| Chapter Newsletter | August 9, 2006 |
|
Invites You and Your Family to Celebrate Success With a SPLASH We need a "Family
Team" to make sure that our Thursday, Aug 10, 2006 • 7:15-9:15 PM Stapley Aquatic Complex 3250 E. Hermosa Vista
Please R.S.V.P. by July 27th |
Thank
you once again for your individual effort in getting the signatures necessary
to put the Protect Marriage Arizona Amendment on the ballot for November.
Our combined efforts produced record breaking results and you are to be
commended. Though court cases are still pending, we feel very positive
that the amendment will make it to the ballot. When it does so, we must
continue to do our part to see that it passes. The polls are in our favor.
The challenge will be to get the voters to turn out. Our focus now is
to register as many voters as possible and to work as hard at getting
voters to the polls as we have worked to get their signatures. The opportunities
to be involved are just beginning!
Here are some important talking points for the Protect Marriage Arizona
Amendment:
Most importantly, the amendment will preserve the definition of marriage
as "a union between one man and one woman" and prohibit the
creation of any other legal status similar to that of marriage. It will
ensure that marriage is defined by the voice of the people and not by
a few activist judges.
A "yes" vote will protect Arizona from having marriage radically changed to a union of any two people regardless of gender. It will affirm that both mothers and fathers play significant roles in the raising of children and that the legal union between a man and a woman deserves special status in producing the next generation of responsible citizens.
A "yes" vote will not prohibit same-sex couples or anyone else from forming relationships. It will, however, keep schools, media, organizations, religious denominations, and other societal institutions from being forced to validate and promote same-sex "marriage."
A "yes" vote will not invalidate anyone's civil rights. Marriage is about bringing men and women together, not about civil rights.
A "yes" vote will not restrict private companies from voluntarily granting benefits to domestic partners, nor will it prevent domestic relationships from taking advantage of existing laws that enable these individuals to share health insurance or death benefits, designate hospital visitation rights, or grant medical durable power of attorney to anyone.
A "yes" vote will affirm that marriage between a man and a woman is the foundation of a strong family and that strong families are the foundation of great nations.
It is imperative that we understand that the primary purpose of the marriage amendment is to simply but strictly define marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Since marriage benefits society, we need government to protect marriage. This understanding will enable us all to better articulate the benefits of the Protect Marriage Arizona Amendment to our friends and associates.
Warm Wishes,
Carol Soelberg
By Dennis Durband
Carol Soelberg, president of United Families International's Arizona
chapter, and her husband Glade have been selected by the Parents Day Council
as the 2006 United States Parents of the Year. The parents of 13 children
and grandparents of 31 were honored Thursday, August 3 at the Embassy
Suites Hotel, in Tempe, Arizona.
Keynote speaker for the dinner was Dr. John Gray -- the bestselling
author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. He shared his thoughts
on the secrets of happy marriages and successful parenting.
The Parents of the Year award is given in conjunction with the U.S. recognition of the fourth Sunday in July as the annually designated "Parents' Day." The award is based on the criteria of couples exemplifying the qualities of sacrificial love, overcoming major obstacles to provide for children's personal development and happiness, exhibiting qualities of personal moral virtue and/or religious commitment and demonstrating a noteworthy record of contributions to their family and community. Children and friends of the Soelbergs said they met those requirements and more.
David Soelberg, the oldest of the Soelberg children, said, "I would not trade the upbringing I received and the family I have for anything in the world. If I can impart just a portion of what my parents taught me to my kids, I will consider myself a successful parent."
The oldest daughter in the family, Amberlee Soelberg Maughan, said the optimism in the home was contagious. "There was always a 'we can do it' attitude," she said. "Together we could accomplish anything, if we were willing to work hard. Our home was a place of order, love and refuge from the storms of life. My parents are constantly striving to learn how to be better parents."
Susan Duffin has known the Soelbergs for 20 years and has seen them reach out to the less fortunate and the homebound. She said, "Their realm of influence has reached beyond their family to their church, community and friends. Their compassion for others has made a lasting impression on me. They believe that ordinary people can do extraordinary things."
Carol Soelberg is the president of United Families Arizona and travels all over the state in the effort to secure a future for the family. She has volunteered for numerous causes through the years, including humanitarian service projects, Cub Scout and Boy Scout leadership, the Parent Teacher Organization and other school functions, political work, church work and other activities.
"I always love to do whatever I can to promote families," she said. She has also been a strong advocate for the family at the United Nations on behalf of United Families International.
Glade Soelberg is a U.S. Army veteran. He has volunteered for many activities, lobbied for families at the United Nations, served as a political precinct committeeman and has been active in church work, youth soccer and basketball coaching, Boy Scout leadership and other community activities.
The Soelbergs passed on to their children a legacy of community involvement, leadership and academic achievement. They have taught their children to apply themselves, and their children have won numerous awards and distinctions. All of their boys were Eagle Scouts and the girls are equally accomplished. In addition to raising nine girls and four boys, the Soelbergs also opened their home to at-risk children. Carol Soelberg said she became a better parent when she realized that she could succeed with child discipline by focusing more on teaching than on punishment.
By Nancy Salmon
The Protect Marriage Arizona movement is anxiously awaiting the judge's decision this week before we can move forward with our campaign. To catch you all up to date -- Arizona has a law called the "single subject rule," meaning that every initiative on the ballot can only be about a single subject. The opposition has taken Protect Marriage Arizona to court stating that our Protect Marriage Arizona Amendment does more than just define marriage. They state that by defining marriage we also deny civil unions, domestic partnerships, etc. which is more than one subject. Our attorneys in writing the initiative said that we defined marriage and then clarify it by the last part of the initiative. We feel confident in the wording, but it is difficult to know that the ruling of one man, "the judge," could throw us off the ballot. We should know his ruling by the end of the week.
As we await this ruling, we have had good news in a recent Rasmussen poll that was done on July 18, 2006. We are told that Rasmussen is probably the most reliable pollster who makes his data public. The portion of his poll that we are concerned about is:
12* On a different topic... Should marriage be defined in terms of a union between a man and a woman? Or should marriage be defined as a union between any two people including same-sex couples?
As we continue our fight to Protect Marriage here in Arizona, it will be important for us to get our supporters to the polls. Please make sure your friends and family are registered to vote. Remember that anyone that has married and has had a name change, or has moved since the last election will need to re-register, and anyone who has turned 18 will need to submit a new registration.
Registration Deadline for Primary Election: August 14th
Primary Election: September 12, 2006
Registration Deadline for General Election: October 9th
General Election: November 7, 2006
You can fill the Voter Registration Form out on line at www.azsos.gov/election/forms/VoterRegistrationForm.pdf
Thank you for your tireless effort on behalf of marriage in Arizona!
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for Arizona's
first "Family to Family, Faith to Faith" summit on October
4, 2006.
The statewide summit will engage faith communities about
the importance
of keeping children in the child welfare system living in their own
communities. It will also provide critical information about assisting
birth families to become as healthy as possible, and about how to help
recruit foster and adoptive families in the neighborhoods where they
are most needed. Look for more details coming soon!
For more information call 602-926-5864.
Please forward this alert on to others!
IMPORTANT NOTE: If this was forwarded on to you and you would like to subscribe directly to our free periodic free e-mail updates, click here and fill in the information on the box on the left.
United Families Arizona