Thank You! Full Steam Ahead

As we begin a new year, our 23rd year, I want to spend a moment acknowledging those who have made all we did this past year possible. First and foremost, a sincere thank you to the donors listed in the insert of this edition, for believing what we do is important, and urgent. Know that you are always in our prayers! Our deep gratitude, as well, to the many in kind donations and hours of time, talent, and professional services throughout the year which contribute so significantly to fulfilling our mission. CANFP is blessed with members and supporters who generously share their riches, including those authoring the articles you have read here in the CANFP NEWS, translating materials, responding to Ask the Expert Questions, speaking at events, staffing the exhibit, loading and unloading boxes of books and materials, and providing counsel and professional and technical services. To name any, is to leave off many, but I would be remiss in not personally and specifically thanking:

• Lynn Keenan, MD who not only provides leadership as President of CANFP, but contributes articles quarterly to our CANFP NEWS, consults often and at length on day to day operations of CANFP, and at great personal sacrifice travels the state speaking and representing CANFP.
• The Executive Board of CANFP: Dr. Michel Accad, Fr. Joseph Illo, Fr. Blaise Berg, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, in addition to Dr. Lynn Keenan. These board members participate actively in the leadership and implementation of the mission of CANFP, travelling across the state, at their own expense, several times a year for board meetings and events, participating monthly in Board conference calls, planning content and contributing and soliciting articles for the quarterly CANFP NEWS, and actively planning and participating in the activities, programs, and day to day operations and fiscal viability of CANFP.
• Dylan St. John for technical support and the extensive investment of time and skill again this past year in maintaining and upgrading our amazing website: www.canfp.org

Each year, the CANFP Board prioritizes our focus for the year. There is never a lack of ideas, on the part of board members or those who request our services. What we do often struggle with, are the resources to implement those ideas.

As CANFP has grown, the daily obligations of running a non-profit, serving our members, and saying yes to the opportunities to provide education and promote NFP around the state, could easily keep a staff of five full time people very busy.

Those not intimately familiar with CANFP may not know this, but we do not have a staff of five….or four….or three…or even two. But oh what we could do, if we did!

Speaking as the staff of one we do have, I am so grateful to all whose involvement and effort have enabled us to accomplish so much this past year, and over the last 23 years. I firmly believe we are poised to make amazing progress in building a culture of life this year, and in the coming years, through our advocacy of NFP, and I plead with our supporters and members, to please consider in which of these crucial three areas you can support us in this coming year, as we faithfully pursue the task before us—together:

1) increase volunteer participation in CANFP;

2) increase funding to support a part time additional staff member;

3) expand our Executive Board in specific areas of expertise: business, financial, legal, media, funding and development, and non-profit management.