NEW National Homeschooling Organization Announced

On November 02, 1999, Pam Sorooshian of Westerville, Ohio announced the formation of a new national homeschooling organization. "The National Home Education Network (NHEN) is an organization composed of dedicated volunteers from all over the country who have joined forces to create an organization to assist the ever-growing population of homeschoolers nationwide" said Sorooshian, Membership Chair of the new organization. "Our mission:

"The National Home Education Network exists to encourage and facilitate the vital grassroots work of state and local homeschooling groups and individuals by providing information, fostering networking and promoting public relations on a national level. Because we believe there is strength in a diverse network of homeschoolers, we support the freedom of all individual families to choose home education and to direct such education.

She further said that "to accomplish our mission, NHEN will offer the following resources:

• an Information Clearinghouse filled with homeschooling-related books, articles, websites, and other resources.
• Voices, the NHEN bimonthly newsletter
• conferences for homeschool families and support for local events
• a website filled with useful information for homeschooling families
• a legislative and legal watch network
• a comprehensive listing of active support groups
• a handbook to help local support groups get started -- and succeed!
• a national presence for media contact and public information

"NHEN endeavors to support and empower homeschoolers in making the best choices for their families. NHEN provides the opportunity for homeschoolers to speak for themselves and to fully display the diversity that exists among us.

"Local homeschool organizations and individuals can take advantage of the following NHEN benefits right now:

1. National Organization Membership

   Do you support the freedom of families to choose their own educational paths? Do you want to see homeschoolers represent themselves to the public, media and government as the truly diverse individuals they are?

   If so, NHEN membership is for you. Joining is absolutely FREE.

   Membership is open to any individual, group, or business that supports our Mission Statement. Members are entitled and encouraged to participate in open discussions about NHEN activities on our online committee message boards. Members are encouraged to utilize and provide homeschool-related information through our Information Clearinghouse. NHEN provides assistance to individuals and groups in representing themselves as members of the homeschooling community to the media and general public.

   Join NHEN today by clicking on the Membership Link on the NHEN website http://www.nhen.org/.

2. Comprehensive Support Group Listing

   We invite you to enter contact information about your support group on NHEN's website at http://www.nhen.org/support/. It costs you nothing and by doing so, you will help families find the support system that works best for them. It doesn't matter if your group is small or large, rural or urban, limited-membership or all-inclusive. Our goal is to have this list become the most comprehensive support group resource available. You do not have to be a member of NHEN to be included in this list, nor does listing your organization with us automatically make you a member (although we're looking forward to counting you among our members as you get to know us better!).

3. Bimonthly Newsletter

   VOICES: The Journal of the National Home Education Network gives the many voices within the homeschool community a place to be heard.

   VOICES reflects the variety of home educating families that exist today, and serves to demonstrate that no one group or person speaks for all homeschoolers.

   Published bimonthly for $20/year, subscription requests can be mailed to the address provided at the top of this announcement.

"Membership in NHEN is open to ALL individuals, organizations, and businesses in the homeschooling community. We are requesting that you forward this letter to homeschool email lists as well as provide a link to the NHEN website on your group or individual homeschooling websites and include it in support group newsletters.

"Although NHEN membership is free, we do need funds in order to carry out our mission. We rely entirely on voluntary member contributions. Any amount helps, so become a "Friend of NHEN" by sending whatever you can to:

National Home Education Network
PMB 244
22 Westerville Square
Westerville, OH 43081

"Contributions of $50 or more include a one-year subscription to Voices, the NHEN Journal. Those who contribute $50 or more before December 1, 1999, will be designated as Charter Members of NHEN."

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