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2009 Mothers Institute / Mothers
for Liberty Event Highlights
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Jan Stover, Founder and
Director of The Mothers Institute and Mothers for Liberty National,
Presents Workshop at October Event.
* Libertarian Party of Illinois 2009 “Don't Tread on Me”
Convention Collinsville, IL October 23rd-25th
Jan presented a workshop at the Libertarian Party of Illinois Convention
Saturday, October 24th. Her presentation offered insight,
experience and tools necessary to
raise an informed citizenry and educated electorate. Teaching
and implementation of such time honored traditions as reason,
logic, creativity, civility, discourse, debate and dissent
were at the core of her workshop. As a former homeschooling, stay-at-home mom herself, Jan
brought her own input to the dialogue as well as the experience and
wisdom of her Mothers Institute Advisory Board and members of her
organization.
http://www.lpillinois.org/convention/convention2009.php
The Mothers Institute and
South Central Illinois Mothers for Liberty Recognized Banned Books Week
According to the American Library Association's website, Banned
Books Week has been observed since 1982, celebrating the freedom to
choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion
might be considered unorthodox or unpopular. The event stresses the
importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular
viewpoints to all who wish to read them and reminds us that intellectual
freedom can exist only where the freedom to express oneself and the
freedom to choose what opinions and viewpoints to consume are both met.
The Intellectual Freedom Manual (ALA, 7th edition) states: “
Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are
met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on
any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate;
and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of
unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the
communication medium used, the content of the work, and the viewpoints
of both the author and receiver of information. Freedom to express
oneself through a chosen mode of communication, including the Internet,
becomes virtually meaningless if access to that information is not
protected. Intellectual freedom implies a circle, and that circle is
broken if either freedom of expression or access to ideas is stifled.”
Recognizing those sentiments, on Sunday, September 27th, The Mothers
Institute, along with our South Central Illinois Mothers for Liberty Meetup Group,
hosted a "Banned Books Awareness Week Kick-off" event
at The Mothers Institute office in Greenville from 2-4 pm. Information was
available on “banned books" as well as the new Mothers Institute Lending
Library.
This year Banned Books Week runs from September 26-October 3, 2009 and
the theme is Celebrating the Freedom to Read.
Mothers for Liberty Sister City Camp Outs
Mothers for Liberty "Sister City" Meetup Groups from
Greenville, Illinois, and Greenville, Michigan, hosted joint Camp Outs
the weekend of June 5th-7th. ALL Mothers Institute and Mothers for
Liberty members (and their families) were invited to participate.
A good time was had by all who attended.
Below is a photo of the West Michigan
Mothers for Liberty Meetup Group enjoying their campfire and
marshmallows.
MI Open House, May Membership Drive and
Mothers for Liberty Tea Party Held at The Mothers
Institute Headquarters
The Mothers Institute hosted a combination event at its
new headquarters at 216 South Second Street in
Greenville, Illinois, on May 2, 2009. The Open House,
Membership Drive and Tea Party gave members and friends
a chance to visit the new office and enjoy the company
of others who support The Mothers Institute.
The photo below shows some of the event attendees posing
in front of the new office with MI Founder and Director
Jan Stover.
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MI Founder and Director, Jan Stover,
Guest Speaker at April Events in Illinois and Missouri
April 15, 2009 -- Jan Stover spoke at the
Vandalia Tax Day Tea Party emphasizing the concepts of The Mothers
Institute Mission Statement --- "to
foster our
children's sense of individual freedom and
personal responsibility while encouraging
the teaching and implementation of time honored traditions including
reason, logic, creativity, civility, discourse,
debate and dissent." In addition, Jan spoke
on the importance of preparing the next generation to be the informed
citizenry of which our Founding Founders had often spoken.
Nearly
200 people gathered at the Tea Party to voice their concern over the
government's excess spending, borrowing and taxation.
April 18, 2009 --
Jan also spoke at the Missouri Libertarian Party
Convention in Jefferson City, Missouri. The annual event features
speakers whose work promotes individual freedom and personal
responsibility.
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2008 MI/MfL Event Highlights
Financial Transparency in Government Workshop Attracts
Individuals from Across Illinois
The Mothers Institute hosted a Financial
Transparency in Government Workshop on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in Greenville, Illinois at Cheri's Garden
Room, 215 West College Avenue.
Adam Andrzejewski, Executive Director of ForTheGoodOfIllinois.org
gave an exciting presentation demonstrating how
involved individuals using common sense are transforming Illinois education and
ultimately all of Illinois government. The
introduction was followed by a two hour training session
educating attendees on
successful strategies which encourage and assist local school boards in
promoting transparency in government at the K-12 level. Information
was also provided regarding the financial transparency of our community
and state colleges and how to use such strategies in
all local forms of government, promoting
accountability with public funds.
Mothers for Liberty
National Online Holiday Party and
MfL
"Meet and Greet" Both Deemed a Success!
The first Mothers for
Liberty National Online Holiday Party was held on
December 1st and enjoyed
by mothers from across the
United States with lively
discussions, planning
sessions, contests, and camaraderie. Similarly, members of the Mothers for Liberty National Group
enjoyed a "Meet and Greet" on
October 22nd with participants joining in from Colorado, Illinois,
Missouri, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Both online events offered an opportunity for Mothers Institute members, Mothers for Liberty
Meetup Group members and friends to share
ideas on homeschooling, community activism, the development of a MI
speakers bureau, regional growth and much more.
Future online MfL National events are sure to follow. To
participate in upcoming events, join the Mothers for Liberty National Group. To join, visit
the CafeMom website at: http://www.cafemom.com
type the words "Mothers for Liberty National" into the search bar which directs those interested to
the group's homepage. At this point a link
will be provided to register at CafeMom and join the MfL National Group. For those already a member of CafeMom, simply click on the following link to join:
http://www.cafemom.com/group/54702/
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Midwest Mothers for
Liberty Conference Highlights ... "From Soap Making to Soap Boxes"
Jan Stover, Founder and
Director of The Mothers Institute and Midwest Mothers for Liberty
Regional Director spoke to Conference attendees about her family's
experiences with homeschooling vs. the
government school system, as well as her passion for family and freedom.
The experiences were all key elements in Jan's decision to organize The
Mothers Institute as an educational and networking resource for
mothers of all ages and stages. She also discussed the goal of growing
the "boots on the ground" aspect of the Institute, the Mothers for
Liberty Meetup Groups.
Leslie Whitney (with assistance
from her mother, Robin Van Loon) demonstrated how to make homemade soap.
After the demonstration, attendees had a chance to visit with Leslie and
ask questions about the process. Conference attendees also received
handouts on soap making and apron patterns courtesy of Leslie and her
mom!
Andrea Rice spoke on
A Thomas
Jefferson Education: Raising the Next Generation of Leaders
offering attendees descriptions, discussions and tools to avoid a
conveyor-belt education and instead provide age
appropriate opportunities, materials and expectations for our children as well as encouraging the love
for life-long learning within ourselves.
Candidate Ruth Strebe-Motes
offered a
Behind the Scenes Look at Running for Office.
Her comprehensive approach to making the decision to run for City
Council and shared advice from her campaign experiences gave attendees
encouragement to consider a future run for office of their own.
Mothers attending
the Midwest Mothers for Liberty Conference came from Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Arkansas.
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