HISTORY OF RIGHT TO LIFE OF OWENSBORO

by Mary Lou Payne

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court's infamous Roe v. Wade decision, a group of area individuals, notably Charlene Baumgarten, Msgr. R. G. Hill, Comdr. Eugene and Julia Hayden, traveled to Louisville to help in the organization of a state Right to Life group.  After getting the state organization to its embryonic stage, this group of individuals turned its sight on establishing a local Right to Life chapter. An organizational meeting was held at the Family Y Chapel in Owensboro Oct. 2, 1973. Forty-one persons were in attendance

Charlene Baumgarten presented a slide presentation showing a graphic depiction of abortion. She explained the ideals and goals of the Right to Life organization, what had been done and what could be done-a periodic newsletter, full-page ad in the Messenger-Inquirer, and slide presentations to reach as many groups, organizations, churches as possible.

Fund-raising items, which would also publicize the issue of abortion were presented: Christmas Cards, pro-life seals, bumper stickers, and the Circle of Life bracelet, which was patterned on the bracelets worn at that time for the MIAs of the Vietnam War.

A call was issued for volunteers to fill the leadership positions.  Virginia Corley stepped forward to accept the position of President; at the time she had six children under the age of 13.  Virginia continued to lead the RLO organization until she resigned in December of 1992, with the exception of 1978; Charlene Baumgarten served that year to give Virginia time off for the birth of her 7^th child.

Other officers were Vice-president, Sister Joan of Arc; Secretary, Mary Lou Payne; and Treasurer, Julia Hayden.  Msgr. R. G. Hill, Reid Haire, Charles Kamuf, Barbara Higdon, Orval Howard, Cmdr. Hayden, and Charlene made up the Board of Directors.

Our dues were set at $3.00 annually to cover membership in local, state, and national Right to Life organizations.  There were two classifications of membership-active and contributing. Monthly meetings were set for the 2nd Thursday of each month.  We were at that time sort of an orphan organization, looking for a home.  For the first several months, we held our meetings at a different church each month and then settled in for a period of holding them in the basement of the Daviess County Courthouse.  We then met regularly at the Owensboro-Daviess County Library until it could no longer commit to space on a monthly basis. We settled in at the Roosevelt House, first in the Sun Room and then in the Chapel, for many years. Later we met at the Parrish Avenue Baptist Church for several years. 

A request was made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for help in covering our start-up expenses: projector, tape recorder, stationery, slides, etc.  This wonderful organization responded by authorizing the full request--$705.00.

For the first 16 years of our existence Virginia's home was our office and for seven years her home phone was our "office" number.  Our first office was donated space in the Temporary Professionals office located at the corner of Wing Avenue and Fourth St. Area businessman, Gary Boswell, gave us the badly needed opportunity to expand and to make it easier for people come in for information and supplies. Gary also graciously gave us access to his copier, which saved us much expense. This move gave the Corley family a little breathing room in their own home, even though Virginia generously kept an extension of the RLO phone in her home for 4 more years.

Our second office was located in the Midtown Complex, 920 Federica St; we stayed there from January 1992 until we moved into an upstairs office in the Lynch Building at 14^th and Frederica Sts in the summer of 1994. We remained there for 10 years until the move to our current location at 1115 Tamarack Road - Suite 200 in October of 2003. Each of these offices has given us more badly needed space and provided easier access to those who were looking for aid, informational materials, or just wanting to stop by to say "Hi."

What were our goals when we organized in Oct. 1973?  First and foremost it was the passage of a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution that would protect the life of all individuals, regardless of age, health, or degree of dependency. Many of us thought that it would just be a matter of time before the United States regained its senses and once again protected unborn babies.  We also engaged in education, showing our slides to as many groups as possible.  Our newsletter was started immediately with the Mt. St. Joseph nuns, under the leadership of Sister Joan of Arc, accepting responsibility for this.  Charlene Baumgarten was the second editor of the newsletter, with Mary Lou Payne taking it over in 1979, Barbara Zimmerman accepting responsibility in 1999, with Cathy Graham holding that position at this time.

Some of our early projects included contacting area churches to ask them to conduct special prayer services on the 22^nd each month, a publicity campaign urging individuals and businesses to fly the flag at half-staff on the 22^nd of each month, with a small ad run on the 22^nd of each month in the M-I, reminding them of this.  We also had a small poster designed by Charlene Baumgarten, which showed a child in the womb, with the caption "They Both Have a Right to Life."  We participated in the Committee of 10 Million's campaign to flood Washington D.C.  on July 4, 1974 with letters urging the immediate passage of a Human Life Amendment.

Our first chili supper was held in Jan. of 1975; we have held one every year since.  For many years this was our major fundraiser-an event that many pro-lifers refuse to miss, regardless of their level of support on other projects.  We also ran the first of our annual Jan. 22 ads in the M-I.   In the summer of that year we had a booth at the Daviess County Fair; this summer was the first one we ever missed.

By the fall of 1975, we had already seen a dwindling membership and interest in the issue.  "Should Right to Life of Owensboro reorganize on a strictly educational line?" it was asked. This seems to be episodic in our organization--interest and enthusiasm, waxing and waning, until God calls some new warriors to step forward to revitalize our endeavors.

In 1977 some of the pressure was removed from our organization when a problem pregnancy organization, Birthright, was opened.  Not only were the volunteers with this organization trained to handle these problems exclusively, but from the numbers of calls they received, it became evident that troubled mothers were calling this organization who would not have called ours-translation: more babies being saved.

Another landmark in our organization's development was our first Walk-A-Thon; it was held on Sept. 26, 1981 to raise money for the Kentucky Right to Life Association under the leadership of Cindy Bumm. This annual event is still held today with the proceeds going to the local organization.  Our first fund-raising banquet was held on Nov. 12, 1993 to raise funds to finance the hiring of an office coordinator.  Birgit Jones was hired early in 1994 and held that position for approximately 12 months.  Bob Hood was then hired as Executive Secretary/Director and served until March of 2003.  Birgit was rehired the following month and is currently serving in that position.

We have endeavored in each session of the U.S. Congress and Kentucky General Assembly to get as many pro-life bills passed as possible, with our focus extending beyond abortion to infanticide, assisted suicide, euthanasia-anything that undermines the sanctity of life.  We are proud that Kentucky as a whole and the Kentucky contingent of our national Congress continues to be head and shoulders above most of the nation in holding pro-life principles, although it is evident that as the battle continues, the belief in the sanctity of life is eroding even in our beloved Kentucky.

Over the years we have sponsored many educational endeavors including radio spots, billboards, and TV ads, either directly or in collaboration with other pro-life organizations.  We have helped Pregnancy Care organizations to provide services to women experiencing crisis pregnancies and directly helped some of these women financially and otherwise.

We have prayed before abortion clinics in Louisville and lobbied the General Assembly in Frankfort.   We have participated in the March for Life in Washington, Rally for Life in Frankfort, Celebration for Life and Life Chain in Owensboro. We have helped other chapters of Right to Life organize in nearby counties.

We have sponsored ball tournaments, golf scrambles, pork sales, and various raffles to provide visibility for our group in the Owensboro area and raise badly needed funds to continue our work.  All of these efforts were performed under the capable leadership of presidents: Virginia Corley, Charlene Baumgarten, John Howard, Harold Wayne Newton, Jim Smith, Mike Edge, and Vicki Mills.

All our efforts provided needed framework and grounding for those who take up leadership positions.  We are currently experiencing an influx of the younger generation, which is providing fresh enthusiasm and renewed energy in the work of protecting God's endangered children.  Our prayer continues to be that we can experience success in our work, but success or not, that we will always remain faithful to God's call.