Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania Inc.

Newsletter
Volume 8, Number 2
May 2007

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Contents


A WORD FROM ROBIN ROSS

Executive Director

On May 5, 2007, I met with the Teachers Saving Children® National Board of Trustees in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was again impressed with their love for children and their dedication to protecting them. Extensive business was accomplished at the meeting. A few highlights are that we now have an excellent promotional Teachers Saving Children® DVD; and, we voted to increase annual dues from $25 to $35 for regular membership, and from $10 to $15 for retired educator and student memberships.

Our Pennsylvania chapter Board of Trustees met on May 19, 2007, during which the following officers were elected for 2007-2008: Robin Ross, Executive Director; Jeff Remington, Assistant Executive Director; Secretary, Julie Myers; and Treasurer, Patricia Yamrick. I was re-appointed as the representative to the National Board of Trustees.

After disbursements were made during the Board meeting, the balance at the end of the meeting was $579.35.

The Pennsylvania chapter currently has 47 members.

A plaque was presented to Linda Burroughs for her 10 years of faithful service, as well as a certificate entitling her to lifetime membership in Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania, Inc. Sincere thanks and my best wishes to her. Linda, I will miss you very much!

Here is your chance to help us by becoming a board member. We will need two more members after Linda leaves us. Please consider joining our board. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact me at 717-292-2021 or by email at bilskto@paonline.com.

The next Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees meeting will be September 15, 2007, in Lewisburg, PA.


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"WONDER OF LIFE" EXHIBIT

The National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly and Expo will make a local stop at the Philadelphia Convention Center this year. Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National will sponsor “The Wonder of Life” exhibit at the Expo. This is a great opportunity for an up-close look at both the NEA and Teachers Saving Children®. The Expo runs from June 30 to July 2 AM, and is open to any Pennsylvania State Education Association member and their guests. Please consider a day trip to Philadelphia to walk the Expo floor and meet members of Teachers Saving Children®. Both national and state members will be on hand. It will be an eye-opening and worthwhile experience. If you would like more information, please contact Jeff Remington, Assistant Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Chapter, at PalmyraRem@aol.com.

It isn’t too late for you to consider volunteering at “The Wonder of Life” exhibit during the NEA Expo! Contact our national Executive Director, Connie Bancroft, if you are interested in helping to staff the Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National exhibit booth. Connie can be contacted at 330-821-2747 or by email at tsc-life@juno.com.


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DEPARTING THOUGHTS

From Linda Burroughs

After ten years as a Board of Trustees member and treasurer of Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania, I plan to resign at the end of 2007. I am the final board member still serving from the initial group that established our Pennsylvania chapter. I am also the member with the longest drive through miles of wooded secondary roads, traveling from Warren County to the board meetings that were held in central Pennsylvania. Fortunately, my husband accompanied me to the meetings, which gave him the opportunity to find new restaurants for us to try! There were ample opportunities for his explorations, since we first met in a church near Williamsport, then in a church in State College, next at Robin’s isolated but lovely Stone Lodge, and finally in the library in Lewistown, a fitting place for educators to meet!

What will I remember about those ten years? I will remember the camaraderie. Instead of feeling alone and isolated in my pro-life commitment within the teaching profession, I met others in similar situations who encouraged and supported me. I always left the meetings feeling renewed and rejuvenated after just two hours of fellowship. I will also remember the people who prayed for my son during an extremely difficult time and the kindness and concern extended to me. I will remember the prayers, scriptures, and helpful information shared at the meetings.

There were some memorable board highlights that occurred during my tenure, as well. Scott and Cornelia Moyer adopted two children. Jeff Remington was recognized nationally as an outstanding science teacher. We shared pro-life experiences such as marches and pickets, helpful hints on being pro-life in the teachers’ lunchroom, becoming acquainted with other pro-life teachers, and learning helpful information about the National Education Association Convention. I also gained great respect for Connie Bancroft, Executive Director of Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National. She is amazing with her knowledge and her ability to manage the organization.

I will miss the special people I have worked with on the Board of Trustees these ten years. They are God’s people who have an abundant love for all His children, born and unborn. They exhibit a gentle love shown in caring for the “least of these.”


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PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT

As you are likely aware, the United States Supreme Court recently handed down its decision upholding the national ban on a category of abortions, originally signed into law by President Bush on November 5, 2003 as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. This represents the first direct national restriction on any method of abortion since the Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand in 1973.

Statistics indicate that most partial-birth abortions are performed in the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy, although some have been performed later. At issue is whether the aborted baby would be considered a “live birth” - outside of the mother’s body and showing signs of life such as any respiration, heartbeat, or movement of voluntary muscles. If so, the baby is protected under the federal Born-Alive Infants’ Protection Law enacted in 2002. Even under the doctrine of Roe v. Wade, once outside the mother, a human who shows any signs of life is a person protected by law and the Constitution, whether he or she lives for five minutes or 100 years.

As a point of reference, by 23 weeks gestation, statistics indicate that one-third of live-born babies survive long term, and by 24 weeks one-half are long-term survivors. A full-term gestation is 40 weeks. To state it another way, at the stages of development that most partial-birth abortions are performed, the great majority of babies would be legal live births if they were delivered by spontaneous premature labor, and many would be long-term survivors.

For those of us who believe in protecting the rights of the unborn, the Supreme Court ruling is a welcome decision. To quote President Bush when he signed the Born-Alive Infants’ Protection Act in 2002, “This important legislation ensures that every infant born alive – including an infant who survives an abortion procedure – is considered a person under federal law.” And from Care Net president Kurt Ensminger, “For the sake of the dignity of human life…this (partial-birth abortion) procedure has no home in a civilized society.”

Incidentally, a Gallup poll conducted last January, which described the bill and specified that it contains a life-of-mother exception, found 70% in favor of the ban. Furthermore, a 1999 random sample of 2,000 hospital-based registered nurses by RN Magazine found that 63% favored a ban on partial-birth abortion. A poll of obstetrician-gynecologists in October of 2002 by Medical Economics revealed a majority of 57% who favored the ban.

Although the important matter of protecting the life of the unborn child has become politicized, do not make the mistake of believing that this is a single-party issue. If you have questions about that, visit the following websites to learn about pro-life support among both political parties, as well as many special-interest groups: www.democratsforlife.org; www.About:womensissues.com; www.google.com\pro-lifeorganizations.

(Sources: www.LifeNews.com; www.NationalRighttoLife.com; “You Don’t Need a Weatherman” by D. Johnson, November 8, 2006 on www.NationalReview.com; www.womensissues.about.com; and www.democratsforlife.com)


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THE WORLD CAFE

The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) is hosting a series of coffee klatches throughout the state. The events are titled “World Cafés.” Information about the events is being disseminated through the PSEA Voice, direct mailing, and the PSEA web site. World Café is an open forum for PSEA members to express their views about what they want their association to achieve. This is an excellent opportunity for members of Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania to express their opposition to the pro-abortion stance of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the National Education Association. Please consider seeking information about World Café events in your area and let your voice be heard!


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THIS 'n THAT

Kudos to United States Representative Joseph Pitts (R-PA). On March 9, 2007, he introduced HR Bill 1457, the Post-Abortion Depression Research and Care Act of 2007. Please support this bill, which seeks to establish solid evidence that there are long-term effects from abortion, such as depression, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, grief, rage, emotional numbness, sexual dysfunction, and relationship difficulties. Unfortunately, pro-choice groups are attempting to discredit and debunk this research.

Despite that, there is a group called Exhale which offers post-abortion cards of comfort on their website (4exhale.org). Exhale also offers on-line counseling for women who suffer with “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome” or related problems following abortion.

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State Representative Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) has authored a bill that would require abortion clinics to perform an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion, to ensure that a woman has a right to view her baby’s images and be provided with printed copies of the images. The bill needs co-sponsors. To support this bill, contact your state representative and your state senator. Call or email them to urge them to co-sponsor this ultrasound bill and to vote for its passage in the House and Senate. If you are unsure how to contact your legislator, go to website www.legis.state.pa.us.

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By using GoodSearch.com as your search engine on the internet, you can help raise money for A Woman’s Concern, an agency which is now listed as a donor non-profit agency with GoodSearch and earns about a penny for every search. As you search the internet, type www.goodsearch.com into the address window and make sure you enter A Woman’s Concern as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime!

A Woman’s Concern is a pregnancy resource medical center located in Lancaster, PA. They provide individual pregnancy counseling, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, practical help (clothing, formula, etc.) and parenting programs and visits. If you would like more information about them, their website is www.pregnancylancaster.com.

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If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear up temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity.
~Daniel Webster


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UKRAINE AGAIN?

By Robin Ross

Yes! Once again my husband, Bill, and I will be traveling to the Ukraine. We will be there from June 8 to July 23, 2007. We welcome your thoughts and prayers for our team. Seven people on our team will return home after two weeks. Bill and I will stay another four weeks, spending two weeks in Yuzhny and two weeks in Nickolaev.

We will be in Odessa for the first two weeks helping to construct a new roof for the Third Baptist Church, as well as ministering to children in a Vacation Bible School program. We will have street children there in addition to community and church children. Odessa has an estimated 10,000 children living on their streets due to a large drug and alcohol problem. We also plan to have English classes for interested adults, as well as Bible studies for women.

We will be greeted by a new granddaughter (our fourth grandchild) soon after our return. She is due July 31. Another event will be the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary on August 31. We anticipate a great summer of blessings!


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PRAYER CALENDAR


SUNDAY: May we “worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” Let us “give thanks to the Lord, call on His name... Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” II Chronicles 16:20, 8 & 11.
MONDAY: Ask the Lord to enhance your person influence to promote LIFE. May we all have boldness to speak up for the unborn.
TUESDAY: Pray about your involvement at the National Education Association Expo this year. Ask the Lord to motivate you to help man the Teachers Saving Children® exhibit.
WEDNESDAY: Praise the Lord there is a downward trend of abortions performed annually in the United States, although we mourn the 48,589,993 babies aborted since 1973.
THURSDAY: Pray about the morally objectionable use of embryonic stem cells. Pray for many to realize that adult stem cells as well as stem cells in amniotic fluid and placentas are more successful and morally acceptable.
FRIDAY: Pray for our crucial need of Board of Trustees members. We need two. Ask the Lord to supply this need. Are YOU willing to serve?
SATURDAY: Pray about how you can promoe membership in Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania. we want to be a stronger voice for LIFE!


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TEACHERS SAVING CHILDREN®of PA, Inc.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

If you have questions regarding Teachers Saving Children® of PA, Inc., please feel free to call the board member that lives nearest to your area.

Robin Ross (Executive Director), York County 717-292-2021
Patricia Brock, Elk County 814-832-6976
Linda Burroughs, Warren County 814-757-5077
John Dunkle, Berks County 610-796-0627
Julie Myers, York County unpublished
Jeff Remington, Lebanon County 717-838-7538
Patricia Yamrick, Indiana County 724-349-7489


For more information contact: tscofpa@epix.net
©2007 Teachers Saving Children® of Pennyslvnia Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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