Home » About » Newsletters » February 1997
The ACLU's 10,000 Points of Light
By CJ Fragola, Development Director
A few weeks ago, President Bill Clinton paid homage to former president George Bush for helping ignite the spirit of volunteerism with his Points of Light Foundation. As Development Director, I have seen first hand how vital and meaningful volunteers can be to an organization. Our 10,000 members form the backbone of our defense of civil liberties.
Since our founding in 1965, and long before George Bush's presidency, this organization has had the good fortune to call upon very able and dedicated individuals who donate time and money to our cause. In 1996, over 10,000 Floridians requested assistance from the ACLU of Florida. We were here to help many of those people solely because of this generosity.
Unlike the Religious Right and other groups we often find as our opposition, we depend almost entirely on volunteers. These dedicated civil libertarians donate their expertise and time to defend the Bill of Rights.
Our legal program, led by Legal Director Andy Kayton, depends heavily on the more than 300 ACLU cooperating attorneys in Florida. Many of the cases they guide through trial and the appeals process take years before they are resolved. For instance, Benjiman Waxman has been the cooperating attorney for our landmark homeless case, Pottiger v. City of Miami, since 1988. Other groups have staff attorneys conduct most of their litigation.
Legislative Counsel Larry Spalding also depends on volunteers in our North Florida office. These volunteers are called to testify on key legislation, lobby legislators, and organize likeminded individuals to express their concerns to their own representatives. These volunteers went head to head with the Christian Coalition's Executive Director and three other lobbyists during the last legislative session.
Volunteers also do most of the fundraisng for the ACLU. There are no slick fundraisng phone campaigns or day long telethons conducted by wellpaid consultants. The ACLU believes that personal, onetoone communication is the best way to raise funds and keep in contact with our members. It builds lasting relationships with our members and also provides excellent feedback for their hopes and concerns.
How you can help
Now, more than ever, the ACLU of Florida needs this unwavering support from our members. Wellfinanced groups are attacking even the most basic of our rights. As the only organization in Florida that exists solely to fight against these civil liberties abuses, it will be up to the membership of the ACLU to push back these assaults.
Because we are volunteerdriven, each dollar raised has a profound impact. The ACLU of Florida can litigate a case for thousands less than our opposition. That does not mean, however, that litigation is inexpensive. For instance, in McIver v. Krischer (see page three), case costs alone have exceeded $20,000. We are only in the trial phase, and the total cost of this litigation will be much greater after the expected appeals. Multiply these costs over our whole docket and it becomes staggering.
Our resources are being pushed to the limit, but there are a number of ways you can ensure that we will continue to be Florida's leading advocate for the Bill of Rights.
Membership Dues: The money raised from "card carrying members of the ACLU" provide the resources for our Legislative program. These comprise less than 35 percent of our total budget. They are not tax deductible and are shared with the National ACLU.
Foundation Giving: Additional donations given to the ACLU Foundation of Florida are used to support the Legal and Public Education programs for the ACLU. These are tax deductible contributions and are also shared with National.
Estate Plans: Gifts in wills or other estate plans are placed in the ACLU of Florida's endowment fund and help to ensure that our work in support of the Bill of Rights will continue for future generations. Those making this lasting gift to the ACLU are recognized as members of the DeSilver Society. Gifts to the Foundation can provide major tax benefits and can include bequests, pooled income gifts, gift annuities and charitable trusts.
In addition, you may have expertise that we need. There is a direct relationship between the number of ACLU cooperating attorneys and the number of cases we can litigate. Toni Leeman, our Legal Assistant, will be glad to provide you with more information. By emailing Larry Spalding, at LarryACLU@aol.com, you can also join our Legislative Network.
On behalf of the ACLU of Florida and all those we have been able to help, I sincerely thank all of you who have selflessly devoted time and have made donations to our organization. Your dedication to the ideals of the Bill of Rights have ensured a strong and effective ACLU and improved the lives of many Floridians. If you have any questions on membership or on other ways you can support the ACLU, please let me know at: (305) 576-2337.
