GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs
OFWC Standing Resolutions

As Adopted at the Annual Convention of the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs, April 2007

This page hopes to raise awareness of the rationale for an impact of resolutions, how to write them, and to increase the number of resolutions submitted by OFWC clubs.

Resolutions remain in effect until rescinded by the delegate body. All resolutions which have been in effect for four (4) years shall be automatically reviewed by the Resolutions Committee for timeliness, change of opinion, etc. Those whose purpose has been accomplished shall be referred to the Convention to be rescinded.

Resolution 2-78 RECLAIMING DECENT VALUES IN FAMILY TELEVISION

(Reaffirmed 1983 & 1988; Reviewed 1992 & 1996; Amended 2000, 2001)

WHEREAS, There are 97 million U. S. households with television and 38.9 million of these house children ages 2 to 11, and

WHEREAS, Surveys show that the average American youth watches 1,500 hours annually, this figure is considerably higher than the time they spend participating in sports, in church, in school, or in learning situations with their parents; and

WHEREAS, On network television, violence before nine o'clock p.m. has decreased; however, implicit and explicit sexual vulgarity and sensationalism on cable, in programming and advertising, have increased; and

WHEREAS, This vulgarity and suggestiveness particularly in commercials presents itself without the opportunity for parental monitoring; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs strongly oppose this type of family entertainment and recommends that the Federal Communications Commission, the national television networks, and the sponsors of such programs and commercials strive to present viewing which is healthy and stimulating entertainment for the entire family and elevating to the minds and speech of America's youth; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges members to write to the presidents of sponsoring companies and/ or organizations and television and cable executives requesting their help in reclaiming decency for the good of our country.

Resolution 1-81 TO PROMOTE SERVICES FOR THE GIFTED CHILD

(Reaffirmed 1986; Reviewed 1991, 1995; Amended 1999; Reviewed 2003)

WHEREAS, In our complicated society the need for specialized training for academically gifted children is

important; and

WHEREAS, The special abilities of the gifted students need to be recognized and developed during the students?

elementary and secondary school years to insure these students are significantly challenged to develop to their

full potential in order to lead full, productive, and enriched lives; and

WHEREAS, Families of gifted children are often without needed support, professional services, and counseling;

therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to investigate the

services being offered gifted children and their families in their communities and to support programs for the

betterment of gifted children and their families; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to support legislation

that addresses the funding needs for identifying academically gifted students, the training of teachers,

developing challenging curriculum, and implementing programs.

Resolution 2-81 NEWS COVERAGE OF ELECTIONS

(Reaffirmed 1986,1999; Reviewed 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003)

WHEREAS, The right to vote is the cornerstone of freedom; the power to select those who govern is the only

guarantee of continuing liberty; and

WHEREAS, The right to vote carries with it the responsibility to exercise that right in the best interest of the

nation as perceived by each voter; and

WHEREAS, Voting decisions should be based on fact; and

WHEREAS, The news media, in the past, have demonstrated the ability to shape public opinion; therefore

RESOLVED, That the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs calls on the media, particularly the major television

networks to:

-Report objectively the positions and statements of the candidates

-Clearly label editorial comment as such

-Refrain from speculation and sensationalism

-Refrain, on Election Day, from broadcasting results and projections from the eastern states until the polls have closed in all states.

Resolution 3-81 SERIOUS, VIOLENT, AND HABITUAL JUVENILE OFFENDERS

(Reaffirmed 1986; Reviewed 1991, 1995; Amended 1999; Reviewed 2003: Amended 2007)

WHEREAS, Research has indicated that a small proportion of juvenile offenders commit the most serious and

violent crimes, and chronic violent offenders comprise approximately 15% of offenders and commit 75-80% of

the most serious crimes; and

WHEREAS, These chronic criminal youth can be differentiated from the occasional youth offender by

repetitiveness and violence of their criminal acts; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, to promote public safety, urges our Justice

System that this group of juveniles need to be identified, arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated in juvenile

facilities for their crimes; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs encourages our legislators to recognize that

the protection of innocent victims from violent crimes is of greater concern than the protection of criminals from

their own records, therefore the criminal records of these chronic violent juvenile offenders should not be sealed or expunged

upon reaching the age of eighteen.

Resolution 2-82 REFORM OF THE BANKRUPTCY ACT OF 1978

(Reaffirmed 1987; Reviewed 1991, 1995; Amended 2000, 2004)

WHEREAS, By September 30, 2002, the number of bankruptcy filings broke new records, more than anytime in history with 1,547,669 filings, up 7.7% from those filed in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Provisions of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 are in the process of being updated under the Bankruptcy Reform Act 2003, which will provide stronger guidelines on filing bankruptcy to prevent abuse and encourage resources that provide alternatives to bankruptcies; and

WHEREAS, Both Houses of Congress are having difficulty in agreeing on important revisions; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/ Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members encourage their legislators to adopt reforms that would provide bankruptcy laws that are more efficient, equitable, and that provide reasonable alternatives to bankruptcy.

Resolution 5-83 PROHIBITION OF RIDERS ON BILLS

(Reaffirmed 1989; Reviewed 1993, 1999, 2003)

WHEREAS, Questions on totally different subjects are passed as riders with bills to which they are not germane;

and

WHEREAS, The average person is aware only of the publicized bills and not the riders; and

WHEREAS, Any bill worthy of passage should be passed under its own merit; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges such riders be prohibited in the Ohio

House of Representatives, in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the Ohio Senate and in the U.S. Senate.

Resolution 1-85 PROMOTE LITERACY

(Reaffirmed 1990; Reviewed 1995; Amended 1999; Reviewed 2003)

WHEREAS, An estimated one in five adult Americans is functionally illiterate. Functional illiterates can read

words but they cannot comprehend their meanings, synthesize information, or make decisions based on what

they read; and

WHEREAS, Over 25 million persons in the United States can neither read, nor write, nor reason well enough to

solve problems or have the skills to earn a living in our increasingly technological society; and

WHEREAS, The costs to our nation, through assistance programs and the decline of an educated work force, are

enormous; and

WHEREAS, The emotional costs to these illiterate citizens in terms of helplessness and humiliation is

devastating; and

WHEREAS, Effective citizenship is dependent upon the ability to read, write, and understand; therefore

RESOLVED, That the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to educate themselves on the

literacy needs of their communities and to promote educational programs by instituting adult literacy programs

where none exist. Members are urged to support already existing literacy programs through donations, by

recruiting qualified tutors, and by themselves volunteering to tutor; and further

RESOLVED, That the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs believes that to have a literate nation, we must start

with literate children. Members are urged to assist teachers by tutoring those children who experience reading

difficulties and to promote reading for enjoyment as well as for information.

Resolution 4-85 eCONOMIC EDUCATION GRADE 1-12

(Reaffirmed 1990; Reviewed 1994; Amended 1999; Reviewed 2003)

WHEREAS, In this day of plastic money, private retirement funds, creative home financing, ease of filing

bankruptcy, as well as the continuing concern over the federal deficit, a solid foundation in basic understanding

of our economic system is becoming vital to the survival of the family and the continued strength of our

democracy; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs commends the efforts of the Joint Council on

Economic Education to devise teaching methods for students of all ages and levels of competence in economic

education, giving them practical, hands on experience in fiscal matters; and

RESOLVED, The GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urge the Ohio Board of Education and the Ohio

General Assembly to enact such laws and devise such programs as necessary to ensure every Ohio student the

privilege of obtaining a solid foundation in basic understanding of our economic system in each grade during

the first twelve years of education; and further

RESOLVED, The GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to exercise their

responsibility within their communities and schools to insure the implementation of curriculum that fosters

economic competence.

Resolution 6-85 rEPORT, IDENTIFY AND TESTIFY

(Reaffirmed 1990; Reviewed 1995; Amended 1999; Reviewed 2003)

WHEREAS, Freedom from fear of crime is a fundamental right of every human being, and

WHEREAS, One of the most important functions of government is to protect the inalienable rights of citizens to

be secure within their homes, streets and communities; and

WHEREAS, It is the duty of each citizen to participate in the justice system by reporting crime, identifying the

perpetrators of crime, and to testify when necessary; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urge its Legislators to pass bills that

encourage citizen participation in the justice system by insuring the safety of said witnesses, and to continue to

address the rights of the victims of crime.

Resolution 2-87 The survival of song birds and other forms of wildlife

(Reviewed 1991, 1995; Amended 2000, 2004)

WHEREAS, The survival of song birds and other forms of wildlife is of great importance to the enjoyment and appreciation of nature; and

WHEREAS, The breeding and sustaining habitat common to Ohio has been disappearing, and is continuing to disappear at an alarming rate; and

WHEREAS, The disappearance of said habitat lies with those in ownership of similar control of land, be it public or private; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, encourages its member clubs to educate themselves and the public to the environmental needs for such habitats, to work for improved legislation and work with conservation groups by any and all possible means to facilitate the maintenance, enlargement, acquisition and development of said habitat for the preservation, propagation, and protection of wild animals so that future generations may enjoy all species of wildlife without any being in danger of reduction in numbers or extermination.

Resolution 1-88 Allocation of Land and Water Conservation Fund Monies

(Reviewed 1992, 1996; Amended 2000, 2004)

WHEREAS, The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established in 1964 by the U.S Congress to create parks and open spaces; protect wilderness, wetlands, and refuges; preserve habitat and enhance recreational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, The need for such protection and preservation continues to increase as open spaces disappear to development, the need for urban recreation increases, and leisure facilities do not meet the growing demand of society; and

WHEREAS, Each year the fund is credited with revenues up to an annual ceiling but if the appropriations do not meet the ceiling amount Congress spends the remaining revenues on other federal programs; and

WHEREAS, In year 2002, $95 million was approved by Congress for state assistance and Ohio received over $4.5 million of it; and

WHEREAS, When the fund was established, state recreation planning was non-existent, today states are required to have statewide recreation planning and to have local recreation planning involved where possible; therefore

Resolved, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its members to contact their congressmen to support legislation to continue the purpose and operation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and further

Resolved, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members encourage the state and local recreation planning committees to make proposals to Congress in order to insure that Ohio receives its fair share of funds; and further

Resolved, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members support the Land and Water Conservation Fund and state and local recreation planning committees by working to increase awareness about conservation needs and resources.

Resolution 2-88 Television commercialization of children's toys that promote

violence (Reviewed 1992, 1996; Amended 2000: Reviewed 2004)

WHEREAS, The GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs has been concerned with the trends of family television

viewing (resolution 2-78); and

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics has taken a stand opposing both toy-based television programs and

interactive television-activated toys because of their disturbing effects upon children; and

WHEREAS, (1) 92% of toy advertising dollars are spent on television commercials and these toys exploit children as

consumers and have potential to promote violent and aggressive behavior, and (2) these toys increase the intellectual

passiveness with which children view television thus inhibiting imaginative play; and

WHEREAS, Many of the best-selling toys on the market today are based on television programs and many have

violent themes; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to contact legislators to

support the enactment of legislation to curb commercialization of children?s television programs.

Resolution 1-90: Mental Retardation Legislation

(Reviewed 1994; Amended 2000: Reviewed 2004)

WHEREAS, There are over 6,000 Ohioans with mental retardation waiting for more appropriate places to live, and

WHEREAS, Some of these people are living at home with aging parents whose anxiety for the future grows daily, and

WHEREAS, The State of Ohio continues to be slow to recognize the ever growing costs to the community for

services; and

WHEREAS, The necessary solution will be accomplished by an energetic community of parents and advocates

working with the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, The ARC of Ohio,

formerly the Association of Retarded Citizens, other agencies, the private sector, and the State Legislature; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women'?s Clubs encourages its member clubs to educate themselves to the needs of our mentally retarded and developmentally disabled citizens, to obtain current information on the State of Ohio with MRDD, to form effective collaborations with advocate groups, and encourages its member clubs to work legislatively to accomplish better funded services that provide safety, security and the opportunity for a quality of life available to other Ohioans.

Resolution 1-95 PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING

(Amended 1999; Reviewed 2003)

WHEREAS, One in ten men has prostate cancer in some form by the age of fifty, and

WHEREAS, While thirty percent of those curable were detected by DRE (Direct Rectal Examination), the cure rate

increases to 70 percent by the concurrent use of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood testing; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urge its members to encourage their male friends

and relatives to obtain annual DREs and PSAs beginning at the age of fifty (or as recommended by their

physicians), encourage proactive measurers by continuing to monitor their PSA for signs of trouble; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urge member clubs to become involved in

community education (formally and/or informally) about the importance of DREs and PSAs. Members are

encouraged to form a coalition with hospitals and the cancer society to present programs, promote testing

opportunities, and form support groups for prostate cancer patients and for their relatives and friends.

Resolution 2-95 BREAST CANCER SCREENING

(Reaffirmed 1999, Amended 2003, 2007)

XXXXXX WHEREAS, 213,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed each year with breast cancer, 1.2 million have been diagnosed worldwide and an estimated one million are unaware that they have the disease; and
WHEREAS, Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States between the ages 20 to 59, a woman in the United States has a 1 in 8 chance of developing invasive breast cancer during her life time; and the chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is 1 in 33 or 3%. Death rates from breast cancer are declining significantly with the largest decreases in young women; this is attributed to early detection and more effective treatment; and
WHEREAS, About seventy-seven percent of breast cancers occur in women ages 50 and over, and although less than five percent of all breast cancer occurs in women under the age of 40, younger women who develop breast cancer have a lower survival rate; and
WHEREAS, Mammogram screening does not prevent or cure breast cancer; however it may detect the disease before symptoms occur because breast cancer can exist 6 to 10 years before the growth can be detected; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/OFWC urge each member to learn and practice monthly self-breast examinations and to have clinical breast examinations every three years for women 20 to 39 and every year for women 40 years old or over upon the recommendation of their physicians; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/OFWC encourage women 40 years old and over to continue with mammograms upon the recommendation of their physicians; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/OFWC encourages its members and other women to continue self-breast examinations as a way to reduce risk factors and to follow medical community guidelines for finding cancer early since it is non-invasive, does not cost anything and has been effective in some instances.

Resolution 3-95 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

(Reaffirmed 1999; Amended 2002)

WHEREAS, Disaster, natural or manmade, can strike a home or community at any instance; and

WHEREAS, Confusion and ignorance can increase morbidity and mortality; therefore

RESOLVED, that the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs and members to:

-Encourage and participate with their communities to form and/or review existing disaster plans for accuracy and timeliness

-Support training of community employees, rescue and relief workers, as needed

-Advocate for communication and coordination of efforts between hospitals, governmental and public safety agencies

-Support public education and publication of the disaster plan; and further

RESOLVED, the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its members to from and/or review existing emergency preparedness plans for their own households.

Resolution 1-97 COMMUNICATION

(Reviewed 2001,2005)

WHEREAS, The technology of communication, today, presents a challenge to each of us to control what comes into our homes by way of the media, and

WHEREAS, The opportunity exists for the abuse of the technology by government, public and private interests in communication; therefore

RESOLVED, That members of the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Woman's Clubs accepts the responsibility for making their views known when harmful communications are presented and demanding honesty and accurate information from those who use all forms of communication with the public.

Resolution 2-97 CONSERVATION

(Reviewed 2001, 2005)

WHEREAS, Forests provide renewable resources and a habitat for plant and animal life; therefore

RESOLVED, That members of the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs support the preservation of forest

resources by means of:

-Educational programs for public awareness;

-Improved and expanded management practices for private and state forests;

-Organized planting programs;

-Increased funding for research programs and recycling technology;

-More efforts to control fire, insect and disease damage.

Resolution 1-99 ORGAN DONATION

(Amended 2002, 2007)

WHEREAS, according to Lifeline of Ohio, a non-profit organization which promotes organ donations, there were 93,963 individuals on the national waiting list for an organ transplant as of November 10, 2006; and

WHEREAS, on the average 19 individuals (men, women and children) on the national waiting list die each day while waiting for a transplant; and

WHEREAS. One donor can save or improve the lives of 7 individuals awaiting organ transplants and 35 - 50 awaiting tissue transplants; and

WHEREAS, 90% according of Americans say they support organ donation but only 25% sign up to do this; therefore

RESOLVED, that the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to present programs to educate members and the public on the benefits of organ donation, answer questions concerning donations, and to learn how to become a donor.

Resolution 2-99 HABITUAL SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND SEXUAL PREDATORS

(Reviewed 2003)

WHEREAS, Sexual predators and habitual sex offenders pose a high risk of engaging in further offenses even after

being released from imprisonment, a prison term, or other confinement, and that protection of members of the public

from sexual predators and habitual sex offenders should be of paramount governmental interest; and

WHEREAS, Under current Ohio law there are definite prison terms required for sexually related offenses, but mandatory treatment is not required; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urge our legislators to support reforms dictating

released offenders be on parole for life, with active monitoring by a parole officer, and mandatory ongoing treatment

requirements as a condition of that parole. Parole officers assigned to this duty should have specialized training in the

psychology of the sexual offenders, and should have the ability to incarcerate defendants for any failure to cooperate

with either monitoring or treatment; and further

RESOLVED, Any defendant convicted of a sexual offense involving children, no matter how minor, should be

restricted for life from participating in any occupation or volunteer activity which involves supervision of children.

This should be a separate criminal offense, with a mandatory sentence, so that the onus is on the convict, not on the

community.

Emergency Resolution 1-99 STATEWIDE TRAUMA SYSTEM

(Amended 2003)

WHEREAS, Trauma refers to injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes, falls, fires, assaults and other situations; and

WHEREAS, Serious injury, or trauma, results in over 80,000 hospital admissions in Ohio, 5,000 deaths and thousands of permanent disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Serious injury is the leading cause of death in America of children and adults ages 1-44 years, and

WHEREAS, Studies and research, from states with trauma systems, demonstrate substantial reduction in death and permanent disability when a trauma system is in place; and

WHEREAS, A trauma system assures that optimal trauma care is provided in a consistent standardized way throughout the state and lowers cost associated with trauma care; and

WHEREAS, Ohio passed The Trauma Care Bill HB 138 and now has a state data registry related to trauma and more and more hospitals are upgrading their services to meet the new standards of an organized system helping to assure that every citizen has rapid access to appropriate trauma care; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs strongly supports The Statewide Trauma System; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs and members to be ever vigilant to legislation relating to Trauma Care or Trauma Care Research to ensure keeping The Ohio Statewide Trauma System strong and progressive.

Resolution 1-00 Fiscal Responsibility of GFWC

(Reviewed 2004)

Whereas, The General Federation of Women's Clubs, being the parent organization of many local, state and

international clubs, is regarded as a role model, and

Whereas, A strong and healthy financial standing depends upon responsible budgets, free from excessive spending

and with savings plans for the future, and

Whereas, The General Federation of Women's Clubs has long advocated a sound fiscal policy for our nation's

government as evidenced by the passage of Resolution 015-060 Balanced Budget in convention assembled 1983 and

amended in convention assembled 1999, therefore be it

Resolved, That the General Federation of Women's Clubs practices the policy of a balanced budget for itself and

encourages member clubs to follow the same sound fiscal policies.

Resolution 1-01 FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES/STROKE RESEARCH

(Reviewed 2005)

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that cardiovascular diseases and strokes are the number one and number three leading causes of death, respectively, in this country ; and

WHEREAS, The AHA reports cardiovascular diseases disable and / or kill more Americans annually than the next seven leading causes of death combined; and

WHEREAS, The AHA reports indicate that few young research scientists are considering careers in cardiovascular research, primarily because less money is available for heart and stroke research compared to other disease areas; and

WHEREAS, Our health is a precious resource and can be best improved by the advances made available through aggressive research efforts; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Club urges its members and member clubs to support legislation for continued increased federal funding for the National Institutes of Health budget for the purpose of Cardiovascular Diseases/Stroke Research.

Resolution 2-01 ELDER ABUSE

(Reviewed 2005)

WHEREAS, There are media reports of elderly Ohio citizens subject to physical, emotional and mental abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation either while living at home or in health care facilities; and

WHEREAS, The elderly have the right to be safe from abuse, neglect, and / or exploitation for monetary or personal gain; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to promote educational programs in their communities to increase public awareness of elder abuse, and to work with agencies on prevention programs and to inform elders of the availability of help from an Elder Hotline or their County Adult Protective Services.

Resolution 3-01 FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY

(Reviewed 2005)

WHEREAS, The National Fire Protection Association reports that eight out of ten fire deaths occur in the home; and

WHEREAS, Lives could be saved with the use of properly working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and by planning and participating in home fire drills, including home fire escape routes and preset meeting locations; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation o f Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to participate in public awareness programs educating themselves and their communities to fire dangers in the home and to preventing unnecessary deaths by practicing proper fire prevention and safety procedures.

Resolution 4-01 IDENTITY THEFT

(Reviewed 2005)

WHEREAS, The Federal Trade Commission reports Identity Theft, the stealing of someone?s personal identification for the purpose of setting up fraudulent accounts, is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Identity Theft is perpetrated through the stealing of personal Information through credit cards, driver?s licenses, ATM cards, social security numbers, etc.; and

WHEREAS, Government and business increasingly rely on numbers to identify citizens, and technology simplifies the dissemination of personal information; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to educate themselves and their communities to the crime of Identity Theft, its serious ramifications, and the importance and the methods of protecting identities; and

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its clubs and members to contact credit reporting bureaus and connected government agencies, urging them to establish a simplified victim fraud alert process requiring one call and the filing of one form; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges law enforcement and Ohio courts to charge and punish identity thieves with the highest sentence possible, and further urges the passage of legislation making the submitting of a credit application under false pretenses a felony.

Resolution 5-01 VIOLENCE BY AND AGAINST CHILDREN

(Reviewed 2005)

WHEREAS, Media reports of violent acts and hate crimes against and by children have increased the public?s awareness of this serious problem; and

WHEREAS, Contributing factors are the ease of accessibility of alcohol, drugs, pornography, and hate propaganda to our children; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs encourages its member clubs to research and identify community programs that assist parents and school officials in responding to at-risk youth with compassion and counseling; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs encourages its member clubs to establish and / or support beneficial programs with monetary donations and volunteerism.

Emergency Resolution 01-01 OHIO COALITION FOR SAFE HIGHWAYS

(Amended 2004)

WHEREAS, Big trucking companies and their allies are pushing to end the current freeze on the expansion of longer combination vehicles, double and triple trailer trucks up to 120 feet long. The same interests want to increase the weight of current single tractor trailer trucks from the current 80,000 pounds to as high as 97,000 pounds; and

WHEREAS, According to a U.S. Department of Transportation study, longer combination vehicles (LCVs) cause highway safety issues including being more likely to have fatal accident involvement rates at least 11% higher than today?s single tractor trailers; and

WHEREAS, States are currently able to bypass a large number of federal regulations as these laws only cover federal highways, and there is a need for legislation to extend to state and local roadways; and

WHEREAS, Larger combination vehicles currently operate in 21 states and one 80,000 pound truck equals 9,600 cars in damage to highways and infrastructure; and analysts estimate that $326 billion in infrastructure costs to taxpayers will be saved over the next twenty years if pending legislation is adopted; therefore

RESOLVED, That, as members of the Ohio Coalition for Safe Highways, the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs supports the advocacy efforts of the Ohio Coalition for Safe Highways; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its members and member clubs to contact their legislators, informing them of our support of legislation for the continued freeze on the length and weight of trucks on the highways.

Resolution 1-02 SAFER SKIES/DOMESTIC AIRLINE TRAVEL

WHEREAS, The United States of America is no longer safe from attacks by terrorists and saboteurs; and

WHEREAS, Airports currently screen all carry-on luggage; and

WHEREAS, Checked luggage currently is only randomly searched or screened by a computer-screening program neglecting to ensure that luggage loaded onto domestic flights does not pose a threat; therefore

RESOLVED, that the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs asks its member clubs to urge their legislators to make it compulsory for all domestic flights to screen all checked luggage for explosives and other dangerous materials before being loaded onto the airplane.

Resolution 2-02 OHIO WATERWAYS PURIFICATION

WHEREAS, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that 881 lakes and streams in Ohio are contaminated by mercury from air pollution, and made dirty by agricultural runoff, factory discharges, construction-site debris, trash dumping and mine run-off; therefore

RESOLVED, that the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to support legislation allocation enough money to develop and implement a plan allowing the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to purify Ohio?s polluted waterways.

Resolution 3-02 SUPPORT OF THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

WHEREAS, Global terrorism poses a grave danger to the security of all nations, including that of the United States of America and to the safety of Americans at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, The information technology revolution has changed the way business is transacted, the way government operates and the way national defense is conducted; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, has declared that a national emergency by reason of certain terrorist attacks has existed since September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, Americans have been asked by President Bush to come together to confront the threat of terrorism; therefore

RESOLVED, that the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to assist in the war against terrorism by supporting the government of the United States of America at all levels by;

Supporting the efforts of the Office of Homeland Security, which includes Cyberspace Security

Supporting the victims of terrorist attacks

Supporting Americans in uniform

Participating in the American economy, and

Upholding and living the values and principles of America.

Resolution 1-03 LONG TERM CARE

WHEREAS, The United States Bureau of the Census reports that the population over the age of 65 was approximately 35 million in the year 2000 and is projected to reach 53.7 million by the year 2020; and

WHEREAS, The aging population coupled with longer life expectancy is creating an increased demand for full range of long-term services to supplement the care provided by family members; and

WHEREAS, Americans over the age of 65 face a 40% risk of entering a nursing home for long-term care services; and

WHEREAS, Early and responsible planning is an essential component of financial security; and

WHEREAS, The cost of long-term care, particularly in a nursing home or other institution, can be prohibitive and can deplete the financial resources of most families; and

WHEREAS, In most cases the cost of long-term care is not covered by comprehensive major medical insurance policies or by the federal government through its Medicare programs; and

WHEREAS, The federal-state funded Medicaid program covers the cost of nursing homes only after a family has exhausted most of its personal financial resources; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs work together with the public and private sectors to educate the public about the need for early and responsible financial planning, long-term care insurance and the limitations of Medicare and Medicaid programs; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members support legislation that increases the eligible premium tax deductions for long term care insurance; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members work to ensure all citizens access to quality institutional and community-based long-term care services, including home medical and nursing care, home health aides and homemaker services, assisted living facilities and adult day care services.

Resolution 2-03 PROMOTING THE STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

WHEREAS, The United States of America has always led the way with cultural change, human enrichment and worldwide enlightenment, and the influence the United States of America has in the world is unequaled in history; and

WHEREAS, Children and young adults in particular and people in general in this country are woefully ignorant of the history of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The schools of this country generally have pushed history education to the background of their curricula in favor of more ?marketable? courses such as math, science, business and vocational education; and

WHEREAS, President George W. Bush has called for a renewed emphasis on learning the history and place of the United States of America in the world; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs and its member clubs and members shall encourage their local school systems to place more emphasis on the study of the history of the United States of America in their curricula; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members and member clubs shall assist the schools in informing the students about the need for their participation in government and the awareness of their unique place in history, thus increasing their pride in their common heritage and in the diversity encompassed by the United States of America; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members shall undertake to provide programs and projects that promote knowledge and awareness of the history of the United States of America both for their clubs and their communities; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members shall show their pride in their country by voting, serving in public office and/or the military, participating in public discussions, honoring the Flag of the United States of American and observing patriotic occasions with special focus on the history that led to the observance and the importance each one holds in the developing history of the United States of America.

Resolution 3-03 MENTAL HEALTH PARITY

WHEREAS, The American Psychological Association reports that approximately 44.3 million Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder which can be as serious and debilitating as having a heart attack; and

WHEREAS, A report from the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health 2001 states that fewer than 1 in 5 of the estimated 15 million children and adolescents who have a mental illness receive treatment; and

WHEREAS, Mental illness such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders and severe anxiety disorders are real illnesses of the brain; and

WHEREAS, The Nation?s Voice on Mental Illness reports that treatment efficacy rates for most severe mental illnesses exceed those for heart disease and diabetes and contends there is no scientific or medical justification for insurance coverage to be on different terms and conditions than other diseases; and

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that providing equal coverage for mental health is cost effective; the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that the annual cost of untreated mental illness is over $300 billion in lost productivity, health care and societal costs; and

WHEREAS, The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost to employers of implementing parity will be just 1% of annual premiums; and

WHEREAS, Discriminatory insurance coverage of mental illness can bankrupt families and place a tremendous burden on taxpayers through suicide, homelessness and inappropriate ?criminalization? of mental illness; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to contact legislators at all levels and encourage them to support passage of legislation implementing immediate mental health parity without limitations as to the illness; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs to educate their members and the public through informational programs to better understand the connection between mental health and physical health in an effort to remove the stigma associated with brain disorders.

Emergency Resolution 1-03 Proposed Ohio Budget Cuts That Threaten Our Public Libraries

WHEREAS, The GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, in partnership with the General Federation of Women's Clubs, has supported libraries for many years, including the founding of approximately 75 percent of this nation?s public libraries and the raising of more than 13 million dollars in materials and property for the Libraries 2000 project; and

WHEREAS, Ohio clubs and clubwomen have been involved in supporting libraries for more than 100 years, being the driving force behind many of the public libraries in the state of Ohio, funding construction, raising money for maintenance, and donating large quantities of books and materials, in addition to untold hours of volunteer work at the state?s libraries; and

WHEREAS, Proposed Ohio State Budget cuts threaten to eliminate or severely reduce the funding of the Library and Local Government Support Fund, which provides most of the operating funds for many of Ohio?s public libraries (176 libraries in Ohio are totally funded by this tax fund), thus forcing major limitations in availability of library services or even closure of many libraries; and

WHEREAS, Funding from the Ohio State income tax for the Library and Local Government Support Fund was cut from 6.3 percent in 2001 to 5.7 percent in 2002, thereby already forcing cutbacks in library services; and the Legislature is proposing cuts to 5.2 percent and as low as 2.6 percent, which would threaten many libraries with closure; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs and members to contact the Governor and all Ohio Legislators in the House and Senate to let them know that these cuts are not acceptable and to demand that funding be maintained for all Public Libraries; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs encourages its member clubs and members to communicate the seriousness of this situation to their local communities and urge others to make their voices heard as well in this matter.

Resolution 1-04: Support of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

WHEREAS, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) bans sex discrimination in schools, whether it be in academics or athletics and states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance;"and

WHEREAS, According to the National Women's Law Center, since the passage of Title IX opportunities for women and girls in organized sports have dramatically increased by more than 400% at the college level and more than 800% at the high school level; and

WHEREAS, According to the Women's Sports Foundation, female athletes have higher high school graduation rates, have higher grades, and score higher on standardized tests than their nonathletic peers; and

WHEREAS, Girls' participation in organized sports provides opportunities for leadership, teamwork, and competition, contributes to positive body image, higher levels of self-esteem and good health, decreases the likelihood of risky behaviors, and offers critical personal contact with adult role models; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Women's Law Center, female athletes have yet to achieve gender equity in school athletics especially with regard to facilities, equipment, recruiting, coaches' salaries and other benefits; therefore

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs strongly supports Title IX and urges its member clubs to:

1) Educate the community and members to the importance of Title IX in providing needed protections for women and girls

2) Support existing legislation ending all discrimination against women and girls in elementary, secondary and higher education

3) Urge the government to vigorously enforce Title IX standards, including implementing sanctions for schools that do not comply; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs and members to be ever vigilant to legislation relating to Title IX to ensure equity in educational opportunities for women and girls, particularly with respect to school athletics.

Resolution 2-04: SUPPORT for the HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA) OF 2002

Whereas, The citizens of the United States of America by law elect their leaders; and

Whereas, The election process is fundamental to the democratic process which assures the basic rights of citizens of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The Presidential Election of 2000 that included recriminations, cries of fraud, and talk of tainted mandates inspired a call from the citizenry to improve the electoral process; and

WHEREAS, The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, as enacted in October 2002, establishes:

1. New requirements for voting systems and the conduct of elections

2. Uniform and non-discriminatory requirements for all federal elections including:

a. Provisional balloting

b. Statewide computerized voter lists

c. "Second chance" voting that helps in the proper casting of ballots

d. Disability access; and

WHEREAS, HAVA authorizes both $3.9 billion for federal grants to help states meet new requirements and the creation of a federal agency to oversee the process; and

WHEREAS, HAVA, by making states accountable for implementing the new standards, will require state and local election officials to increase both coordination and cooperation; therefore

RESOLVED, That the members of the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs strive to educate themselves and their communities about HAVA; and further

RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its member clubs and members to vigorously support implementation of HAVA by contacting local, state and national government officials.

Resolution 3-04: GYNECOLOGIC CANCER

WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in females and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies; and endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cause of gynecologic cancer; and

Whereas, Greater than fifty percent of gynecologic cancers in the body cavity are detected in the advanced stage and therefore have a higher mortality, and there currently are no cost-effective screening tests for gynecologic cancers within the body cavity; therefore

RESOLVED, That members of GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs are encouraged to have annual bimanual pelvic examinations and annual PAP smears (or as recommended by their health care provider), know the early warning signs of gynecologic cancers, have ultrasound and CA125 tests as indicated; and further

RESOLVED, That the members support education, legislation and medical research to advance the early detection and treatment of gynecologic cancer.

4-04 Internet Sexual Predators

Whereas, The GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs has had a long standing interest in child welfare and safety; and

Whereas, Use of the Internet can expose children and youth to sexual predators; and

Whereas, The Justice Department statistics show an increase in federal cases of Internet sexual predators from 113 in 1996 to 2,370 in 2002; and

Whereas, According to the Justice Department, 40 million American children have Internet access and in any one hour between 400 and 5000 children are contacted via the Internet for some kind of sexual activity; therefore

Resolved, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs and its members work to educate themselves and their communities about the dangers of Internet sexual predators; and further

Resolved, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs and its members work with schools, other community organizations and law enforcement officials to educate our children and youth about the threat of Internet sexual predators and about the safe use of the Internet.

Resolution 1-05 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE REFORM

WHEREAS, Medical Malpractice suits have increased markedly, and exorbitant jury awards have caused insurance companies to increase fees for the protective polcies required of health care providers, often by as much as 50%; and

WHEREAS, health care providers, faced with such prohibitive charges in an atmosphere of possible litigation and uncontrolled liability insurance costs, are abandoning the practice of medicine or moving to more amicable States, causing a devastating effect on our nations’ health care at every economic level; therefore

RESOLVED, That all GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Club members urgently petition their Federal and State elected representatives to hold hearings on this critical and complex problem, for the purpose of resolving the needs of insurers, heath care providers, and all our citizens.

Resolution 1-07 RAILROAD CROSSINGS

WHEREAS, There are over 253,000 railroad crossings in the United States and over 9,300 railroad crossings in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Ohio ranks fifth in the nation in regard to states that have the most railroad crossings; and
WHEREAS, Ohio is the state with the densest population per square miles to railroad miles; and
WHEREAS, Ohio rail lines carry more traffic than those of 46 other states; ranking Ohio 4th in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Annually there are over 3,200 accidents, 400 deaths and 1,100 injuries at railroad crossings in the United States, and over 140 accidents, 20 deaths and 40 injuries at railroad crossings annually in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, The majority of railroad crossings in the United States and in Ohio are not protected with automated gates accompanied by flashing lights; and
WHEREAS, The vast majority of railroad crossings have inadequate sight distances, such as trees and other vegetation, sharp turns in the roadway or steep roads leading to track crossings; and
WHEREAS, Railroad crossings are dangerous because they handle two conflicting streams of traffic (trains and motor vehicles) which have entirely different operating characteristics; and
WHEREAS, The physical structure of railroad crossings presents a severely higher risk to motor vehicles than to trains; and
WHEREAS, Railroad crossings require that motorists always yield the right-of-way to trains which cannot avoid hitting vehicles in their path; and
WHEREAS, Railroad crossing maintenance is shared by privately owned entities and public authorities; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, annually allocates monies to states for the installation of railroad-crossing protection devices and for the elimination of hazards at railroad crossings; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs urges and supports legislation in our State and National Legislatures which will protect motorists who must cross railroads as they drive Ohio’s roads and roads throughout the United States; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs urges members to exercise their responsibility within their communities by taking note of dangerous railroad crossings and reporting those dangerous railroad crossings to their local county commissioner and/or state legislator and to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and to the Ohio Rail Development Commission and to the Angels on Track Foundation; and further
RESOLVED, That because the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs recognizes that automated gates provide the safest protection at railroad crossings, and are known to be at least 90% more effective than crossbucks in preventing accidents, we will work for the installation of railroad-crossing protection devices and for the elimination of hazards at railroad crossing