The USCBL Legislative and Grassroots Action Conference July 9-11 resulted in tremendous successes that include:

Meetings with more than 220 members of Congress or their aides that found over 40% of members met with expressing immediate support for our efforts (68 have already signed the Dear Colleague letter urging President Clinton to take steps toward joining the Treaty), while many others indicated probable support!

• A fabulous action and information-packed conference with over 200 participants!
• A very moving inter-faith prayer service that reminded us of the spiritual consequences of landmine use!
• An electrifying reception with over 250 participants including many ambassadors, a moving tribute to Ken Rutherford, and a surprise treat of Nobel Laureate Jody Williams!
• The launch of Students Against Landmines USA with 20 student leaders from around the U.S., who were educated about the landmine issue and trained in grassroots organizing methods.

Media coverage including Belgian and Canadian presses, Disability Radio Worldwide, USA Radioworks, The Erie Times in Pennsylvania, The San Jose Mercury News in California, and stories in other local, regional, and national papers. We also are working to find out which papers covered the story based on having been picked up by the Gannett News Wire, which distributes to 800 papers! These clips will be up on the site in the near future.

All in all, our efforts had the effect of revitalizing an entire movement, a revitalization that can only get bigger with your outreach to both the grassroots and policy-makers in Washington!