THE OPEN BOOK

We have worked for this for several months and we want it to pay off," said Susane Dragonette. The, "this" is the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention which will be held in Washington, D.C. from the 1st to the 4th of February. "Al Marks got us excited about this prospect the first day he joined the Board," said Joseph Jolin.

REACH OUT AMERICA has a very simple goal: FTL is determined to get their message beyond the boundaries of Florida. REACH OUT AMERICA allows FTL to link up with the media from virtually every state in America. REACH OUT AMERICA allows FTL to explain the principles of Freedom To Learn: Roe is dead in the schools...openness is now possible...one generation of censorship can be ended...and the parents and teachers in the community can now fashion a curriculum that deals with the abortion issue free of interference from judicial restraint.

Most at the convention are expected to be very interested in the potential of recent Supreme Court rulings, particularly the Planned Parenthood versus Casey decision that turns the entire abortion debate around. Over and over the members of FTL will stress that the United States Supreme Court in its most recent and extensive ruling on abortion has clearly taken a position in favor of informed choice. In addition, the Court takes the position that "normal childbirth is preferable to abortion."

REACH OUT AMERICA helps us get the message out in a variety of ways. Our booth gives us great exposure. Flip charts have been developed which are easy for each member of the board to use. Materials of all sorts will be given away. Networking will be critical. An audio cassette will be passed out that contains short and long commercials.

FTL's position is very clear. Schools should operate from a basis of openness, exposure to both sides, free inquiry, extensive use of scientific data, and a willingness to encourage students to explore all facets of the abortion controversy. But, people need to understand the change of the Court and their current rights. That is why REACH OUT AMERICA is so important.

"WE PLAN TO MAKE THIS COUNT"
...AL MARKS

This statewide project will spread the message of freedom to learn far and wide quickly and boldly: "Roe is Dead" when it comes to abortion education. The silence or the bias of the past can now end how by sending delegations to respectfully address school boards members...... throughout Florida...to begin the process of change who you what all participating groups will go to their school board and tell them about the change in the law governing abortion. In addition, some groups will choose to bring expressions of community supports with hundreds of signatures when begin planning now...for the April Project.

Please send the following by snail mail or e-mail.

Yes, count me in.

Send Me The April Packet

Send Me The Flip Chart(Suggested Donation $10)

Name:

Address:

Phone:

FREEDOM TO LEARN
P.O. Box 511231
Punta Gorda, Fl. 33952-1231
Web: jjolin@freedomtolearn.org
Phone: 941-639-9192

BABIES IN CYBERSPACE
by Joseph Jolin
FTL Website Director
Isn't family life great ! Just imagine you just had your first baby, but your parents live thousands of miles away. You'd give anything for them to see that sweet little bundle of joy ... that little one you've been waiting for.

Well ... today, with a digital camera, computers and the Worl Wide Web you can have that dream come true. The only other things you need are a PC and a modem. Equipped with those few peripherals, you can e-mail your parents pictures of their new grandchild ... immediately !

Wow ! How simple life has become ! With a digital camera, one of the newest technological gadgets for the digital darkroom, all you need to do is point, shoot and download your sweet little offspring's photo to your PC, view it and off it goes into cyberspace and into your mom and dad's hands within a few seconds. No more film required ... no more developing to wait for. And in the event you don't like the first photo (maybe the baby isn't too photogenic yet), you just delete it and take more photos until satisfied.

As you can see, there are many things you can do with photos generated by a digital camera ... and have fun doing it ! All you have to do is let your creativity take charge.

And so ... no need letting the miles separate you from friends and family. A digital camera can bring you much closer to them. It's an immediate thing. It's almost like being there ! Isn't family life great ! __________

TEACHER'S GROUP BEGINS EXPLORATORY MEETINGS

Teachers from Lee and Charlotte Counties met recently with the goal of establishing a Teachers For True Choice (title is subject to change) committee, that would become a part of Freedom To Learn. The next meeting will be held Jan. 10, 1998. We will have a Venice presence also. The potential is powerful.
Thank you Popa Pool's!

THE JUST SAY "YES" CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY

Just say "YES" campaign initiates an important new phase of our effort. We have talked about it before. Some have been very generous. But we need to understand that if we are serious...if we really want to reverse the silence of the Roe era...then we have a choice. I am asking you to do the hard work.
To just say,
"YES, I can make a regular contribution for one year."

You pick the amount.

• Platinum Donors: $50 per month
• Gold Donors: $25 per month
• Silver Donors: $10 per month
  You do the hard work.

  When America was founded they had two categories of participants: The Venturers and the Planters. The Venturers were those who provided the financial support...who took the risks...for the planters.

  Say "Yes".
  Freedom To Learn accepts and acknowledges gifts:

  Say "Yes".
  I will be a donor for one year.
  __ Platinum(50)__ Gold(25)__ Silver(10)
  name_______________
  address_______________
  city_______________
  zip_______________

  ANNOUNCEMENT:
  Special offer:

• Newsletters ; 21 page document FREE
• Converting Roe, a powerful true story in video form: ...suggested, $25.00
• Links To Change: FTL'S booklet on creating positive change in the schools.... suggested, $10.00.

  E-mail your orner today, ... now!

Yes, we've done mailings, we've done lunch with teachers and pastors, we've done lots of one-on-one, but, when we "hit the road", I think we found our niche!

On Sunday, September 10, at First Christian Church in Port Charlotte, the Board of Freedom To Learn felt like we had really pulled it all together. We were blessed to be invited into this large and loving congregation by Pastor Dale Roberts. Before an eager group of about 150 people we shared the history, mission and vision of FTL. Which, by the way, is not really our vision, it's God's vision. It's God's vision that everyone work to preserve, protect and defend the life of His unborn. For an awfully long time, all of us (you too, I'll bet) felt that the uphill battle might prove to be too much, and our strength too little. Well, here comes the Supreme Court. You know, the same Supreme Court who gave us Roe v Wade, to lend the force of law to help climb that hill, which, I might add, has been looking not quite so steep of late.

As we shared all facets of this good news with the folks at First Christian, I noticed something that finally clicked. We, the Board members, are so different from each other in practically every conceivable way. So different in fact that together, we make a complete, and darn good, show. I mean "show" in the best possible way. After all, we live in a "media" age where people don't tend to pay much attention unless the message is packaged in a diverse and interesting way. Among all of us, we managed to create a safe place to remember, study, cry a little, and definitely laugh. I'm beginning to think that God placed the 7 of us together just so He could have fun watching us have fun.

With several more church dates yet ahead, you'll be updated on the response as the excitement spreads. By the time we display FTL in Washington, D.C. in January, 1998 at the National Association of Religious Broadcasters Conference, our message and presentation will be fine tuned and you just may see one or more of us interviewed by the media. Won't you be excited to see that, particularly if you are a financial supporter of FTL ? We can only get to Washington if you help. A regular monthly gift of $10, 15, 25, or a one-time contribution will help give us the stability we need to travel to the places that we need to be ... for you and your children ... for all our children.

As a post-script: I received a call from a lovely Scottish lady. Her name is Rosemary Danforth. She is active in a crisis pregnancy center, The Women's Health Clinic, in Jacksonville. She called to say that she was sending in her donation to receive the newsletter and Links To Change, written by our own Dr. Beasley. One of her comments was, "I never thought I'd live long enough to see the Supreme Court on the side of the unborn !" I guess none of us did... isn't it great ! << <