Happy New Year!
You may have heard, but there is a new face at Greater Columbus Right to Life. Beth Vanderkooi recently accepted the position as Executive Director, replacing Ruth Yorston. Don't worry, Ruth will still be an active volunteer and very involved at GCRTL. We will certainly miss
Ruth, even if she isn't going very far.
A few questions and answers with the newest face of Greater Columbus Right to Life, new Executive Director, Beth Vanderkooi
So, tell us a little about yourself.
Well, as you noted, my name is Beth Vanderkooi (pronounced Van-der-coy). I'm quite excited to have joined the professional staff of GCRTL, but I've been a volunteer for a few years. I'm a proud aunt to a 16-month-old little boy. When you introduce yourself to me, if you ask me what I love I will most likely show you a photograph or two of him! I live in Columbus, close to downtown. My background has primarily been in the arena of government and advocacy. I'm a parishioner at St. Mary Church in German Village, a graduate of Ashland University, and a native of Bellville, Ohio. I really enjoy gardening, reading, and cooking.
Why are you pro-life?
I'm not sure that there is any one reason that I am pro-life. I've always had a special concern for the sick, the frail, the elderly, and the unborn. Our families and our communities will only strengthen when we pause from the hustle and bustle of our days to contemplate and protect the intrinsic value of every human life. As a society, when we think about being 'pro-life', our minds immediately go to efforts at the Statehouse or the Courthouse. Those are necessary, and we will continue there in a supporting role. My goal, and the goal of GCRTL, however, is to take the conversation somewhere more important - your house, because it is around dinner tables and along sidewalks where we will win the hearts and minds of this generation to protect the next. We will measure our success when no woman feels like her best or only choice is an abortion, when no terminally ill grandparent turns to euthanasia, and when we stop creating human embryos as a means to further science and research.
What are you working on right now?
Well, there is a lot going on at GCRTL. Today I've been working on our Roe Remembrance Rally (January 22, 12PM), making plans for a February Sidewalk Counselor Training, and making sure GCRTL has a presence at several upcoming events like the Catholic Women's and Men's Conferences. I've also been working to update our Facebook and Twitter accounts. We're getting set up for the 40 Days for Life's spring campaign and we'll be presenting apologetics training in April.
It is a new year. Are you more of a "resolutions" or a "goal" setter?
Both! I think that resolutions are the steps that we take to reach a goal.
Care to share any of your resolutions or goals with us?
Sure. One of my resolutions is to grow in prayer. I've always been one to get easily distracted. I'm not good at quieting my mind. So that has been one of my resolutions this year. In general, I try to set three resolutions: one that is spiritual, one that is lifestyle, and one that is just fun. I have a few goals this year as well. One of my personal goals for GCRTL is that we increase our members and find more volunteers. Father Pavone recently tweeted that every 50 hours of volunteer time translates to one life saved. Wow! Increasing our membership not only ensures that we have a larger source of volunteers, but it will also bring the financial stability that is necessary to continue our work. I'm looking forward to kicking off our 2013 membership and development campaigns in the next few weeks. I'd love it if we could grow to have a larger presence across all faith (and even non-faith), ethnic, and political backgrounds.
Any other thoughts?
Well, first and foremost, thanks for taking the time to read down this far. Most people have a lot of email vying for their attention, so it means a lot to me that you've taken some time from your day to support our mission at GCRTL. I'm still getting settled in, and I really appreciate the help of Ruth and the GCRTL Board as we move through this transition. See you on the 22nd at Roe Remembrance!
Read the Press Release on Vanderkooi's appointment
You make our work possible.
Thank you for supporting GCRTL.
Click here to make an online donation, or send a check to:
Greater Columbus Right to Life
665 East Dublin-Granville Rd., Ste. 115
Columbus, OH 43229
