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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Visionaries,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A friend alerted me to a misunderstanding that made
its way onto Vision 2020 about the Virtues project. The project is NOT sectarian
and not religiously based. My response below paraphrases information from
the writings of Linda Kavelin Popov and, I hope, carries some of the spirit and
inspiration she brings to this important work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Virtues Project was honored as a model global
program for families of all cultures by the United Nations Secretariat during
the International Year of the Family.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Virtues Project is not about the practices or
beliefs of any particular religion. It's founded on the wisdom of the world's
diverse cultures to bring out the best within us: courage, honor, justice,
integrity, respect, tact, kindness and all the rest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Virtues Project does not take on the values
debate that can offend people of diverse belief systems, including religious and
non-religious. Instead, this program shows how to inspire the virtues in our
children, our friends and co-workers, even our elected and appointed officials!
Every parent, myself included, whether part of a religious tradition or with no
religious association whatever, wants his or her child to develop the integrity
of their character.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Virtues Project gives us skills and methods to
help us recognize and enhance the virtues that are the content of our character,
to act on the best within us. We hope our trained community mentors will be able
to help with citizen participation issues throughout the community and the
schools on topics as different as zoning and school siting to growth and
economic development preferences. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Moscow Human Rights Commission is asking that
the City be a leading partner, with the School District, the University of
Idaho, Latah County, the business community, many non-profit groups and our
partners in Pullman, to develop a program for creating a culture of
character.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Moscow Human Rights Commission looks forward to
being an integral part of this important initiative! Please join us. You can
contact MHRC chair Toney Driver (<A
href="mailto:driver@moscow.com">driver@moscow.com</A>) to let him know you're
interested or send me a message off-line. We'll keep you posted.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All the best and hope to see you Monday night at
the City Council meeting,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Linda Pall</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Moscow City Council
Member</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>