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NRL News
Decision 2008: Growing the Grassroots, One Blade
at a Time Every quarter, major pro-abortion political organizations must report how much money they’ve vacuumed up and how much they’ve dispensed. The quantities of cash raised and cash on hand of groups such as EMILY’s List read like something from a Fortune 500 company. In addition, some of the richest people in the world individually contribute millions and millions of dollars to pro-abortion organizations. To say pro-abortionists are loaded is like saying that Bill Clinton is slick: too obvious to bear repeating. As our Movement faces the challenges of 2008, we reach into our own kitty. Only instead of fists full of dollars, what we pull out is “people power.” Without question, the network of pro-life citizens in communities around the nation is the underpinning for the Pro-Life Movement and the reason it flourishes against pro-abortion foes with access to virtually limitless resources. Recently I re-interviewed Jacki Ragan, NRLC director of state organizational development. It was almost exactly a year after we had talked following the 2006 midterm elections. As you recall, it was a tough year for pro-lifers, one that would have discouraged less resilient people. In that interview Jacki explained to me how she had come into the office the day after, expecting her phones to be quiet for once. Instead pro-lifer after pro-lifer called to say they had come away from the disappointing results more determined than ever to have a “presence” across the nation. In the ensuing 13 months National Right to Life has added other creative ways to identify pro-lifers—the lifeblood of our Movement. Unveiled at NRLC’s national convention, Life Leaders has already picked up a head of steam. In addition, by circulating the petition found on pages 14–15, you can quickly locate men and women who share our resistance to abortion. (You can order additional copies by calling 202-378-8842.) Looking ahead not just to 2008 but beyond, Ragan said she was greatly encouraged by the willingness of pro-lifers to utilize the latest information technologies. “It doesn’t surprise me that Generation Y (also dubbed by demographers as the “Millennium Generation”) would be as conversant with the new technologies as the Boomers were with color television and hi-fi stereos,” Ragan explained. “What did surprise me as we work with new people joining NRLC is how comfortable middle-age people are using computers, iPODs, digital cameras, and MP3s.” To have that magical “presence” in a community means you start with Grassroots Organizing 101. The linchpin to all our success is establishing and growing chapters. Ragan said that the first thing her office asks of anyone inquiring about “how do I get involved” is if there was a NRLC chapter in their community. If they don’t know, Ragan just asks for their zip code and in a minute “I could tell them yea or nay.” (NRL News readers should call 202-378-8842.) Some people might wonder if there is a need, as if there were a NRLC chapter on every corner. “We have upwards of 3,000 chapters,” Ragan said, “but this is a huge nation of 300 million people.” But all it takes is one dedicated person to start a new chapter. That someone, Ragan said, “can be you.” Many might balk at that, she conceded, but that usually is because they misunderstood what’s required. The biggest hurdle most people need to get over, she said, is a sense that it is either incredibly complicated or all-consuming to start a chapter. “It is neither,” Ragan said. “We have everything you need to get a new chapter started and we ask only what time you can give.” Put another way, “Organizationally, you don’t need to start from scratch; you don’t need to re-invent the wheel,” she explained. “We have a large inventory of successful ‘starter programs’ that can be mailed out to you in a jiffy.” NRLC’s state newsletter is up and running, providing a repository of helpful ideas and solutions to common problems. In addition, Ragan will be contributing a column each month to NRL News. “It’ll be a great place for me to share new ideas and to respond to questions that have come to my department in the previous month,” she said. Asked if she had any final words, Ragan smiled and said, “Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us.” |