From: "Kallista" <kallista1@mindspring.com>
To: <NARD@onelist.com>, <PAFind@onelist.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 18:17:21 -0500
Subject: [NARD] Harrisburg's NARD
There was a wild woman in front of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg PA today. She was holding a big red sign that said..."Why is My Birth Certificate a State Secret? Our Birth Certificates, Our Right!"
She said strange things like..."I'm not a baby anymore, Open Records in Pennsylvania!" "Paint me green and call me Gumby, that's more than I know now!" and "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
Yep, this was me....Chris Fields. I had four birthmothers and a long suffering, good sport husband of one of those birth mothers join me on the sidewalk in front of the capitol building. Janine, one of the bmom's is in a wheelchair, but we couldn't get her up on the sidewalk and there was no other way to get her near us except on the street in front of the curb. But she did her part passing out handouts to people walking by.
We handed out about 50 - 60 pamphlets. I spoke to two people at length. One lady said to me, "I thought birth records were open." I told her NO...emphatically and handed her some information.
Another gentleman and I spoke at length concerning getting medical information...he was surprised at the lack of info. available to adoptees and birth mothers.
Later today, when I got back to the Dauphin County Courthouse, I ran into one of the deputy DA's. He asked me why I was so happy. I told him about NARD and the legislation pending, particularly about the felony search part. This is one of the DA's our office can joke with.
I said, "...and guess who gets to prosecute us? You, George!" He said, "I'll refuse to. Except for you, I'll prosecute you and send you to work release to work off the $10,000." He then asked me to send him a copy of our handouts. George is cool.
So, all in all, it was a pretty good day. Next year, I hope we have more people involved.
CHRIS
Christina Fields, Marysville, PA
dob: 06/08/1968
Chambersburg Hospital
Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA
ISO Birthfamily
To: nard@onelist.com
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 18:30:42 -0500
From: Cynthia Bertrand Holub <ckbh@juno.com>
Subject: [NARD] Philly Bastards Risk Life and Limb for NARD
From: Cynthia Bertrand Holub <ckbh@juno.com>
Well, we aren't Seattle, but we had our share of excitement at the Philly National Adoptee Rights Day Rally. Philly Bastards Joanne Nichols, Mari Steed and Cyn Bertrand Holub were joined by PA-born Bastard Mary-Lee Lutz who came all the way from DE for the occasion -- GOOOOO Mary-Lee! We had our signs and leaflets-- Open Records, Why It's an Issue. We stationed ourselves in front of the State Office Building, handed out 100 leaflets and engaged in talks with passers-by, most of whom did not know we could not get our OBCs and were very sympathetic. A local representative of Philadelphia's finest had just come over to check us out when shots rang out less than half a block away. A drive-by shooting had occurred, apparently someone shooting at some people gathered at a food truck pulled over nearby. Fortunately no one was hurt; soon cops and media were crawling all over the scene, taping it off and photgraphing the three spent shells in the middle of the street. We angled ourselves so that the panning cameras could take in the BN flag ;-), but that's the only media response we got except for a brief interview I did on the local NPR station this AM. So tonight's news may feature us in a very minor supporting role.
GOOOOO NARD, GOOOO BASTARDS!!
Cyn
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 23:13:35 -0500
To: best@lakenet.org
From: Mari Steed <steed@netreach.net>
Subject: BEST: NARD
Fellow NARD-ers and BN Brethren,
Sounds like a great job done by all across this land last Friday!
I'm just back from some quick (and needed) R'n'R in the Poconos, so just to briefly top off Cyn's comments, our Friday in Philly was certainly interesting! Being in the (very near) vicinity of a drive-by shooting was, um, exhilirating. I'd like to state for the record that a) no one told me I'd have to put my life on the line for the cause and b) we had - er - nothing to do with the shooting, so if the Philly media somehow got that twisted because of our whorish exposure in front of available news cameras, DON'T BELIEVE A WORD OF IT!
Many thanks to Mary-Lee for joining us from DE and Cyn and Joanne were great as usual.
I guess we can safely say our experience can only be topped by the terrific performance art of Ron & Co. in San Fran -- man, class act, guys!
All the best to John and Mary on John's reunion (private email already sent, guys!)...what an exciting weekend! I'm still breathless...
BN ROCKS!
Mari Steed
Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1999 19:59:29 -0500
To: NARD@onelist.com
From: dispatcher <dispatcher51@softhome.net>
Subject: [NARD] New Castle, PA NARD
We had a grand total of 12 in New Castle today, I consider that a success. Not sure how many handouts we went thru, about 50 I'd guess.
One of the bmom's tried to get the OBC for her son & was told no. I tried to get my OBC & was told they have no record of me in their files, that's a new one. I used my bname & bparents names since I'm reunited & have all the info.
I forgot my camera but some of the others took pics & I'll try to get copies to post.
Nancy - Reunited adoptee
Back to NARD Sites Listing
Back to NARD Home