GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs
Resolutions
Resolution 2-78 RECLAIMING DECENT VALUES IN FAMILY TELEVISION
(Reaffirmed 1983, 1988; Reviewed 1992, 1996, 2006; Amended 2000, 2001, 2010)
WHEREAS, There are 162.8 million U.S. households with televisions and 41.7 million of these house children ages 2 to 11, and
WHEREAS, Surveys show that the average American youth watches 1500 hours annually, this figure is considerably higher than the time they spend in participating in sports, in church, in school or in learning situations with their parents, and
WHEREAS, An increase in the number of reported violent acts directed at children and an increase in the amount of severity of violent acts observed by children through media have led to a strong standing concern with the impact of television on behavior especially on children that it is now considered a public health problem by the AMA, and
WHEREAS, On network television, violence before none 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 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 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 president 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, 2003, 2007, 2011; Amended 1999)
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, 2007, 2011)
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 GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs calls on the media, particularly the major television networks to:
1) Report objectively the positions and statements of the candidates
2) Clearly label editorial comment as such
3) Refrain from speculation and sensationalism
4) 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, 2003, 2011; Amended 1999, 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 needs 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 5-83 PROHIBITION OF RIDERS ON BILLS
(Reaffirmed 1989; Reviewed 1993, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011)
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, 2003, 2007, 2011; Amended 1999)
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 GFWC/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 GFWC/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, 2003, 2007, 2011; Amended 1999)
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, 2003, 2007,2011; Amended 1999)
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 3-86 ENGLISH, OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE
(Reviewed 1991, 1995, 2007, 2011; Amended 1999, 2003)
WHEREAS, The United States of America has long been able to welcome immigrants and bring people of differing backgrounds and heritages into its culture; and
WHEREAS, Our commerce, social interaction, democratic processes of government and preservation of an orderly society are best carried forward with a unified people speaking one language; and
WHEREAS, The United States of America is strengthened by a common language which is essential to the democratic processes of government and the clear identity of all its citizens as "Americans," and
WHEREAS, The use of a common language as the language of public record in no way infringes upon the rights of citizens to exercise the use of a primary language of their choice for private conduct; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges and supports legislation in our State and National Legislatures establishing English as our official national language; and further
RESOLVED, That all school systems, even those in predominately non-English speaking areas, teach English as their first language and present all instruction in English; and further
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs encourages its members to volunteer for English as Second Language activities to help non-English speaking individuals learn English, either as tutors or in assisting non-native speakers to locate the proper tutoring services in their community; and further
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs urges its members to encourage the study of foreign languages by all citizens both in our children’s schools and as adult study programs.
Resolution 1-90 Mental Retardation Legislation
(Reviewed 1994, 2004, 2008, 2012; Amended 2000)
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
(Reviewed 2003, 2007; Amended 1999, 2010)
WHEREAS, One (1) in six (6) men has prostate cancer in some form by the age of fifty, but only one (1) in thirty-five (35) will die from it, and
WHEREAS, while thirty-five (35) percent of those curable were detected by DRE (direct rectal exam), the cure rate increases to eighty (80) percent by the concurrent use of PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood testing; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges members to encourage their male friends and relatives to obtain annual DRE and PSA testing beginning at age fifty (50) or as recommended by their physician, encourage proactive measures by continuing to monitor 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 or informally) about the importance of DRE and PSA testing. 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, 2010)
WHEREAS, 2.4 million women in the United States have been diagnosed with breast cancer and breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women and accounts for one (1) out of every four (4) women diagnosed. And 192,370 more women will be diagnosed this year and an estimated 1 million women are unaware that they have the disease, and
WHEREAS, Breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States between the ages of 20 and 59, a woman in the United States has a one (1) in eight (8) chance for developing invasive breast cancer during her lifetime; and the chance that breast cancer will be responsible is now 13%. Death rates from breast cancer are declining significantly with the largest decrease in young women; this is attributed to early detection and more effective treatment, and
WHEREAS, About 77% of breast cancers occur in women ages 50 and over and although less than 5% 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 six (6) to ten (10) years before the growth can be detected; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urge each member to learn and practice monthly self-breast examinations and to have clinical breast examinations every three (3) years for women 20 – 39 and every year for women 40 years or older or upon recommendation of their physicians; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs 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; Reviewed 2006; Amended 2002, 2010)
WHEREAS, disaster, natural or manmade, can strike a home or community at any instance, and
WHEREAS, due to lack of emergency preparedness plans and guidelines which cause confusion and ignorance which can increase morbidity and mortality; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its members to:
1) Encourage and participate with their communities to form and/or review existing disaster plans for accuracy and timeliness
2) Support training of community employees, rescue and relief workers, as needed
3) Advocate for communication and co-ordination efforts between hospitals, governmental and public safety agencies
4) Support public education and publication of the disaster plan; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges its members to form and review existing emergency preparedness plans for their own households.
Resolution 1-97 COMMUNICATION
(Reviewed 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
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, 2009, 2013)
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:
1) Educational programs for public awareness;
2) Improved and expanded management practices for private and state forests;
3) Organized planting programs;
4) Increased funding for research programs and recycling technology;
5) More efforts to control fire, insect and disease damage.
Resolution 1-99 ORGAN DONATION
(Amended 2002, 2007, 2010)
WHEREAS, According to Lifeline of Ohio ® a nonprofit organization which promotes organ donation, there were 100,000 individuals on the national waiting list for an organ transplant as of December 2009, and
WHEREAS, On the average 18 individuals (men, women, children) on the national waiting list die each day while awaiting a transplant, and
WHEREAS, On donor can save or improve the lives of seven (7) individuals awaiting organ transplants and 35 to 50 awaiting tissue transplants, and
WHEREAS, 90% of Americans say they support organ donation but only 30% 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; Amended 2007, 2010)
WHEREAS, Sexual predators and habitual offenders pose a high risk of engaging in further offenses, so at the time of incarceration they are given a risk assessment during the reception process. Even after being released from imprisonment or confinement the protection of members of the public should be of paramount interest, and
WHEREAS, Under current Ohio law there are definite prison terms required for sexually related offenses. If identified as medium high or high risk a comprehensive program within three years of release is mandatory. If successfully completed offenders are not required to continue with the program; therefore
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges our legislators to support reforms dictating released offenders be on parole for life with active monitoring by a parole officer and mandatory ongoing treatment as a condition of parole. Parole officers assigned to this duty should have specialized training in the psychology of the sex offender and shall 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 offence with a mandatory sentence so that the onus is on the convict not on the community.
Emergency Resolution 1-99 STATEWIDE TRAUMA SYSTEM
(Reviewed 2007, 2011; 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, 2010)
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, 2009)
WHEREAS, The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that cardiovascular diseases and strokes are the number one and number four 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, 2009, 2013)
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, 2009, 2013)
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, 2009)
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.
Resolution 5-01 VIOLENCE BY AND AGAINST CHILDREN
(Reviewed 2005, 2009, 2013)
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
(Reviewed 2008; Amended 2004, 2012)
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, Bigger and heavier trucks increase braking distances and reduce maneuverability; 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;
WHEREAS, One quarter of the bridges in the United States are rated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete and are more than 40 years old, and
WHEREAS, According to USODOT, nationwide operation of LCV’s would add $53 billion in new bridge construction costs and $266 billion in lost time and extra fuel burnt by auto drivers delayed in traffic because of bridge work; 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
(Reviewed 2006; Amended 2010)
WHEREAS, The United States of America is no longer safe from attacks by terrorists and saboteurs, and
WHEREAS, Airports are currently installing new scanning technology not only for baggage and cargo but also for passengers. These new scanners which range from full body scans, pat down searches, iris scans, three dimensional photos, microchip embedded passports, machines that blow a puff of smoke to see if you are carrying explosives, and
WHEREAS, All checked and carryon luggage are now scanned and/or hand searched, and
WHEREAS, The government is now establishing a safer and more efficient air traffic system, improvements to the New Air Navigation System and improved airports in order to provide safe airline travel; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs asks its member clubs to urge their legislators to make it compulsory that all baggage are checked on all domestic and foreign flights and that the screening of passengers be thorough.
Resolution 2-02 OHIO WATERWAYS PURIFICATION
(Reviewed 2006, 2010)
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
(Reviewed 2006; Amended 2010)
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, former 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 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;
1. Supporting the efforts of the Office of Homeland Security, which includes Cyberspace Security
2. Supporting the victims of terrorist attacks
3. Supporting Americans in uniform
4. Participating in the American economy, and
5. Upholding and living the values and principles of America.
Resolution 1-03 LONG TERM CARE
(Reviewed 2007, 2010)
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
(Reviewed 2007, 2010)
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
(Reviewed 2007, Amended 2011)
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;
WHEREAS, The American Psychological Association now recognizes the psychological needs of our troops, veterans and their families that they, also, may encounter barriers due to lack of insurance; 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
(Reviewed 2007, Amended 2011)
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; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, the Library and Local Government Support Fund, which was 5.7% of the State of Ohio’s income tax collection, was replaced with the Public Library Fund (PLF); and
WHEREAS, The PLF was initially set at 2.22% of total state tax revenue, but was reduced and currently funded at 1.97%; and
WHEREAS, This reduction has resulted in an 18% loss in funding in one year-2009-for Ohio’s 251 public libraries and a drop in revenue from State funding of more than 30% since 2000; and
WHEREAS, This reduced level of funding has resulted in major reductions in hours of operation, purchase of new Library materials, availability of services and even closure of many libraries across the entire State; 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 strongly urge that funding be returned to the 2008 levels 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
(Reviewed 2008, 2012)
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 3-04 GYNECOLOGIC CANCER
(Reviewed 2008, 2013)
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.
Resolution 4-04 Internet Sexual Predators
(Reviewed 2008, 2012)
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
(Reviewed 2009, 2013)
WHEREAS, Medical Malpractice suits have increased markedly, and , exorbitant jury awards have caused insurance companies to increase fees for the protective policies 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
(Amended 2011)
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 were 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, Because of improved Public Awareness Programs, better enforcement and new engineering improvements, in 2009 there were 1,916 accidents, 246 deaths and 720 injuries at railroad crossings in the United States, and 63 accidents, 9 deaths and 21 injuries at railroad crossings 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 continues to urge and support 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 cross bucks in preventing accidents, we will work for the installation of railroad-crossing protection devices and for the elimination of hazards at railroad crossings in our communities; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs will help educate others about the unique dangers of railroad crossings by spreading the word – both orally and by distributing written information – to reverse public apathy toward railroad crossing safety.
Resolution 2-07 REQUIRE DIABETES HEALTH CARE
(Amended 2011)
WHEREAS, In the year of 2000: 40% (41 million) of adults age 40-74 had pre-diabetes and in the year 2002: 57 million adults had pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. This condition raises the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and stroke; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, more than 840,000 Ohio adults had diabetes and almost 12,000 Ohioans die each year from diabetic complications and nearly 200,000 Ohioans are hospitalized due to diabetes-related causes; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, H.B. 81 passed that required health care plans provide coverage for the expenses of medically necessary (1) equipment, supplies and medication for the treatment and management of diabetes (2) diabetes medical nutrition therapy, and (3) diabetes self-management education; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the Ohio Senate has not passed legislation to require health plans to provide comprehension diabetes health coverage; and
WHEREAS, With 90 to 95% of people, Type 2 Diabetes is directly linked to obesity; and
WHEREAS, More than half of all Americans could have diabetes or pre-diabetes by the year 2020; therefore
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs members learn about diabetes and its impact on those that have it; and further
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs help mobilize individuals, communities, businesses, health insurances and other organizations to address the rising rate of diabetes and its consequences; and further
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs seek to raise national and state awareness, facilitate and coordinate efforts and leverage resources for prevention, detection and treatment of diabetes; and further
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs encourage their state legislators to formulate a health care policy that would provide comprehensive diabetes health coverage.
Resolution 1-09 PROTECTION OF OUR OCEANS
WHEREAS, Oceans cover more than 2/3 of the Earth's surface, play a critical role in the global water andcarbon cycles and in regulating climate, sustain a large part of the Earth's biodiversity, provide an important source of food and other natural products, act as a frontier for scientific exploration, are critical to national and economic security and provide a vital means of transportation; and
WHEREAS; The oceans are susceptible to change as direct and indirect results of human activities, and such changes can significantly impact the ability of the oceans to provide the benefits to the Earth which affect global climate patterns, ecosystem productivity and health, biodiversity, environmental quality, availability of energy, vulnerability to natural hazards and transportation safety and efficiency; and
WHEREAS, Human pressure on ocean resources is drastically increasing due to chemical, nutrient and biological pollution, over fishing and use of destructive fishing practices, habitat damage and ocean acidification; and
WHEREAS, While there is a plethora of laws, government agencies and programs dealing with ocean resources activities they are poorly coordinated and do not constitute a unified and comprehensive public policy towards the oceans and it is the continuing mission of the Federal Government to create foster and maintain conditions, incentives and programs that will further ensure the sustainable and effective conservation, management and protection of the oceans in order to fulfill the responsibility of each generation as trustee in protecting such resources and ensuring that such resources will be available to meet the needs of future generations; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs supports effective water conservation and management efforts at the local, state and federal levels, the development of a National Ocean Policy that unifies and coordinates ocean preservation efforts, specifically the National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act of 2008 (S. 3314) and H.R. 21; and further
RESOLVED, that in 2010 the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes was established and created a National Ocean Council (NOC) to address conservation, economic activity, user conflict, and
sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs urges it members to practice and advocate water conservation and support the Ocean and Great Lakes Conservation Trust Fund by encouraging the use of a special postage stamp to afford a convenient way to support efforts to protect, maintain and restore marine ecosystems.
Resolution 2-09 HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, HAZING, AND BULLYING
(Reviewed 2013)
WHEREAS, Harassment, Intimidation, Hazing or Bullying constitutes any written, verbal, graphic, or physical act that intentionally causes mental and/or physical harm; and
WHEREAS, Acts of harassment, intimidation, hazing and bullying can create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment for the victim; and
WHEREAS, Cyber-bullying, can occur electronically through the Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or wireless hand-held device; and
WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention Project reports that every seven minutes a youth is bullied and 65% of teens report that they have been verbally or physically harassed or assaulted because of their perceived or actual appearance, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, race/ethnicity, disability or religion; and
WHEREAS, Victims of bullying can suffer from long term emotional and behavioral problems including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and increased vulnerability to illness; and
WHEREAS, The state of Ohio has a law signed by the governor: December 29, 2006 - HB 276 SCHOOL BULLYING - With respect to school policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying; to expand in-service training in child abuse prevention that school districts and community schools must provide; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio Department of Education has published an Anti Harassment, Intimidating, Hazing or Bullying model policy for Ohio school districts; therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs strongly urges members to:
1. Educate themselves and their communities about the serious issues of harassment, intimidation, hazing and bullying with club programs; and
2. Contact their local school districts and educate themselves on the districts’ Anti Harassment, Intimidating, Hazing or Bullying polices OR if there is none support the development of safe school policies and plans that specifically address bullying behaviors and bias-motivated harassment or prejudices; and further
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs urges member clubs and members to take political action to increase resources for prevention and ensure the sustained funding of effective bullying intervention and prevention programs.
Resolution 3-09 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WHEREAS, Violence against women does not discriminate and in any form is a crime, still each year more than one million (1,000,000,000) women become victims; and
WHEREAS, Violence against women is rooted in multiple causes and takes many forms, including physical, sexual and psychological. It effects all countries, social groups, ethnicities, religions and socioeconomic classes and is a global health, economic development and human rights problem of epidemic proportions; and
WHEREAS, The national center for victims of crime encourages communities, organizations, government agencies and individuals to focus attention on this serious and deadly crime; and
WHEREAS, According to the United Nations Secretary – General’s report entitled “Ending Violence Against Women,” that 15 to 76 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence, therefore in 2009 a platform was launched “Say No-United to End Violence Against Women” to showcase advocacy efforts around the world and engage people of all walks of life both online (www.saynotoviolence.org) and on the ground, therefore
RESOLVED, That the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs encourage its member clubs and members to educate themselves and their communities about the crimes of violence and its serious escalation in our society; and further
RESOLVED, To encourage our lawmakers to develop stronger laws and penalties for the perpetrators of these crimes, to establish legislation and develop support and funding to the victims of violent crimes.
Resolution 1-10 DRIVING AND TEXTING
WHEREAS, Driver distraction was fatal to 6,000 persons and injured a half million more last year, and
WHEREAS, Texting has been shown to be the worst distraction because of the danger when texters (those who are texting) are looking down and not devoting attention to driving, and
WHEREAS, Text messages rose from 10 billion in 2005 to 110 billion in 2008, and
WHEREAS, One in four people admitted to texting while driving and 46 percent of teenagers say they text while driving, and
WHEREAS, 18 states have passed laws making texting while driving illegal, and
WHEREAS, Some Ohio counties and cities like Summit county and Cleveland have bans against reading or sending texts while driving, and
WHEREAS, Bills have been introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives (HB 270) and the Ohio Senate (SB 160) to ban texting while driving statewide, therefore
RESOLVED, That members of the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs contact their state legislators to advocate for the passage of these bills for statewide coverage, and further
RESOLVED, That GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs members educate other community members and increase their awareness of the dangers of driving while texting and encourage them to contact their legislators to urge passage of the bills.