Teachers Saving Children® National Newsletter June 2007

	Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. - National
	Newsletter Volume 17, Number 5 June 2007	Home National Newsletters

Thoughts From the Executive Director
Important Information About 2007-2008 Memberships
"The Wonder of Life"
Pro-Life News Updates

Board of Trustees Meeting
2007 NEA Convention
Quote

THOUGHTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Connie Bancroft

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

-Esther 4:14

Connie Bancroft with
Dr. J. C. Willke

The Board of Trustees with Dr. Willke
(L to R): Pam Hall, Juanita Sattler, Connie Bancroft, Judy Bruns, Dr. Willke, Gary Winney, Ron Cain, David Kaiser (missing John Saxe and Robin Ross)
On May 5, 2007, several educators and their guests had the opportunity to hear an outstanding presentation by Dr. J.C. Willke, considered by many to be the “father of the pro-life movement.” He delivered his talk powerfully, sharing fact after fact about the sanctity of life and the devastating effects of abortion.

He began with history of the Congressional legislation that banned partial birth abortion. What touched my heart was how the Lord used even a pro-abortion U.S. President’s veto power to eventually educate the nation – not once, but twice. It was during President Clinton’s term that Congress first began debating and approving the proposed Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Congress passed a bill banning the grisly procedure two times. Knowing that there were not enough votes to override President Clinton’s veto, Congress continued to debate and pass this legislation. They could have shelved the bill; instead they pressed on. What happened during those months of debate? Americans became educated on what partial birth abortion entails. What effect did this education have on national leaders? Not only did the Partial Birth Abortion Ban pass in Congress, but President Bush signed the bill into law. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court has now upheld the bill.

After listening carefully to Dr. Willke’s account of the history of the partial Birth Abortion Ban, I have come to a conclusion. So often we look at only the negative that is taking place. So often we see only a lack of progress as lives are being taken every minute by abortion. But God used this lengthy debate and process through the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches to educate a nation about a horrible abortion process – and, most importantly, about life.

The Lord has opened the doors for pro-life individuals to serve as delegates in the teachers’ unions – for such a time as this! – to educate through the exhibit, through dialogue, through networking, and through the Light of Jesus shining through our lives. Many educators are working endlessly to educate their colleagues about the Sanctity of Human Life. A number of conservative educators will be networking at the NEA Representative Assembly in Philadelphia in less than four weeks. Please pray for these delegates as they travel and serve your interests!

…And, who knows, someday the Lord might place you in a position to serve Him and the little ones “for such a time as this!”

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT 2007-2008 MEMBERSHIPS

Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. has been in existence for 15+ years. Since its inception, the annual dues for active members has not been increased. After consulting with our CPA, seeing increases in normal expenses, reviewing our budget, and prayer, the Board of Trustees approved a dues increase starting with the 2007-2008 membership year. Annual dues will be $35.00 with a reduced rate of $15.00 for college students presently enrolled in a college or university undergraduate degree program and also for retired educators currently receiving retiree benefits. Husband and wife may still join under the same membership.

We are currently accepting new memberships for the 2007-2008 membership year. Any new memberships received after June 1st are good until August 31, 2008. Renewal membership information will be sent to all current members in early July. ALL memberships are handled through the National Office. Each month, States Affiliates receive membership updates and their portion of the dues received.

Teachers Saving Children^® membership is open to all pro-life/pro-family educators and concerned citizens. Please be advised that according to the Teachers Saving Children^® Constitution & Bylaws, the membership year is from September 1 – August 31, though we do begin renewing memberships in June. Contributions and memberships are NOT tax deductible.

Thank you for your continued support in being “A Voice for LIFE in Education.”

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"THE WONDER OF LIFE"

Teachers Saving Children^® will be in Philadelphia PA June 30 – July 2 for the NEA Expo 2007. Thousands of educators will be reached with the sanctity of life message through “The Wonder of Life” exhibit.

A special thank you to each person who has given $5, $10, or more to this special ministry opportunity. The Lord has graciously provided through you the funds needed for the exhibit space rental fee, miscellaneous fees, and the materials to distribute free to educators who visit our exhibit. We have also been able to purchase some videos and DVDs to distribute free to selected educators who would use them in their classrooms. Any additional funds received will be used for unexpected expenses that may occur as we finalize the details of the display.

Thank you for your continued prayers as we prepare and transport the display. Please pray for the Lord’s special anointing as we minister to individuals during the exhibit hours.

Reminder: Those individuals still desiring to support this exhibit financially should make their checks payable to “TSC Inc. – National”. Please carefully note how the amount given is to be designated (“NEA Exhibit”) so that the contribution will be appropriately allocated.

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PRO-LIFE NEWS UPDATES

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Decision Could Lead to Overturning Roe v Wade

Washington DC – The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal ban on partial-birth abortions could pave the way to a ruling reversing the high court’s 1973 decision in Roe v Wade that toppled pro-life laws across the country. That’s something pro-life advocates relish and pro-abortion activists fear. The thought is that if the high court could reverse its 2000 decision on partial-birth abortion that it could change its mind on abortion itself as well. Wednesday’s [April 18, 2007] ruling is the first major abortion case in which new Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito have ruled, perhaps giving a clue as to their views on Roe itself. The pair might very well join Justices Antonin Scalia and Clearance Thomas and a fifth justice in the future who would form a five-judge group giving it the majority on the high court for the first time since the landmark 1973 case. A fifth judge is needed because Justice Kennedy supports Roe despite his joining the majority in the partial-birth abortion case and writing the main opinion. Abortion advocates sense the thread Roe v Wade is hanging by and communicated their fears to supporters in emails sent out on Wednesday. NARAL president Nancy Keenan worried that, with the partial-birth abortion decisions, “the Supreme Court has not only supported an abortion ban with no exception for a woman’s health, it has given the green light to the anti-choice movement’s plan to outlaw abortion entirely.”

Source: LifeNews.com, April 20, 2007

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Rape Victims Don’t Always Want Abortions, Women’s Organization Says

Springfield IL – An organization for women who become pregnant after becoming victims of sexual assault says that raped women don’t always want abortions and challenged abortion advocates for making it appear that way. The group says that abortion creates more problems for women pregnant by rape than it solves. The members of the Ad Hoc Committee of Women Pregnant by Sexual Assault (WPSA) want to insert their voice into the abortion debate. In an attempt to do so, they have written a petition to Congress and state legislatures asking for hearings on their experiences. They want women who’ve become pregnant through sexual assault to be allowed to share their stories and address the real concerns that they have faced. “In virtually every case, those people who claim to represent our interests have never taken the time to actually listen to us or to learn about our true circumstances, needs, and concerns,” the group writes in its petition. “We are deeply offended and dismayed each time our difficult circumstances are exploited for public consumption to promote the political agenda of others,” the group added. Kathleen DeZeeuw, who grave birth to a boy after she was raped at the age of 16, says abortion advocates have used the issue of sexual assault pregnancy to push for abortion without considering the real needs of the women involved. “I feel personally assaulted and insulted every time I hear that abortion should be legal because of rape and incest,” she said. “I feel we’re being used to further the abortion issue, even though we’ve never been asked to tell our side of the story,” DeZeeuw added.

Source: LifeNews.com, September 8, 2006

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The HPV Vaccine and Abstinence Education

The HPV Vaccine and Abstinence Education A very controversial topic over the past year has been the HPV vaccine. HPV [Human Papilloma Virus] is a sexually transmitted disease and is considered to be the seed of cervical cancer, causing a vast majority of reported cases. The vaccine, Gardasil, has been developed by Merck and Company and is effective against some of the many strains of HPV. Gardasil has been recommended for girls and women ages 9 to 26.

Last summer [2006], the NEA delegates overwhelmingly approved a New Business Item on the HPV vaccine. It states as follows:

NBI 2007-23: “The NEA through the NEA Health Information Network, shall research and make available to NEA members and state/local affiliates information regarding the HPV vaccine, approved by the FDA on 6-8-06. This vaccine has proven to prevent 70% of cervical cancers and pre-cancers and is recommended for girls/young women ages 9-26.” [Source: RA Today, 2006 RA, Issue 6, Orlando FL, July 6, 2006]

For the past several months state legislatures have been introducing bills to mandate the HPV vaccine for young girls before they enter 6th grade. What is this type of debate saying to the young girls of our nation? What is this type of debate saying about family values and rights? Penny Harrington of Concerned Women for America states in her “Talking Points: The HPV Vaccine” article [2/12/07] “because HPV is spread only through sexual contact, no child is going to be infected with HPV by sitting in a classroom…Excluding children from school for refusal to be vaccinated for a disease spread only by penetrating vaginal intercourse is a serious, precedent-setting action that trespasses on the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children as well as on the rights of the children to attend school.”

Interesting enough, on March 22, 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) announced that he wants to end state funding for abstinence education, a move that would eliminate about a half million dollars’ worth of positive programs. Strickland said, “Over the long term, there’s no data that show they prevent, in a statistical sense, sexual activity outside of marriage.” However, stacks of peer-reviewed research are showing the direct impact of abstinence education. [Source: Family Research Council, March 23, 2007]

The debate will continue. However, we must stand strong regarding the importance of abstinence-based education, purity before marriage, and parental rights regarding medical decision for our children and students. And we must take a stand against these drug companies that continue to develop drug and vaccines that are not needed and, many times, are harmful to our children.

Additional Source: Life Issues Institute, email release, 1/31/2007

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

May 5, 2007: The Teachers Saving Children^® National Board of Trustees met in Cincinnati, Ohio, for their regularly scheduled Spring meeting. The following are highlights of some of the items that were discussed.

1. Election of Officers for the 2007-2008 fiscal year was held. Connie Bancroft will serve as the Executive Director; Gary Winney will serve as the Assistant Executive Director; Juanita Sattler will serve as Secretary; David Kaiser will serve as Treasurer.

2. The Board of Trustees accepted the reports of the State Affiliate Chapters. Both the Pennsylvania and Michigan Board of Trustees currently need individuals who would be willing to serve as Board members.

3. The Board of Trustees amended the Constitution & Bylaws to increase the dues for active members to $35 and for retired and student members to $15.

4. The Board of Trustees approved a promotional DVD which will be used to promote Teachers Saving Children^® through its members, the website, and conferences.

5. The Board of Trustees approved a revised publicity brochure which will be available by August 1st for distribution.

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2007 NEA CONVENTION

From June 30 – July 5, nearly 10,000 NEA members elected by their state and local colleagues will gather at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia PA for the 2007 NEA Representative Assembly. The first 2½ days will include exhibits, open hearings, and other preliminary activities and events. Beginning July 2, delegates will spend four days conducting business that relates to the policies and activities of the NEA by voting on proposed amendments to the NEA Standing Rules and Constitution and Bylaws, electing officers, voting on Resolutions, accepting the reports of various committees, and debating many new business items.

It is vital that you contact your delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly, letting them know your philosophy on various issues and candidates. If you have a delegate(s) from your local attending the NEA convention, contact should be easy. However, many locals do not or cannot send delegates to the NEA RA. Therefore, state at-large delegates or cluster delegates need to be contacted. If you need the names and addresses of your delegate(s), please contact your local president or your NEA State Affiliate office.

Get involved by contacting your NEA delegates! Remind them to vote according to the wishes of the membership they represent! And then hold them accountable by requesting a written report upon their return! Remember: They are your representatives!

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