there is the Legislative Action Center, a veritable cornucopia of information about all things congressional. There is also the “Current Issues” section which provides a staggering amount of information on every pro-life issue under the sun. To take just one example, the 14-year fight over partial-birth abortion, a busy student could go to www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/index.html and read the entire history of a debate which culminated with the Supreme Court for the first time upholding a ban on an abortion technique. And please be sure not only to read “Today’s News & Views,” my daily column, but pass it along to those who want to keep up to date on the latest goings on. I alluded to Joleigh Little a moment ago. She wears a number of hats. She works for Wisconsin Right to Life but also serves as program coordinator for the National Right to Life Academy. A significant portion of her work for Wisconsin RTL is organizing its four youth leadership camps that take place over the course of the summer. Camp Esther, the basic camp and prerequisite for Camp Nehemiah, teaches teens all the basics of the life issues. Camp Nehemiah picks up where Esther leaves off, offering more advanced courses on everything from international abortion laws and eugenics to assisted suicide and lobbying techniques. You can read about Joleigh’s latest adventures on page 4. It’s easy to see she loves young people and why they would love her in return. At the risk of tooting my own horn, it’s essential that not just young people, but every pro-lifer of every age read NRL News. On page two, I’ve provided a wonderful way for readers to give gift subscriptions and in return be sent an amazing book: Surprise Child: Finding Hope in Unexpected Pregnancy. But I would be remiss if I did not highlight another important way that you can help NRL help the pro-life community. Take a moment to read Marie Hagan’s comprehensive overview on page z of the federal government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). She shows how you can designate the NRL Educational Trust Fund as the non-profit charity you wish your CFC contributions to go to. It’s an easy, painless way to systematically help the educational work of NRLC and its 50 state affiliates. Summer is almost over, a time when the frantic pace of pro-life activities tends to taper off just a bit. But now it’s time to gear up on behalf of the most vulnerable among us. Please take the time to make sure you are aware of all that NRLC has to empower you to do your best work on behalf of unborn babies, the medically dependent elderly, and children born with severe anomalies. And then share this issue with your pro-life family, friends, and colleagues. |