DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE

Council Goals:

1. 1. Raise awareness among South Carolina youth about the need for STI and pregnancy prevention efforts for themselves and other young people.
2. 2. Advocate improving sex education policies that effect students in South Carolina and other policy priorities.
3. 3. Empower other youth to get involved in their communities.
4.   

What can YOU expect?

• • $100 per month stipend
• • Meet, work with, and learn from amazing young leaders across the state and country
• • Gain information and skills that you will be able to capitalize on throughout your academic and future careers.
• • Collaborate and make connections with Tell Them and Advocates for Youth staff who care about these issues as much as you do.
• • Share your experience and perspective.
• • Hard work, excitement, and fun… all while making a difference!
• • The opportunity to travel, and attend trainings across the state and country
•   

Who can Apply?

Anyone meeting the following qualifications is encouraged to apply for S.W.A.R.M.

1. 1. Be currently enrolled in a South Carolina college and between the ages of 18-24.
2. 2. Be able to commit to the S.W.A.R.M. Council for a minimum of one school year.
3. 3. Participate in bi-monthly conference calls
4. 4. Complete presentations, events, and write personalized blogs
5. 5. Participate in activities to continue building a strong base of advocates in the community and on campus.
6.   

Interested?

Please contact us with any questions. Then fill out the application and email, fax, or mail the application back to Tell Them by May 10, 2012. We will conduct interviews for selected candidates. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Email: tallen@newmorningfoundation.org
Phone: (803) 929-0088       
Fax: (803) 929-0089

Recently, the whole staff took 3 days and went to Dewees Island, just outside of Charleston. We spent the time together sharing stories, talking about why we love our work, and what we can to become better coworkers and teammates. It was a very special experience, and one that I felt honored to be a part of.

In the midst of playing board games, racing golf carts around dirt roads, and learning about the natural habitat of the island, I was reminded of how much each of the people in our small group meant to me, and what they each add to my life. The group is made up of new friends and old, but for those three days, we came together like brothers and sisters, eager to learn from each other and strengthen our bonds.

I treasure each of these relationships, and couldn’t be more thankful for the loving people I have the priveledge to call my friends and teammates. I know that over the next year we will accomplish great things, and I am thankful to have them in my corner.

From the Tell Them family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

It is now, on the 10th anniversary of this tragic event, that the Tell Them staff takes the time to reflect and share pieces of our personal stories to commemorate those that lost their lives and those that have helped to rebuild our country.

On the morning of the attacks, we were all in different parts of the country but the feelings and emotions that came across us were felt across the nation. Many of us recall everything coming to a standstill and sitting in silence watching what looked like a scene out of the latest movie. Most of us spent the remainder of the day “glued to the TV trying to grasp what just happened.” While most of us were worried about making it to class or work on time, our country was in crisis. Lives across the nation were being changed forever. Our country would never be the same.

When describing the feelings of watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001 unfold before our eyes, members of the Tell Them staff report feeling “angered, sickened, scared and desensitized.” The scene seemed unbelievable and the hardest part was to realize that there was “nothing that [we] could do to help these people, their family members or friends.” The concern for the value of human life was present and the level and intensity of fear sparked an “immediate closeness to everything that was important.”

Currently reflecting on the events of September 11th, there is a sense of pride in remembering “how people came together…and the national unity that we all felt.” It was as if “we were all brothers and sisters that day.” We as the Tell Them staff, hope that you will take this time to reflect and let this day “remind us to live every day to its fullest, appreciating the fact that we are here, doing what we love, spending time with the people who we care for [and] really doing something that makes a difference.” We encourage everyone to be thankful for “everything that we have accomplished since then – as individuals, communities and as a nation.”

As for our plans for the 10th anniversary, we will be taking a variety of actions to reflect on things that relate to us and September 11th 2001. We will use this time to pray for peace and comfort for those impacted by the events of the day. We will take this time to enjoy life and the country that we are lucky to live in. We will reflect on ways that we can make a positive change in the life of another individual.

Our President has asked that we all take this time as a “Day of Service.” We at Tell Them encourage you to create your own plan of service. No matter who is impacted by your service we ask that you remember those who lost their lives in this horrific event. We are all proud to be Americans and thankful of the extraordinary men and woman who serve to protect our country.  We encourage you to take this time to guide your plans by faith, hope and love.

Join 8,000 Tell Them members as we let our elected officials know—properly funding family planning services that prevent unintended teen pregnancy can save South Carolina taxpayers $180 million every year.

Stand with us at the Statehouse—from phone calls and email inboxes all across our state. Stand with us for the future of South Carolina.

Seen: On Bee Day, ambassadors will gather at the Statehouse to represent you—and thousands of other South Carolinians who support investing in prevention-based family planning services—to our elected officials.

Heard: Your voice has an impact. Swarm your elected officials on Bee Day with an email or phone call telling them to fund these critical services.

There: Stand with us at the Statehouse. Wear white.

Lawmakers want to hear what their constituents think. Let’s tell them.

Join 8,000 Tell Them members as we let our elected officials know—properly funding family planning services that prevent unintended teen pregnancy can save South Carolina taxpayers $180 million every year.

Among the many ways you can swarm with us is the Bee Yourself Facebook contest. Help get the buzz going by donating your Facebook profile picture to a custom Bee Yourself icon at http://blog.tellthemsc.org/bee-yourself. Every Wednesday through March 30, 2011, a winner will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• You must “Like” Tell Them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TellThemSC
• Upload your Bee Yourself picture as your Facebook profile pic, and paste this link into the caption: blog.tellthemsc.org/bee-yourself
• Share, comment and like Tell Them’s news on Facebook as much as possible!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the prizes by Analisa Jaros.

I head home tomorrow, and will spend a week visiting with my parents, siblings and friends. One of my favorite things about seeing my family after a long period of time, and especially around the holidays, is that we get a chance to take stock of what we all do when we’re not together.

Talking about what I do and why I live in South Carolina fills me with a kind of happiness that I never expected. I am so proud to live in South Carolina, and feel so blessed to be able to work on an issue that I care about every day. I get to be a part of a team that brings people from all walks of life together with a key message: we want our children to be healthier and to have the chance to make the best decisions that they can.

At this time of year, we all get the chance to come together and be thankful. I am thankful that I live in a beautiful, welcoming, and (hopefully soon) warm place. I am thankful to have colleagues that care about me and the overall happiness of our workplace. I am thankful that I get to work every day to change major issues that affect our state and the well-being of our children and families. And I am very thankful for every person I’ve met this year who has shared their story or support for our overall goals. Our network is successful because of you.

Have a very happy holiday. We wish you happiness, joy, and good cheer. We’ll see you in January!

From our Tell Them family to yours!

Shennice Cleckley

Sondra Bloxam

Karen Starks

Kelly Orner

We sent over 1,000 messages asking for answers to questions like how to stop the erosion of DHEC’s public health services, and what South Carolina should be doing to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS? We asked for their ideas on improving the Comprehensive Health Education Act so that our young people have the information they need to make the best choices they can. Overall, we asked for responsible reproductive health policies from our next governor.

As we move forward after Tuesday’s election, we can take pride knowing that Governor-Elect Haley has already heard from Tell Them Members. She’s heard our call for responsible policies that tackle the root cause of so many of SC’s challenges. After all, studies show a savings of $17 for every $1 a state invests in reproductive health education and services. Governor-Elect Haley has heard our call, and she should get ready: Tell Them Members aren’t stopping!

The Conference Committee on H. 3245- The Two Trip Ultrasound Requirement Bill DID NOT reach a compromise this morning.

This makes it very unlikely that this bill will pass this legislative session.

This morning, Senator Bryant offered 4 new options and potential compromises in an attempt to get something passed. They included keeping the 1-hour waiting period for cases of rape, incest and ‘medical necessity;” allowing an ultrasound to be performed at a different facility at least 24 hours in advance, and requiring the doctor to report which waiting period applied to each procedure, requiring a 36-hour requirement.

Representative Delleny opposed all of them. The other house and Senate members supported certain options, but in the end, no compromise was agreed upon.

This is a huge victory for the Tell Them network. We have been fighting this bill for almost 2 years, and it’s because of YOUR hard work, emails, phone calls, appearances at hearings, comments on Facebook, retweets from Twitter, letters to the editor and group conversations that we have been so successful.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! Your voices have spoken, and your efforts have paid off.

We will know for sure tomorrow at 5pm whether or not this bill is dead. Keep your eyes open- we’ll send out an update!

Yesterday, the South Carolina Senate was bullied into debating a fetal personhood bill which has failed to garner enough support to pass out of the House Judiciary Subcommittee.

Orchestrated by Senator Lee Bright of Spartanburg, this bill was brought up, against Senate procedure, during the debate of the cigarette tax.

The bill in question would grant constitutional rights from the “moment of fertilization.” This means that it would guarantee the right to due process and equal protection to fertilized eggs. This statement has far-reaching consequences including:

• Outlawing birth control options, like the Pill and IUDs, and emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest, in the state of South Carolina
• Banning stem cell research currently being used to find cures for chronic disease and disabilities
• Outlawing In-Vitro fertilization since fertilized eggs would have full legal rights to decide their future
• Eliminating a women’s right to decide about issues regarding her body- such as when to have a C-Section. If passed, this bill could place that decision in the hands of our legislators, giving them the right to force women to have C-Sections even when their lives are at risk. A woman with cancer could also be denied life-saving medical treatment because it could endanger a fertilized egg.
• It ignores the reality of miscarriages and non-implantation – even when a woman is not using a contraception method that can inhibit implantation. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that between one-third and one-half of all fertilized eggs never fully implant.)

Senator Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg) delayed the cigarette tax increase because his bill (S. 450) has still not been called up for debate. The State Newspaper chronicled the events of the debate in the following way:

Bright, who has emerged as the Senate’s most vocal opponent of abortion rights, tried to force a vote on bypassing the committee hearings.

An irritated Senate president pro-tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, blasted the move, however, which he said not only breaks Senate procedure, but also would wind up costing the state money.

“It is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution,” said McConnell, an attorney. “Let me tell you what he is trying to push on us: This bill would make a doctor guilty of manslaughter or murder if it goes forward.”

McConnell, who described himself as “pro-life,” scolded Bright for attempting to change U.S. law established by the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, by passing a conflicting state law.

McConnell also blasted Bright for attempting to force senators either to support that effort or look as if they favor abortions.

“This is one of those gotcha votes,” McConnell protested. “You’re for abortion or you’re against it.”

Bright said two other states had approved legislation similar to his personhood bill

But Lexington Sen. Jake Knotts, a fellow Republican, pointed out that legislation had not cleared both chambers in those two states.

Bright later agreed.

Thank you Senators McConnell and Knott, for standing up for women in this state. These two courageous Senators had the strength and support to get this proposal tabled until further notice. The Greenville News is reporting that “it [is] unlikely the measure will pass this year.”

Once again we can see that Senator Lee Bright is no friend to women in South Carolina, while Senators McConnell and Knotts are true supporters and advocates.

Click here to thank Senators McConnell and Knotts for their words of encouragement and strong acts on the Senate floor yesterday.

In the first 24 hours, we sent over 2,500 emails and reached nearly every legislator in South Carolina. Tell Themmarchers have made a huge statement by speaking up about the need for responsible reproductive health policies.

For those of us who watched these incredible numbers come in over the past 2 days, we were struck by the incredible connection most marchers had with this issue, and how happy they were to finally have a voice and an outlet through which to communicate with policy makers.

Nearly 500 former residents of South Carolina and others who feel invested in our mission took action in the past 2 days. They sent almost 1,000 emails to Congressmen Clyburn and Spratt in Washington. Due to either the media coverage of the Virtual March, or because you were so effective in getting your friends and family to join up, over 160 new people join Tell Themsince the march began. Marchers called and emailed the office throughout the march, just to check in and see if there was anything else they could do. Facebook and Twitter were going crazy with all the comments and retweets. It’s been a very exciting few days!

Congratulations to Amy Holleman of Columbia for winning the Slane & Slane Jewelry giveaway. More than 200 references came in since we started the giveaway, and we thank every person who took it upon themselves to recruit their friends, family, coworkers… the numbers just poured in! Amy has been a long-time Tell Them member and active advocate. She hosted Kelly and I at Columbia’s Drinking Liberally a week before the march, and even sent me emails early in the morning to confirm that all her referees had singed up. We were so happy when we pulled her name out of our “Queen Bee Bag.” Congratulations Amy, and thank you for everything you’ve done for us.

Our network is now stronger than ever, and we are ready to move forward in this legislative session and make some positive change. The full results from the Virtual March aren’t in yet because Marchers are STILL taking action! When we have final numbers, we’ll be sure to share them. For now, we say thank you for all your efforts and hard work.