NORTH DAKOTA'S 2^nd ANNUAL FAMILY WEEK A STRONG SUCCESS

Citizens Across the State Respond Favorably to Maintaining Strong Family Values

(FARGO, ND) -- The North Dakota Family Alliance's (NDFA) 2^nd annual initiated North Dakota Family Week through Governor Hoeven's office joins 35 other states that are hosting Family Weeks this month.  Governor Hoeven proclaimed November 16 - 22 as Family Week for 2008.

Live radio broadcasts in Bismarck and Fargo with representatives from business, education, the military, and religious sectors aired across the state.  Hosted by Scott Hennen on The Scott Hennen Show, the hour-long interactive talk shows onsite at the Fargo and Bismarck Scheels stores kicked off the week, revealing that family values greatly affect the functions of this state.

"We promote strong family values because we know they strengthen every aspect of society, and we want to keep North Dakota and our nation strong," says Tom Freier, executive director of the NDFA.  "As the well-being of the family goes, so goes the health of almost everything else," he adds. 

Believing that strong families provide good employees, Goldmark's Brad Williams states, "Governor Hoeven signing this proclamation is a key to part of our success in North Dakota.  The character of the individuals - the work ethic that exists here - comes from a good strong family influence in the character and nature of the employees that we are fortunate to be able to have here."

Another business owner, Jon Lee of Bread Poets in Bismarck recalls, "I have very strong convictions that the greatness of this state was built on its small businesses - namely, the family farm."  He goes on, "We view ourselves as a family business, and encourage our employees as well to let their kids know what they do and have a sense of pride in where mom or dad works.  We try to support their lives around what is going on at home by allowing time for doctor's appointments, a family trip; we value (our employees) and therefore we value the things they need to do to get away from the business.  I think it creates a strong bond between employer and employee."

Rob Keller, North Dakota National Guard's Family Program Office Director, endorses the fact that strong families provide the best kind of military service member.  "We have five family assistance centers and an emergency relief fund to help military families stay strong, or to get strong.  We suggest the public do random acts of kindness to help these families - a plate of cookies, help with the kids, etc.  When the soldier comes home, they get a lot of ‘thank yous' but during the mobilization deployment, it is the spouse who is left behind.  With 4400 total guardsmen and airmen being deployed in North Dakota since September 11^th, 2001, in the small state that we have, chances are everyone in the state of North Dakota knows someone personally who has been deployed.  Do something for those families."  Jody Harms, also with North Dakota's National Guard, responds, "If I see someone in uniform, I say ‘thank you.'  It means a lot."

North Dakota's First Lady Mikey Hoeven adds, "So many studies have borne out showing that the more time you spend as a family unit, the less likely the children will become involved with drugs and alcohol, sexual promiscuity; the list goes on and on..."  She believes in keeping North Dakota strong by maintaining strong family practices.

Troy Cody of Fargo's North High School administration sees the family as a key element to a student's abilities in school.  He says, "Parents are the primary teachers. Teachers and school officials, not only in North Dakota but across the nation, have identified family involvement as the greatest priority for improving education.  One of the greatest predictors of a student's achievement is the extent to which parents are involved in their child's schooling."

Dr. Ross Reinhiller, superintendent of Bismarck's Shiloh Christian School, remarks, "We try to strengthen families at Shiloh by getting them together.  We're a faith-based institution.  We know folks are coming who want that faith aspect or a school that is going to teach the same values.  A lot of young moms and dads haven't grown up in families that have been strong in faith.  We give these moms and dads opportunities to gather together on Family Fun Nights to talk to other parents to informally learn what it is to be a Christian parent; that's been a pretty successful program."

Dave Motta, pastor at Fargo's Calvary United Methodist Church, has found a similar fact to be true... "As the family goes, so goes the church and the city, the state - even the nation."  Bishop Paul Zipfel in Bismarck agrees, "I think that (Family Week) is exactly what we need."

Tom Freier states, "The most valuable commodity provided to us by our Creator is time.  Let's share it with those we love most- our family."

Believing that the family is the foundation of society and that family values in North Dakota need protecting, the NDFA initiates and promotes key issues through legislation and public causes, including the promotion of Family Week.  In addition to the statewide awareness of Family Week through this proclamation and posters to every North Dakota school and church, many businesses draw attention to Family Week.

Sponsors Cornerstone Bank and Miller Insulation joined the Fargo and Bismarck Scheels stores in support of Family Week. 

The North Dakota Family Alliance is online at www.ndfa.org.

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Interview Talking Points

How are strong family values affecting aspects of society - schools, military, civic groups, churches, businesses?

Ways to spend family time...especially as the holidays approach

North Dakota is Focus on the Family's (Dr. James Dobson) 36^th state to have a family public policy organization in place through the NDFA

Statewide issues of importance to family values that the NDFA seeks to address in the 2009 ND legislative session

The NDFA's track record of involvement with family issues concerns in the last 2007 session

Successes the NDFA has experienced to help uphold marriage in North Dakota as being between one man and one woman

Some say ND could be the first state to ban abortions. How possible is this? And, what would it take?

The North Dakota Family Alliance is a Christian-based statewide non-partisan organization that exists to strengthen families, protect family values and defend religious freedoms by educating and empowering citizens. NDFA is online at www.ndfa.org, and is located in Fargo, ND at 3220 18^th Street South, Suite #8.

Copyright © 2008 North Dakota Family Alliance