The American Mother Fall 2015

the

2015 Annual Report

Featuring

2015 National Award Winners Our Moms in Action The Fight Against Child Trafficking

Published by American Mothers, Inc.速

| About American Mothers Inc.®

Letter From the President Welcome to American Mothers and thank you for joining our nation of powerful moms whose united strength will change the country and our world for good.

I firmly believe that every mothers’ voice counts in every state, city and town across America.

In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, at the genesis of what has grown to be American Mothers, ‘a woman is like a tea bag, you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.’ Mothers are the strongest people I know. They have honed their strengths through the challenges and joys of raising children, loving families, overcoming obstacles and championing other human beings. This mom energy and power is exactly what is needed to change our world for the better!

You’ve picked an exciting time to be a part of our powerful network of moms working to impact issues affecting mothers and children across the world. We were recently invited to join the Clinton Global Initiative and have accepted the challenge to work in partnership with other leading organizations to strengthen the role of mothers in their homes and communities as well as globally. At the UN, we are working with ambassadors to empower the role of a mother in their respective countries. Here at home, we are working on a variety of issues from naming a Mother of the Year® in each state to working on National issues surrounding early literacy education, child trafficking awareness, mothers health and wellness with stronger mom to mom connections.

We are glad you have joined us and hope you will feel like you have come home to a place where you are surrounded by the warm embrace of other mothers.

Wishing you all peace, harmony and love in all you do.

— Dianne Dain Callister, National President American Mothers, Inc.®

Table of

contents

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Member News Our Moms in Action

Meet America’s Mom: Deb Stanaland

2015 State Mothers of the Year National Young Mother of the Year: Heather Spencer

15 16 18 20

2015 State Young Mothers of the Year National Mothers of Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award: Sue Hickenlooper

5th Grade Essay Top Tips for Terrific Essays from Skoolbo

The American Mother Magazine

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Feature: What Sons and Daughters Need from Their Moms

Commission on the Status of Women Feature Operation Underground Railroad

Financial Review

American Mothers Inc.® |

About Us American Mothers, Inc.® is committed to valuing mothers through service and education and has been MomStrong since 1935. As the official sponsor of Mother’s Day and the National Mother of the Year® award, American Mothers is the voice of 85 million mothers in America.

Connect With Us!

Honoring the mission of the organization’s leaders Sara Delano Roosevelt, Mamie Eisenhower, JC Penney, and Norman Vincent Peale, American Mothers is dedicated to improving the lives of mothers and children in the US and around the world.

Each year American Mothers honors motherhood by naming the National Mother of the Year® and hosting the Mom to Mom Conference.

As an NGO centered at the United Nations, member of the Clinton Global Initiative and leader of the Global Motherhood Coalition, American Mothers organizes annual panel discussions and participates in high level meetings focused on addressing global struggles for mothers and children. By bringing mothers together from across the country, American Mothers organizes maternal energy for positive change.

Many outstanding individuals throughout the US have served as officers, leaders, members, and supporters of AMI including Eleanor and Sara Roosevelt, Phyllis Marriott, Congresswoman “Lindy” Boggs, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After 80 years we are still MomStrong!

Our Mission

To champion women by honoring, educating and serving mothers at home, at work and in the world.

Our Vision

To be a nationally recognized and respected voice on issues impacting mothers.

Our Values

• An abiding respect for mothers and their role in society.

• A desire for collaboration between mothers in service for the common good.

• A heart of compassion for issues and challenges facing mothers around the globe.

• An acknowledgement of diversity among mothers and their individual choices.

• A recognition of the power of a mother’s inner strength.

• A commitment to honor mothers for their leadership and service at home, at work and in the world.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| American Mothers Inc.®

Letter from the Director

American Mothers, Inc.®

Executive Director: Andrea Ball Chief Operating Officer: Connell Branan Membership: Jacquie Ball info@americanmothers.org Advisory Council Chairman: Arlo Sorenson Advisory Council Co-Chairman: Cathy Keating

2015-17 AMI Board of Directors

President: Dianne Dain Callister 1st Vice President: Carrie Leonard 2nd Vice President: Lela Sullivan 3rd Vice President: Joyce Stevens Secretary: Sheila Monke Treasurer: Yolanda Perez Area I Coordinator: Dorothy DeVore Area II Coordinator: Stephanie Rogers Area III Coordinator: Tara Trobaugh Area IV Coordinator: Carol Willey Area VI Coordinator: Maria Amalbert Immediate Past President: Joan Braitsch Nominating Chairman: Patty Payne Membership Chairman: Genevieve Champana Education Chairman: Sabrina Wisher Endowment Chairman: JaLynn Prince Special Projects: Kim Hoey Stevenson Corporate Outreach: Betsy Opyt National Day of Service: Meg Ille Clinton Global Initiative: Gina Messina-Dysert IT Chairman: Jennifer Oliver OUR Liaison: Darcy Ure Convention Chairman: Vanessa Antrum Mother of the Year Search: Gerre Schwert Mother of Achievement Search: Debbie Sipos Bylaws Chairman: Deanne Taylor National Mother of the Year: Deb Stanaland National Young Mother of the Year: Heather Spencer

The American Mother Magazine Editor Connell Branan

I hope back to school time has been a positive experience for you and your family. My daughter, Kate, just started second grade. Luckily, the only predicament we faced was picking the perfect backpack!

Fall is also a busy time at American Mothers. We are currently holding our 2015-2016 membership drive. As you already know, American Mothers has three levels of membership, Friend (free), Family ($30 annually), and Lifetime ($1000 one-time payment). If you have not already renewed, a membership form is included with this mailing or visit us online at www.AmericanMothers.org/join.

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We also partnered with Sky Angel Network to produce three videos that highlight different types of moms.

These videos have been airing on multiple channels on Direct TV since Mother’s Day and encourage viewers to surprise their favorite mom with a Mother of the Year nomination. If you haven’t seen them, visit our Facebook page or You Tube and share them on your social media channels.

Because of members like you, American Mothers continues to be a nationally recognized and respected voice on isI hope you were able to join us in April sues impacting motherhood. We would for the National Conference in Washlove to hear what you are doing to proington DC but if not, you missed a mote motherhood in your area. Tweet wonderful event! We honored women us at @americanmothers or email your from around the country, ran The Mom story to info@americanmothers.org.

Mile to raise money for charity, lisThank you for being a great mom and tened to Robin McGraw share stories part of American Mothers! of raising her sons along with her All my best to you and your family, husband, Dr. Phil McGraw and how the entire McGraw family continues to support mothers who suffer from — Andrea Ball, domestic abuse.

Executive Director American Mothers has also been working to raise awareness on human traf-

the

2015 Annual Report

Contributors Dianne Callister Brandon Carter Cheri Fuller Anita Knight Design & Layout Kalico Design Frederick, MD www.kalicodesign.com

ficking issues and helping moms understand that trafficking happens all over the United States daily. We partnered with Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R) and produced collateral to empower mothers with the information they need to spot and report suspicious activity. If I can provide you copies for distribution, please email your request to info@americanmothers.org.

On the Cover:

Featuring

2015 National Award Winners Our Moms in Action The Fight Against Child Trafficking

National Board President Dianne Callister, is photographed with her children at the 2015 National Conference.

Photo courtesy of Kristy Maguire, Kiki Blue Photography

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

The American Mother Magazine

Association News |

National Day of Service During the past year, members of our State Associations volunteered more than 8,662 hours of service, preforming 63 projects, each positively impacting the lives of mothers and children across the country. This year, our National Day of Service will be held the week leading up to Mother’s Day. Meg Alexander Ille, the AMI National Day of Service Chairman and 2015 Oklahoma Young Mother of the Year, is working with National and State Leaders to organize and develop the 2016 National Day of Service projects. More information will be available online with ways each state association can get involved!

Our Moms in Action California The California Association held an adorable event called “The Princess Tea.” A tea party for princesses of all ages that featured entertainment from a local high school choir, (dressed as prince and princesses, of course). A delicious lunch, photos, face painting, hair braiding and a Q & A session with each princess were also featured highlights! All proceeds benefitted local women’s shelters and hospitals serving California mothers in need. This was a great event and something that the California Mothers Association hopes to make an annual tradition.

They also learned about the activities being planned for the AMI National Conference from National President, Joan Braitsch.

Georgia

Members and friends of the Georgia Mothers Association served a Mother’s Day Breakfast to homeless mothers from two shelters in the Atlanta downtown area on Mother’s Day. Ruth Manning, President of the Georgia Association said, “I have a special place in my heart for these women, and each year we shower them with love.” Well, we love our Georgia Moms and have been inspired by this incredible outpouring of love for other mothers.

DC Metro

Mothers from the Virginia, DC and Maryland Associations gathered at the National Press Club in Washington DC to celebrate and recognize past, present and current honorees.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| Association News Idaho

Oklahoma

Members of the Idaho Association went to the State Capitol to recognize and honor this year’s award recipients. Idaho Governor Butch Otter, was in attendance to present these inspirational Idaho mothers with citations and special remarks.

Maine

Oklahoma Mothers filled the state capitol to recognize three incredible women and hear Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin laud the positive impact Oklahoma mothers have made in the state. The 2015 Oklahoma honorees were also recognized by members of the Legislature.

Puerto Rico

The Maine Association sponsored their annual Christmas Party at a shelter for children where they brought a quilt and a present for each child. Of course, this yearly tradition would not be complete without the 2010 Mother of the Year, Elaine Allen’s, specialty peanut butter balls. The mothers sang songs with the children and served refreshments. This has been an special event for our Maine Mothers each year.

Nebraska

The membership of the Puerto Rico Association continues to grow at a rapid pace which has allowed them to complete over 10 special projects around the Island which impacted countless mothers totaling over 1,067 in kind hours devoted to service. The Puerto Rico Association also successfully opened a new headquarters in January of this year in the Capitol City of San Juan. Congratulations Puerto Rico on your many successes this past year!

South Dakota

The Nebraska Mothers sponsored a quiz bowl for 7th, 8th and 9th grade students as an annual fundraiser for their state association. Forty-two teams participate each year and the event has become so popular that they have to turn some schools away. Members of the Nebraska Association of American Mothers register students, lead as round judges and readers. It is a wonderful and inspiring fundraiser.

The 2015 Mother of the Year, Lynn Starzl and her daughter, Elizabeth Koerner, the 2015 Young Mother from South Dakota have been busy with radio and media interviews discussing issues impacting mothers and children in the state. They have also enjoyed representing South Dakota mothers in a local parade.

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The American Mother Magazine

National News |

Officers at Work The Executive Officers on the National Board of Directors met twice over the summer. In June, a planning retreat was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where they spent time discussing future projects and collaborations and met with members of the Oklahoma Association. In August, they met in Colorado where they focused on planning the 2016 National Conference that will be held in Washington DC.

Pictured is 2015 National Mother of the Year Deb Stanaland, with past National Mothers of the Year Barbara Thompson and Dianne Callister.

Exciting plans for AMI were made at the Executive Officers retreat in Grand Lake, Colorado.

Welcome Cathy Keating

Welcome Arlo Sorenson

Welcome Connell Branan

Cathy Keating, former First Lady of the State of Oklahoma and 2015 National Mother of Achievement Award Winner, will serve as CoChairman of the American Mothers Advisory Council.

Arlo Sorenson, is a certified public accountant and former CEO of the M.H. Whittier Corporation. He will serve as Chairman of the American Mothers Advisory Council.

Connell Branan, a past National Young Mother of the Year and National Board President, will serve as Chief Operating Officer for American Mothers. She will work closely with the Office and National Board on IT, marketing, communications, partnerships and contributing to the organization’s overall strategy.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.ÂŽ

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| Honor

Meet

America’s

Mom Deb Stanaland,

2015 National Mother of the Year®

By Brandon Carter

On any given day there are between 50-60 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in residence at the YWCA Oklahoma City’s shelter for battered women and their children.

They’re families torn asunder, victims of violence forced to flee as urban refugees. Approximately 500 women a year stay in the shelter and an additional 20,000 individuals receive services provided by the YWCA. Men receive services from the agency as well.

About The Author Brandon Carter is a freelance writer and public relations professional from Salt Lake City. He can be reached at bscarter@gmail.com

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Some have better days ahead, with new lives and opportunities waiting to be found with the help of the advocates, counselors and economic empowerment program; help provided through trauma informed processes that assist them in maneuvering court proceedings, obtaining clothing, employment, childcare, housing, medical care, a safety plan and the ability to obtain self-sufficiency.

Others will walk back into the situations they once escaped, believing the abuser that he will change, that “it” will never happen again. They go back with a little bit of extra knowledge about the dynamics of abuse, the knowledge that they deserve to be respected and the right to live a life free of violence, they have a safety plan, and they have the knowledge that there is a safe place to come back to if they need to escape again.

donors. She oversees the fundraising for the agency, the facilities, including project manager for the new shelter that will be completed this month, and the resale shop which provides clothing for the clients and generates income for the agency. Later she might be found giving a presentation on the links between domestic violence and animal abuse or as the Keynote speaker for a community event. She serves as Chair of the Oklahoma State Victims Compensation Board, appointed by two Governors, consecutively, and as a member of the Oklahoma State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, appointed by the Attorney General.

Deb knows the situation well because she’s been there before. 25 years ago she was in the same shoes as many of the YWCA clients. She took a self-made opportunity to escape from an abusive situation—or, more accurately, a lifetime of it.

“Sometimes an individual will return ten years later,” says the YWCA’s Chief Support Services Officer, Deb Stanaland. “It may be the same abuser or a different And now, her life is dedicated to people relationship. But each time they come to who are where she once was: trapped us, they leave armed with knowledge and in abusive relationships, with a lifetime resources that makes them stronger.” of violence both behind and ahead, if Most days, Stanaland is visible around nothing changes. the facility. She’s kind of a hummingShe’s a ray of sunshine, a burst of bright bird, bouncing from one task to the energy, trying to bring some light to an next. One second she’s attending a otherwise bleak situation. It’s her paspartner agency meeting, the next she’s sion, and it’s why American Mothers at a computer working on finances, chose her as the National Mother of meeting with employees or talking to the Year.

The American Mother Magazine

Honor | Mind Control She left home at 16. She was just 19, and had only one semester of college before realizing she couldn’t work enough hours to support herself and take enough course hours to carry a full load. Her need to work full time led her to leave her studies, believing she would someday complete her degree.

Her new boss was a charming man who took a clear and decisive interest in her.

“We were engaged within three months and married two months later, which was really him pushing to move so fast,” Deb said. “He immediately moved us several hundred miles away from my family. He would control what I wore, my schedule, and I wasn’t allowed to work outside the home.”

The first of three daughters came a year and a half later. All the while, the man she loved grew more and more controlling, more aggressive and forceful.

Sometimes, that forcefulness would reveal itself in violent surges.

Escaping isn’t as easy as just walking out the door. As she’s quick to note, 75% of domestic violence homicides occur after the victim leaves the relationship, or is suspected of planning to leave.

For 18 years Deb lived in fear and inadequacy. Along the way, however, she gained footholds. First it was a job.

Then it became an education. Then it became a plan.

“I kept telling him that I was going to go, and I gave him an opportunity to turn it around,” she said. “He didn’t believe I would do it.”

Despite her husband’s opposition, Deb earned her degree in Family Studies from Southern Nazarene University.

The completion of her education gave her an important advantage over her abuser in a critical area: an opportunity for financial independence.

“Abusers will use the kids as leverage, and because they’re usually the ones earning more money or the only one working, they are often able to get However, as with many abusers, his typi- the children in a divorce,” Deb says. cal mode of operation was far more sub- “many victims have no financial versive. A battered women isn’t always independence.” identified by black eyes and bruises. The “My gift to myself for finishing my wounds are often deep and buried in the degree was to leave,” she says now. psyche, and have a much longer lasting effect than a punch or kick.

It wasn’t just the end of 18 years of abuse and torment: as with many domestic abuse victims, the mistreatment started long before adulthood.

A Childhood Stolen People who grow up in an abusive home are 700 times more likely to be in an abusive relationship as an adult. The same applies to the perpetrators - it’s an endless cycle of abuse that, to both victim and abuser, represents normalcy.

Deb was raised in an abusive family. Her father was a controlling bully at best, taking a physical and emotional toll on her mother and siblings.

“When you grow up with that, when that’s what you learn, you just accept it as an inevitable part of a relationship,” she noted. “I didn’t know I had any choice but to stay when my new husband ground an ice cream cone into my face the first week we were married.”

When Deb walked away from that 18 year marriage, she thought she was leaving the abuse behind.

“There was some physical abuse, but most of it was verbal and emotional,” Deb said. “Abuse is about a systematic pattern of behaviors that are used to control another individual. It was designed to get me to comply, to be afraid to say anything or speak out.”

“Abusers get the victims to believe that there isn’t anyone out there to help them. They get them to believe that it’s their fault.”

Bringing children into the world to love didn’t fix the situation. Over time, Deb realized that if she stayed, she could not provide the environment where her daughters could flourish and learn that they deserve to be loved, respected and honored.

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| Honor Almost Two years into her separation, a visitation with the kids turned into an argument. The argument escalated, at least on one side, and Deb found herself with a broken nose and broken vertebrae in her neck.

Thankfully, that was the last time she was a victim.

BETTER DAYS Today, life is good for Deb Stanaland.

She’s married to Brian Stanaland, a Battalion Chief for Oklahoma City Fire Department.

“Brian is a sweet guy, my daughters adore him,” she said. “He came into my life at just the right time, and he has been such a blessing.”

Like so many other abuse victims, Deb was skeptical at first. At some point his true colors had to show, right?

“I was shutting myself off from being happy,” she said. “It really took my own twin brother to convince me that it was okay for me to be happy, that Brian loved me and it was okay for me to let my guard down.”

20 years later, he loves her daughters as his own. They adore their four grandsons, and enjoy nothing more than spending time with family. “The highlight of the week,” Deb says, “is cooking and enjoying Sunday dinners together.”

As Deb eases into her sixties, life finally feels like it’s supposed to.

Just don’t tell Deb that “normal” means “slowing down.” She’s got a lot of work to do, and she’s getting to it.

FROM VICTIM TO ADVOCATE “Victims need to become survivors first, and once they learn healthy coping skills and earn independence, they can help other victims,” Deb said. “24 years ago, when I left, I didn’t know there was a place to go for help. Now, the YWCA is known for providing a safe place and resources people need to know about.”

She has her work cut out for her. Oklahoma is third in the nation in women killed by men in domestic homicides — that’s the third most, the bad third, for those keeping score.

SHE’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE Over the course of several years, Deb has been instrumental in the charge for a new shelter that will more than double the capacity of victims the OKC YWCA can house at any given time.

The project involved over $15 million in fundraising, providing funds for the new facility, renovation of the current facility into an extended stay, and an endowment. The new shelter will open in September.

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The American Mother Magazine

Honor |

“There were so many incredible women that could’ve been chosen for this, who are doing so many amazing things…

I feel honored to represent all of them.”

Try and get her to talk about being named the National Mother of the Year, and mostly you hear about other people.

Her daughters, her friends, her colleagues. The Mothers of the Year from other states, the American Mothers leadership team, and so on.

“There were so many incredible women that could’ve been chosen for this, who are doing so many amazing things,” she said. “I feel honored to represent all of them. Their work is just as important as mine.”

While the spotlight is fixed on her, she hopes to utilize her position as National Mother of the Year to share the message that there is hope and help for those caught in the devastating state of domestic violence.

•

Ending domestic abuse isn’t just a noble cause for the sake of the victims.

Abusive spouses and family situations are the genesis for many of the ills plaguing society: •

Over 80% of female prison inmates have experience domestic violence or sexual abuse

•

The cost of domestic violence to businesses exceeds $5.8 billion a year, $4.1 billion of which goes directly to medical costs

•

In 70% of the cases in which an abused child dies, there has been a pattern of abuse against the mother

•

Male children who witness the abuse of their mothers by fathers are three times more likely to become men who batter in adulthood

•

Youth who witness domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, drop out of high school, become sexually active at an early age and commit other delinquent behavior In Oklahoma, 1/3 of all female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner.

The benefits of ending domestic abuse, or at least maximizing the number of victims who are extricated from the grips of violence, are countless. It’s a messy, dark world to live in.

That’s why we need the bright spots, the endless sources of light. That’s why we need people like Deb Stanaland.

Nominations Do you know an inspirational mother? Nominate that special mom who inspires others everyday at home, at work and in her community for Mother of the Year®.

Nominations are open from Mother’s Day through November 15, 2015 at www.americanmothers.org

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| Honor

Congratulations

2015 State Mothers

Vikki Solberg, AK

Charlene Rabren, AL

Bette Doxey, AZ

JoAnne Michels, CA

Linda Nargi, CO

Barbara Reynolds, DC

Ellen Barrosse, DE

Terri Gonzales, FL

Angie McLane, GA

Donna Ewert, IA

Sarah Curtis, IL

Erika Soelberg, ID

Theresa Cloutier, ME

Dara Feldman, MD

Corrine Bludworth, MT

Margaret Shaw, ND

Donna Lefler, NE

Ester Garcia, NM

Candy Krausman, NV

Deb Stanaland, OK

Aurora Lugo, PR

Lynn Starzl, SD

Julie Fine, TN

Linda Metcalf, TX

Jan Zogmaister, UT

Carol Willey, VT

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The American Mother Magazine

Trenches

Honor |

In The

Meet Heather Spencer,

2015 National Young Mother of the Year

By Brandon Carter Like a lot of mothers, Heather Spencer does not stop. Six kids, ranging from age 3 to 14, doesn’t allow for much downtime.

It’s no big deal to Heather; she’s been on the move her entire life. From attending 19 different schools as a child to a nearly nomadic life as the wife of an Army officer, constant motion has always been the norm for her.

Preordained Love At age 19, Heather and a group of friends went on a triple date, where she would meet the man of her dreams, a 25 year-old 2nd Lieutenant in the Army who was stationed in Korea at the time.

He was also someone else’s date that night.

“I went home that night and told my Mom that I thought I had met the man I was going to marry,” Heather says. “I prayed for him for 14 months before he asked me out on a date to the Fort Knox Armor Ball in December of 1999.” They married in July, the following year.

One week after graduating in June 2001, Heather gave birth to Sam. The next year would bring about the terrorist attacks of 9/11, a swift move to Fort Riley, Kansas, and an eventual deployment in early 2003. Just before leaving, Greg was able to see his second child born.

Ethan was born with a club foot and required a special cast to correct it not to mention an inordinate amount of his mom’s attention and energy. As she had done from the beginning of her life, Heather managed to compartmentalize her fear for Greg’s safety as well as her determination to give her kids the life her own parents were able to give her.

“I was scared,” she says. “We lost a lot of friends. I was always fearful of the ‘knock on the door.’”

A Child in Motion Heather’s life of perpetual motion began in Memphis, but soon moved wherever the career of her engineer father took their unit of five. First England, then Merritt Island, Florida, and then Louisville, Kentucky.

Just before turning nine, Heather, her parents, her brother, and a baby sister moved back to her father’s hometown of Louisville, thus beginning 11 years of being in a singular location. Sort of.

“From kindergarten to high school I went to nine different schools,” Heather points out.

“I had a wonderfully typical American childhood,” she says. Seems as if she were destined for the often-nomadic life of a military wife.

War and Peace Heather beams when speaking of her husband’s service during two deployments in Iraq.

“I am so proud of every single soldier who has ever served but I am especially proud of the incredible men of Alpha

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

Company, 1-13 Armor, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.”

As the days piled up in the dusty desert of Iraq, Greg began to earn his way up the chain of command. In October, 2003, he became the commander of a Alpha Company, conducting raids, patrolling roads, and constantly searching for IEDs. The group also built schools and worked with local Iraqis.

Meanwhile his wife was bouncing back and forth from Kansas to home in Kentucky, often driving by herself and relying on her parents to help out.

Communication with Greg during the first deployment of Operation Iraqi Freedom I was sparse and sporadic. Greg and his unit slept in old buildings, eating MREs with little to no contact with the outside world.

“I would hear from him about every 7-10 days,” Heather remembers. “I wrote him almost every day but his job was very stressful and time consuming so he didn’t always have time to write me back.”

Greg’s brigade returned home from March 2004 through 2005, but it didn’t provide much downtime. “They trained almost the entire time to go back to Iraq,” Heather says.

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| Honor Fortunately Greg was able to be there for the birth of Gabe, days before redeploying back to Iraq. His second deployment, at a forward operating base, was in better accommodations than the ruins of Baghdad, but communication with his family in the pre-Skype, pre-Facebook era was still minimal.

“When the guys are reintegrating after deployment they tell the men to not come home and try to change ANYTHING at first,” Heather recalls. “I can still remember Greg waking up the first day after the first deployment. I got up with him and just followed him all over the house, staring at him.”

Both he and his wife were keenly aware each day of the danger to his life. But thankfully, he came home for good in January 2006.

Heather continues, laughing: “He came into the kitchen and opened the silverware drawer and casually mentioned “It was so hard to be apart for 11 months that he didn’t like the way I had it organized….he should have listened at those with almost no contact, then apart for another full year,” Heather says. “A wife reintegration classes because I wanted to stab his hand with a fork!” of an army chaplain once told me that marriages aren’t designed to be apart for The difficulty of the adjustment doesn’t a year. She is so right!” just fall on the soldiers. It’s a quick Greg would be gone a total of 23 months change for the spouses, who have a partner back in their lives, but in many ways, from April 2003 to January 2006. another person to take care of.

A (Kind of) Normal Life

“It’s tough when they come back,” she says. “You’ve been running and doing everything for a year and it’s hard having them come back in.

As any military spouse can attest, war doesn’t end for our soldiers when they come home. After months in the most dire and intense situations, the transition “It was also really hard for me to share into civilian life can be rocky. the TV!” And so it was with Greg, Heather, and the boys.

“I am so proud of every single soldier who has ever served…”

But the family has managed and continues to make the most of each day. Greg retired last year and is now a contract administrator for a power company in Louisville. Greg and Heather added three more children, including a little girl, Abby, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Two of the boys suffer from ADHD, keeping their parents on their toes. The kids “love their father desperately, but they’re still momma’s boys.”

Young Mother of the Year Heather was nominated as the Kentucky Young Mother of the Year by a high school friend. After receiving that honor, she hadn’t expected to be awarded the national honor. American Mothers recognized her embodiment as the epitome of the everyday military mother.

“I am passionate about soldiers,” she says. “I live with a soldier who feels like a 100 year old man. Our army life was wonderful but was hard on his body, his mind and his soul.”

Heather has already met with Heather French Henry, the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. “I hope to work closely with American Mothers and with her organization to bring awareness to the lives of military families after war,” Heather says.

Meanwhile, as she’s quick to point out, even the National Young Mother of the Year isn’t able to get everything right.

And that’s just fine.

“Right now, my three year old should have taken a nap and has a disgusting nose, my children have watched way too much TV today, my bed’s not made and I’m pretty sure there were some kind of small beetles in my kids’ raisins that I fed them for lunch. But we’ve all survived the day, they know they are loved, and tomorrow is a new day!”

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The American Mother Magazine

Honor |

Congratulations

2015 State Young Mothers Ashley Gann, AL

Valerie Owens, AK

Courtney Gehl, AZ

Amanda Nolan, CA

Shalyn Heath, CO

Orli Katz, CT

Layli Miller-Muro, DC

Betsy Opyt, FL

Nanette O’Neil, GA

Laurie Horita, HI

Anna McHargue, ID

Heather Spencer, KY

Rachel Stuker, LA

Alyscia Cunningham, MD

Laura McKee, MT

Barb Solomon, NE

Erin Phillips, NV

Tamara South, NY

Anneli Osmond, ND

Meg Alexander Ille, OK

Maria Santiago, PR

Elizabeth Koerner, SD

Bethany Paterno, TX

Marilyn Bazinet, UT

Jean Chiang, VA

April Haberman, WA

Stephanie Rogers, WI

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| Honor

2015

National Mothers of

Achievement ELAINE HILL Elaine Spears Hill grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. After college she married an Army officer and during her husband’s twenty-year Army career, Elaine earned an MS Degree in Psychological Counseling and worked for years in the social services field. At age 52, Elaine was diagnosed with breast cancer. During recovery she dedicated the rest of her life to helping others diagnosed with the disease. She began by co-founding Y-ME Chattanooga, an affiliate of the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. For over 22 years this nonprofit organization, which for its first five years operated out of Elaine’s basement, has provided breast cancer education, support and therapy groups, financial assistance, and educational workshops for women diagnosed with breast cancer. In addition to recognition for her work with breast cancer survivors, Elaine has received numerous community service awards, and has served on more than fifteen nonprofit boards in the community.

PAM KANALY Pam Kanaly, author, speaker, and former national television talk show co-host, brims with passion in empowering women as beacons of light in their families and world. As co-founder of Arise Ministries, a national organization, Pam instructs thousands of mothers – single and married - in parenting well. Having appeared in national magazines and TV programs, Pam takes the lead as one of Oklahoma’s foremost advocates for mothers. Pam’s service to Oklahoma expanded after being appointed by Governor Fallin as a Commissioner for the Department of Human Services.

As co-founder for both the statewide single mothers’ conference – Survive ‘N’ Thrive – and the regional leadership conference - Ignite, mothers gain insight in how to make a difference in their homes and communities. Pam and her husband, Rich, reside in Edmond, Oklahoma; yet, her fondest title remains – Grammy Pammy – to seven grandchildren. Ask anyone. Pam’s life motto fits her perfectly: LET – IT – SHINE!

CATHY KEATING Cathy Keating was born and reared in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, she married Frank Keating, had three children and embarked on the never-ending challenge of balancing life as a wife and mother with community service and career. For the forty-three years of their marriage, her priority has always been family first. Community service has also been a focus in her life since childhood, but her most significant contributions occurred while serving the state of Oklahoma as First Lady. Most specifically, her efforts were concentrated on the rescue and recovery of those effected from the Oklahoma City Alfred P. Murrah bombing, where Keating planned and organized the International Prayer Service, then published In Their Name, which was on the New York Times bestseller list. All proceeds were directed to “Project Recovery.” She currently strives to be a “Mother of Achievement” in all aspects of her life.

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The American Mother Magazine

Honor |

Congratulations

2015 State

Mothers of Achievement Janette Gleason, AZ

Donna Georgino, CA

Rita Loof, CA

Audra Wilford, CA

Marilynn Doenges, CO

Jeanie Bates, DC

M. Jane Brady, DE

Kimberly Resnick, DE

Evelyn Ortiz-Smykla, FL

Renee Smith, GA

Cheryl Wood, MD

Aruna Seth, ND

Santa Nieves-Rivera, PR

Gladeeh Begaye, UT

Juliann Jeppsen, UT

Michelle Linford, UT

Christina Myers, UT

Elizabeth Lodal, VA

2015 American Mother of Achievement, Robin McGraw Robin McGraw, philanthropist, entrepreneur, television personality and two-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, is committed to her mission to inspire women to live their best lives. A daily presence on the Dr. Phil show since its inception, viewers worldwide have embraced Robin’s contributions to the show; whether it be discussing her experiences as a wife, mother and grandmother, or dealing with issues that women face in the many phases of their lives. She has also been a frequent guest on The Doctors, created and Executive- Produced by her son, Jay McGraw. Robin has worked for many years with a variety of philanthropic causes that serve to improve the lives of women and children. In September 2014, Robin was named the National Celebrity Spokesperson for Girl Scouts of the USA, and will lend her voice and influence to the organization’s mission to enable girls across the country to reach their greatest potential and be empowered to lead wherever they live, work and play. Robin and Dr. Phil, whom she fondly refers to as “Phillip,” have been married for 38 years and have raised two sons, Jay Phillip and Jordan Stevens. Robin continues to make her family, which now includes daughter-in-law Erica, and two grandchildren, Avery Elizabeth and London Phillip, the priority in her life.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| Honor

American Mothers Lifetime Achievement Award

Sue Hickenlooper

The American Mothers Lifetime Achievement Award is given for outstanding achievements and inspiring contributions over decades, which strengthen American Mothers and supports mothers and children everywhere.

Sue Hickenlooper’s introduction to American Mothers came in 1978 while behind a stage curtain at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel as part of the ‘Singing Mothers’ accompanying the ceremony for the National Mother of the Year®.

The curtain opened to show a great ballroom filled with mothers and families waiting for the exciting announcement that evening. “It was a beautiful and impressive sight,” and sparked her interest in an organization that would sponsor such an event. From that introduction, Sue became involved with countless National Conventions, served on the National Board as an Area Coordinator for the Northeastern states, was named the Executive Director of the organization for seven years, and served as National President from 2005-2007.

Highlights of her time as Executive Director and National President were participation in exciting public relations and service opportunities with Kraft Foods, Hallmark Greetings, Frontispiece in the widely distributed Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul which referenced AMI as official sponsor of Mother’s Day and Mother of the Year, and a Family Circle magazine article on “America’s Super Moms.”

Sue also worked with Redglass Pictures, a documentary film co. in NYC. They produced a film showing the experience of 3 state Young Mothers from their homes to the convention in New York City and the naming of the “National Young Mother of the Year.”

The film was shown at film festivals in the US and widely distributed in Europe where there was great interest.

Circle of Excellence!

The CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE award of American Mothers, Inc. is given to a State Association which most clearly exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of American Mothers. American Mothers champions women by honoring, educating and serving mothers at home, at work, and in the world. This award is given annually as appropriate at the national conference to a state association who in turn, receives a check in the amount of $1,000 from a very generous, anonymous donor whose passion is to support mothers and families across the country and the world.

Congratulations to the Utah Association of American Mothers, the 2015 Circle of Excellence Award Winner!

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The American Mother Magazine

Sue protected the 501(c)3 status of American Mothers by adhering to stipu- lations for that designation, and by traveling to Albany, New York for meet- ings with tax officials. She also represented the organization as a delegate to United Nations. Attending the 1999 World Congress of Families II in Geneva, Switzerland, Sue was impressed to see people from over 150 countries working together to support families.

Married to Monte Hickenlooper, they have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. Since 1978, Sue has been a devoted member of American Mothers, and for her service and leadership Susan N. Hickenlooper is awarded the coveted American Mothers Lifetime Achievement Award.

Honor |

2015 Thompson Gift Recipient The Barbara Thompson Gift of $1000.00 is given annually to support a needful and deserving mother, child, or worthy cause. U.S. District Judge Ralph G. Thompson, Barbara’s husband, funds this award in honor of his wife, the 1995 National Mother of the Year, for her generosity and loving concern for the mothers and children of this country.

Nominations are submitted online by members, leaders and friends of American Mothers.

Congratulations to Christina Myers from Utah, this year’s recipient of the Barbara Thompson Gift.

Pictured, left: Lisa Thompson Campbell, the daughter of Barbara and Ralph Thompson, presents the Thompson Gift during the 2015 National Conference in Washington DC.

Meet the Team Lela Sullivan is the 2nd Vice President and has served as the National Mother of the Year Search Chairman. Lela will be working closely with the Area Chairman and State Associations to coordinate this year’s search process.

Joyce Stevens is a past Nebraska Mother of the Year and currently serves as 3rd Vice President for American Mothers. Joyce will be working on the development and implementation of the American Mothers Ambassador Program, a national network connecting past and present American Mothers Award recipients.

Gerre Schwert is the 2014 National Mother of the Year and this year’s Mother of the Year Search Chairman. Gerre will be reaching out to government and state leaders at the local, state and national level to encourage nominations.

Debbie Sipos is a past National Young Mother of the Year and has served on the American Mothers National Board of Directors in various capacities. Debbie will be coordinating this year’s selection process for the National Mother of Achievement Award.

Nominate!

For 81 years, American Mothers has been a driving force in championing women by honoring, educating and serving mothers. Offering programs that target key issues facing mothers and children, it has been a source of support for families and has provided a network for sharing experiences with mothers of all ages and backgrounds.

By selecting the National Mother of the Year and Mothers of Achievement from nominees across the country, American Mothers continues to promote women and the significant impact they are making on a local, national and international level.

To nominate that special mother you know, go to www.americanmothers.org and hit the nominate button! It’s as easy as filling out a simple form.

The deadline for all nominations is November 15, 2015!

Mom Strong from the archives In March of 1931, Eleanor Roosevelt issued a press release announcing the formation of a Golden Rule Mothers Day Committee to help mothers and children in need. Formally organized in 1933 as a division of JC Penny’s Golden Rule Foundation, the Golden Rule Mothers Day Committee established a fund to help Americans “Celebrate Mother’s Day the Golden Rule Way” by giving to ‘dependent mothers and needy children.’ By 1935, the organization, under the chairmanship of Sara Roosevelt, named the first American Mother of the Year…and, the rest as they say, is history!

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| Get Involved

Do You Know a

5th grader?

Millions of children are back in school, and American Mothers is announcing the start of the 2016 National 5th Grade Essay Contest.

A handwritten essay of 150 words on “What My Mother Means to Me” encourages students from around the country to celebrate their mothers and the important role mothers play in their lives.

Entries are being accepted now through January 15, 2016 when each state selects their essay to be entered into the national competition. Monetary prizes, and an invitation to the American Mothers National Conference to accept their award, will be given to the top essay winners.

Winning State Essays will be announced on February 15 and winning National Essays on March 15. Parents or teachers who would like their fifth grader’s class to participate are asked to contact info@americanmothers.org or visit www.americanmothers.org for complete rules and information. We can’t think of a better gift for mom then to hear how much she means to her children!

Top Tips for Terrific Essays from Skoolbo Have fun putting these top tips into your own writing and all the best with your entry into the 5th Grade Essay contest sponsored

by American Mothers.

Top Tip 1: Put YOU into your writing!

As a 5th grader, you have been on Earth for about 10 years. That’s about 87,660 hours of memories and experiences you can add into your writing. You can also include ideas from what you have learned from reading books, watching TV and talking to people.

Top Tip 2: Write from your heart and your head! As well as what you know and have experienced, you have wonderful feelings and opinions to include in your writing. Listen to your inner voice! This helps your writing to be unique. The contest topic of “What My Mother Means to Me” is perfect for this top tip!

(Just remember, that some writing tasks require you to write formally. An information report contains lots of facts about a particular topic. A procedure explains the process of doing something like baking a cake. A newspaper article is a recount of an event. You tend to avoid using your own voice in these styles, and don’t include words like ‘I’ or ‘my’; you simply stick to the facts.)

Top Tip 3: Make it match! Follow essay guidelines carefully so that your writing matches the requirements. Grab a

highlighter pen /tool and highlight all the important words in the guidelines. When you finish your draft, ask yourself, “Have I stuck to the guidelines?” “Is my writing a great match?” Pat yourself on the back for following them.

Top Tip 4: Use treasure words. These are words that make your writing come alive and helps the reader form interesting pictures in their mind. Treasure words are descriptive and offer important details.

Have you used a thesaurus before? You can search for words that have similar meanings. Look up some of the words you have used in your draft and see if you can change them to more adventurous words.

Top Tip 5: Go the extra mile! Great essays often require careful planning.

Spend 10 minutes jotting down ideas, knowledge and potential treasure words before you begin drafting. And, before you publish, read your writing over and over, listening to the way it flows. Making improvements at this stage turns a good essay into a masterpiece! To check for spelling mistakes, try reading your essay backwards – it makes you look at one word at a time!

Anita Knight, Director of Learning, www.skoolbo.com

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The American Mother Magazine

What My

Mother Means to Me James Corley, Louisiana 2015 National 5th Grade Essay Winner

Get Involved |

About our 5th Grade Essay Contest Sponsor Skoolbo is a learning company that uses games as the central medium for learning. The Skoolbo team of educators and developers spanning the globe are committed to creating accessible learning solutions for both developed and developing countries. Skoolbo’s dream is that every child learns to read and gains confidence with numbers. Skoolbo has offices in London, Canberra, Los Angeles, Singapore, Chicago, NYC, Auckland and Ho Chi Minh.

Connor Thompson Idaho

Angelina Sughroue Nebraska

2nd Place Winner

3rd Place Winner

Published by American Mothers, Inc.ÂŽ

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MOM STRONG What Sons and Daughters Need from Their Moms

By Cheri Fuller A little boy once told me, “My mother is the best gift I ever got.” Those words touched my heart, but also made me think: Surely our children are some of the best gifts we moms ever received! Aren’t we grateful to be our children’s mothers?

Moms today are raising their children in a very challenging time: from the hectic pace of life to worries about bullying, nutrition, the overuse of technology and dangers on Social Media, education, and how to balance time between work and home, moms have a lot on their plates. Even with these obstacles, mothers endeavor to meet our children’s needs so they grow up healthy and have a great start in life.

Let’s look at a few of those important needs our children have.

LOVE AND NURTURE. We all know that one of children’s major needs is for love and nurture.

Moms today are very intentional about developing a close attachment with their babies so they develop a sense of emotional security, belonging, and safety—factors that foster children’s healthy development behavior throughout their lives.

This is true not only for girls but also for boys. A mother’s love is perhaps the most powerful, positive influence on a son’s development and life. How a mom responds to her young son—the way she cuddles, kisses and reassures, teaches, and loves—makes an indelible imprint and shapes his capacity for a 22

great emotional start—and even affects how he relates to others later as a husband and father.

STAYING CONNECTED. While moms aim to bond with their children early-on, the biggest hindrance to keeping that connection as your girl or boy grows is the distraction of digital devices—at the top of the list of hindrances to being present and engaged with our children! This generation of mothers is the most wired, digitally-connected generation of women in history; I admire and love them!

Yet while there are advantages to this tech-saavy ability—like staying connected with far-away friends or online shopping instead of standing in long lines Christmas shopping at the mall—when there’s a compulsive sense of urgency to be posting, texting, or updating your status on Social Media, kids begin to feel like mom’s online friends are more important than they are.

Angie, one of the directors, said, “The biggest change we’re seeing is how many moms pick up their children in carpool line while they’re on their smartphones. Their kids get in the car and zoom in on the movie already turned on in the backseat, ready for viewing. Mom hands back a fast food meal in a bag without missing a beat in her digital connection with friends. Or she walks down the hall to the school offices, with her child behind her, while she’s attached to her phone texting or talking. ” There is no “Hi Honey, how was your day?” or “What’s the best thing you did this morning?” No talking with their child in the car or sitting together; it’s meals on the go instead of chatting at home while eating lunch.

“The children are lacking real connection and conversation with their moms.

The result we see in the classroom is the majority of these children don’t talk or communicate as well as their students did even three to five years While speaking at an educational con- ago.” In contrast, teachers see the ference in California last spring, sevparents of more verbal kids talking with eral directors of early childhood centers them as soon as they get in the car or told me the biggest changes they’re walk down the hall together: ‘How was seeing in children from five years ago your day? What is your favorite thing isn’t more discipline problems. Instead, you learned today at school?”

The American Mother Magazine

Feature | Surely we must each find a way to balance digital and social media use with the vital need our children have for their moms to be present, engaged, and connected—all through their growing up years.

BEING AN ENCOURAGER. Another strong need is for moms to be their children’s encouragers. At some point along the way, all our children will encounter adults who unkindly criticize or kids who say mean words on the playground. The world is full of people and events that discourage them, but as a mother, you have the ability to counter the negative with loving words of encouragement.

Never underestimate their power!

dence when his controlling mother dominates and criticizes him. Anything he did, his mother had a better way, “This is how I would have done it” or “You made the wrong choice; I’m disappointed.” Though he was a very bright man, he agonized at every bend in the wrong, fearful he’d make a mistake.

Instead, we can build confidence in sons and daughters as we: • Give them room, time, opportunities and space to be outside, to explore, to use their boy or girl energy and be adventurous.

• Give them choices and affirm their decisions instead of saying, “You should have done it this other way.”

• Let them speak for themselves as Speaking words that nourish and early as they can, like ordering at a inspire your children helps them grow restaurant, instead of always speaking up with confidence, hope, and even a for them. And maybe order for you! stronger connection with you—because • When they make a mistake, respond kids move toward people who encour“What can you learn from this?” age them; they move away from those instead of “I told you so.” who discourage them.

But let me encourage you to use “process or effort praise” (commending their efforts, hard work and actions) rather than “person praise” (complimenting their intelligence or talent— i.e., “You’re a genius” when your son makes a high grade on a math test; or “You’re going to be the next Olympic gymnast” when your daughter wins a local competition.) The result from this kind of praise? They’ll be more open to challenges and believe they can improve by working hard.

DVELOPING CONFIDENCE. One of the greatest needs of boys—and girls—today is to develop confidence.

My friend Jennifer had in mind that she was raising men, not boys, from the time her three boys were very young.

These little fellas are going to be grown someday, she thought as she held each of her baby boys. I want to raise men who are confident so when they make a decision, they don’t agonize and second-guess themselves.

She’d seen firsthand in her husband’s life how a man struggles with making decisions and doesn’t develop confi-

• When they have a problem to solve, give them practice, resources, show them how to make a pro-con list, discuss the problem together—but don’t give all the answers. “You can figure this out,” goes a long way to help kids to become good problemsolvers. If they are rescued and always told what to do, if we fix and solve everything, they develop a sense of inadequacy.

Girls today especially need moms who help manage their digital world. Many parents are involved and attentive in their girls’ lives, except for their cell phone and Internet use. There is clear evidence all around us that girls today

have a vital need for moms who can help them stay safe in the Internet world and develop healthy digital habits.

Think about it this way: the Internet is like a huge city that has great resources like museums and beautiful parks. You wouldn’t let your daughter hang out in the middle of the night in the dark alleys or those parks all alone. In a similar way, moms need to make sure their children aren’t in harms way on the Internet.

Having parental safeguards in place can prevent cyber bullying, and the resulting suicides and depression that have led to tragedies all over the country. Even with teens, there needs to be some involvement—not because you don’t trust your daughter, but that you don’t trust all the people on Social Media. While I’ve referred to girls in this section, because digital use is a critical issue with girls and young women, our boys also need supervision online to make sure they aren’t engaged in harmful behavior.

Let me encourage you that rather than worrying about your kids, which women are prone to do, make time for praying with a few other mothers for your children. As you do, give God your burdens and fears and you will control and dominate less and actually enjoy your fleeting years of mothering more. Don’t put off joy until the house is perfectly decorated, your child’s behavior has shaped up, or you’ve lost those twenty pounds! Gratefully receive each day as a gift, and even in challenging times be filled with joy that God picked you out of all the mothers in the world to be your children’s mom.

About The Author Cheri Fuller is a speaker and an award-winning author of over 45 books that have impacted people in America and around the world. In 2004 she was named the Oklahoma Mother of the Year. Cheri and her husband live in Edmond, Oklahoma, have three grown children and six grandchildren. She is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Messages Project that conducts prevention and literacy programs for children of incarcerated parents. Her books can be found at amazon.com, bookstores or at www.CheriFuller.com.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| Educate

American Mothers and the

Commission on the

Status of Women American Mothers is a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. In March of this year, American Mothers sponsored a panel on Human Trafficking at the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York City.

Representatives from Operation Underground Railroad and Innocents at Risk, two national non-profits focused on this issue, addressed questions and discussed possible solutions to end the trafficking of women and children worldwide.

American Mothers

Global Coalition American Mothers, Inc. is leading a global coalition focused on improving the lives of mothers and families to promote intergenerational solidarity around the world.

American Mothers will host a panel(s) discussion during the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, March 2016. The panel will focus on issues impacting mothers worldwide. Plan to join with us and have your voice heard!

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Through the collaborative efforts of international organizations and communities, the Global Motherhood Coalition offers a comprehensive approach to research, services, and action with the mission of promoting best practices in motherhood and improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and children.

Pictured, left: National Board Members meet with Swedish mothers during the UNCSW in New York.

The American Mother Magazine

Educate |

Pictured are members of the California Association of American Mothers, a sponsor of the OURescue Run which raised over $35K benefitting Operation Underground Railroad.

Human Trafficking — Mothers Eyes on the World American Mothers seeks to raise awareness about Human Trafficking in the United States and around the globe. Human Trafficking destroys freedom and happiness for thousands of children every day in this country and across the world, but you can make a difference! By knowing the telltale signs of trafficking, and by taking action, you can change the course of a child’s life for the better. Over 300,000 children are trafficked throughout the United States annually. These children can be hidden in plain sight—you may even have seen them. American Mothers, Inc.®, and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), both 501(c)(3) charitable organizations are working together to educate mothers on ways to identify trafficking and how to take action.

Learn how to identity the key signs of trafficking, who to contact, and what other actions can further protect the children of our communities. We hope you will join us by empowering mothers with the tools they need to help raise awareness about Human Trafficking. Educational Brochures are available for download on our website.

Clinton Global Initiative American Mothers recently accepted an invitation to join the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an organization dedicated to convening global leaders to create innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. As a result, American Mothers will be partnering with CEOs in business, government leaders and other NGOs to improve the lives of mothers and children domestically and around the globe.

National Board of Directors During the 2015 American Mothers National Conference, members of the National Board met with Senator Bob Corker (Tennessee), on Capitol Hill to express sincere gratitude on behalf of American Mothers for his efforts to stop human trafficking here at home and around the world. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Corker introduced the End Modern Slavery Act in Congress in February of this year.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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OPERATION

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD A VANGUARD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING In just its first year and a half of existence, the non-profit organization Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) has already rescued nearly 300 victims of human trafficking, of which a majority were children. O.U.R. is the brainchild of Timothy Ballard, who for 12 years served as a U.S. Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security.

As a member of the Internet Crimes against Children Taskforce and the U.S. Child Sex Tourism Jump Team, Ballard helped infiltrate and dismantle dozens of trafficking organizations that kidnapped children and forced them into the sex slave industry. Despite the positive experience of working side-by-side with dedicated U.S. government professionals, Ballard believed the strategies being employed didn’t do enough to rescue enslaved children. He felt helpless by the fact that the vast majority of child sex slaves fall outside the purview of developed nations, which meant that they were lost and unlikely to ever be 26

rescued. As a U.S. agent, Ballard would never be authorized to rescue children if their cases lacked a U.S. nexus or couldn’t be tried in a U.S. court. Feeling called to attack this problem from a different angle, Ballard left the U.S. government in October 2013, recruited a team of supporters from around the globe, and created Operation Underground Railroad.

Our mission is to rescue children from slavery and dismantle the criminal networks holding them captive. Rescued children are then reunited with their families (whenever possible) or placed with reputable recovery programs. O.U.R. undercover teams of former CIA and Special Operations personnel have dedicated their lives to rescuing enslaved children, always with the invitation and permission of local governments. We keep the respective U.S. Embassies informed of our activities, and have been fortunate to count The American Mother Magazine

on their support and participation in a number of our rescues. Our motto is, “We enter through the front door, or we do not go in at all,” and that formula has worked in countries as diverse as Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, and the United States.

The U.S. government is light years ahead of its foreign counterparts in the fight against human trafficking, but funding and restraints allow it to do only so much. In the meantime, thousands of children are being trafficked into the U.S. every year from Mexico and Central America, while hundreds of thousands are trafficked and forced into prostitution within these foreign countries. These countries do not have the resources or skills necessary to extract these victims and get them to safety.

O.U.R. crosses jurisdictional lines by offering the services of its skilled exgovernment and military officers to any

Feature | affected nation, which allows O.U.R. to intervene wherever justice is needed.

The scope of the problem is vast; there are an estimated 27 million enslaved human beings in the world: more slaves than ever existed during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Many are sex slaves, as sex trafficking represents the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. Many reputable organizations exist to disseminate information about this problem, and others function as aftercare organizations for victims. Very few, if any, dedicate themselves to the pro-active rescue and direct extraction of the victims, and to the capture and prosecution of their captors. Operation Underground Railroad fills this void. However, we are careful to ensure that the rescued children receive the rehabilitation and aftercare necessary to help them rebuild their lives. The liberated children are reunited with their parents whenever possible, but in the unfortunate cases where the children are orphans or, even worse, were sold into slavery by their parents or other family members, O.U.R. ensures that the host governments put the children into reputable shelters, orphanages, or safe houses. O.U.R. employees endeavor to visit the rehabilitation shelters every few months to ensure that the children are receiving high quality care, and we bring with us clothes, school materials, and other humanitarian supplies.

Our organization has in the past partnered with computer software companies that have helped us root out and pursue child pornographers, child rapists, and child traffickers. These initiatives led to some of the successful operations we conducted to date.

Based on feedback we’ve received from countries and embassies around the world and because of the constraints we’ve found in delivering the software, O.U.R. is currently developing its own online tool that will be at the cutting edge of anti-trafficking operations.

Because of the international impact this software will have, it is being designed with a federal focus in mind. This solution will empower law enforcement

agencies around the world to track not just sex offenders but people who are making or viewing child pornography who are traveling across borders to likely act out against children.

Because of the undercover skills of our operatives, foreign governments often seek out O.U.R. to assist in sting operations against child sex traffickers.

The largest and most successful rescue operation took place this past October in Colombia. In conjunction with Colombian government officials and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations working out of our Embassy in Bogotá, OUR led simultaneous operations in three

Despite our organization’s successes, we realize that nearly two million children are still out there being abused and trafficked in the worst form of slavery imaginable. It is our hope and prayer that they all will be freed someday, and it is our commitment and promise to dedicate all we have to rescuing them. This vast problem will never be stopped unless good people everywhere rise up and seek a solution, and that is the mission of the Operation Underground Railroad. Please join with us, and help O.U.R. children. www.OURrescue.org; blog.ourrescue.org

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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Colombian cities (Armenia, Cartagena, and Medellin) that resulted in the liberation of 123 trafficking victims—of which 55 were minors—and the arrest of some ten perpetrators. This was the largest recorded child trafficking rescue in history, and took months of painstaking investigation and pre-operation engagement with local officials and the perpetrators themselves. The details of the three operations were different, but each allowed O.U.R. to play to its strengths—impersonating the roles of would-be child sex tourists who were organizing sex parties for wealthy and influential Americans and Canadians.

We met early and often with the perpetrators to convince them of the seriousness of our plans, and to entice them to bring large numbers of minors to the party who we ultimately were able to liberate. In each undercover meeting our operatives wore concealed microphones and hidden cameras, which allowed us to capture high-quality evidence that Colombian prosecutors are using to build airtight cases against the arrested individuals.

type of sex party and sex tourism happens for real every day and in almost every part of our globe. As the publicity and recognition of our operations grow, we will be on the lookout for the need to continue to change tactics to thwart the bad guys and rescue more children. We are fortunate that we have the speed, skill, and agility to tailor our operations to each case and to each country. We are constantly on the lookout for experienced operatives who have worked the darkest corners of the world In a sad commentary on our society, the and who can come on board to help us reason that our cover story has worked expand our operations into Africa, Asia, so well and has been easily bought by and Europe. perpetrators is due to the fact that this

The U.S. government is light years ahead of its foreign counterparts in the fight against human trafficking, but funding and restraints allow it to do only so much.

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The American Mother Magazine

THANK YOU WORKING MOMS This spring, Express Employment Professionals polled working mothers as part of a special Mother’s Day survey, asking them, “Would you work if you didn’t have to?”

women returned to work within a year of their first baby’s birth in the 1960s, compared to 64 percent who returned to work in the 2000s.

Of those surveyed, 72 percent said yes, they would work if they didn’t have to, while 28 percent said they would not.

“To all mothers, those who work at home and those who work in another profession, we thank you for all that you do to support your families,” Funk said.

Express also polled working fathers, asking them the same question.

Among fathers, 80 percent said yes, they would work if they didn’t have to, and 20 percent said they would not.

“It’s fascinating to see the number of parents who would work outside the home for the love of the profession—and not just because they have to,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

“There’s a small difference between mothers and fathers in this survey, with fewer fathers saying they wouldn’t work if they didn’t have to. We’ll leave it to others to tell us why that is. The bottom line for us at Express is that we believe if you want to work, you should be able to find work. However, too many mothers and fathers still can’t find a job to meet their needs.”

Fifty years ago, it wasn’t common for mothers to be a part of the workforce, but that is no longer the case. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 70 percent of women with children under 18 participate in the labor force. This equates to roughly 31 million working American mothers.

When comparing the years 1961-1965 with years 2006-2008, this change in the labor force becomes even clearer. In the 1960s, only 44 percent of first-time mothers worked during their pregnancy, while 66 percent of first-time moms worked during their pregnancies in the 2000s. Additionally, only 17 percent of

About the poll: Express Employment Professionals polled 259 working mothers and fathers in May 2015 at the Express international headquarters in Oklahoma City and at their franchises throughout the United States.

About Robert A. Funk Robert A. “Bob” Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than five million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and was also the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve.

About Express Employment Professionals Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $2.85 billion in sales and employed more than 456,000 people in 2014. Express ranks as the largest franchised staffing company and second largest privately held staffing company in the United States. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually.

Published by American Mothers, Inc.®

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| Financial Review

Financial Review American Mothers continues its solid financial footing with a strong Endowment Fund and targeted spending. The National Board of Directors, complete with an elected Treasurer and Endowment Chair, oversees the fiscal health of this national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The investment firm of Morgan Stanley, along with our professional staff and CPA, assure that American Mothers benefits from conservative and informed financial management. Major annual expenses include the National Conference which fulfills our historic goal of honoring mothers, and gives these inspiring women an opportunity to network and consider critical topics to mothers with nationally recognized experts. Programming costs and disbursements to State Associations are also part of our major annual expenses.

through our Lifetime Membership initiative and the Honors and Memorials program. Expenses of American Mothers are offset by income from the Annual Convention, membership dues, donations and annual interest earned from the Endowment Fund investments.

The Expense Summary illustrates that the vast majority of funding is directed to the National Convention and other programs to meet the needs of mothers and children across the country. What is also important to note, while not shown on this chart, is a strong culture of volunteer commitment in American Mothers where members and leaders absorb significant expenses including travel to meetings and donation of resources to stretch the programming funds of American Mothers.

The Income Summary illustrates that the major- Our members are committed to the mission of ity of income is supplied by earnings from Ameri- championing women at home, at work, and in can Mothers Endowment Fund. We are indebted the world. to visionary women who established the Fund in 1957, and to all who contribute to its growth

Thank You to Our Generous Donors!

Underwriting Sponsor Express Employment Professionals

Visionary Barbara and Ralph Thompson Jesse Ball DuPont Foundation The Singer Foundation

In Kind Donations American Bankers Association Hylete Sportswear Neiman Marcus Skoolbo The Case Studio

Lifetime Members Afton Alder Shirley Baacus Forrest Baker 30

Louise A. Battle Helen and James Bean Irene Blore Della Mae Bork Marcia Van Zitter Borja Joan Braitsch Leslie Braitsch-Thompson Connell Branan Susan Brown Dianne Callister Sonya Carson, MD GeNeil Cheney Mary Compton Myrna Conde Virginia Cook Bertha Cooper Jean Crouch Betty Daudt Enid Davis Amanda DuPont The American Mother Magazine

Linda Fiterman Marcia Ford Shirley Foutz Peggy Gainer Vicki Gerlach Jane Griffith Dorothy Hammert Sue Hickenlooper Raelene Hill Cathy Keating Esther Kimberling Thelma Kouzes Dorothy Lee Helen Leon Carrie Leonard Barbara Jean Loar Ruth Manning Mary Martin Lucinda McArton Joy Weller Miller

Financial Review | Income Summary n Annual Convention Income (53%) n Endowment Fund (36%) n Program Income (5%)

n Direct Support & Other Income (6%)

Expense Summary n Convention Expenses (45%) n Business Expenses (13%) n Executive Director (13%) n Contract Services (9%)

Suzie Owens JaLynn Prince Jean Pryor Elba Rivera Ruiz Deen Day Smith Sanders Anna Schwab Lois Schwab Michelle Schwab Gerre Schwert Renee Smith Virginia Spurgin Lela Sullivan Deanne Taylor Ruth Ann Warner Gwen Webb Mollie and Henry Wolthuis Elizabeth Wright Linda Zenger

n Operations (9%) n Board Expenses (7%) n Miscellaneous (4%)

Legacy Givers Maria Amalbert Mary Bates-Washington Wanda Joy, Sandra & Henry Bowman Joan Braitsch Genevieve Champana Ruth Manning Yolanda Perez Joyce Stevens Lela Sullivan

Mom to Mom Scholarship Fund The Confidence Foundation Joan Braitsch Dianne Callister Sheila Monke Sabrina Wisher

Published by American Mothers, Inc.速

American Mothers is currently seeking Corporate Sponsors for our 2016 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. and our 2016 National Day of Service. Do you know a corporation that would like to reach women across this country and join us as a nationally recognized voice on issues impacting mothers? Please contact our 2015 Florida Young Mother and Corporate Outreach Chairman, Betsy Opyt at betsybobel@hotmail.com for more information.

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2016 American Mothers Annual Conference April 24-26, 2016 The Willard Hotel Washington DC Visit www.americanmothers.org for event details!