Upcoming Events
 
Visit our Website for additional information on the following events or the mark your calendar section in this newsletter:

Sister Organization Links

• Farmworker Legal Services of NY
• NYS Labor-Religion Coalition
• Justice For All

Eastern New York
hope@ruralmigrantministry.org
P.O. Box 4757
Poughkeepsie, NY12602
Phone: (845) 485-8627
Fax: (845) 485-1963
 
Western New York
rmmwestny@yahoo.com
14 State Street
Brockport, NY 14420
Phone: (845) 637-8360
Fax: (585) 637-8362
 

I think hope comes in forms we don't even imagine. I think hope comes in people feeling that they're valued in some way, that there is something they can actually do and some way they can make a difference or they can change something even in their own lives.  Rabbi Glynis Conyer, Former RMM Board Member.

Its summer time and that means lots of wonderful time with the kids at RMM!  Here is what is happening:
 
RMM, Migrant Education and the Pine Plains Council of Churches  begin a new summer day program! We are pleased to announce a new program in northern Dutchess County for middle school children. The program will last two weeks and will take place at the Pine Plains United Methodist Church. The Program began with a wonderful picnic a the Lion's Pavilion with over sixty people in attendance.  
 
Newburgh Day Program to began on July 16th.  Once again, RMM will offer a two week day program for the children of Orange county at the Union Presbyterian Church. 
 
Youth Arts Group(YAG) travels to Lake Placid. For their annual end of the year trip YAG went camping in the Adirondacks.  They also toured SUNY Albany and witnessed at bit of revolutionary history at Fort Ticonderoga.   
  

NEWS
Two former participants in the Youth Empowerment Program receive distinguished awards in Washington D.C.   The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute has named YAG Co-Founder and former Board member  Betsaida Alcantara its Fellow of the Month for April; and former RMM Fellow and Intern, Jose Medina its Fellow of the Month for March   Betsaida has worked with Senator Robert Menendez (NJ) and  Senator Charles Schumer (NY)  Jose has worked with  the U.S. Department of Agriculture and  Congressman Reyes of Texas

RMM co-hosted with the Worker Rights Law Center a Leadership Institute in Middletown. The title of the Institute which was geared to teenagers in the workforce was: Know Your Rights.  It turns out that many of the youth we work with didn't know their rights and many were being cheated at their workplace.

Action Steps
Rural and Migrant Ministry supports the   Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act
A.7528(Nolan) / S.3884 (Flanagan). This Act would remove those sections within the New York State Labor law that deny equal rights for farmworkers in New York.  Join us in writing or calling you legislator and asking them to also support this Bill.  Let your State Senator know that you want New York State Labor law to stop excluding farmworkers from human basic rights afforded others (including a day of rest, overtime pay and protections when bargaining collectively) Send an email or better yet, a letter to your State Senator (you can get their contact info, by going to:
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm. 
 
 
Additional action steps!!
There is quite a bit of discussion in Washington D.C. and throughout communities about Immigration Reform. Rural and Migrant Ministry would like to help our partners engage more fully not only in this debate, but also in welcoming immigrants to our communities.  To this end we have produced four documents:

• A Theological Message to the Covenanting Faith Bodies
• A Position Paper on the necessary Components for Immigration Reform
• An Invitation to join the New Sanctuary Movement
• A Menu of Hope: Opportunities for helping your local government be more welcoming of immigrants.

All of these documents are available on our web-site or be calling either our offices in Poughkeepsie (845-485-8627) or Brockport  (585)637-8360
 

Please Support Us!!

SUMMER at RMM = CAMP
and you are invited to join us by helping complete our WISH LIST
 
FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP - August 12 thru 18 at Camp Kutz, Warwick, NY

• Buy a T-Shirt @ $5.00  (VBS students could be challenged to give an offering that would purchase a T-shirt or a Tote Bag) - Needed 230 T-Shirts 
• Buy a Tote Bag @ $5.00 - Needed 150 Bags
  (These prices include cost of shirt plus imprint/RMM logo)
• Beach Towels - Needed 150 mid-size beach towels
  Underwriting the cost of busses for a special Day Trip - Needed 3 at $850 each
• Small supplies of about 50 each: Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Deoderant (30 each: boys and girls), Sun Screen (50 large bottles) and Bug Spray (50 cans)
• Water Bottles (approximately 200)

Please call Jane Konitz, Volunteer Coordinator for Special Projects at 845-485-8627 (RMM) or 845-297-5864.
 
 
WE SURE COULD USE YOUR HELP:
Our summer youth programs are in full swing - but we still need financial support!  You can make a difference in a child's life by helping them open the door to opportunity.  Give us a call, or email us about a donation.
 
Please help us get the word out about the needs of RMM ! 

• Volunteers are needed to help out part time in the offices - We really need help and it is fun!!!
• Journalists to write a story about RMM
• Donation of a relatively new vehicle with low mileage and in good working condition

Give Janaira a call in the office - if you are able to join us!   845-485-8627