I'm back but busy-

Hey there! I am home but I think my DH has never understood what a welcome mat is for. There are mud mountains not clods all over the house. I cannot find my kitchen counters. I have an intake meeting at my Fost-Adopt Agency today an hour away, I have to pick up my Mum from the Auto Service Place and Blah Blah Blah. I'll catch you up more on the Adoption soon.

So-

here is some news and I hope you all are well.


Re: SOS "Save Orphaned Siblings"

1) Maureen states that the Democratic Majority in the new Congress is shaping up as a major partnership for us. Senate committee involvement could not be stronger w/ Sen. Ted Kennedy as the likely chair of the Judiciary Committee's Immigration subcommittee (he helped with Hague Convention which is a world wide agreement on international adoption. Our congress will vote on this soon). He is joined there by Sens. Diane Feinstein(D-CA), Russ Feingold(D-WI), Chuck Schumer(D-NY) and Dick Durbin(D-IL). In the House, our closest friend is Cong. Marty Meehan(D-MA) joined by members from Texas and California. These names are in addition to our many friends in key positions on other committees and projections that are based on current assignments and seniority but they bode well. Maureen will keep us informed as more information becomes available.

2) Our interviews are going very well. Here are our stats: a. 11 Interviews Complete b. 9 interviews left to schedule. c. 3 of our families have their adoptions going through. Congratulations to those families!!! They have agreed to still help us by interviewing with us. d. 5 families are not ready to join us yet but want to remain informed.

3) Laura contacted (by email) both Scot Gabriel and Irina Matiychenko today.

4) If you are interested, I watched the Hague Convention hearing on CSPAN and attached my notes to this email.

5) I receive questions occasionally on agencies that may be able to help. I am putting some of the information that I found here. This is not an endorsement but hopefully will provide help to those looking for an agency. If you have questions, please let me know. o World Association for Children and Parents http://www.wacap.org/ . Helping Holly. Not accredited in her region but the MOE is taking exception because they are working toward accreditation and they are accredited in 6 other regions. See attached. o Lutheran Social Svs certified in Noversibersk & Buryatia through 3/07.Please make every effort to complete your interviews. The sooner, we complete them, we can gather information from those who have been successful with Humanitarian Parole and we will begin our work with congress. I know the process is slow but each week there is work being done.

Please stay with us. We are making every effort to be successful.I will be in touch in the next 2-3 weeks with more updates.

Thanks so much for your continued support.

JoanMom to Olga and Ruslan
www.saveorphanedsiblings.com


House committee of International relations on Human Rights November 14, 2006
http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=744