Resolutions

RESOLUTIONS
133rd Annual Convention
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union

   We, the members of the 133rd Annual Convention of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, have assembled at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria, Illinois, August 1 - 6, 2006 for the following purposes:
   1) to praise God, our Creator and Sustainer;
   2) to receive reports; and,
   3) to make plans for the years ahead.
   We, therefore, present the following resolutions for consideration and action.

I. EFFECTIVE CITIZENSHIP

   WHEREAS, the effectiveness of educating and presenting a position depends on an informed citizenry, and
   WHEREAS effectiveness often depends on individuals being informed, being registered to vote, and voting, therefore
   BE IT RESOLVED that NWCTU members register to vote, vote, and strive to be informed voters. Members who are on-line are encouraged to sign up for legislative information from recommended sources such as www.wctu.org/citizenship and franwood@cox.net, and share and discuss the information with others.

II. UNDERAGE HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES

   WHEREAS there are reports of increased risk activities of every kind among young people, and
   WHEREAS underage drinking, underage tobacco use, substance abuse, and gambling addiction affect individuals for the rest of their lives, therefore,
   BE IT RESOLVED that parents and other adults be encouraged to assume responsibility for educating young people about the dangers of high risk activities, that penalties be increased for those who promote underage high risk activities, and that everyone remember that alcohol is still the leading risk factor in accidents, suicides, and homicides among young people.

III. STEM CELL RESEARCH and USE

   WHEREAS the use of stem cells has proved to alleviate many diseases and conditions, and
   WHEREAS much confusion surrounds this issue, therefore,
   BE IT RESOLVED that the National WCTU supports research and use that involves ``adult" stem cells only, and goes on record opposing ``embryonic: stem cell research and use.

IV. MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION

WHEREAS we believe that marriage is a sacred contract between one man and one woman, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the National WCTU is on record that marriage be defined in that way and that this definition be made a part of the United States Constitution.

V. GAMBLING

   WHEREAS the US gambling industry has grown ten-fold since 1975, and
   WHEREAS the accessibility of gambling on the Internet has placed an addictive behavior in the hands of millions of previously unexposed people, including adolescents and impressionable children, and
   WHEREAS the rate of addiction in young people is now about twice that of adults and is the most popular high risk activity among teens, outpacing drinking, drugs, and smoking, and
   WHEREAS a substantial body of evidence demonstrates that the costs of gambling far outweigh any potential benefit from tax revenues or any development, therefore
   BE IT RESOLVED that the WCTU members consult www.family.org/gamblingresearch,contact their members of Congress expressing their opposition to the spread of legalized gambling, and immediately contact their Senators requesting that they pass the Senate bill identical with HR4411.

COMMENDATION of BRITTANY MCCOMB

   WHEREAS Brittany McComb, a graduate of Foothill High School, Henderson, Nevada, as class valedictorian, presented her proposed graduation speech to her High School Administrators, and
   WHEREAS said Administrators deleted from her speech some of the Biblical references and the single reference to the name ``Christ," and
   WHEREAS Brittany McComb then decided to give the original version of her speech and her microphone was cutoff when she attempted to do so, therefore
   BE IT RESOLVED that the 133rd National WCTU Convention commend Brittany McComb for standing up for her constitutional rights covering freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
[In explanation of her action, Brittany McComb said, ``I went through four years of high school at Foothill and they taught me logic and they taught me freedom of speech. God is the biggest part of my life. Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my Lord and Savior."]

Respectfully submitted,
June Beal, Chairperson, NH
Leah Frazer, NJ
Dorothy W. Wilbur, RI
Glenna Dellenbach, KS
Frances Wood, KS
Virginia Beatty, IL