Changes at 1st Way

I'd like to introduce some changes I think you'll (Hopefully!) like. The first is our change to a new web-site- 

Newly designed and optimized for mobile. Try it on your smartphone. It actually looks a lot like an app on the new phones.

1st-way.org

I'm also including here my interview done with our director Terry, which is being published by halves in this month's newsletter and next month, regarding my new president position with 1st Way. Terry's still director of the center itself, but I'm handling a lot of other admin responsibilities. My new position entails a great deal more responsibility and I am honored and really excited about the challenge!

Why did you choose to volunteer here rather than working for another group?

I had just become Catholic and had a dramatic conversion. I wanted to devote my life to God, but I didn't really know what He wanted from me. I was praying a lot, and asking God what way He most wanted me to serve Him. I had no idea what that would look like. So, I said, “God, I will do the next thing I am asked to do.” So, someone asked me if I wanted to volunteer at 1^st Way. I didn't think I'd be any good at it. Still, I felt God wanted me to do it, so I did. Volunteer counseling wasn't the best fit for me but social media development and helping with other aspects of First Way work was.

What have you enjoyed most about volunteering for first way and serving on the board?

1^st Way has become an integral part of me and who I am. I can say with complete conviction that helping women find ways to give birth rather than abort is the right thing to do and that is critical to our future as a national community. I have a fire inside me now and it burns with the desire to help human life be valued and protected. I love what I do. I'm filled with joy to have found an apostolate that fits well with my principles and abilities.

What is your vision for 1^st Way over the next year?

I would like to discover ways to best utilize the vast talents of our board members and find the assistance we need to be more effective in fund-raising and obtaining a mobile pregnancy clinic. A mobile pregnancy unit will bring us to the women who need us, to make free ultrasound as close as her front door or a shopping center. The mobile unit will help us help more women in more ways.

What have you learned over the past year?

When I started volunteering, I knew almost nothing. I actually thought life in the first trimester was just a bunch of tissue or cells! The more I learned about the truth of biological development, abortion procedures, and Planned Parenthood's dishonest tactics, the more I grew to become a warrior for the cause of pro-life. I became an avid researcher and reader and a strong pro-life apologist. I attended the Right to Life Conference in Portland. I've participated in several marches and pro-life protests. Most of all, I know with all my heart I'm doing what God wants me to do. Serving on the board has been fun because of working creatively with people who have good ideas, to develop plans that can take 1^st Way's mission further. I have great respect and love for my fellow board members and look forward to working with the 1^st Way Organization to expand our vision further to serve more women in need.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Love,

Laura

1st Way Needs Volunteers- Join us!

When I volunteered for 1st Way of Eugene, I found it to be a mind-expanding and heart-expanding experience.

I didn't know that much about pregnancy or pro-life issues. I remember the day Terry hired me, she stacked my arms up with brochures and articles and said, "Take this home and read this!" Of course, she didn't mean to read it all at once. She only wanted me to have the resources I needed to counsel women who had questions, and that learning still continues to this day.

Part of my training was simply to answer questions- never to give unsolicited education or information. Working there, I was happy to see that fellow counselors were warm and positive and just trying to find ways to be helpful. No family support? Financial struggles? Healthcare concerns? How can we connect women to the resources they need? How can we be there for her when she is scared and upset and just wants someone to talk to? How can we help make her life a little better?

Being a crisis pregnancy counselor at 1st Way is about being an educator when women have questions. Working for 1st Way was also heart-expanding for me.  I saw some happy women who realized it was possible to find resources they needed to carry their babies to term. I loved putting together layettes for new mothers and getting to know people.

Being a volunteer at 1st Way is only a three hour commitment per week and all training is provided. I knew nothing when I started and now I can't seem to learn enough information. It's really satisfying to know that you are serving the needs of pregnant women and their unborn babies. Ultimately, you don't know the decision she will make when she walks out the door. But, you will know that you told her the truth and showed her it is possible to find life-affirming ways to cope with unplanned pregnancy.

CALL 541.687.8651 to find out more about how you can help.

Social Media Power and Eugene 1st Way

Can you imagine the impact if each of you shared or re-tweeted 1st Way blogs and messages?  

Believe it or not, a few clicks every day can sometimes even do more to serve mothers and save babies than donating money or diapers.

Social media is a way we can reach many more women in our community and send them through our doors where we can help them.

Recently, I visited college pro-life clubs and also church youth groups and I asked them what they or their friends would do first if they thought they might be pregnant. 

#1 Answer: They would google "pregnancy symptoms" on their cell phone. 

The better our social media presence, them more likely they are to find us and that can be worth more than money. Please share your time to forward, share and re-tweet our announcements.

I did some research recently and examined close to fifty  online crisis pregnancy center websites and I'd say only about 10% are social media "linked and  literate." Google "pregnancy symptoms" and you will see Planned Parenthood high on the first page of results.  

We have to stay competitive in this age. Lives are on the line. 

I need your help. I cannot do it alone.

Your clicks, shares, re-tweets and likes can help more than you  know.

Facebook- 
For Donors- https://www.facebook.com/1stwayeugene
For Women- https://www.facebook.com/Talktoafriend

Twitter-
 https://twitter.com/1stWayPreggers

Join a Facebook community that is learning how to tweet together-
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Twitter-Made-Easy-For-Prolife-Christians/1402268173322683?ref=hl

1st Way Blog for Women-
http://talktoanewfriend.blogspot.com


Other Announcements

First Way continues to need volunteers for our office and training is provided. Commitment can be as small as a three hour a week shift. Call our center at 541.687.8651 and ask to speak with our director, Terry Ianora. 

Currently, I'm working on redesigning the First Way website.  It's going to look a bit like our parent organization, The National Life Center. I patterned our new layout and colors after theirs, for a sense of continuity, only ours reflects our local presence, personality and message. The new site should be complete by the end of the month.