NORTH DAKOTA FAMILY ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES "ND FAMILY WEEK," NOVEMBER 16-22, 2008

The NDFA Initiates a Week to Encourage Family Time All Around North Dakota

(FARGO, ND) -- The North Dakota Family Alliance's (NDFA) 2^nd annual Family Week begins Sunday, November 16^th.  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.

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven issued a Family Week Proclamation at the NDFA's request.  In addition to the statewide awareness of Family Week through this proclamation and posters to every North Dakota school and church, many businesses and various groups are drawing attention to Family Week.

The North Dakota National Guard is hosting a press conference Friday, November 14^th, at the Great Hall in the Capitol in Bismarck, 10 a.m., to give details of their statewide involvement focused on military families.  Rob Keller, the Guard's Family Program Office Director, also notes that November is Wounded Warrior Care Month.  The Guard supports and services the needs of 4300 North Dakota service members and their families.

Live radio remotes on AM1100 The FLAG during Family Week from the Bismarck and Fargo Scheels stores will draw further attention to the importance of family values across North Dakota.   As proud sponsors, Cornerstone Bank and Miller Insulation join Scheels in support of Family Week.  The live coverage features guests from the business, church, education and military sectors talking about how healthy families affect their perspectives.  Fargo's Scheels event occurs Monday, November 17^th, 9-10 a.m. and Bismarck's is Tuesday, November 18^th, 9-10 a.m.  Radio host Scott Hennen of The Scott Hennen Show will facilitate the broadcast.  The public is welcome to attend.

Bill Nelson of Scheels in Fargo recounts, "Family is one of our greatest treasures.  As a retailer with 4 young boys, a spouse and several hobbies, I have a personal story related to Family Week.  On a recent Sunday, I was at home busy trying to get all the fall yard work done before the snow flies.  I was on a mission and although my boys were with me, it was work, not quality time.  After a few requests to play kickball, I finally said ok and we spent the next 30 minutes playing kickball.  After that game the yard work was not that big a priority any longer.  My highlight of the entire weekend was that kickball game and the fun we had; that little time was quality family time.  It was only 30 minutes and my boys will likely remember that time for years to come."

Tom Freier, NDFA Executive Director, states, "A healthy family environment benefits all, and of course, most certainly-the family itself.  It affects the time students spend in school, employees in the workplace, fellowship at church, and just all we do in our society.  As the well being of the family goes, so goes the health of almost everything else.  The most valuable commodity we have is time; let's share it with those we love most-our family."

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

-----------------------------------------------------------

Interview Talking Points

Ways to spend family time...

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