Instructions for novices to navigate the revised State of Texas website

(I wish I knew how to publish these links as "permalinks"--I think--but I don't!) 

 

In browser window, put www.texas.gov.  At that site, click Texas.gov The Official Website of the State of Texas.

Near the top of that screen, listed horizontally beneath a solid white line, are three headings: Services, Agencies, Info Near You. Click Agencies.

On the left of that screen, listed vertically, are the agencies; Executive, Legislative, Judicial. According to your search click the appropriate one. For our purposes here, click Legislative.

As your screen indicates, that brings up seven results, listed vertically and alphabetically. Choose either House of Representatives (second) or Senate (sixth).

For information re House of Representatives, click that link in bright blue. This link takes you to the House home page and offers many helpful links. (Particularly interesting are the items listed under Member Press Releases, written by the members themselves.)

Also listed, across the top of the screen in white block letters, are additional links. Click Members.

This brings you to alphabetized pictures of all the representatives and allows you to search for your representative. Click Find your rep and follow instructions to get the name of your representative

To send an e-mail, scan the page of pictures until you see your representative and click the picture. That takes you to the member’s home page where you see a blue oblong link for Email; click that link and follow instructions.

For information re Senate, go back to the Agency Finder screen where the three agencies are listed on the left. Click Legislative.

As your screen indicates, that brings up seven results, listed alphabetically. Scroll down the screen to Senate (sixth). Click the blue link for the Senate website.

Under the Senate seal on the left of the screen are numerous links. Click Senators and you get several options. For our purposes, choose Who Represents Me.

This brings up lists of the senators in alpha order, by district, and also a great deal of additional information, including the option to find your senator. Scroll to your senator’s name and click.

This takes you to the senator’s home page. Across the top of that screen (in deep blue background) under the senator’s full name is a line of links, including E-mail. Click that link and follow instructions.

The Beginning of the Wesley-Rankin Center in Dallas

 

In 1935, a middle-aged Dallas woman, a church worker, read a newspaper story about a hardened criminal who had been sentenced to die in the electric chair in a few days. His mother was visiting him for one last time at the penitentiary.  Although there was no doubt the man deserved justice, the church worker was moved to tears by his mother’s grief, and the hard realities of the poverty in West Dallas that would lead a man to pursue a life of crime. The woman got into her Model A Ford, and drove to West Dallas. 

The church worker was Miss Hattie Rankin.  The mother was Mrs. Steve Davis, and Ray Hamilton was Mrs. Davis’s son. Ray Hamilton had been a member of Bonnie and Clyde Barrow’s gang as well as a robber and murderer in his own right. He had finally been captured in April of 1935 and was sentenced to die.

Miss Hattie was no stranger to disadvantaged people. She'd just returned to her family home in Dallas after working for several years at the Methodist Mission in San Antonio where she had ministered to unwed mothers, alcoholics, and orphaned children.

According to a Dallas Morning News story written seven years later, Miss Hattie knocked on Mrs. Davis’s door and Mrs. Davis tried to turn her away. Miss Hattie persisted, saying, "My heart aches for you. I want to pray for you," and Mrs. Davis opened the door. During the days that followed, Miss Hattie comforted and ministered to the grief-stricken woman. She prayed with the family during the long night of Ray Hamilton's execution, and helped arrange his funeral.

Miss Hattie stayed in West Dallas and rented a small house across the street, and began to hold church services and Sunday school classes there.

She went door to door in the rough neighborhood, encouraging people to attend and send their kids. By the end of the summer, over 100 people were attending services at the Eagle Ford Mission, including Mrs. Henry Barrow, the mother of the deceased bandit Clyde Barrow, who promised to bring with her "a gang of people who never saw the inside of a church."

The mission flourished, and as Miss Hattie raised more funds, a new building was built and the Eagle Ford Mission was renamed Rankin Chapel in her honor.

Miss Hattie continued to minister to people whose lives were hard, and to those who were outcast by mainstream society. It wasn't enough for her to simply bring them to the Lord; she wanted to make sure they had something else in life besides crime. A missed opportunity that led to tragedy strengthened her efforts.

 Some of the neighborhood boys promised they'd come to Sunday school if the chapel sponsored a sports team. Miss Hattie did her best to raise money for equipment, but was unsuccessful. The team remained nothing more than a wish. A few weeks later, she opened her morning newspaper to see that four of the boys had gotten into trouble, brawling and beating an old man to death with a beer bottle. They were charged with murder.

As she wrote in a letter to the editor: "Folks wonder why so many West Dallas boys turn out to be criminals.... they haven't a dog's chance to be anything else. We have no parks, no playgrounds, no handy schools, no lights, no water, no gas. The dogs in Dallas are housed better than our boys and girls."

It was from this compassion, courage and commitment that what we now know as Wesley-Rankin was born.

Statement on Social Action from Social Principles of UMC

From time to time it may seem appropriate to remind your UMW members and women of your church of the reason UMW is so involved in social issues at home and around the world. The following information is a short passage taken from the UMC Discipline.
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Statement on Social Action from Social Principles of the United Methodist Church 2009-2012)

As United Methodists, we have, from our beginning, understood the gospel to be both personal and social; further, we believe that there is no holiness apart from social holiness. Therefore, we consider it our responsibility to allow the light of the gospel to shine upon all parts of our society and to prayerfully consider, "What does God want me to do?"

John 10:10b reads, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Stewardship of health is the responsibility of each person to whom health has been entrusted. Creating the personal, environmental, and social conditions in which health can thrive is a joint responsibility--public and private. Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, and restore health after injury or illness is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all.

 In Ezekiel 34 we read: “You do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured… but with force and harshness you have ruled them." As a result, all suffer. According to our denominational commitment as stated in our Social Principles, health care is a basic human right. "We believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care."

As a church, we are called to support the poor and challenge the rich. To begin to alleviate poverty, we support such policies as: adequate income maintenance, quality education, decent housing, job training, meaningful employment opportunities, adequate medical and hospital care, humanization and radical revisions of welfare programs, work for peace in conflict areas and efforts to protect creation's integrity.

 We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Therefore, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the economic life of individuals and corporate entities and that ensure full employment and adequate incomes with a minimum of inflation. We support measures that would reduce the concentration of wealth.

 We believe every person has the right to a job at a living wage. Where the private sector cannot or does not provide jobs for all who seek and need them, it is the responsibility of government to provide for the creation of such jobs.

NO FEAR: A CONFERENCE ON ELECTION-YEAR ACTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES OF FAITH

On August 18-19, 2013, Texas Interfaith Center will host a conference on election-year advocacy to help you frame the connections between faith, politics, and public policy. At the conference, we will discuss why Texas has such low civic participation, why that's a concern for faith communities, and what we can do about it. Additionally, political experts will offer insights into themes in the 2014 elections of interest to people of faith.

It is also a grave concern that Texas has fewer women involved in the political arena than any other state in the U.S.!

WHEN:    August 18, 2013, 2 p.m., through August 19, 2013, 12 noon.
WHERE:  Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
                 100 E. 27th Street, Augstin 78705
CONTACT:  Phone--512-472-3903              email-- events@texasinterfaith.org

CONFERENCE FEE:   $25.00 covers two meals--Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast--and materials.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS: A limited number of very affordable rooms in partnership with local seminaries.

TO REGISTER OR RESERVE A ROOM FOR SUNDAY NIGHT, please call the event registrar Cara Chiodo at 512-472-3903 or email events@texasinterfaith.org.

Please consider attending this event.

Health Kits for UMCOR

UMCOR health kits (Value $12)

Items to include:
Hand towel. One 15x25 to 17x27 inches; kitchen, cleaning and microfiber towels not acceptable.
Washcloth. One.
Comb. One; needs to be sturdy; no pocket combs or picks; rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable.
Nail file or clipper. One; metal; no emery boards or toenail clippers.
Soap. One; bathsize, 3 oz. or larger; do not remove from original package.
Toothbrush. One; adult size only; do not remove from original package.
Adhesive bandages. Six; 3/4" to 1" size; common household band-aids.
Plastic bag. One 1-gallon size; sealable bags only.
$1.00 to purchase toothpaste.

Assembly Directions:
Set aside the $1 for toothpaste, to be included in a separate envelope. Lay out the hand towel flat on a table. Lay the washcloth flat in the enter of the towel. Place all remaining items on top of the wash cloth. Fold over the sides of the hand towel to cover all of the items. Fold over one end of the hand towel so that it covers all of the items. Grasp the bundle of items tightly and roll over the remainder of the hand towel tightly. Place the tightly rolled bundle in the plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag. Each packed box cannot exceed 66 pounds. Place the bag in a secure box and address to UMCOR, Sager Brown Depot, POBox 850, 131 Sager Brown Road, Baldwin, LA 70514-0850.

Important Notes:
*All items must be new.
*Do not wash any of the items, as they will then be considered used.
*Please remove all packaging except as noted.
*All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the great number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items--nothing more.
*DO NOT include any personal notes, money or additional material. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

*UMCOR is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits to ensure that the product does not expire before being sent. Do not put single dollar bills in each kit. Combine monies for toothpaste and shipping and place in a separate envelope and send along with the kit donations.

Shipping Instructions:
1. Complete two packing lists--one for your records and one to put on the shipping box. If you are sending a complete health kit/s, you may simply indicate how many kits at the value declared on this sheet.
2. Paste the packing label on the outside of each box you send. This helps depot to process quickly.
3. Processing & Shipping Costs. Please enclose an envelope containing at least $1 for each kit you send. The donation enables UMCOR to send kits without administrative costs.

You may prefer to send $12 to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, #1520, New York, NY 10115. Include an extra dollar for shipping.... Or you may contribute on-line at umcor.org.

RoseWatsonUMWSocialAction

The U.S. Senate is currently debating a dreadful bill on immigration reform, S 744. The bill is harshly punitive and does nothing to foster family togetherness nor human rights in general. I include in this blog facts about the bill. If you would like documentation, I can make that available. (The documentation makes the bill exceedingly long.) We United Methodist Women are called to take a stand and to let our senators know that we find this bill unacceptable.

FACTS ABOUT SENATE BILL 744

“The Border Security, Economic Opportunity & Immigration Modernization Act”

Senate Immigration Bill: Unfair, Unjust, Unwise

United Methodist Women rejects the disciplinary nature of the current Senate immigration bill, making it more urgent for us to continue our advocacy for positive immigration reform.  United Methodist Women has deep concerns with “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity & Immigration Modernization Act” (S. 744) passed by the Senate on June 27.  The legislation opens a grueling pathway to citizenship for a limited number of immigrants while authorizing unprecedented militarization of the U.S.-Mexican border.

We understand the national debate on immigration as part of the ongoing civil rights agenda in the United States—an agenda that calls us to live up to the vision of a just and inclusive nation. Our nations’ leaders are prioritizing military spending over the health and well-being of our citizens.

Brutal  new elements of border security changed the character of Senate Bill 744. As amended, the bill:

 - Requires law enforcement to apprehend 90 percent of the people coming across the border without proper papers.   --- Escalates the enforcement budget from $4.5 billion to $46 billion, in reality an enormous stimulus package for the construction industry.  
 -Doubles the number of border patrol officers from 20,000 to 40,000. 
 - Requires construction of an additional 700 miles of double border fencing, waiving environmental protections regarding wall construction.
- Expands drone and other forms of surveillance through a 24 hour “virtual  fence. “
 - Makes the E-verify system obligatory for all employers.

Women and children will not benefit from bill

This is unfair, unjust and unwise. United Methodist Women sees the faces of those who will not benefit from this bill, those in fact will be greatly harmed by it:
 - Families served by our National Mission Institutions near the border who fear seeking services because of harassment by the border patrol.
 - A domestic worker who cannot get on the pathway to citizenship because  an employer laid her off and she hasn’t been able to find a job in less  than the 60-day unemployment window.
 - A woman with provisional status ineligible for Medicaid so cannot afford to take her children to the doctor.

 - An older woman, working and paying taxes in the United States for decades, who won’t be able to access Social Security during a minimum 13-year wait for citizenship.
 - The thousands of families divided due to an intensification of detention and deportation policies.
 - An immigrant woman incarcerated because of lack of papers, forced to give birth in shackles.
 - An unauthorized immigrant woman who arrived after the cut-off date for legalization, who fears detention and losing custody of her children.
Toward humane immigration policy
United Methodist Women rejects the disciplinary nature of the current Senate immigration bill and proposals in the House of Representatives. “Rather than target and criminalize immigrants for coming to the United States without papers, we must address the reasons that migrants are forced to come. Human rights and racial justice must be at the core of both U.S. economic and immigration policy,” said Janis Rosheuvel, executive for racial justice.

According to United Methodist Women’s resolution Criminalization of Communities of Color in the United
States,  policies such as S. 744 “render whole communities of color … as guilty until proven innocent. … This approach is based on a theology and worldview of scarcity. In contrast, The United Methodist Church affirms, ‘God’s vision of abundant living is a world where we live out a theology of ‘enough’ for all.’”

As people of faith, this is a key moment to bring our theologically grounded policy proposals to our leaders. United Methodist Women members will continue to raise their voices for just and humane polices. We hope to infuse immigration reform with a much-needed reorientation toward human rights for immigrant women, children and families.

United Methodist Women National Office reiterates our core concerns for just immigration reform:
   - Offer a rapid and affordable pathway to citizenship for all unauthorized immigrants.
   - Offer public services, including health care, to immigrants regardless  of status.
   - Reunite families and keep families together.
   - Protect the labor rights of both immigrant and U.S. workers.
   - Guarantee due process and protect the civil and human rights of all immigrants.
   - Demilitarize the U.S.-Mexico border.
   - End enforcement practices that criminalize migrants because of their status.
   - Address migrant women’s rights: precarious work conditions, protection  and redress from violence.
   - Develop humane economic, trade and foreign policies to reduce forced migration.
   - Suspend detention and deportation of migrants and shift resources to underserved communities.

“United Methodist Women has worked tirelessly for justice for immigrants,” said Carol Barton, executive for community action and coordinator of United Methodist Women’s Immigrant and Civil Rights Initiative. “This turn of events makes it more urgent for us to continue our advocacy for positive immigration reform.”

 

Cleaning Buckets for UMCOR

UMCOR cleaning buckets. (Value $55)

Items to include:
5-gallon bucket with resealable lid. Buckets from fast-food restaurants or bakeries can be used if washed and cleaned. Do not use buckets that have stored chemicals such as paint or pool cleaner. Advertisements on the outside of the buckets are acceptable.
Liquid laundry detergent. Two 25 oz. or one 50 oz. bottle, only.
Liquid household cleaner. One 12-16 oz. liquid cleaner that can be mixed with water; no sprays.
Dish soap. One 12-28 oz. bottle.
Air freshener. One aerosol or pump can.
Insect repellent spray. One 6-14 oz. aerosol or spray pump with protective cover.
Scrub brush. One, with plastic or wooden handle; no toilet-bowl brushes; no kitchen or dish brushes.
Cleaning wipes. 18 handi-wipes or reusable wipes; no terry cleaning towels; remove from package.
Sponges. Seven; remove from wrapper; no cellulose sponges because of mold issue.
Scouring pads. Five pads; remove from wrapper; no Brillo, SOS pads, or any kind that will rust.
Clothespins. 50 pins; remove from packaging.
Clothes line. Two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.; cotton or plastic.
Heavy-duty trash bags. One 24-count roll; 30-45 gallon size; remove from box.
Dust masks. Five.
Disposable waterproof gloves. Two pairs; rubber or latex; remove from packaging.
Work gloves. One pair; cotton or leather; leather palms are necessary.

Assembly Directions:
     Place all liquid items in the bucket first. Place remaining items in the bucket, fitting them around and between the liquid items. Sponges, scouring pads, clothespins, and trash bags can be separated in order to fit all of the items in the bucket. Ensure that the lid is closed securely.   Each packed box must not exceed 66 pounds.

Important Notes:
*All items must be new except for the bucket and lid.
*All cleaning agents must be liquid and in plastic containers. No powders, please!
*If you cannot find the requested size of a liquid item, use a smaller size. Including larger sizes of any item will prevent the lid from sealing.
*UPS, FED EX and the US Postal Service will not ship buckets containing bleach.
*If all of the items on the list are not included, please put a label on the bucket indicating what has been omitted.
*Cleaning buckets are used only within the United States. They are not opened to verify the contents unless there is indication that some items have been omitted.

Shipping Instructions:
1. Complete two packing lists, one for your records and one to put on the shipping box.
2. Paste the shipping label/packing list on the outside of each box you send. The shipping list helps the depot to quickly process kits.
3. Processing & Shipping Costs. Please enclose an envelope containing at least $1.50 for each kit you send. This donation enables UMCOR to send kits without administrative costs.

You may prefer to send $56.50 (includes shipping) to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, #1520, New York, NY 10115.  Or you may contribute on-line at umcor.org.