I guess I just wanted to say that our organization is the only one in our community that has not been providing direct service. There are many that are providing direct service to women. The need is so great, they don't have the opportunity, the time, or the resources to advocate. So when our office closes down because we no longer have the ability, there isn't anyone speaking. No one is speaking any longer on behalf of the women I talk to all the time—the Joannes and the other women—because the organizations and agencies providing direct service are just trying to provide service alone and they don't have the ability to do the advocacy.
On February 14th, 2007. See this statement in context.