West Virginians for Life annual convention anticipates November 6 vote on “Amendment 1”

By Mary Anne Buchanan, West Virginians for Life Program Director

Kelly green and royal blue color everywhere along with “Yes on 1” centerpieces were a sight to behold at the annual West Virginians for Life State (WVFL) Convention held on Saturday, October 20.

The adopted colors and logo of the “Vote Yes on Amendment 1” campaign could not be ignored. The November 6 elections are now less than two weeks away. Amendment 1 will be on the ballot.

It reads, “Nothing in this [state] Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.”

There was a buzz amongst the attendees in hopes of a victory after eight long months of work.

For the moment, however, the audience was captivated by Keynote speaker Ellen Salter. Her In Defense of Life: Defending the Most Vulnerable, Handicapped and Weak in Our Society was a talk that told of Ellen’s teen daughter, Meghan, who has been on life support since infancy.

This woman knows of the beauty and dignity of each human life. She lives it every day.

The morning concluded with a talk directed at Life after Birth touting the “Will to Live” and a personal testimony of a woman who greatly benefitted from a “Deeper Still” weekend retreat [www.godeeperstill.org] . Deeper Still’s mission statement is “to multiply ministry teams to bring healing and lasting freedom to abortion wounded hearts.”

As the buffet luncheon ended, elected officials and candidates were introduced, among them pro-life Congressman David McKinley and Secretary of State Mac Warner.

The crowd also heard from National Right to Life Political Director Karen Cross on the importance of social media and activism to ensure electoral victories at the polls.

WVFL President Wanda Franz, Ph.D., gave an update on Amendment 1, while National Right to Life Academy Alum Lacey Dent Evans presented on the make-up of the United States Supreme Court. Evans also led the Teen Day Camp.

Teens learned not only from Lacey, but also from Karen Cross, the keynote speaker, and Lori Cascio of Students for Life of America.

With door prizes sprinkled in as well as short informative videos, the day went all too fast. Participants went away recharged and ready to continue their vital pro-life work.