SOCIAL ACTION MATTERS
A publication of the Social Action Council
Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley
2 Forge Road, Boiling Springs, PA 17007 (717) 249-8944 (www.uucv.net )
Editors: Harold Piety & Priscilla Laws March/April/May 2007
UUCV’s Kathy Bell Receives
Statewide Justice Award
By Priscilla
Laws
Photo: Kathy Bell with Muncy inmate Kelly O’Donnell.
UUCV’s
Kathy Bell, a tireless advocate for women incarcerated at the Pennsylvania
Correctional Institution at Muncy, has been named one of two recipients of an
annual award presented by the Pennsylvania Legislative Initiative Against the
Death Penalty (L.I.A.D.P.). The award, which includes a cash prize of $300,
will be presented on October 4 before Sister Helen Prejean’s talk at Dickinson
College. UUCV’s Social Action Council
(SAC) is a co-sponsor of Sister Prejean’s talk.
Kathy
was nominated for the award by the SAC and two other members of our congregation.
We learned in March that Kathy was one of two recipients. She was nominated in
recognition of her service as one of the Pennsylvania Prison Society’s Official
Visitors at Muncy, for her work to abolish the death penalty in the
Commonwealth, her advocacy for more humane treatment for Muncy inmates, and for
her leadership of SAC’s Correctional Justice Initiative.
Some
highlights from the nomination letter: “…for
over six years Kathy has been a passionate advocate for the abolition of the
death penalty . . . As an official PA
Prison Society visitor she has been corresponding with women on Pennsylvania’s
death row . . . and makes a 300-mile round trip between Carlisle and Muncy on
alternate Saturdays.
Kathy is coordinating the
creation of the first Prison Society’s Central Pennsylvania Forum for Women.
Two years ago Kathy’s conversations about her Prison Society activities with
members of the UUCV congregation motivated SAC to organize a Correctional
Justice Initiative (CJI). With Kathy’s
leadership we: 1) raised money each December for indigent Muncy inmates,
including capital case women; 2) created pen-pal linkages between women and
UUCV members and friends; and 3) sent Sunday packets of sermons, hymns and
readings to 50-plus women on a monthly basis.
It is interesting to note that
Kathy is exceptionally . . . creative
when it comes to ideas for fundraising.
For example, when Sister Helen Prejean’s new book was released a couple
of years ago, Kathy talked a local bookseller into featuring the book in his
window display, selling each copy at full price with a special bookplate Kathy
arranged to have signed by Sister Helen, and contributing a percentage of each
sale to our Criminal Justice Fund.
Subsequently, Sister Helen asked Kathy for permission to use the
bookplate to boost sales of her signed books in other areas!
Kathy’s work at Muncy has enabled
women incarcerated there to be heard and to start believing that change for the
better is possible. Specifically, the
women on death row now know that they have a tireless advocate in Kathy Bell,
who will keep fighting for them until others are also moved to speak out for
the abolition of the death row at Muncy.”
GLBT Justice
Initiative Program Moves Forward
By Alan
Franklin
Photo: A few of the many UUCVer’s who attended PrideFest in 2006.
The
initiative is working in three main areas: a local antidiscrimination ordinance in the Carlisle Borough;
amending the State-wide Human Relations
Act to cover sexual orientation and gender identity and expression; and Freedom to Marry, the effort to obtain
State Legislation allowing, hopefully, gay marriage, or at least civil unions
for glbt couples, with the same legal rights and responsibilities as straight
marriage, and to prevent an amendment to the State Constitution that would ban
gay marriage. In addition, we plan and support attendance and volunteer efforts
at the annual Pridefest festival at Harrisburg, in July, and engage in a number
of other specific activities.
The Carlisle Ordinance: This past year a consistent effort obtained considerable
public support for introducing and enacting a local antidiscrimination
ordinance. This would be based on the State Human Relations Act but would
protect GLBT folk from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Our UUCV efforts came to a head at about the same time that the YWCA and others
persuaded Mayor Kirk Wilson to introduce a resolution supporting the National
League of Cities Inclusivity Program. The GLBT Ordinance was recommended to the
Mayor, Kirk Wilson and Council by the Carlisle Inclusivity Committee. But the
Mayor felt that more work was needed counter objections of some Council
members. For this reason, the Mayor has arranged for a graduate student at
Shippensburg University to conduct a sociological study of the community and
the possible impact of the Ordinance. We are hoping that introduction of the
ordinance for consideration by the Borough Council will not have to wait until
the student submits his paper in final form, but we do expect the Ordinance to
be adopted eventually.
The Human Relations Act: Over the past several years bills have been introduced in
both Houses of the State legislature to amend the Human Relations Act to extend
coverage to include sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The
leadership of both Houses, however, has been unsympathetic, and the bills have
died in committee, unable to reach the floor for votes. This year, with the
recent election shifting opinion in both Houses toward acceptance of the
amendment of the Act, we have hopes of a favorable outcome. At present, bill
S761 has been introduced in the Senate, with 21 cosponsors. None of our State
Senators is among them, giving us something to work on. A similar measure will
shortly be introduced to the House; cosponsors are now being signed up.
One
immediate task for us is to visit both our Senators (Vance, for most of us) and
our Representatives (Will Gabig [199th district, little hope here!], Rob
Kauffman [89th], Jerry Nailor [88th], and Scott Perry [92nd], to urge them to
sign on as cosponsors of their respective bills. A second task will be to
organize as much support for these bills as we can when the bills come to the
respective floors. This task includes
working in concert with the other UU churches around us, and reaching out to
other churches and institutions, like the YWCA and the NAACP, in our general
area.
Freedom to Marry: Since we are focusing on our effort the get The Ordinance adopted in the Carlisle
Borough, we will not be able to do much on the Freedom to Marry issue until that is settled. However, we may be
able to help members of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg with their freedom
to marry efforts. We will concentrate at first on developing ties with them,
and then with the other UU churches in the area.
Volunteers Needed: This is an ambitious program. It can provide a lot of
interesting and satisfying work for those of the congregation who want to be an
active part of bringing justice to an important segment of our population, both
locally and at the State level. If you are interested contact: Alan Franklin (akfrank@kuhncom.net or 776-8419).
Status of PA Human
Rights Advocate Uncertain
By Alan Franklin
Photo: Stephen Glassman, PA Human Relations Commission Chair
Stephen Glassman, current chair of Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Commission has been
helpful in our efforts to obtain local protection for GLBTs Carlisle.
Unfortunately, his position is being challenged by the American Family Association of Pennsylvania, presumably because
Glassman is a self-acknowledged homosexual. Glassman has been an excellent
chairman of the Human Relations Commission and normally would be expected to be
reappointed to a new five-year term this year.
Glassman is a dedicated and tireless opponent of all forms of
discrimination, and has taken the lead in trying to extend the protections of
Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act to Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and
Transsexuals (GLBT), groups not now covered by the act. Glassman has also been very helpful to UUCV’s
GLBT Initiative’s campaign to persuade the Carlisle Borough Council to adopt
its own Human Relations ordinance that would include GLBT within its protection
against discrimination.
Letters to Gov. Edward G. Rendell and area legislators supporting
the reappointment of Glassman on the Commission and as its chairman are
urgently needed.
Governor
Edward G. Rendell, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Senator
Patricia Vance, Senate Box 203031, Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Bursary Project
Improves Lives of Girls in Mozambique
By Priscilla
Laws
Now that launched our 3rd year of providing support for the girls,
I would like to share a particularly touching story about one of the girls
you’re supporting. In January 2004, just over two years ago, a group of girls
who had just finished 7th grade traveled from their village of Molumbo to
Namarroi to attend school there with our help. Shortly after the group from
Molumbo settled into their bunk room at the government run Lar and started
attending their 8th grade classes, one of them became ill. She explained
tearfully to Karen Butt and her helper Adelia Raul that an older man in her
village had taken advantage of her a few months before. Her ‘illness’ was
morning sickness and she was required to drop out of school and return to
Molumbo to have her baby.
In November 2005 when I visited the Village of Molumbo, the girl’s
father asked if he and her daughter could meet with Karen and me. They asked us
very tentatively if it might be possible for her to attend school with the
other girls during 2006. She had been an outstanding student and her mother and
father offered to care for the baby so she could continue with schooling. Karen
and I were very impressed with the dedication of her parents and with her
determination. We promised to do our best to support her.
Photo: A young mother and her father from Mozambique’s Molumbo
Villiage
This
young mother wants to be a teacher. So
even though she hadn’t been able to attend 8th grade, just two months after we
talked to her, Karen and her staff brought the young mother to the headquarters
of the Christian Council of Mozambique in Quelmane. She joined 16 other girls
who had finished 8th grade and spent a week preparing for entrance examinations
and interviews at the Nicodala Teacher’s College. Twelve of the 17 girls were
admitted to the Nicodala elementary school teaching program – including our
young mother.
Since no one mentioned that she had a child, she was able to live
in the dormitory at the teacher’s college. Karen reported that she was the top
student during her first year! She just started the second year of this program
last January and will be graduating this November as a qualified elementary
school teacher. It is thrilling to know that your donations to our Bursary
Program can make such a profound difference in the lives of these young women.
For more information and photos about our 2007 Bursary
Project visit our SAM Newsletter page on the UUCV Website at
http://www.uucv.net/Social%20Action/sam_newsletter.htm
and look at the Dec 06 and Feb 07 Bursary
stories.
Bursary Fundraising
Success Offers Opportunity for Mozambique Travel
By Priscilla
Laws
In
December and January we raised a total of $16,300 to provide funds to send the
54 girls to school during 2007. A Canadian church is supporting several girls,
so there are a total of 65 girls in the overall program. Of these, 12 of the
girls who are receiving a third year of support from us are in their final year
of a two-year Teachers College in Nicodala. By the end of this year these girls
will be qualified to teach grades 1-5 in village schools. The other 53 girls
are attending school in Namarroi town. These include 16 new girls who entered
sixth grade. Among the returning girls, 29 are in grades seven and eight and
another 8 girls are attending grades nine and ten.
In
addition to the funds we raised for 54 girls, we received four large donations
totaling $8,500. We obtained permission from these donors to use the extra
money for special projects including: (1) assistance for educators at the
Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM) to prepare a new group of girls who will
finish 8th grade by this coming November for entrance examinations to the
Nicodala Teachers College; (2) funding to help Bill Butt complete a short
documentary video detailing the experiences of two or three of the girls we
have been supporting; (4) funding to help expand the Lar in Molumbo so some of
our girls can attend school through 9th grade in their own region; and (5)
partial funding for donors who would like to travel to Mozambique in September
to meet some of the girls, visit schools and meet parents in the villages.
For
more details and photos visit our SAM Newsletter page on the UUCV Website at
http://www.uucv.net/Social%20Action/sam_newsletter.htm
A project review trip to Mozambique is being
planned for September 11-22. Any UUCV congregant who has been a donor and is
interested in reviewing the program with Priscilla Laws should contact her
(lawsp@dickinson.edu). Approximately 50% of your travel costs would be provided
by our supplemental bursary contributions.
Change for the
World Program Rolls into Its Fifth Year
By Harold Piety
Photos: Adoptable pets from UUCV’s most recent CFTW Recipient
A modest assistance
program, Change For the World (CFTW), began at UUCV in May 2003. The program,
which is administered by the Social Action Council, is funded by the weekly
collection of loose change from UUCV members’ pockets and purses. Each month a
different organization or project is chosen to receive funds. The organizations
and projects receiving assistance from CFTW have been primarily local and
regional, although SAC’s guidelines state that consideration will be given to
support national or international projects that have ties with UUCV members.
CFTW recipients have included social service agencies, environmental
organizations, as well as a few state, national and international projects.
Based on nominations from UUCV members over 40 organizations, some more than
once, have received donations from us.
In the past four years these donations have amounted to almost $12,000.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters do add up over time!
Here are some
excerpts from letters of appreciation we’ve received:
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
From the Carlisle Arts Learning Center’s Board of Directors: “What an absolutely
wonderful surprise for CALC to be the recipient of the “Change For the World”
donation. The money will be designated
for our ‘Arts for a Cause’ program…”
From Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
(PFLAG): “On behalf of
PFLAG of Central Pennsylvania, I wish to extend our
heartfelt thank you for your very generous check…It was such a wonderful surprise…This
will help so much with our educational and outreach programs…”
From Pennsylvania CASA Association: “On behalf of the
Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania CASA Association, I extend sincerest
thanks for the contribution…to support our work with abused and neglected
children…Your church’s generous gift combined with others like it will enable
us to continue our efforts to expand CASA volunteer rosters in the local area…”
From Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry
Counties: “…Domestic Violence Services…would like to
thank you for your donation…The Board of Directors, staff and volunteers are
proud to be able to serve battered victims of domestic violence and their
dependent children. We are grateful to
individuals like you who support our efforts…”
From Physicians for Social Responsibility,
Harrisburg-Hershey Chapter: “Thank you for your kind and generous gift to
our student chapter. It will definitely
help us with our events and conferences, and we are honored to have been chosen
as a recipient…”
From The Samaritan Fellowship, Inc.: “This is to
acknowledge and thank you for your recent donation…to Samaritan
Fellowship. Although the winter of 2006
is almost over, needs are on the increase…”
From the Army Community Service Relocation Outreach (Baby
Layette Program): “…Your gift is truly appreciated…The donation
to the Baby Layette Program will be used to assist families who are in
financial difficulty and/or who are unable to purchase items needed for a
newborn or toddler…”
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
The Social
Action Council welcomes your suggestions for monthly Change For the World beneficiaries.
UUCV members who wish to recommend a CFTW recipient needs to submit a
nomination in writing to the Social Action Council and provide information
about the recipient’s project or services and, if possible provide us with an
organizational contact. We also make a practice of inviting the nominator to
introduce that month’s CFTW recipient to the congregation during the first
service of the month.
SAC Guidelines for
Selection of Recipients
Adopted by the Social Action
Council, March 2007
SAC uses the following guidelines in choosing
recipients:
1. Normally grants will be made to organizations
or groups providing a needed service or services in the South-central region of
the Commonwealth, with special consideration given to local groups.
2. In some cases grants will be given to support
national or international projects that have ties with UUCV members.
3. Consideration will be given to the organization or group's
level of need, with special consideration given to those organizations or
groups for whom a grant of $225-$250 might be crucial.
UUCV Facilitates Portable Air
Quality Monitoring Fundraising
By Duane Fickeisen
Photo: Small particulates emitted by diesel trucks are a heath
hazard in Cumberland Valley
Recently
the UUCV board agreed to seek funding to purchase a portable, real-time monitor
for fine particulates (PM2.5) in air. The monitor will supplement the state's
stationery monitors. It will help identify 'hot spots' for PM2.5 and be
available for public education.
Cumberland
County recently moved up from number 24 to number 14 on the list of worst areas
in the country for PM2.5, which has significant ill effects on health. And that
was using data from a monitor that's located near Carlisle Springs and air
quality standards that have since been revised to be more stringent.
It
is likely that the Carlisle Springs site, which is upwind from the heaviest
concentration of trucks, monitors an ambient level of soot for the general
Cumberland Valley, but misses higher concentrations closer to where diesel
trucks operate. However, until more data are available, that's somewhat
speculative. A new stationery monitor in a residential area and downwind from
several warehouses has been installed near Walnut Street in Carlisle. It will
likely provide data that more appropriately reflects the air most of us
breathe. The new monitor was recently installed by the state DEP at the strong
urging of the Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania (CAB). It is expected to
be switched on in early May.
However,
CAB's air quality monitoring committee and board believe it would be useful to
have access to a portable monitor to measure real-time PM2.5 concentrations and
seek to understand how the air quality might vary in different locations in the
region.
The
monitor will cost about $12,000. CAB board members are assisting with
fundraising, and about $1000 has already been raised with pledges for at least
half the total cost in hand. Once the funds have been raised, UUCV will
purchase the monitor. CAB will have custody of the monitor and will be
responsible for its maintenance and operation.
The
board asked the Social Action Council to adopt a new environmental initiative,
which Jon Tarrant will head up. The air quality monitor will be the
initiative's first project.
The
Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania (CAB) is an interfaith organization
dedicated to achieving clean air to protect our health and quality of life.
CAB's application for 501(c)3 status is pending. UUCV has signed onto CAB's
clean air resolution, and Duane serves on the board.
In
addition to monitoring air quality and public education, CAB has petitioned the
state to enact regulations that would limit idling by diesel trucks. DEP is
developing a proposed regulation. CAB is also working with local school
districts to limit idling by diesel-powered school busses.
CAB
has public meetings at 6:00 pm on the first Thursday of the month at Second
Presbyterian Church in Carlisle that are open to the community. You can learn
more and join the signatories to the clean air petition on the CAB website
at: http://www.cleanairboard.org/
UUCV’s Social Action Council
Kathy Bell –
Correctional Justice Initiative Coordinator
Alan Franklin –
GLBT Initiative Coordinator
Julie Ham
Priscilla Laws –
SAC Chairperson & Mozambique Bursary Initiative Coordinator
Harold Piety – SAM Co-editor
John Tarrant
Additional Coordinators:
Kay Elco – Fair Trade Sales
Terri Smiley – Bursary Finance
Carol McAnulty – Change for the World
Meetings 2nd Tuesday of each month at Priscilla
Laws’ home
To join us simply contact Priscilla Laws at: lawsp@dickinson.edu or 243-9525