Grassroots Network: MEAC Needs Our Help!

Dear Friends,

This is a beautiful opportunity for you to help midwifery!

The letter below is from national organizations that are directly related to promoting midwifery, and especially direct entry midwifery, in a variety of ways, and you can see that Citizens for Midwifery is right in the list. The letter below explains the situation.

In the midst of hard times in the economy, which are affecting all of us, MEAC seriously needs financial help at this time, as the letter explains. Please make a donation of whatever size you are able. Our help at this time will make a real and positive difference for midwifery education. Make checks payable to MEAC, POB 984, LaConner, WA 98257. I know, everyone is asking for contributions at this time of year. This is a one-time request. Midwifery in the US cannot afford to let anything happen to MEAC's official recognition.

This is one of the only times a Grassroots Message will include any requests for donations. Thank you for any donation you can make!

Sincerely,
Susan Hodges, "gatekeeper"



Allied Midwifery Organizations
MANA, MEAC, NARM, NACPM, CfM, ICTC, FAM, AME

October 2008

Dear Friend of the Allied Midwifery Organizations,


MEAC needs our help!

MEAC is the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council. MEAC promotes excellence in midwifery education by supporting and accrediting midwifery schools around the country that prepare midwives for national certification as CPMs. MEAC is doing exciting, groundbreaking, and vital work for our midwifery movement. Just this month, the Milbank Memorial Fund, a non-partisan institute devoted to health policy analysis, issued a new report titled, "Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve." The report cites data from the landmark study of CPMs published in 2005 and concludes:

The low CPM rates of intervention are benchmarks for what the majority of childbearing women and babies who are in good health might achieve.

MEAC currently accredits eight free-standing institutions and two programs that reside within universities, providing excellent midwifery education for more than 500 matriculating students.

Why does MEAC need our help now?

This year, the U. S. Secretary of Education deferred a decision to extend recognition of MEAC, requesting that MEAC provide evidence of a stronger financial and volunteer base. It is ESSENTIAL that MEAC satisfies the requirements to continue its recognition by the USED. This appeal to you hopes to accomplish two things:


1. Increase the capacity of MEAC's Reserve Fund to cover one year's operating budget ($120,000).

2. Demonstrate to the USED that MEAC has a strong base of support that can be called upon to respond swiftly and effectively in a time of need.

Please help us in this one-time capital campaign. We have come so far in the last decade. We can't let it slip away. Your support is crucial and so much appreciated at this time! Please give generously. Large donations of $500-$1,000 will provide significant support. Smaller donations will help, step-by-step, to achieve this goal. We can do this together- it is an investment in our future!

Sincerely Yours,

The Leadership of the Allied Midwifery Organizations

*Donations to MEAC are tax deductible!
Make checks payable to MEAC, POB 984, LaConner, WA 98257, www.meacschools.org