Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 11, Number 1
October 2000
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"The times are dark. The spirits of ruin are abroad in all their power. The mercy of God alone can save us."
Our culture, our society is currently at a crossroads. Yet, there is hope! We have all the critical elements of success in the battle for the sanctity of life, as shared by Janet Folger, the National Director for the Center for Reclaiming America, at a recent pro-life luncheon.
I. Truth Will Prevail. There are a lot of issues facing our society and our government every day - education, economy, health care, employment,... - but the issue of LIFE is a priority issue because it is a prerequisite to every other single issue. Although there seems to be a wall of complexity, the issue of life really isn't so difficult. The simple facts lead to the simple truth, and when we have the truth it is easy to show the hypocrisy of the other side. The heart changing truth regarding the Sanctity of Life will prevail.
II. Persistence Wins. Teachers Saving Children® has learned throughout the years of our existence that planting the seed, watering, fertilizing, and tending to the soil will produce beautiful results. Pro-life delegates to the NEA and State Affiliate RAs have been persistent, even though they have been defeated time and time again. Nonetheless, persistence does eventually win as Ohio Life Issues Caucus members experienced when one former pro-choice delegate testified that he could no longer call himself "pro-choice." There are those who will choose life because we are persistent with the truth.
III. Love Conquers All. The quote "Somebody, somewhere love me" was found written six different times in the margin of Madalyn Murray O'Hair's diary. There are many individuals looking for a "safe haven" of love. If only we would take the time to love those who oftentimes seem to be our enemies; what a difference we could make! We should love others because God first loved us. It will be through love that others will find that "safe haven" to change and to respect the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.
IV. Faith Moves Mountains. God uses ordinary people. As we face the Goliath of the abortion holocaust, we are each like David, the shepherd boy, who faced Goliath of the Philistines and won. When we have the faith of a mustard seed, mountains will be moved - giants will be slain! Through faith, we will see the Goliath of the abortion holocaust destroyed!
V. Prayer Changes Things. Ephesians 3:20-21 states "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." No one is beyond God's reach. Nothing is beyond God's reach. Teachers Saving Children® experienced the promise of Ephesians 3:20-21 last summer as we presented "The Wonder of Life" exhibit at the NEA Expo 2000. Prayer does change things!
VI. God - With God All Things Are Possible. We often say "I've never done this before" or "I have a fear of public speaking" or "This battle is too large".... However, we serve the God of the impossible! We will experience those seemingly impossible results when we act on each of these critical elements that God has given us.
We are losing the cultural battle by default. We have often not been willing to give or become involved until it hurts. There is no punishment in giving, becoming involved, or trying and failing, but only in failing to give, become involved, or try.
Yes, only the mercy of God can save us. We have been given the chance, and the only ability one needs is availability. What steps will each one of us take to win the battle? Are we willing to give until it hurts? These are some of the questions we must answer in the weeks ahead. We must take action now on all the critical elements in order for the battle of LIFE to be won! I am willing! Are you?
The Michigan TSC publicity brochure is finished and board members are handing them out wherever possible. We placed an ad in The Michigan Education Report, a publication that goes to all Michigan public school teachers. The Board continues to met and discuss strategies to spread the word about TSC and to increase membership.
TSC Inc. of MI, 3442 Olderidge NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525-3025; tsc-mi@multimag.com
Ohio: The Ohio TSC Board of Trustees met twice during the 1999-2000 fiscal year: September 18, 1999 and February 21, 2000. The Ohio TSC Chapter continues to cooperate with Ohio Life Issues Caucus and the Ohio Family Alliance. Board members are planning area dinners to help inform colleagues about the NEA's position on life and other related issues.
TSC Inc. of Ohio, PO Box 125, Damascus OH 44619-0125; tsc-life@juno.com
Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania TSC Board of Trustees met three times during the 1999-2000 fiscal year: October 2, 1999, April 8, 2000, and August 12, 2000. During the August 12, 2000 board meeting the PA TSC Board of Trustees approved Robin Ross as a new board member who replaced John Barrow who had resigned from the PA Board of Trustees effective August 31, 2000. The 2000-2001 officers for the PA TSC Affiliate State Chapter are as follows: Michael Grella, Executive Director; John Dunkle, Assistant Executive Director; Barbara Purcell, Secretary; Linda Burroughs, Treasurer.
TSC of PA Inc., PO Box 214, Pen Argyl PA 18072; tscofpa@usa.net
Other State Affiliates: If you are interested in getting a TSC Affiliate State Chapter started in your state, please contact TSC for further information.
The National Education Association, in its Resolutions document, supports "reproductive freedom," interpreted by NEA legal counsel three years ago as including abortion with no limitations. Many teachers in the Mercer County, Ohio, area say this does not reflect their feelings on the abortion issue.
On Tuesday, October 3, 2000, about twenty of those teachers gathered at the Knights of Columbus Hall in St Henry, Ohio for a "pro-life teachers' carry-in dinner" and for a writing campaign to their OEA/NEA leadership to tell them of their views. Sample letters were distributed for ideas, and teachers began to write, write, write, with names of OEA leaders, in particular those who served the state in NEA positions, the central focus. A bundle of stamped, addressed envelopes with pro-life messages to officeholders in the OEA/NEA were mailed immediately after the get-together. Participants planned to continue writing/e-mailing 2-3 designated union people over a period of time; also, participants will be praying for their selected people.
In addition to the writing campaign, Judy Bruns and David Kaiser, two OEA delegates (with NEA delegate experience) addressed other things pro-life teachers could do to let their message be heard, including joining Teachers Saving Children®. Magnetized pro-life bumper stickers and gold "baby feet at 10 weeks" pins were given free to all who came to the carry-in dinner. Participants watched the 15-minute video "The Wonder of Life," and saw for themselves babies in-utero-hearts beating, sucking their thumbs-moving around even in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Teachers, who were pro-life but unable to attend due to prior commitments with their families or at their schools that night, sent donations and messages of support. Some planned to write letters/e-mail union leaders on their own time at home.
Members of TSC wanting more information about this activity or who would like to write/e-mail OEA/NEA leadership in policy-making roles may contact Judy Bruns at 405 Park St., Coldwater, OH 45828 or, better still, e-mail her at brunspj@bright.net.
Editor's Note: Judy Bruns, a teacher in the Coldwater Exempted Village School District (Mercer County, OH), has been a delegate to the NEA for the past 3 years and a delegate to the OEA for the past several years. She is also a member of Teachers Saving Children®.
1. The Board of Trustees amended Article 1, Section 1 of the Constitution & Bylaws (TSC Purpose Statement) to read as follows: "Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National, hereinafter called Corporation, is an organization of pro-life teachers and other concerned citizens whose primary purpose is a commitment to a respect for all human life from conception to natural death, especially among professional educators' organizations."
2. The Board of Trustees received official notification that the name "Teachers Saving Children®" has been approved under an U.S. Trademark Registration.
3. The Board of Trustees approved a new National TSC slogan "A Voice for LIFE in Education". All publicity materials will be updated with the new slogan as these materials are reprinted.
4. The Board of Trustees made a decision to make application for an exhibit at the NEA Expo 2001 in Los Angeles, CA, July 2-4, 2001.
5. The Board of Trustees approved the 1999-2000 fiscal report and the following 2000-2001 National budget:
| Affiliate State Chapters | $ 500.00 | ||
| Awards & Gifts | 100.00 | ||
| Legal & Accounting | 600.00 | ||
| Office Administration | 400.00 | ||
| Postage | 1750.00 | ||
| Public Relations | |||
| Printing | 1500.00 | ||
| Promotion | 1000.00 | ||
| Telephone | 750.00 | ||
| Travel Expense | 500.00 | ||
| Total | $7100.00 |
| Balance - September 1, 1999 | $ 527.27 | ||
| Receipts: | |||
| Contributions: | |||
| NEA Exhibit | $3376.00 | ||
| Undesignated | 1226.92 | ||
| Memberships: | |||
| '99-2000 | 1313.00 | ||
| 2000-2001 | 2531.00 | ||
| Interest | 30.82 | $8477.74 | |
| Disbursements: | |||
| Legal & Accounting | 60.00 | ||
| Office Administration | 255.64 | ||
| Postage | 1339.00 | ||
| Public Relations | |||
| Printing | 675.28 | ||
| Promotion | |||
| NEA Exhibit | 3321.26 | ||
| Telephone | 705.88 | ||
| Travel Expenses | 175.00 | 6532.06 | |
| Balance - August 31, 2000 | $2472.95 |
**The NEA Exhibit Line Item Balance is $54.74.
Please note: There were a large number of membership renewals paid prior to September 1, 2000. Thank you for helping the Board have a better picture of what our finances would be like for the 2000-2001 fiscal year. TSC does not solicit additional contributions beyond memberships, but does appreciate any additional contributions received throughout the year.
I believe, speaking for the pro-life people, that when the final judgment comes - as is will surely - when that moment comes that you face Almighty God - the individual judgment, the particular judgment - I believe that a terror will grip your soul like none other you can imagine. The sins of omission will be what weigh you down; not the things you've done wrong, the chances you've taken, but the things you failed to do, the times that you stepped back, the times you didn't speak out.
Not only for every idle word but for every idle silence must man render an account. I think that you will be overwhelmed with remorse for the things you failed to do.
But I do believe that people in the pro-life movement will hear voices on their behalf advocating Christ's mercy. I think they will hear little voices that were never heard in this world but are heard in the next world in a chorus like Handel's Messiah saying: 'Forgive him, forgive him, he loved us very much.'
I believe the terror that you will feel at that time, if you work for the unborn, will be lifted when you hear the words: 'Come, beloved of my Father and enter the kingdom.'"
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