RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING - 10/29/03

PRESIDING   -   Jim Hoyng

ATTENDING  -    Don Mulligan, Shirley Matton, Larry Riley, Dianne Rzewnicki,
Don           
                         Barrett

MISSED       -    Joe Kavanaugh, Marty Sheehan


OPENING     -     Jim opened meeting with a prayer and reading of committee
mission       
                          statement

REVIEW OF 10/24/03  MEETING MINUTES

                         Discussed resources and available material from
which articles for a weekly Respect Life message can be drawn for the bulletin. 
It was suggested and agreed that all members of the Committee contribute. Don
Mulligan, will be responsible for collecting potential articles. He will select
article to be used each week and coordinate entry with Pat Evans. Members can
contribute material at any time. Articles received will become part of a
"article bank" to insure a healthy inventory of material for this project.

                         Jim learned we were not able to secure a permanent
Respect Life shelf in the church library for reference material. It is hoped
this committee, lead by the Holy Spirit, will generate enough interest and
demand for this material to warrant further consideration of a permanent section
dedicated to Life Issues.

                         Approximately 35 of the willing from IHM joined the
2003 Life Chain on October 5. This was down from about 100 in 2001 thought a
lot of effort was made to get the word out. The Chain gathered 1900 faithful
who witnessed as more 2400 vehicles passed by.  There was some discussion of how
we might improve attendance a the 2004 Chain, which will fall again on
October 5.  This will be a pending issue.

                          Baby Bottle Boomerang will take place next weekend.
We will receive 300 bottles for distribution. Should more be needed names and
telephone numbers of interested parishioners will be recorded by volunteer
distributors, following Masses, and additional bottles will be made available
after the Masses the following week.  We learned there was not enough time to
schedule Libby Dunsmore to appear before the Knights and Bethany in October. 
This will be a pending issue for 2004 targeted for early Oct 2004. All members
of the committee will participate in distribution and collection activity.

                          The new meeting format was adapted and used for
this meeting


 NEW BUSINESS

                           Jim shared a kit of collateral material developed
by the Catholic Conference of Bishops.  It had a store house of information. 
He has ordered a kit for each member of the Committee.

                            Unable to show video "The Silent Screen" Don
Mulligan brought to the meeting.  Both church videos need repair so viewing was
postponed for a future meeting. Because this Committee will no doubt need a VCR
in the future and because the Community Outreach Commission needs a VCR for
the Interfaith Hospitality Network programs, it was thought we might secure one
through the COC budget. Don Barrett will check with Donna Howell.

                             Discussed lack of media coverage for
Greensboro's Life Chain and who might be contacted to question the lack of coverage. 
Both Jim and Don Mulligan had sources they felt could be tapped and will follow
throughout. It was further noted how news like post abortion problems and
deaths from the abortion pill were not being chronicled by the main stream press
and media. This will be a focus issue, on an ongoing basis, in the future. 

                              Jim asked to have Larry Kwan added to the
distribution list for minutes of meetings.  This way they can be placed on the
website.  Don will discuss with Ann Marie

                              First Heart to Heart article (next issue) will
be the invitation/mission statement article used in the bulletin.  It's an
important one and needs the broadest audience.                                   

                              Next meeting will be held, as scheduled,
Thanksgiving Eve, Nov 26



Copies

        Fr. Jack
        Ann Marie
        Donna Howell
        Marty Sheehan
        Joe Kavanaugh
        Larry Kwan