Forwarded for everyone's info Glenn ----- Original Message ----- From: Ardell Lynds <dell@gwi.net> To: <MAINE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 4:05 PM Subject: [MAINE] Will October become Family History Month? >From Dick Eastman's Online Newsletter ============================================================== - Senator Hatch Proposes "Family History Month" Resolution in the U.S. Senate As I reported in the June 6 newsletter: Two different genealogy groups independently started projects to have a national Family History Month recognized by the U.S. Government. In a bit of serendipity, without knowledge of the other group's existence, both groups selected October as their preferred month. I had the pleasure this week of connecting the two groups together, and they are now hoping to combine forces. However, they need more help. The full article is available at: http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/eastman/3999.asp The "grass roots" effort received more help this week from Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. Senator Hatch has drafted a resolution to make October the official Family History Month. The resolution is called the "Family History Resolution." However, even with support from a powerful politician such as Senator Hatch, this effort still needs your help. You need to contact your senator to tell him or her that you support this resolution. As of a few days ago, Senator Hatch had not yet formally introduced the resolution on the Senate floor. Instead, he wrote to all the other senators, asking for their support when the resolution is introduced. Here is the letter Senator Hatch sent to his colleagues: United States Senate Washington, DC 20510-4402 July 10, 2001 Dear Colleague: It is with great enthusiasm that I write to ask you to cosponsor 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 email 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 2,500 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 cosponsor, please contact Chris Campbell in my office at (202)224-4412. Sincerely, Orrin G. Hatch United States Senator Senator Hatch also included the text of the resolution that he plans to introduce: 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. This is a perfect opportunity for you and me and every other person interested in family history to get this resolution passed. Contact your senator now! Ask your senator to support Senator Hatch's "Family History Resolution." This resolution will pass only if we make our voices heard! It is easy to contact your senator since all of the senators have e-mail in their offices. To find the name of your senator and his or her e-mail address, go to: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm I sent an e-mail to the two senators from my state this morning. I asked them to support Senator Orrin Hatch's "Family History Resolution." I enclosed a copy of that resolution. When will you contact your senators? You can read more about the history of Family History Month at: http://www.ancestry.com/library/view/columns/compass/2480.asp ========================================================== COPYRIGHTS: The contents of this newsletter are copyright by Richard W. Eastman with the following exception: Many of the articles published in these newsletters contain quotes or references from others, especially from other Web sites, software users manuals, press releases and other public announcements. Any words in this newsletter attributed to another person or organization remain the copyrighted materials of the original author(s). You are hereby granted rights, unless otherwise specified, to re- distribute articles from this newsletter to other parties provided: 1. You do so strictly for non-commercial purposes 2. Your re-distribution is limited to one or two articles per newsletter; do not re-distribute the newsletter in its entirety 3. You may not republish any articles containing words attributed to another person or organization until you obtain permission from that person or organization. While you do have permission to republish words written by Richard W. Eastman, you do not have automatic authority to republish words written by others, even if their words appear in this newsletter. Also, please include the following statement with any articles you re-distribute: The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2001 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Thank you for your cooperation. ========================================================== Subscription information: There are two different methods to subscribe or to unsubscribe: Method #1: to subscribe, to cancel an existing subscription or to read back issues, go to: http://www.rootsforum.com/newsletter Method #2: To subscribe or to cancel an existing subscription, send an e-mail to newsletter@rootscomputing.com with a subject of: subscribe or a subject of unsubscribe. The message text is unimportant, only the subject line is used. An automated process will then add or delete your e-mail address from the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is sent to you free of charge. Please feel free to copy this subscription information and pass it on to anyone else who you think might be interested in obtaining a free subscription. ========================================================== About the author: Dick Eastman is the forum manager of the three Genealogy Forums on CompuServe. He also is the author of "YOUR ROOTS: Total Genealogy Planning On Your Computer" published by Ziff-Davis Press. He can be reached at: richard@eastman.net ==== MAINE Mailing List ==== How long has it been since you posted to the list? A "quiet" list will never help anyone! ============================== Add as many as 10 Good Years To Your Life If you know how to reduce these risks. http://www.thirdage.com/health/wecare/hearthealth/index.html