December 10, 2006

International Committee Fundraising Appeal

By Steven Goldberg, Past Chairperson

For years, the International Committee of the Guild has talked about hiring a part-time staff person to facilitate our multi-faceted work. At long last, we are ready to move forward.

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The Need

At the Austin convention, the international focus of many of the workshops, the speakers at the International Committee reception, the many international guests - all made it clear how vital the Guild's international work is, and how it is unique from the work of other human rights legal organizations. But that work is limited by the fact that many of us are already shouldering substantive international legal projects in addition to our law practices or law school classes. What we don't have enough time to do is the work which is critical to keep our committee functioning administratively - updating our website, distributing the DVDs and other educational materials we've developed, sending out newsletters to committee members and to the Guild generally, and making certain we are financially viable. The administrative tasks seem endless. But if this work is not done, it significantly limits the committee's effectiveness and our ability to do the substantive international legal work so desperately needed in these times.

Our Goal

We have decided to hire a committee staff person, initially for 10-15 hours per week, to help with these administrative tasks. The stars have shined on this project by the willingness of Laura Raymond, the Guild's former law student chapter organizer extraordinaire and recipient at this year's convention of the Legal Worker Award, to fill this staff position. Laura will be returning from work in Mexico in February and is willing to work with the committee at that point and when she enters graduate school in the fall.

Obviously for this project to become a reality, we need to quickly raise funds - our goal is $20,000. If we can do this, we plan to work with Laura to continue to do grant writing to ensure that the position continues. We need this initial seed money by December 31 if this project is to become a reality.

How to Contribute

I am pledging $500 for this project. If those of you who can afford to would match this pledge, and everyone pledge a minimum of $50, we should be able to reach our goal. Funds can be mailed to the International Committee's treasurer, Mike Persoon, at 1322 W. Huron, Apt. 1N, Chicago, IL 60622. Given the fact that Laura's work will primarily be in support of our committee's educational efforts, you can also make a tax-deductible contribution to the National Lawyers Guild Foundation. Checks should be sent to the Guild's national office, 132 Nassau St., Rm. 922, New York, NY 10038, noting on the memo line "International Committee Staff."

We know there are many demands on you for contributions. But there is no better way for you to support the work of the Guild's international committee. Our appreciation will be evident in all we canaccomplish toward the ends of international peace and justice.