FamilyFoundationBlog.com

If you haven’t reserved your seat for this Friday’s Valley Family Forum “Salute to the Family,” with special guest Bishop E. W. Jackson, time is running out. If you live or work in the Shenandoah Valleyare within driving range, or just want to make a night of it, we hope you will join us at this wonderful event.

The program begins at 6:30 Friday, May 13, at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center in Harrisonburg. This year’s theme is “A Celebration of God and Country.”

Bishop Jackson is founder and Chairman of S.T.A.N.D., a national organization dedicated to restoring America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and to preserving our Christian faith and values, and Exodus Faith Ministries, based in Chesapeake. He is a nationally acclaimed speaker, combining immense intellect and passion, whom no one forgets after hearing. He is an ex-Marine, Harvard Law School educated attorney, and frequent guest on the national media programs, including those on ABC, FOX News and NPR. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have covered him and he’s even braved the liberals on MSNBC. Bishop Jackson also is the former chaplain at Boston Red Sox Services and for The Family Foundation.

The evening will include special music by The Faithful Men, plus the annual Wilberforce Award presentation. Tickets are $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight. For reservations, e-mail family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call 540-438-8966. The Valley Family Forum is a grassroots chapter of The Family Foundation.

* This event is to benefit The Valley Family Forum and The Family Foundation and is not a campaign fundraiser for Bishop Jackson. Titles, party affiliations and references to elected offices sought are listed for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by The Family Foundation.

Here’s another reminder of the Valley Family Forum’s 10th annual Shenandoah Valley “Salute to the Family,” with special guest Bishop E. W. Jackson. If you live in the Valley, or even outside of it, this is a terrific event that has gained a prominent spot on the political calendar each year. So, we hope you can join us in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, on Friday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the outstanding James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center in Harrisonburg. This year’s theme is “A Celebration of God and Country.”

Bishop Jackson is founder and Chairman of S.T.A.N.D., a national organization dedicated to restoring America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and to preserving our Christian faith and values, and Exodus Faith Ministries, based in Chesapeake. He is an ex-Marine, Harvard Law School graduate, acclaimed speaker, and frequent guest on national television and radio, including ABC, MSNBC, FOX News and NPR. He has been written about in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. Bishop Jackson also is the former chaplain of the Boston Red Sox and for The Family Foundation.

The evening will include special music is by The Faithful Men, plus the annual Wilberforce Award presentation. Tickets are $25 per person, or $200 for a table of eight. For reservations, write to family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call (540) 438-8966. The Valley Family Forum is a grassroots chapter of The Family Foundation.

Note: This event is to benefit The Valley Family Forum and is not a campaign fundraiser for Bishop Jackson. Titles, party affiliations and references to elected offices sought are listed for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by The Valley Family Forum or The Family Foundation.

The Valley Family Forum, a grassroots network chapter of The Family Foundation, will hold its 10th Annual Shenandoah Valley “Celebration of God and Country Dinner,” Friday, May 13, at 6:30 in Harrisonburg at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center. The keynote speaker is Bishop Earl Jackson, founder of Exodus Faith Ministries, the former Chaplain of The Family Foundation’s Pastors for Family Values, and current candidate for the U.S. Senate (see Virginia Virtucon). Bishop Jackson is a retired Marine and Harvard-educated attorney, and a popular speaker seen frequently on national cable news programs. Reservations are available now for complete tables or individual tickets. Each table seats eight at $25 per person. To make a reservation, e-mail the Forum at family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call Dean Welty at (540) 438-8966. Business sponsorships are also available at varying levels.

Earlier this week Governor Bob McDonnell announced a statewide town hall tour to get feedback on the big government reform initiatives his administration has been studying (see Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog). The primary topics will be his proposal for privatizing ABC sales, state government reform and job creation. His Government Reform and Restructuring Commission earlier this month wrapped up its own series of town hall meetings around the commonwealth. As with that tour, we encourage you to get to one and participate in the shaping of your government.

Virginia Speaks: A Conversation about Jobs, Government Reform and Our Future

August 4

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Roanoke County Administration Center, Board of Supervisors Board Room, 5204 Bernard Drive, Roanoke

August 9

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Old Dominion University, Webb University Center, Hampton/Newport News Room, 4201 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk

August 19 

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Cultural Center of India, 6641 Ironbridge Parkway, Chester

August 24

7:00-8:30 p.m.

University of Mary Washington, Lee Hall — Room 412, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg

August 25

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Fairfax, Northern Virginia Technology Council Auditorium, 2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300, Herndon

August 26

7:-8:30 p.m.

James Madison University, East Campus Dining Hall — Montpelier Room, 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg

August 30

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Great Hall, 150 Slayton Avenue, Danville

August 31

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Bristol Public Library, J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room, 701 Goode Street, Bristol

The Prince William Family Alliance isn’t the only regional Family Foundation affiliate proving that values voters not only never went away, but are, in fact, thriving. The Valley Family Forum, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, also proves the point with its robust growth and vigorous activism.

On Monday, May 24, it will host David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders — one of the nation’s leading experts on America’s Christian heritage — at its Annual Salute To The Family. The bad news is that the event already is sold out. But there is good news: To accommodate the demand, it has added a luncheon with Mr. Barton from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 24, at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center, and tickets are still available! 

Mr. Barton is an award winning author, nationally acclaimed speaker, and advisor to legislators and educators. He draws from original sources to remind us about what made America an “exceptional” nation from our earliest settlers to today. Who were our Founding Fathers, and how did their faith influence the formation of our government? What are the key principles on which America was founded and prospered, and to which we must now return? Why is this great history now being deliberately ignored and even re-written, and why does it matter to us now?

The theme of his speech will be, “Keys to Good Government — According to the Founding Fathers.” If you have never heard David Barton we encourage you to attend the Valley Family Forum Luncheon on May 24. You will learn more about our nation’s history in a half hour from him than you probably ever did in school.

Seats are $25 per person or $200 for tables of eight. For reservations or more information, e-mail family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call 540-438-8966.

Annotations & Elucidations 

Dems Abandoning Deeds? Surprisingly Close House Race?

Articles of note in today’s large News Stand: At the top of the News section, as well as at the top of the National News section, are articles in which leading national Democrats  sound as if Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds is in the bottom of the ninth, with at least one out. New Jersey is the name of the game, now, they say (see this QOD if you haven’t yet).

Meanwhile, Republican attorney general candidate, Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-37, Fairfax), was the only one of the six statewide candidates to speak at the traditional Jefferson Assembly at Poplar Forest. (Virginia pols turning down a chance to appear Jeffersonian?) The Richmond Times-Dispatch looks at 10 House of Delegates races that may decide its control. Most interesting, it includes the 69th district race. The 69th is a majority-minority district and is overwhelmingly Democrat. But Republican Ernesto Sampson is giving Democrat Betsy Carr more than she wants.

Aside from campaigns, the Life issue continues to confound liberals, who don’t seem to understand that people have a natural instinct to preserve it. First, a new Pew Research poll confirms a Gallup survey earlier this year — support for Life continues to rise. Those supporting abortion are stagnant or falling. See the Analysis section. Then, for all the stereotype of college students being pro-abortion, there are Students for Life groups springing up all over Virginia campuses and around the country. The James Madison University Dukes for Life are profiled in the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record. 

News:

Schweitzer: Dems Have Better Shot in New Jersey (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Deeds: From Patching Fence to Straddling It (Washington Post)

McDonnell Tops Deeds On TV Ad Spending (Washington Post)

In cash race, businesses back Va. governor candidate McDonnell (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

RPV Blasts Deeds for GOP-Backed Bill (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Deeds, McDonnell each claim endorsements (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

DNC giving Deeds additional $1 million (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Politicians stump at Poplar Forest event (Lynchburg News & Advance)

TV ad wars heat up in governor’s race (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

House of Delegates control up for grabs (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Gilbert Boosts War Chest With $19K Fundraiser (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Newcomers compete for Del. Kenneth Melvin’s seat in 80th House district (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

JMU Group Joins Abortion Protest (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

High court rejects ‘Choose Life’ plates case (Washington Times)

National News:

Democrats see rise in New Jersey, fade in Va. governors’ races (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot/Politico.com)

Same-sex marriage close to D.C. approval (Washington Times)

Analysis:

Support for abortion slips (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press) 

Poll Check: A Shift on Abortion? (Jon Cohen/Washington Post Behind The Numbers Blog)

The Valley Family Forum, in association with The Family Foundation, will host the 8th Annual Shenandoah Valley “Salute to the Family” dinner Thursday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m., at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center in Harrisonburg. The Valley Family Forum is one of The Family Foundation’s several local grassroots networks, serving pro-family citizens in the Shenandoah Valley region.

This year’s theme is a “Celebration of Freedom” and will feature keynote speaker Janet Parshall, who is an author, nationally syndicated radio talk show (“Janet Parshall’s America”), and host and narrator of the TV documentary series, “Speechless: Silencing the Christians.”

Harrisonburg’s WHSV-TV/3 Executive Producer Kay Norred will emcee the program, which includes a spirited medley of inspiring music by local artists, “The Faithful Men” and pianist Miriam Clark.

Previous “Salute to the Family” speakers have included former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, Focus on the Family Vice President Tom Minnery, former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese, and Vision America Founder and President Rick Scarborough.

Reservations are $25 per person. Each table seats eight, so invite your family and friends to come along. If you don’t live in the Valley, and are interested, it will be a great program, so we encourage you to attend. For more information, or to confirm your reservations, call (540) 438-8966 or e-mail family@valleyfamilyforum.org.