BIRTHRIGHT LISTS IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS FOR MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR

In BIRTHRIGHT'S recent fall 1999 newsletter the following information was included:

"Have you noticed Birthright's latest advertisement in the local newspaper, the Southeast Missourian? The ad reads, "Worried about a pregnancy? Call someone who cares about you." The ad lists our office hours, M-F, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It gives our address -- 134 South Park, and also mentions that we do free pregnancy testing. I like the phrase, `Worried about a pregnancy?' because it describes the condition of many of our Birthright clients. I am happy to be part of an organization that can do much to assist in a `worrisome pregnancy.' I wish that you could meet the dedicated Birthright volunteers who talk to and minister to these women experiencing worrisome pregnancies.

"During this past year, our volunteers received 2,276 telephone calls from women asking for assistance. This was followed by 2,955 visits to our Center by 1,434 different women and girls from 89 different cities in Missouri, Illinois, and other states. -- Dolores Mier, senior adviser of Birthright of Cape Girardeau

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During the fiscal year from Aug. 1, 1998, to July 31, 1999, Birthright's annual report listed the following services:

1. Administered 761 pregnancy tests.

2. Assisted 1,434 different women or girls during 2,955 office visits.

3. Made 487 follow-up phone calls giving emotional support to those who requested it.

4. Received 2,276 telephone calls in our office. Gave information, referrals, and helpful advice to those making these call 1,459 times.

5. Paid for utilities for 24, a months rent for 26, childbirth preparation classes for 16, child care for 1, transportation for 5.

6. Gave maternity clothes 171 different times, infant and children's clothing 951 times, and diapers 1,417 times.

7. Furnished 101 new layettes. Gave baby oil, powder, bottles, soap, lotion, baby wipes, etc., to 662.

8. Gave baby food 365 times, formula 719 times, and groceries 26 times.

9. Gave informational talks to 41 church groups, 4 student groups, 1 organization, 1 radio interview, and 1 television interview.

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Think you know the definition of "moderate" drinking?

For health purposes, it's often been defined as one to three drinks a day. But a major study by Harvard Medical School found that men who averaged two or more drinks a day had a premature death rate that was 63 percent higher than nondrinkers.

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Exercising first thing in the morning can give you the same lift as a caffeinated beverage does. Working out before lunch helps counter the midafternoon slump. Exercising before dinner helps you stay mentally sharp and relaxed through the evening.

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About three months ago a new book by BILL BENNETT entitled "Our Sacred Honor" was left on my desk. (Note: I get many books that people suggest I read).

Recently the proud mother of Dorthea Israel Wolfson, Kilja Israel, asked my wife Wendy if I'd received the book (since I had not acknowledged it ... there was no note identifying the giver) because her daughter Dorothea had gotten the book for me and had it endorsed personally by the author to Wendy and me. I relate this because in the acknowledgements of the book, Bennett pays tribute to two former Cape citizens as follows:

"I would also like to thank my friend Rush Limbaugh Jr. for bringing to my attention (through a wonderful speech by his father) the deeds of the lesser-known signers of the Declaration of Independence, such as Richard Stockton and Abraham Clark."

"Dorothea Israel Wolfson was central to this project. She researched, drafted, consulted, chased down reliable and unreliable leads both, and brought good sense, good judgment and good taste to our deliberations. I am enormously grateful to her. She is a fine young scholar, and we will all benefit from reading her work in the future."

A collection of stories, songs, letters and speeches, "Our Sacred Honor" brings to life in their own words the lives of the founders of our great country. My congratulations to Dorothea and Rush for their everlasting recognition. Dorothea graduated from Central High School in 1984, received her Doctorate in government from Cornell University in January 1995 and is the daughter of Kilja and Dr. Tom Israel ... retired and highly respected former teacher of political science at Southeast Missouri State University.

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Letter from a college student to his parents and their response.

Dear Mom and Dad,

$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.

Love, Your $on

The reply:

Dear Son,

I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh.

Love, Mom and Dad

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Federal pay hikes are well deserved: President Clinton recently approved salary increases for Congress, the president and vice president, Cabinet secretaries and about 1,300 other top-level executive-branch officials. Critics have already jumped on the pay raises and criticized our government officials for lining their pockets. I think the critics are clearly wrong, and I firmly believe that Congress especially deserves a much larger salary increase.

How in the world can I justify a $4,600 annual pay hike for congressmen? It's real easy. Even including the perks and travel and staff allotments, our congressional leaders are woefully underpaid. Their $141,300 annual salary may seem excessive to a worker on minimum wage, but that's comparing apples and oranges in more ways than one.

I can think of a dozen or so Sikeston businessmen who earn far greater incomes than our congressmen. Now that's not to say one is more deserving than the other or that one is overpaid or underpaid. What it does show is the competition in the private sector for the best and the brightest. If the federal government hopes to continue to attract our current and future leaders, pay must be part of the consideration.

The president's salary was also increased. As a matter of fact, the president's salary will double to $400,000. But this is the first pay hike in 30 years, and, by law, it will not take effect until the current president is out of office. Just compare that with the multimillion-dollar salaries of corporate executives and it's equally easy to justify that pay hike.

The critics are already taking their potshots. Critics have compared the pay hikes with those of the average worker. But whether you believe it or not, our congressional leaders are not average workers. And I, for one, don't want them to be just average. I want the best minds possible making our laws and running our government. To want otherwise is foolish.

If the critics have nothing better to complain about than a hike in congressional salaries, then I think that's good news. There's ample room in the federal bureaucracy for complaining. A small salary hike is not among the areas of major concern. -- Michael Jensen, Sikeston Standard-Democrat

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Ensuring strong judges: For the first time since before President Clinton took office, the full Senate voted to reject nominee ronnie White, a Missouri judge. U.S. Sen. John Aschroft (R-Mo.) led the effort against White after state law-enforcement groups raised concerns about his record. White was the only justice on Missouri's Supreme Court to vote to overturn the death sentence of James Johnson, a man who killed three law-enforcement officers in 1991. After Clinton's nominee, an African American, was voted down, Clinton brandished accusations of racism, saying the matter gave "strong evidence for thsoe who believe that the Senate treates minority and women judicial nominees unequally." U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) notes Clinton's charge cheapens real cases of racial bias. -- Washington Update

~Gary Rust is president of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian and other newspapers.