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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

REAL Women is twenty years old and stronger than ever! Are there any other women's political organizations in Canada, funded only by donations and membership fees who have managed to achieve this? I think each of you wonderful supporters deserve a pat on the back! Without you, we would never have been able to reach this twentieth anniversary celebration.

It has been a long haul, but finally we are receiving some recognition (not always complimentary, mind you!) from the media and from government officials. Our Reality news publication is respected in many quarters because it provides information and analytical articles that can be found by no other secular news provider in Canada. In our presentations and solidly researched critiques, we are able to make strong statements, in the secure knowledge that we speak the truth, backed up by documentation, no matter how unpalatable it may be to the government, to the judiciary, or to certain special-interest groups.

Gradually, Canadians are becoming aware of the powerful forces that seek to further undermine our traditions and values, and we give voice to the very real concerns of our fellow citizens. REAL Women will continue to do its part to help keep you informed. We pray that someday this will not be necessary, but that day is still far in the future.

As in my previous messages in Reality, I would like to mention a few more REAL Women who have volunteered their services in recent years. We will miss Karen Wedel, now residing in BC, formerly a Saskatchewan representative, who is no longer able to serve on our Board of Directors for family reasons. Many thanks for your help, Karen, especially in assisting with the production of our REAL Women video. Doreen Beagan of PEI, for many years our staunch Eastern Vice-President, is still very much involved in the pro-life movement, and her articles often appear in the Interim newspaper. Hermina Dyxhoorn and Corry Morcos are very active with our affiliate, the Alberta Federation of Women United for the Family. Barb Stasuk (Burnaby), Janice Henry (Kelowna), Lisa Petruic (Abbotsford), and Lillian Middleton (Surrey), all from BC, have also provided yeoman's service to the REAL Women Board of Directors over the years.

Provincial representatives on the Board of Directors who provide important contacts in their various provinces are Marguerite Raes in Manitoba, Carol Christian in Nova Scotia, Linda Wood in the Northwest Territories, and Theresa McConnon in Quebec. Thank you for your tremendous support and efforts.

From REAL Women's head office in Ottawa, much of our research is carried out by our wonderful researcher, Diane Watts, whose quiet demeanor belies her strong, intelligent mind, which never misses the slightest detail! Diane also serves on back-up duties during the many presentations REAL Women makes to government committees.

Over the span of twenty years there have been many other women as well who have given of their time and efforts to work for REAL Women. I wish space would permit that we acknowledge each and every one. We are indeed grateful to every person who has assisted in helping us to reach this twenty-year mark, and especially all of you who write, with such dedication, the letters requested. It is your work and your financial support has made REAL Women into the strong, independent organization it has become!

God bless!

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