wfn.org | Littleton tragedy sparks interest in May 18 teleconference

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 22, 1999 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.    10-21-71B{220}

NOTE: Information on how to participate in the teleconference is included at
the end of the story. This report is accompanied by a sidebar, UMNS story
#221.

By United Methodist News Service

The tragedy at the high school in Littleton, Colo., has stirred interest in
a United Methodist-sponsored teleconference on "Kids, Guns, Violence: How to
Make a Difference." 

The 90-minute teleconference is scheduled  for May 18 beginning at 5 p.m.
Pacific time; 6 p.m. Mountain time; 7 p.m. Central time; and 8 p.m. Eastern
time. It is being produced by United Methodist Teleconference Connection
(UMTC), a unit of the church's official communications agency, United
Methodist Communications.  

Plans for the teleconference began last fall with a projected goal of 15
downlink sites, said UMTC director Shirley Struchen in New York.

"The recent tragic shooting incident in Littleton, Colo., has created
phenomenal response to the teleconference," she said. "We now anticipate
more than 200 sites. Our interfaith communities, plus sheriffs' offices,
community colleges, universities, mental health agencies, the Cooperative
Extension Services, and the Army National Guard have been e-mailing, calling
or visiting our Web site so they may be involved in this critical program."

The outline for the teleconference script touches on all the questions being
asked by the media regarding the Littleton tragedy, she said.  The
teleconference will give an overview of violence in society, explain how to
identify troubled kids, suggest ways to make a difference, and provide
examples of programs that work. 

Moderating a four-member  panel for the teleconference will be the Rev.
Arthur L. Cribbs Jr.,  pastor of a United Church of Christ congregation in
San Diego. Cribbs has 25 years of broadcast experience as a radio and
television news anchor and reporter in Chicago and San Francisco.  Until
recently, he was executive director of the Office of Communications for the
United Church of Christ. 

Other participants will be Pamela L. Riley, director of the North Carolina
Center for the Prevention of School Violence in Raleigh (see separate
story);  Sarah Wilke, director of the Wesley-Rankin Community Center in
Dallas; and Jerel A. Eaglin, director of youth services for the National
Crime Prevention Council in Washington. 

In addition to the in-studio participants, the telecast will include
pre-recorded video segments, and interaction with individuals from community
viewing sites.

For downlink site updates, visit www.umcom.org/umtc/violence on the
Internet. The telecast is offered free to registered downlink sites. To
register your site and receive coordinates plus a resource kit, contact
Shirley Whipple Struchen, United Methodist Teleconference Connection, (212)
870-3802; e-mail: Shirley@interport.net; fax: (212) 870-2171.

# # #

NOTE FOR OPTIONAL INCLUSION: A videotape of the teleconference can be bought
by calling EcuFilm (800) 251-4091. Cost is $24.95 plus $3.95 for shipping
and handling.

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
newsdesk@umcom.umc.org
(615)742-5472