Good News Together We Stand White Ribbon Campaign Report Summary Lancaster, Pennsylvania By Peggie Miller President of Good News Together We Stand September 2007

Good News Together We Stand was founded in 1984 with the encouragement of Father Morton Hill, who was then the president of Morality in Media. Fr. Hill came to Lancaster, PA in 1984 to speak about the harm pornography does to individuals, families and communities. Later, MIM organized Pennsylvanians v. Pornography. This statewide project became the umbrella organization for the many small groups in the State of Pennsylvania that were battling porn in their communities. State and local public officials and federal and state prosecutors and law enforcement agencies then began paying attention to pornography issues. New laws were enacted at the state and local levels, and pornography distributors were successfully prosecuted.

When white ribbons and bows became our symbol in 1987, we combined the display of ribbons and bows with Pornography Awareness Week. At some point we simplified the title of the week to: White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) Week.

Listed below are things we do to get the message out and to get churches, businesses and public officials to participate. We first pray and commit our efforts to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We also pray before contacting churches, businesses, and those in authority. We also thank the Lord after each contact regardless of the outcome.

• We ask churches and businesses to display and distribute white ribbons.

• We have held a prayer walk on opening Sunday. We pray in front of government buildings and "adult" businesses. We praise the Lord in front of deceased "adult" businesses. I ask pastors who have a passion against porn to lead prayers. We also start and end our walk with prayer.

• We make personal contact with editors of weekly and daily newspapers. Articles are submitted at the end of September or early October. We try to get a picture of someone tying a ribbon on a car antenna or hanging a white bow on a door.

• We ask well-known community leaders to write letters to the editor regarding the evils of pornography and the need to enforce obscenity laws.

• In early October, we provide public service announcements to Christian radio stations in the area. Some stations also broadcast interviews.

• Mayors, Township Commissioners/Supervisors and County Commissioners are asked to issue proclamations in conjunction with WRAP Week. This means contacting them in August to be sure it is on their agenda.

• We present the Lancaster County Commissioners with large white bows for display on doors and personal antenna ribbons for vehicles. We do this at their weekly meeting before WRAP Week begins. We also provide a statement about the meaning and purpose of WRAP Week.

• Bows and antennae ribbons are also taken to police departments and mayors' offices the week before WRAP Week.

• We ask local businesses to pay a nominal fee to be listed in a ¾ page ad in a local newspaper. The heading is: "Pornography Is Illegal. It Is NOT A First Amendment Right!" We then list some of harms associated with pornography, followed by: "We Support Enforcement Of Obscenity Laws." The District Attorney and Sheriff, the County Commissioners, Chiefs of Police Association, and local organizations fighting pornography are also listed in the ad. The latter are complimentary.

• Letters are sent to churches and businesses in August to alert them to the dates of the upcoming WRAP Week. We enclose an order form for ribbons and anything else like decals or magnetic ribbons. (With fewer cars having antennae, we have added decals and magnetic ribbons to our order forms.)

• The initial contact should be by mail, but there must be follow-up. The telephone is the best way to get immediate confirmation as to participation. Orders for ribbons can be faxed or emailed, whichever suites the churches or businesses.

• It is best to have a WRAP Week chairperson with at least two assistants, one for contacting the churches and one for contacting the businesses

• We check the schedule for nonprofit organization newsletters and ask for a spot announcing WRAP week and where to order ribbons.

• We offer to provide speakers for programs on the topic of pornography. (Victims of pornography who are willing to tell their stories, detectives who can talk about sexual crimes where pornography was involved; a lawyer who is knowledgeable about the law, etc.)

One must be imaginative, creative and willing to try different approaches. What works for a time (about 3 years) often needs to be modified or dropped entirely.

After the WRAP week is concluded we have an evaluation meeting. We pray before we begin the meeting. We ask what went well, what didn't go so well, and how did our time schedule work? Do we need to start our contacts earlier or later to have everything in place for WRAP Week? We send letters of thanks and appreciation to churches, businesses and public officials. We let Morality in Media know what activities were conducted during WRAP Week and what the results were. We end with prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord for His help and guidance.