Issue Number 12

10 June 2005

www.SORfoundation.org

It is time for another project update.  Much has happened since our last communication on May 6^th, 2005.

Our Foundation is growing in numbers, in influence, in diversity, and in geographic reach.  We now have over 65 Foundation volunteers that span 13 states and 4 foreign countries.  I have attached our updated “Project Statistics” document for your review.  This document is now posted on our web site and is updated monthly.

From the comments we continually get, we are more and more convinced of the need to build the Statue of Responsibility just as soon as we possibly can.  I keep a file on ‘positive vs negative’ comments about building the monument, and on the actual design as sculpted by artist Gary Lee Price.  To date, we have a 14 to 1 ratio, that is 14 in positive support to 1 on the negative side.

We are getting much closer to implementing our three pronged strategy for funding.  As many of you know, one of those prongs is to present the monument project to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  We now have three contacts to him via various board members.  One of those contacts is involved in an initial meeting with the Governor today.  Please send all your positive thoughts etc. in that direction.

Here is a brief listing of some highlights of the past month or so.

• Jack Canfield, (CA) author, speaker and founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series is now an official member of our Honorary Advisory Board!  Jack has written 57 titles, sold 80 million books in 32 languages.  He brings immense strength to the monument project.  His press release will appear by the end of June.
• Two new board of trustee members:
  1. Michael Levine, (CA).  Author of 16 books and a major public relations figure in the country.  See his press release on our web site.
  2. Dr. Ann Graber, (MO).  Author and past Director of Distant Learning for the Viktor Frankl Institute.  Ann is from Croatia.  See her press release on our web site.
• Other new members include:
  1. Dr. Jeffry Finnigan (WA).  Public Relations Committee.  See his new press release.
  2. Dr. Pamela Zuker (CO).  Co-chair, Human Development Committee.  See her new press release.
  3. Steve Southwick, M.D. (CT).  Member, Public Relations Committee.
  4. Dr. George Rice, (LA).  Member, Education Committee
  5. Louisa Vallejo, MBA, (Columbia).  Co-chair, Student Committee
  6. Amber Esping, (IN).  Student Committee
  7. Dr. Ewert Cousins, (CT).  Co-chair, Religion Committee.  See his new press release.
  8. Rev. Jack Swank, (IL). Co-chair, Military Committee.  Jack is a decorated, retired military chaplain.  His press release will be posted by the end of June.
• New project partner companies:
  1. DirectPointe.  (IT Services).  See new press release
  2. Latham & Watkins, LLP.  (International Law).  Press release will be posted by end of June.
  3. NCW Non-Profit Consultants West.  (fund-raising, grant writing, board training, consulting).
• We have signed a contract with our web site company, World Net Services, Inc. to upgrade our site to be able to take donations online.
• Many new features are now on our web site.  Some of these include; more photos, new home page, DVD and 3-D computer animation of monument viewable on site (just click and view), News Room – many new articles and press releases, Foundation Directory, new donor category, Program Needs page (a break down of funds needed for all aspects of the project – see this under CALL TO ACTION).
• Dr. Covey discussed the monument project at a large ‘hospitality industry’ convention in NYC, held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
• Presentations were made to Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management (AZ) and Life University (GA and CA).  Invitations were extended to these two institutions to become institutional sponsors.
• The Foundation has been invited to officially introduce the monument project at the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy World Congress convention in Dallas the week of 21-26 June, 2005.  The convention will be attended by professionals from several countries around the world.
• NewsMax Magazine, a national publication, chief reporter Dave Eberhart, interviewed the Foundation and printed a full page article on the monument project.  You can view the article on our web site, NEWS ROOM, Articles.
• Daniel Bolz has been invited to make a formal presentation to Utah state officials and members of Rotary International.  If all goes well, arrangements will be made to meet with national leaders regarding institutional sponsorship.
• Donations are still needed (see letter attachment on Update #11) to keep us on track.  Your financial support is appreciated.
• Our several leased office locations (see CONTACT US on web site) are available to Foundation members to make presentations to potential contributors.  Instructions on the web site explain how. These offices are made available through our project partner company DaVinci Property Management.  Using leased office space is the most cost effective way to make available Class A office space without having to pay to fully staff numerous offices.

Conclusion.

As we gain more and more traction, as more and more people become aware of our cause, as those of influence and means support our mission financially to build the Statue of Responsibility, as those with limited influence and means support the project as they can, the message that ‘Liberty + Responsibility = Our Freedom’ will become instilled in the hearts and minds of society.  Once the message is instilled, the national (and international) dialogue will ensue.  There will be many who will want to discredit our cause.  There will be many naysayers along the way.  At the same time, their will be many who will want to engage in the dialogue and who will support the building of the monument.

As I see it, 100 years from today, each of us will dead.  It is up to each of us to decide today how we will play a part in building a monument that will become known as a bookend to Lady Liberty – a monument of immense purpose and influence.  A monument that will be a symbol of lasting freedom to people around the world.  I believe that life is calling out to everyone who becomes aware of our cause and who wishes to see the task completed – to make it happen.

Each of us must be strong and sure of our objective.  Each of us must choose to be a positive advocate of what we are all about.  Each of us must believe with every fiber of our being that the cause of lasting freedom requires nothing less than total commitment.  As the last scene in ‘BraveHeart’ portrayed, the great Scottish patriot William Wallace gave his last breath in crying out loud for the cause of ‘freedom’.

We may not be called upon to sacrifice our lives for the cause of freedom today, but we must believe in our hearts that the cause of lasting freedom has as much importance and significance today as it did then.

I for one, believe that to be so.

As we say in our brochure, “There comes a time in a nation’s history when its core values must be re-visited, re-energized, and re-enthroned, in order for that nation to endure.”   The Statue of Responsibility, when it is standing proud and tall on the West Coast of America, will become the lightning rod for that review of what we stand for, and for what the principle of freedom means to all who possess it, to all who seek it.

Thank you for all you do in supporting the Foundation in our massive undertaking to build the Statue of Responsibility.  You are forging a legacy of personal commitment that your descendants will revere you for, forever.

Daniel L. Bolz
President & CEO
The Statue of Responsibility Foundation

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