2003

Chronological Listing of 2003 Activities

In February, 2003, the LHHL Board considered possibilities of expanding its role in stimulating more educational activities about life issue topics. A trial balloon was the suggestion of LHHL bringing to the Rochester area a speaker who would be available for several presentations at appropriate venues and, perhaps, in other spots in New York State.

A suggestion was Rebecca Kiessling, Esq. known to be an effective speaker on her personal history of being conceived in rape. She was contacted and willing to come from Ottawa, stop in Potsdam on April 13th to speak at the SUNY Potsdam Newman Center, a school group in Watertown on April 2nd and then come to Rochester. In Rochester she was scheduled to speak on 4/3/03 at St. John Fisher College; Friday, AM at Roberts Wesleyan College; in the afternoon at the University of Rochester, followed by an evening presentation at Browncroft Community Church Saturday AM,4/5, she was scheduled at St. Anne Church Hall and Sunday, 4/6 at St. Bridget Church Hall.

These events were sponsored by LHHL with the various sites serving as hosts and making and/or collecting voluntary contributions. She stated her fee as reflective of where and to whom she would be speaking and LHHL planned to cover it in combination with donations received at the various speaking sites. LHHL Board Members were responsible for providing speaker and family accommodations, events' publicity, communication about speaker needs to speaking site representatives, making and facilitating media appointments, purchasing of any required event supplies, e.g, plates, cups, napkins for use with donated refreshments, solicitation of feedback about speaker.

Rebecca's presentations were all advertised on WDCZ and WMHN radio stations and 3 weeks of paid ads were run in the Courier Journal. Award co-sponsoring groups ran notices in their newsletters and Press Releases were sent to 10 area newspapers. Despite the good publicity, attendance in the Rochester area was much less than expected as that was the weekend of the Ice Storm. Information about her presentation in Potsdam from a news article and an interview done in Rochester are enclosed. Also enclosed are samples of the publicity done for the various Rochester areas at which she was scheduled to speak.

At the 4/14/03 Board Meeting, following up on the Board consensus that helping a co-sponsor with a credible, pro-life activity would conform to the Mission Statements description of LHHL activities, i.e."promoting related legal pro-life activity in the defense of innocent, human life." an amount of money was identified to be used by co-sponsor, His Branches, to provide transportation for a speaker to address the University of Rochester Christian Medical Student Group. This was the first "grant" to be awarded by the committee. The grant process has become an integral part of the LHHL program and awards have been granted each year since 2003.

For past Award Banquets, support of the event had been "marketed" to area churches and organizations. For the 2003 event, it was planned to have a "Marketing" Committee make an effort to "promote the Award Banquet" by soliciting potential patrons and advertisers for Banquet 2003 and contacting likely donors to purchase tickets and/or make donations. Donations were described as being intended to be used for various programs done independently by LHHL, in conjunction with a co-sponsor, or in response to a request for funds for a specific program/activity. The Marketing Committee did significant work from June through early October, 2003, and will continue its activity in relation to needs and requests for funding, with prime emphasis on speakers.

September 16, 2003 Plans for the 7th Annual LHHL Award & Banquet began early in February with an attempt to secure a facility sufficiently in advance of the September date. The Nomination forms, including a review co-sponsorship expectations, was sent on 2/24/03 (copy enclosed). Ballots were sent on 4/17/03 with announcement made of Richard and Carol Crossed as the co-recipients done in May, 2003. Because of two people receiving the award and their notoriety, the event's initially announced location, i.e. Ridgemont Country Club, had to be changed to the larger capacity facility at the Clarion Riverside. Approximately 350 people, ea ah paying $30. attended with co-sponsors remaining the same. Another innovation for this Banquet was to recognize with a stipend an organization doing pro-life work particularly valued by the honoree(s). A check for $500 was given to Feminists for Life of Western NY, a group, designated as 501-c-3, founded in NY by Carol Crossed. The Program for this event included a video featuring the activities of both Crosseds, described by co-workers; several gave personal testimony during the program.

Subsequent 2003 Programs

September 26,2003: "The Domino Effect of Roe v Wade: Much More than a Baby Dies in an Abortion" was a presentation done by John Patrick, MD, a Pediatrician from Ottawa's Augustine College. Presentation on this date was open to the public, at no charge, (donations accepted) at Edgewood Free Methodist Church for an audience of at least 100. Audience members surveyed at the later reception were positive about the information and new perspectives it was given. The donation given was for airfare. Making maximum use of his time in Rochester, His Branches also scheduled Dr. Patrick to speak to medical/premedical students and the Ethics Committee at the U of Rochester. On Sturday, 9/27. Dr. Patrick addressed the attendees of the Christian Physicians Breakfast, with Saturday evening spent with students at a Rochester doctor's home and, finally, speaking to congregation members and guests at Edgewood Free Methodist Church. Publicity of all but the Banquet Program Booklet announcement was done by His Branches.

9/30/03 Board Meeting reviewed the wording of the proposal to be sent to all co-sponsors about the availability of grants for their program/activity. The description and application form were mailed on 10/22 with return requested by 11/24 to allow Grant proposals to be reviewed for recommendations to the Board on 12/10/03. Subsequent proposals would be reviewed and reported throughout the year in the timeliest fashions possible. October 26- 29, 2003: In response to the requests of those who heard her in April and those who only heard about her because of the bad weather, Rebecca Kiessling was invited to return to Rochester to do additional presentations. As previously, site either took up collections or gave a check to LHHL for Rebecca's fee. She spoke at:

Guardian Angels Church to 50+ persons

St. John Fisher College: 65 students & faculty

Browncroft Community Church: 125 church and community people

2 classes of 30 each students in the Social Work Department at Roberts Wesleyan College and 100+ people at a "forum" held in an auditorium at the college.

Fliers with Rebecca's vita and picture with total and individual speaking locations were distributed to all sites, the total schedule was disseminated via the Diocese of Rochester e-mail program. For the Rebecca presentations, as well as all of the Banquets and other LHHL education activities, all co-sponsors with the ability to do so, publicize by print or verbal publicity, the LHHL events.

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