Conference Reflections: Tragedy serves to warn, encourage
Eileen Smith opened the Right to Life of Michigan Conference in Lansing by sharing the tragic story of her adopted daughter Laura’s death after an abortion. Eileen said she will devote the rest of her life to sharing her personal experience. Eileen’s positive prolife message focused on ending abortion.
Eileen said, “Every time I speak, I believe I put another nail in the coffin of the abortion industry.”
The keynote address was delivered by Archbishop Allen Henry Vigneron on the past, present and future of the prolife movement. Archbishop Vigneron said that prolife people should have great hope for the future because we know that the prolife cause will be victorious in the end.
Marlene Elwell was the recipient of the 2009 Life Achievement Award. Marlene began her prolife journey in 1972, working to defeat the proposal to legalize abortion in Michigan. She was instrumental in the founding of the National Right to Life Committee and Right to Life of Michigan. Marlene shared her message that anyone can make a great difference with the story of her historic work to add a prolife plank to the Republican Party platform in 1980.
The Conference featured three breakout sessions hosted by Right to Life of Michigan staff and leaders. Director of Minority Outreach Kathy Crombie presented a workshop on Hispanic and African-American outreach. President Barbara Listing and Director of Public Information Pamela Sherstad spoke about the basics of reaching out to local faith communities. Dearborn Area Right to Life President Susan Tesorero and Projects Coordinator Chris Gast gave a presentation on the lesser-known and controversial history of Planned Parenthood.
Luke Anderson, a senior from Tecumseh, Mich., and winner of the 2009 High School Oratory Contest, delivered his winning speech on rallying the prolife cause in the face of adversity.
Recording artist Doris Perez sang Vida Preciosa (Precious Life) in English and gave an encore performance in Spanish. Doris specially composed Vida Preciosa for our prolife Hispanic outreach efforts.
The Conference finished with updates on health care reform and current state legislation from Right to Life of Michigan President Barb Listing and Legislative Director Ed Rivet. They urged everyone to continue to contact their representatives in Congress about excluding abortion from any health care reform legislation.
Plan now to attend next year’s Conference in September! You can find future announcements for the 2010 Conference on the Right to Life of Michigan website at www.rtl.org.
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