List mom for the ACHOR, ARKANSAS, ESSEX, LAKEY, SHATSWELL, VIOLIN-MAKERS, and WORZ mailing lists [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jan Meyers" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 7:55 AM Subject: [HS] Support Family History Month- Letter & Resolution > For those who are interested..... :) > > ==================================================================== > SENATOR'S LETTER AND RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FAMILY HISTORY MONTH > ==================================================================== > Below is the text from Senator Hatch's letter that was sent to all of > the other United States Senators requesting their support for his > Family History Resolution to declare October Family History Month > every year. Below that is the text of the resolution itself: > > United States Senate > Washington, DC 20510-4402 > > 10 July 2001 > > Dear Colleague: > > It is with great enthusiasm that I write to ask you to co-sponsor my > resolution that will dedicate the Month of October of each year as > "Family History Month." > > Within the last month some 14,167,329 people researched their family > history and 24 million people have used the Web and e-mail to locate > or hunt for family or friends with whom they had lost touch. > Researching ancestry is a very important component to self-identity. > It can lead to long-sought-after family reunions or life saving > stories like that of Nancy Andjelich Margraff. Nancy's story, found > in the book, "In Search of Our Ancestors," by Megan Smolenyak, helps > to illustrate the need for public attention to the important subject > of family history. Nancy started showing signs of an illness that > afflicted her father who died suddenly at the age of 39. At the time > her mother was told that her father had a rare illness that caused a > cerebral hemorrhage that killed him. > > After Nancy learned she had this deadly illness, she began > corresponding with the Minister of Health in Zagreb, Croatia. He > kindly accepted and distributed informational packets that Nancy put > together regarding the diagnosis and treatment of her illness. She > disseminated the informational packets to her extended family > members, many of whom are alive today because they were identified > through family history research that lead to the early diagnosis and > treatment of their affliction. > > At present there are some two thousand five hundred genealogical > societies in the United States that represent approximately a million > people who belong to these groups. One such group, The Federation of > Genealogical Societies, represents around 560 genealogical societies > and ultimately at least half a million individuals. There is no doubt > that the study of family history is growing in popularity and is an > important tool in researching ethnic identity and genetic health > concerns. > > I urge you to join me in supporting the millions of American men and > women who have researched their family history by co-sponsoring the > "Family History Resolution." For more information on this resolution > or to add your name as co-sponsor, please contact Chris Campbell in > my office at (202) 224-4412. > > Sincerely, > > Orrin G. Hatch > United States Senator > ____________________________________________________________________ > > > 107th Congress, 1st Session. S. Res. _____ > > IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES > > Mr. Hatch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to > the Committee on __________________ > > RESOLUTION > > Designating the month of October each year as "Family History Month." > > Whereas it is the family, striving for a future of opportunity and > hope, that reflects our Nation's belief in community, stability, and > love; > > Whereas the family remains an institution of promise, reliance, and > encouragement; > > Whereas we look to the family as an unwavering symbol of constancy > that will help us discover a future of prosperity, promise, and > potential; > > Whereas within our Nation's libraries and archives lie the treasured > records that detail the history of our Nation, our States, our > communities, and our citizens; > > Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the world have > embarked on a genealogical journey by discovering who their ancestors > were and how various forces shaped their past; > > Whereas an ever-growing number in our Nation and in other nations are > collecting, preserving, and sharing genealogies, personal documents, > and memorabilia that detail the life and times of families around the > world; > > Whereas 54,000,000 individuals belong to a family where someone in > the family has used the Internet to research their family history; > > Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the world > continue to research their family heritage and its impact upon the > history of our Nation and the world; > > Whereas approximately 60 percent of Americans have expressed an > interest in tracing their family history; > > Whereas the study of family history gives individuals a sense of > their heritage and a sense of responsibility in carrying out a legacy > that their ancestors began; > > Whereas as individuals learn about their ancestors who worked so hard > and sacrificed so much, their commitment to honor their ancestors > memory by doing good is increased; > > Whereas interest in our personal family history transcends all > cultural and religious affiliations; > > Whereas to encourage family history research, education, and the > sharing of knowledge is to renew the commitment to the concept of > family and home; and > > Whereas the involvement of National, State, and local officials in > promoting genealogy and in facilitating access to family history > records in archives and libraries are important factors in the > successful perception of nationwide camaraderie, support, and > participation: Now, therefore, be it > > Resolved, That the Senate --- > > (1) designates the month of October each year as "Family > History Month"; and > > (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling > upon the people of the United States to observe the month with > appropriate ceremonies and activities. > ____________________________________________________________________ > > CONTACTING YOUR SENATOR > > If you haven't had a chance to contact your Senator, please do so. > This is a wonderful opportunity for the genealogical community to be > recognized for our hard work in preserving our heritage. Let them > hear from you! > > U.S. Senate > http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm > You may also phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) > 224-3121 and an operator will connect you directly with the Senate > office you request. > > READ MORE ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY MONTH > You can read more about the history of Family History Month at: > http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/compass/2480.asp > > How will designating October as Family History Month be helpful to > the genealogical community and what can you do locally to celebrate? > http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/news/articles/4067.asp > > More on Family History Month from Dick Eastman: > http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/eastman/3999.asp > > "Five Projects for Family History Month" by George G. Morgan > http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/george/2552.asp > > SHARE THIS MESSAGE > Feel free to share this message with all your friends, favorite > lists, and organizations. >