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SFLA is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting and training pro-life students and families across America. Our mission is to identify, educate and equip pro-life students to abolish abortion in our lifetime. Our team has created this guidebook as a starting point and resource for you, a student who can lead other young people to stand for Life. We hope it will encourage you, give you a practical starting point, and help you to find a vision for what you want to accomplish in your community. Please know, our full-time team at Students for Life is here to help you every step of the way as you begin to take a stand for Life. Since abortion became legal in 1973, over 54 million babies have been killed. A whole third of our generation is lost. This is our battle, and with your help, we will abolish abortion in our lifetime. For Life,
Getting Started First Meeting First Meeting Agenda Interest Sheets Task Sheets Vision Sample Constitution Goals Plan Your Year Events SIgn up and Attendance Sheet Officers Hierarchy Retention Budget Fundraising Media Did You Know? Life in the Womb Defending Life SFLA Resources SFLA Trainings
Kristan J. Hawkins President Dear Parents of Pro-Life High School Students, You are instrumental in the organization of a successful Students for Life group. While many students are self-sufficient and may not be very dependent on their parents, others require their parents support in activities outside the home. This assistance can range from the need for transportation to some guidance in the decision making. Parents should also be prepared to counsel and advise students in the aftermath of exposure to certain experiences (such as a day outside of an abortion facility). In all of this, you should know that your children will be positively enriched by their involvement with Students for Life. At Students for Life of America, we encourage an active participation between youth and their parents. As both become more educated on pro-life issues, youth are mentored into developing personal ownership of their work as they fight for a truly just cause. Thank you for raising such a wonderful child! For Life,
Contact Us Students for Life of America 9255 Center Street, Suite 300 Manassas, VA 20110 571.379.7261 info@studentsforlife.org www.studentsforlife.org
GETTING STARTED
Purpose: Create an organization that will
save lives and develop pro-life leaders.
Use Social Networks - Start a First Meeting Plan YourFacebook group for Set a date, time, and location: Choose a time your club. This is a free and and date that most
people can attend. Then, pick a location that will be convenient and comfortable for students. This meeting will probably take place in a classroom at your school, but it may also be conducted at a house, a church or a local coffee shop. Prepare to lead: A good leader is always prepared! Review the First Meeting procedures and agenda on page 3 prior to the meeting. You should also read through the events on pages 14 and 15 so that you have suggestions for the group discussion. Delegate: It can be overwhelming to be expected to handle all details of the meeting. Delegate some duties to the members of your core team. These duties may include ordering food or contacting invitees.
Talk to Administration
Set up a meeting with your school principal, vice principal, and/or dean of students to discuss the policies regarding school clubs and activites. Bring another student with you to support your case and be prepared to present some ideas and expectations for your pro-life group.
Talk to Teachers
Ask a teacher to be your groups faculty advisor. This teacher may be allowed to provide you a classroom for your meetings, and they can support and direct your group. Additionally, tell other like-minded teachers of your plans to start a pro-life group. They may be able to suggest other students who would be interested in joining.
If you have concerns about your legal rights, please contact Students for Life of America
at info@studentsforlife.org
Post pictures and videos from your events so that classmates can see your group in action!
FIRST MEETING
Purpose: Get students interested
and invested in your pro-life group.
Suggestion
Meetings should be regularly scheduled. Set times for meetings beginning and end, prepare an agenda and plan ahead what topics will be discussed at each meeting. Your group should develop a good reputation for being reliable.
Introductions
Everyone should introduce themselves and be handed an Interest Sheet (page 5) to fill out.
Figure 1 - Right Have attendees fill in their name, class year, phone, and email before the meeting Group members should fill in the bottom portion during the meeting.
Why are you pro-life? Why is each person at the meeting? Why are they
pro-life?
Politics Education
Many people wont know what types of activities and events your group can do. Discuss some events described on pages 14-15 .
Interests? Ask each person which events interest them. Make sure each attendee gives you the interest
sheet before they leave.
Take Charge For each event, ask the person who you think is
the most motivated and able to lead that event. Then, track their answer on the task manager sheets. (page 6)
Delegate Tasks Assign the tasks that must be done before the
next meeting. Use the Task Sheets on page 6 to help track the tasks and who is doing them.
Figure 2 - Right Fill in the leaders name and the event. Circle whether they are L, leading or H, helping. List the tasks involved and when the task will be due.
Ask members what events they think should be done and which interest them:
Develop a Cemetery of the Innocents Display Hold a Diaper Drive Organize a Candlelight Vigil Participate in Sidewalk Counseling Host speakers/debates Suppot pro-life candidates Attend protests o National March for Life, every January in Washington, D.C. Attend Conferences o Students for Life of America National Conference, every January in Washington, D.C. o Students for Life of America Regional Conferences across the country
Conclusion
Date, time, and location details of next meeting
Networking
Meet members after the meeting while enjoying refreshments.
INTEREST SHEETS
Name Class Year Phone Email
What types of events are you interested in? What types of events are you interested in?
Name
Phone 555-555-5555
Email Mail@studentsforlife.org
Support Support Culture Interests: Education Culture Interests: Education Politics Support Politics
Politics
Politics Educaiton
Name
Class Year
Phone
Politics
Support
Politics Education
Politics Education
Politics Education
Culture Interests:
Education
Copy and Cut this page \ = Assigned X = Done / = Delegated to someone else
TASK SHEETS
H = Helping L = Leading
9/23 Event Name Member Name L/H L/H Event Name Member Name Event Name Member Name L/H
*example*
Event Name Cemetery of the Innocents Member Name John Doe L/H
9/23
9/26
Purchase materials
9/27
Assemble crosses
9/27
Sign-up volunteers
10/03
Call everyone
10/03
Member Name
L/H
L/H
VISION
Purpose: Establish a clear statement of the groups intentions and goals.
Establishing a Vision
Your current and future members need to know exactly what your SFL group is all about and where you are heading. Some of the following questions should lead this discussion. What do we want to accomplish- short term and long term? Where do we want to be a year from now? What kinds of activities are appropriate for our group? What should each persons role be in our group?
Establishing a common vision is important both to keep your group on track and to keep people on the same page. You do not want your group to become disillusioned because the group is not whatmembers expected it to be.
SAMPLE CONSTITUTION
(Your School) Students for Life
Constitution of (Your School) Students for Likfe (Date)
Article I: Name
The name of this organization is (Your School) Students for Life. No officer should hold any office for more than two terms. However, they do have the option of running for another office after their two year term is over. For the first year of existance, however, officers will be appointed. Section 3: Roles of the Officers A) President 1) Schedule and organize meetings and activities 2) Conduct the meetings 3) Provide general upkeep of the club B) Vice President 1) If the president is unable to perform any of the previously mentioned tasks, it will be the responsibility of the vice president to temporarily take over the particular role or responsibility 2) Preform any reasonable task requested to them by the President to further the goals of the organization C) Member Coordinator 1) Keep track of the schedule 2) Updates and maintains membership lists and takes roll 3) Keeps meeting minutes 4) Sends out e-mail reminders 5) Works on publications (website and/or newsletter) 6) Counts election, impeachment and amendment ballots and announces results immediately after the vote is taken D) Treasurer 1) Collects dues 2) Reports finances 3) Handles fundraising E) Outreach Coordinator 1) Handles publicity 2) Attends any external meetings with which the group could be associates and in addition establishes relationships with community groups, i.e. pregnancy care centers and local Pro-Life organizations 3) Organizes regular recruitment drives
SAMPLE CONSTITUTION
Section 4: The impeachment of any officer can only occur when two-thirds majority of official members vote to impeach. Section 5: In addition to the officer positions, it is at the Presidents discretion to appoint students to committees to coornate specific events or activities.
Article V: Elections
Section 1: Elections of officers will take place at an election meeting to be held once a year during the spring semester at least one week before the last day of classes for the semester. Section 2: Any official member may be nominated for office or may nominate themselves. Section 3: Members who are running for office must be nominated and accept their nomination at the nomination meeting which shall occur a minimum of one week prior to the election meeting. Section 4: Officers must be elected by a simple majority via secret ballot. Section 5: If any officer decides to step down, nominations will be accepted at the next meeing and the new officer will be elected one meeing later.
GOALS
Purpose: Create a plan for making your vision a reality.
Setting Goals
To put your vision into action, your pro-life group needs concrete goals to move forward. As a group, come up with a list of goals that you would like to accomplish this year and in the future. These goals should be achievable and measurable.
Considerations
What is your group capable of doing? Where are the abortion facilities and Pro-Life Pregnancy Resource Centers? How could you help the people at these places? What training does your group need?
Pro-Life Action Plan MISSION STATEMENT: To educate our peers and to encourage our community to actively defend
the lives of the preborn, the disabled, the elderly, and the silenced.
1 meeting per a month 4 fundraisers every school year Prayer Vigil twice a month
Double our members within 2 years Host 2 speakers every year Fundraise over $2000 over 3 years for a local Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) Students For Life
Accountability
Ask your group members to sign your Pro-Life Action Plan. This action will show that each member acknowledges the goals of the group and is willing to help bring your vision to reality.
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Areas of Interest
When planning your year, consider the following 4 areas of interest in order to meet the needs of your community and to achieve your pro-life groups goals. o Group growth o Supporting mothers and providing resources o Political action o Influencing and educating culture
Analysis
Now be practical and critical. Honestly assess where your organization is and what its limitations and advantages are. How many regularly attending members do you have and how many will you need? What money, speakers, advertisements, and other resources will your group need? What skills does your organization need to learn? What events will o Challenge and make the organization grow? o Make members more active and committed? o Make the biggest impact in your community?
2. Activate
Members should be asked to help regularly.
3. Develop
Invest in members so they can achieve more.
Delegate Responsibility
Once you have set out basic goals and plans, assign someone to keep track of the group calendar. Decide who will accomplish which steps to make the groups goals a reality and use the Task Sheets on page 6 to keep track of who is doing what.
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FALL CALENDAR
Late Fall (mid-October through December)
Type Group: Events Advertise to increase group size Train future leaders Hold socials to bond your members
Purpose: Use this sample calendar as a way to plan a successful year. Planning in advance helps you do more.
Type
Events
Group:
Advertise to increase group size Train future Hold socials to bond your members
Politics: Politics:
Culture
Post-aboritve speaker Human Life Alliance pamphlet distribution Cemetery of the Innocents display Culture:
Sidewalk counsel Diaper drive Write a letter to the editor about the lack of option in the community for pregnant women Volunteer and aid political campaigns Contact electied officials and ask them to support pro-life legislation in the next year Pro-Life movie night When Does Life Begin display Sidewalk chalk 3300 hearts
When
Who
What
When
Who
What
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SPRING CALENDAR
Late Spring (mid-March through May)
Type Group Events Transfer responsibility to new leaders Plan and budget for next year Hold winter social to bond your members Canvas your campus
Purpose: Use this sample calendar as a way to plan a successful year. Planning in advance helps you do more.
Type
Events
Group
Determine future leaders Attend local or national conference Hold socials to bond members Support and Research
Sidewalk counsel Celebrate year with families aided Plan to distribute pamphets to incoming freshman Register Pro-Lifers to vote Determine how to win next year Debate Prayer vigil at abortion facility Pro-Life film festival
Lobby for legislation at the state level Pass legislation through student government WIn local or student government office
Culture
Protest When does life begin display Image display (GAP, JFA, Fetal Development)
When
Who
What
When
Who
What
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EVENTS
Purpose: Save lives and change the
culture in your community.
Day of Silence:
Encourage a Day of Silence as a sacrifice for those who cannot defend themselves. Check out www.silentday.org for more information.
Draw 3300 hearts on the sidewalks around a local high school or church with text like, 3300 hearts will stop beating today because of abortion.
Contact your state legislature by writing letters, sending emails, making phone calls, and meeting with legislaters ask for their support of pro-life legislation and opposition to legislation that is not pro-life.
During election years, volunteer with pro-life candidates to help them get elected.
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MORE EVENTS
Purpose: Save lives and change the
culture in your area.
Baby Shower:
Host a baby shower at your school to benefit a local Pregnancy Resource Center.
Diaper Drive: Set up a table at a church or a grocery store and ask for donations of diapers, and other supplies, to help a local Pregnancy Resource Center. (Find your local Pro-Life PRC at www.optionline.org.) Distribute Flyers Listing Pregnancy Resources: Create and
post flyers in your area advertising for a local Pregnancy Resource Center. (Get sample materials at www.pregnantoncampus.org)
Grow your group and find out who your group should reach out to. Collect contact information for Pro-Life students by going door-to-door, visiting every homeroom before classes begin, and approaching students in the cafeteria.
Plan Socials: Celebrate successes and thank volunteers by having a social gathering with food and games at least twice per year. Attend Conferences: Attend
conferences (such as the Students for Life of America national conference held in Washington D.C. every January)to train and educate your group.
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First Name
Last Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Year
OFFICERS
Purpose: Develop members into leaders and transition to new leadership.
Delegate Tasks
Each time you delegate and train someone to do a new task, expect it to take longer than if you had done it yourself. However, realize that now youll never have to do that task again. It is an investment not only in the future of the organization, but in saving you time.
Announce Elections
At the last meeting of the first (fall) semester, announce that elections will be early next semester. Give a brief description of each position and what value it has brought to the current officer.
Encourage Candidates
At the beginning of the second semester, current officers should focus on encouraging their replacements and giving increasing responsibilities to them. They should help potential officers realize their capacity to make an impact, and nominations should be taken a week before the election.
Elections
Most organizations work best by only electing core positions such as presidents, media coordinator, outreach coordinator, and treasureer, and allowing the president or other officers to appoint the rest. In the election, the president should be elected first, and then the other positions. This way, if someone is nominated for President and loses, they are not prevented from seeking another position.
Transition
The new officers should transition into their leadership roles one to two months before the end of the school year, but not immediately after the election. A transition allows new officers to learn and to slowly take over from the old officers. This process aids in keeping institutional memory.
Celebrate
Formally transition leadership and celebrate as the final event for old and new members. Students For Life 17
HIERARCHY
Purpose: Recongnize the roles and responsibilities of each group member.
Action-Oriented Members
Why Have a Formal Students for Life Group?
Having a formal pro-life organization helps give members a sense of ownership and responsibility. It puts leadership in the hands of the entire group rather than leaving it up to only a few people.
Officers
Officers are the most dedicated and involved members of your pro-life group. As a team, they will make major decisions for the group throughout the year. The President is the voice of your group. In addition to scheduling and running meetings, this person will be the main representative for meetings with administration, community members, and fellow students. The Member Coordinator will keep track of every group member. They will collect contact information, send out meeting reminders, and keep attendance. The Member Coordinator will ensure that members participate, and this person may also recommend recruiting strategies. The Outreach Coordinator will be in charge of the details of each group activity and event. This person will advertise for events as well as handle major communications and logistics details (like contacting a speaker or arranging travel to an event). The Treasurer will regulate the groups finances. This person will develop a budget, keep track of expenses, and project protential expenses for future projects and events. The Treasurer may also contact and thank donors.
Action-Oriented Members
Action-oriented members will attend meetings and actively participate in your group events. Be sure to look to this group for suggestions because they will be putting your plans into action!
RETENTION
Purpose: Turn potential members
into future leaders and activists.
First Meetings
By the end of the first meeting (pg 3), a new member should have been Asked what their interests are and how they want to help. Asked to do a small task based on their interests (hanging flyers, recruiting, making crosses, etc). Invited to meet with a member of the core team who has similar interests.
Relationships
Core team members should develop personal relationships with other group members so that each member feels welcomed and valued. By getting to know each person, the officers will be able to identify individual passions and strengths. These relationships will build community, and they will help bolster a positive attitude among your members.
Socials
As a person gives their time and helps the organization succeed, they also deserve recognition. Be sure to thank members and to get to know them on a more personal level. One good way to do this is to have socials. Assign someone within the organization to host and plan the event. Find a social game that everyone will at least try. Good examples are Mafia, Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, and Imagin Iff. Pick a date at least three weeks in advance and encourage people to invite friends. Motivate fellow leaders of the organization to invite their friends who arent yet members of the group to the social
Group Cycle
Always be doing one of the three following things:
Development
Your goal is to develop future leaders and activists by having individuals invest increasingly greater amounts of their time into something of which they will eventually take partial ownership. Once they begin to feel responsible, members will become more committed to your groups success. If your organization can develop the right culture and events to retain and develop members, it will always be growing and achieving greater success.
Delegation
Delegation requires leaders to come prepared to the meeting with an idea of what needs to be accomplished. Task sheets are a good way to get leader to keep track of who is doing what. One common mistake when delegating is trying to delegate to anyone willing. The better technique is to use the personal relationships developed to assign tasks to the appropriate individual with the ability to get the job done.
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BUDGET
Purpose: Plan your expenses to prepare for
events in the coming year.
*Example*
Plan Ahead
Budgeting and fundraising are the only two ways to ensure that there will be money to do the important events you want throughout the year. The key to budgeting is to plan ahead. Use your group calendar that lists all the events that your group is hosting or events your group will be attending to help develop your budget.
Attend SFLA Conference and March for Life in Washington, D.C. with 10 Members Life Display Speaker Cemetery of the Innocents Display Lobbying at State Capitol Total
Spring Semester
Event Description Est. Cost
Total
$ $ $ $ $ $ $
Total
$ $ $ $ $ $ $
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FUNDRAISING
Purpose: Raise money for your group
so that you are able to save more lives.
Contact SFLA for help creating a fundraising plan for your group.
MEDIA
Purpose: Multiply the impact of your
groups by earning media attention.
Essentials
Establish relationships with local media Press Release Sample (page 23) Event details
*Press Release Format* se For t* orma Lead: who, when, where, why, how
More details
Summary of organization; mission, meetings
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MEDIA
* Sample* Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Theresa Burch 555-555-5555 (cell) tburch@studentsforlife.org
For more information about this event, or the Georgia High School Students for Life, please contact Theresa Burch at (555) 555-5555, or through email at tburch@studentsforlife.org.
Georgia State Students for Life 5983 Main St. Atlanta, GA 12345 Phone: (987) 654-3210, Fax: (987) 654-3310
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DID YOU
KNOW?
Abortion Statistics
1.1 MILLION U.S. ABORTIONS EACH YEAR As many as 3300 BABIES ARE ABORTED EVERY DAY Nearly 1 in 4 (22%) pregnancies end in abortion 50% of women now seeking abortion have had at least one previous abortion. The U.S. abortion rate is among the highest of developed countries. 51% of abortions are performed on womenless than 25 years of age. Approximately 1/3 of American women have had an abortion by age 45. Abortion disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic women Abortions can legally be performed in all three trimesters of pregnancy
Risks of Abortion
Medical Complications
Heavy bleeding Infection Incomplete abortion Sepsis Anesthesia Damage to the cervix Scarring of the uterine lining Uterine perforation Damage to internal organs Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Endometritis Death
Emotional Complications
Eating disorders Relationship problems Guilt Depression Flashbacks of abortion Suicidal thoughts Sexual dysfunction Alcohol and drug abuse
SOURCES:
Elliot Institute. (1999). Abortion risks: A list of major physical complications related to abortion. Retrieved from <http://afterabor tion.org/1999/abortion-risks-a-list-of-major-physical-complications-related-to-abortion/> Guttmacher Institute. (2011). Facts on induced abortion in the United States. Retrieved from <www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_in duced_abortion.html.> Ramah International. (2011). Abortion risks. Retrieved from <http://www.ramahinternational.org/abortion_risks.htm> Students for Life of America. (2011). Abortion facts. Retrieved <http://studentsforlife.org/prolifefacts/abortion-facts/>
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LIFE IN THE
WOMB
Baby Is That You?
Week 1: Conception occurs when the sperm fertilizes the egg 3: Heart is beating 5: Subtle movement 6: Brainwave activity has begun, hand movement 7: Rotates head, moves legs, hiccups 8: Becomes right- or left-handed 9: Sucking thumb, yawning 10: Unique fingerprints 11: Complex facial expressions, gender can be seen on ultrasound 16: Mother can feel the babys movements More fetal development 17: Active cerebral cortex graphics are available at 24: Baby can hear things outside the womb www.studentsforlife.org and on 25: Ability to taste the Students for Life of America 26: Sense of smell, tear production facebook page at facebook.com/studentsforlife. 27: Pupils react to light 31: Baby is most likely having dreams 35: Baby has a firm grip 39: All organs are now ready for birth Your group members should have a 40: BIRTH
basic knowledge of pro-life history, facts, and apologetics. Set aside time at each meeting to discuss one topic of interest.
For more pro-life information, statistics, and history, visit our website www.studentsforlife.org.
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SOURCES: AmazingPregnancy.com. (2012). Fetal development. Retrieved from < http:// www.amazingpregnancy.com/pregnancy-articles/category/pregnancy-articles/fetal-development> Endowment for Human Development. (2012).Interactive prenatal development timeline. Retrieved from <http://www.ehd.org/> Students for Life of America. (2011). Fetal development. Retrieved <http://studentsforlife.org/prolifefacts/fetaldevelopment/>
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Level of Development
The embryo displays obvious differences in level of development when compared with a toddler. Similarly, a child is not nearly as developed as an adult. Disabilities may also prevent a person from reaching the perceived normal level of development. Despite a borns persons lack of self-awareness, lower intelligence, or physical disability, we continue to recognize that person as a human being. Therefore, an embryo should also qualify as a human being despite its level of development.
Environment
Human value does not change based on location. A teen living in Florida will still be equally valued as a human being if his family moves to Alaska. Likewise, a baby is a human regardless of location. This child is a human in the womb, in the birth canal, and outside of the mothers body.
Degree of Dependency
The embryo depends on the mother for protection and for nutrients for growth. Although the baby may not be able to survive outside of the womb, this does not take away from his or her value as a human being. Consider people in your life who depend upon medication, personal assistance, or technology. Every person should be valued even if he or she needs insulin, a live-in nurse, a wheelchair, or a mothers womb.
SOURCE:
Scott Klusendorf. (2012). The SLED test. Life Training Institute: www.prolifetraining.com
RESOURCES
Purpose: Identify the resources available for your pro-life group.
www.abolishabortion.com
Activism website with pro-life events, petitions, blogs and more!
Connections with pro-life groups and speakers across the United States Weekly e-mail and daily social media alerts and tips SFLA Team Members available to speak on select topics
Apologetics, Feminism, Social Justice, Adoption
SFLA National Conference (every January) and regional conferences throughout the year Monthly Event-In-A-Box
Monthly themes, flyers, and educational hand outs
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