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-------------------------------------------------- From: "Don Reed" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 8:39 AM To: <[log in to unmask]> Subject: new group? > Ray, could you recommend the following to any small or large groups that > might be interested in joining together to protect stem cell reseaerch? > > Thanks pal! > > > Don C. Reed Sponsor, Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury > > Would you be interested in helping form a group of groups, (no dues > required!) to protect stem cell research? > > As you know, I have worked many years to advance and fund regenerative > medicine. > > I developed a California law named after my paralyzed son, the Roman Reed > Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999, which raised approximately $74 > million in state funds and matching grants. I served on the board of > directors for the Proposition 71 campaign, which made possible California’s > $3 billion stem cell program, and worked with numerous state, national and > international efforts along the way. I currently serve as vice president > for public policy for Americans for Cures Foundation, which sprang from > Proposition 71: www.Americansforcures.org. > > Never have I been so concerned about the future of our field as right now. > > The following letter is from Bernie Siegel, myself, and (at last count) 42 > groups wanting to protect stem cell research from ideological and > political harassment. > > Please read it, and if you agree, join us—the dues are exactly nothing—and > the impact could be enormous. We currently have a phone meeting once a > week for an hour. > > On the web, look us up at: > > http://www.stemcellactionnetwork.org/ > > Best, > > Don C. Reed > > Dear friend of stem cell research, > > In light of the seemingly endless onslaught of legal and political threats > to embryonic stem cell research in the United States, the Genetics Policy > Institute (GPI) has launched a major public awareness campaign called the > Stem Cell Action Coalition. As the nonprofit, public- interest > organization that produces the World Stem Cell Summit, GPI works to > organize and empower the patient advocacy and other stakeholder > communities in support of the vital and potentially lifesaving research. > > The Stem Cell Action Coalition will serve as an engine to unite the > pro-cures community. It recognizes that embryonic stem cell research > should be a national public health priority at all branches and levels of > government, both federal and state. > > Already joined by more than 40 other organizations, the Coalition has > created a web site www.stemcellaction.org, that sets forth a strong call > to action to drive support for embryonic stem cell research. The Stem > Cell Action Coalition publishes an online bi-monthly newsletter “Stem Cell > Action News” that is disseminated to a database of more than 40,000. > > There is no question where America stands on stem cell research. The most > recent polls reveal more than 73% support for funding embryonic stem cell > research. Despite the clearly expressed will of the American people, the > field remains under siege. Very well organized ideological groups opposing > stem cell research filed a federal lawsuit seeking to shut down federal > funding. Restrictive laws already hamper researchers in too many states > and certain lawmakers have announced their intention to continue their > efforts to harass scientists, curtail or criminalize this research. > > How can we change this? America must stand up, speak up and be heard. > > The Stem Cell Action Coalition seeks to recruit more than 500 > organizations nation-wide, to forge a permanent and unparalleled community > of conscience and commitment. We will stand up for stem cell research in > small ways and large: from displaying logos online on the SCA website, to > us broadcasting to our communities vital information, and creating a vast > public awareness campaign utilizing the most advanced Internet and social > media networks. > > Together we can speak with one voice, so our lawmakers can no longer > ignore our clearly spoken will: to protect and advance embryonic stem cell > research > > > As an important first step to endorse the campaign, we ask that you permit > your group’s logo to be displayed on the web site. This simple gesture > serves as an expression of solidarity with thousands of families > supporting this promising field of biomedical research, with a shared goal > to alleviate human suffering. > > > Please reply to this message by sending a high resolution version of your > logo. Of course, we would also be pleased to answer any questions you may > have. We seek your advice and guidance in moving this cause forward. > > > To reach the Stem Cell Action coalition, please call toll free at > 888-238-1423. > > Sincerely, > > Bernie Siegel > Chair and Founder, Genetics Policy Institute > Director, World Stem Cell Summit > > > Research Act Founder and Co-Chair, Californians for Cures Don Reed is > also Vice President of Public Policy for Americans for Cures Foundation; > opinions voiced here as an individual may or may not reflect those of the > Foundation. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn