UFI Beefing Up Programs and Membership in 2008

Dear Friend of the Family,

Last week, I spoke to you about some of the anti-family organizations around the world and the ravaging effects they are having on families and societies. Many of you have responded to our pleas for help, and I thank you. We are progressing toward our end-of-the-year goal of signing up 1,000 new members to the Pennies-a-Day Club. It certainly is heartening to witness first hand the trust you put into our work and the commitment you make to keep United Families International the voice of the family around the world.

Starting 2008 with 1,000 new Pennies-a Day Club members will give us the momentum we need to forge ahead to meet our 2008 goal of 40,000 members. Imagine what we can do together in 2008 with 41,000 strong!

As we reported last week, the opposition is well-organized and much better funded. But, with your support, our 2008 plan of action will help us offset their attempts at undermining families and put the pro-family voice in the driver's seat.

United Families International has a long history of fighting opponents of the family. We organized in 1978 and have members all over the world as well as partnerships with like-minded organizations which work together to leverage pro-family advocacy.

Education

Our 2008 plan includes continued use of social science research to educate the grass roots, community leaders and policy makers. Our “Guide to Family Issues: The Marriage Advantage, ” now in final production, is the fifth in our series of issues guides booklets. Guide books on divorce, pornography and sex education are scheduled for completion in 2008. Available online and in print, these Guides will help educate people around the world. Having this valuable information in hand during discussions in our schools, communities, state legislatures and at the United Nations and other world conferences will enable our army of family advocates to articulate the latest social science research in defense of family. To our knowledge, no other organization offers such extensive readily-available information.

International Policy

Funding will help us continue our international policy program, which is aimed at rapid response to resolutions and policies that diminish the importance of family, threaten the definition of marriage and attempt to erode national sovereignty. We will again attend the major social issues conferences at the United Nations and events elsewhere to advocate for the family.

UFI will attend the Commission on the Status of Women, the International Conference on Population and Development, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. We need to be there to oppose the radical intentions of the European Union and other liberal delegations.

There is a strong anti-family force entrenched in the U.N. bureaucracy, and the cards are stacked against us. Our opponents are very much aware of our presence, and they want to move some meetings to Geneva, Switzerland to make it more difficult for us to be there. These battles never end; they continue in each conference, year after year.

Some well-intentioned people may think our work distant and unnecessary, but we have found that the things we fail to protect find their way to our doorstep very soon -- and our families are adversely affected as a result. Once destructive ideas take hold at the U.N., they wind their way to our state and our city. 

Thus, you can see why 2008 is so important. We must have a strong coalition of seasoned and new volunteers and professional staff to assure that the family is represented in meetings, hearings and in the outcome documents that are approved and used in international treaties and precedent. 

Chapter Growth

We are committed to expanding our chapter work to at least three states in 2008. This takes manpower, time and money to identify and train volunteers who will start and lead new chapters. With chapter presence in new states, we will expand our influence and cultivate new resources in championing the family. Our state chapters work to educate their citizen members and their respective policy makers.

We recently received a message from a supporter in New Mexico where governor and presidential candidate Bill Richardson has the votes to enact same-sex “marriage” laws. It is imperative that the voice of the family speaks out in these instances. Since UFI cannot be in all places, there is a really need to form additional chapters that can utilize our pro-family resources to adjoin the debate over family issues on a state level.

Technology

Our website will soon receive an exciting facelift that will make multimedia tools available for the first time. Our news, commentary, collections of social science and family strengthening tips serve as a cutting-edge library for your benefit. Please access this information and spread it widely in your respective spheres of influence. We analyze and prepare information so that it can be diffused through society. We are also integrating helpful suggestions we received in surveys earlier this year.

There is so much to be done in 2008. Since it is a pivotal election year, our voice for the family will be more important than ever.  Please join us in changing the direction of the world by joining the noble cause for the family. Join the Pennies-a-Day Club. It's an easy and affordable way to be part of meaningful and life-changing work. Take the opportunity to ask your family and friends to do the same. Thank you!

Warmly,

Carol Soelberg, President
United Families International