The Survivalist Pledge:

To help all that can be helped,
To defend all that can be defended,
To save all that can be saved,
To free all that seek freedom,
To stay alive as long as I can and stay free as long as I live.

The fact that this report is being written six months after the conference (Sept., 1988) should give some indication of how overloaded and behind schedule we are. Our first National Leadership Conference in five years was conducted at Tippecanoe River State Park in Indiana on the weekend of Sept. 24th and 25th. The park was a fitting location since it was the site of Live Free's founding conferences twenty-seven years ago and has been the location of over fifty Live Free weekend seminars since then.

Over the past twenty-seven years, we have built a solid, responsible and reputable organization with members throughout the United States, Canada, and over a dozen other countries; we have much to take pride in. However, the secret to survival is the ability to adapt to change and the time had come for Live Free to make some changes. The changes made at the National Conference were substantial ones directed at revitalizing the organization, mobilizing members into goal-oriented action, and attracting more members. The changes, policies, and programs initiated at the National Conference will be implemented in 1989 and will make Live Free a more effective and exciting organization. There is no way we could hope to publish all the details of the conference and its documents here, so what follows is a very brief outline of the major actions.

REORGANIZATION

An extensive overhaul of Live Free's organizational structure and operating methods was adopted. This action was to streamline the system and make a more task-oriented and efficient organization. Some new departments were created and the roles and obligations of officers were clarified.

AFFILIATIONS

The affiliation procedures were simplified and the privileges/obligations of affiliated groups was clarified in more detail.

AWARDS

A new, comprehensive award program was initiated including an annual "Life and Freedom Award", an "Outstanding Officer's Award", an "Outstanding Member's Award" and other special service awards.

FLAGS, SLOGANS, OATHS, PLEDGES, AND NAMES

"For Life and Freedom" was adopted as the official Live Free slogan. Membership and officers oaths were added to the operating procedures. The Survivalist Pledge (copyright, Live Free) was adopted and guidelines for the use of the Live Free insignia were established. It was decided that "Live Free" should become "Live Free International."

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

In general, Live Free has functioned as a data source, support force, and educational organization and we intend to continue those services. However, it was concluded that they were not effective enough to win the long-term survival/life and freedom battle. Some of our new programs are more public-oriented and will be directly addressing survival-related issues more closely than we have in the past. We need people, we need funds, we need to wake up the public, we need to make changes and build a more effective organization. All this is not going to come to us, so we are going to have to go get it! Members can expect to be requested to help with active recruitment, fund raising, and public information programs in the near future.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Our growing international membership combined with the fact that the threats to life and freedom recognize no borders has brought about the formulation of plans for international organization and alliances.

DUES

Additional levels of membership and new dues rates were established for implementation in the near future. The basic Individual Annual dues will not be changed, but Life Membership and other categories will be increased.

RESOLUTIONS

The following resolutions were passed at the conference:

1) To adopt the Life and Freedom Declaration (copyright, Live Free) as the official policy statement of Live Free.
2) Resolution supporting the right to possess, distribute, and have access to information required for the protection of individual life and freedom (e.g., books, video tapes, etc.).
3) Resolution supporting the HUMAN RIGHT to possess the means to defend individual life and liberty (e.g., firearms, martial arts equipment, etc.).
4) Resolution supporting the concept of responsible civilian "militias" or "home guards" (under specific conditions).
5) Resolution supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and all civil defense organizations.
6) Adoption of the "Survivalist Manifesto" (Directions, Sept., 1987) as an official program of Live Free for the United States.

These resolutions all contain new and dynamic ideas together with specific proposals for action.

SURVIVAL BASE

Live Free has no office, no building, no land, and very, very limited funds, but we have now established--as an official goal--the future acquisition of land for a survival education area research center. We are now considering funding ideas.

DOCUMENTS

All Live Free officers will be provided with a complete document of the 1988 Live Free National Leadership Conference at no cost. Members may get a copy of the documents for $3 postpaid. The documents should be available by June, 1989.

Action takes priority over words, so the reorganization, the development of new literature based on new policies, and the implementation of new programs will proceed as quickly as our resources permit even before the official documents are available.

FROM BACK ISSUES: THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER:

Mr. Jones: I have often noted that survivalists rarely think about the unthinkable. For instance: If neutron bombs, biological weapons and doomsday devices were used in WWIII; if an ecological catastrophe occurred (the buildup of non biodegradable chemical and nuclear toxins); if the Greenhouse Effect made the Earth like Venus; if freedom and privacy became so rare that life on Earth wasn't worth living. In these instances and given the means (and they are becoming available), surely some survivalist writer has thought of survival, say, in orbit or on the moon. I can't be the first who has thought of this possibility. If so, could you please search your network for some contacts or sources with whom I might engage in dialogue? Also, I would like to know if there are any survivalists interested in the life extension movement?

Thank you,

Jason Solomon, Senior Partner, Heuristics Associates

Dear Mr. Solomon:

I found your first statement a bit puzzling. You say that you "have noted that survivalists rarely think about the unthinkable" and you list neutron bombs, etc., as unthinkables they don't think about. The potential disasters that you listed are, in fact, precisely what most survivalist I know do think about. Live Free just recently conducted an operation that included training for protection against Chemical and Biological Weapons and, as our name implies, we are as concerned about the protection of freedom and privacy as we are about saving life. Your second statement about whether any survivalist writers have thought about survival in orbit, etc., is very interesting. My boyhood heroes were Arthur C. Clark, Willy Ley, and Werner von Braun and I was a member of a rocket club for a few years. So, of course, I have thought about such possibilities. Back in 1978, I wrote two articles titled, "Survival in Space" that were published in our newsletter. My reasons for writing the articles were to stir the imaginations of readers and start some dialogue but, at that time, the "hole-in-the-ground" philosophy was too strong so nothing happened. Realistically, a good shelter with plenty of food, water, and equipment is going to be a lot more help to a survivalist than a dream about some space colony.

I am convinced that in the long run, the only real hope of human survival with true freedom is independent space exploration and colonization and I would like to see survivalists take part in that development. BUT there doesn't seem to be any way of realizing that dream in the near future and, meanwhile, we must address ourselves to the problems of staying alive and free here on Earth. Finally, you want to know if there are any survivalists interested in the life extension movement? I am not sure what the "life extension movement" is all about but if its about surviving the effects of aging and living longer, that sounds like survival to me and I would think we would be interested in knowing more. I hope our readers will communicate with you and perhaps engage in an open dialogue through our newsletter to explore these frontiers of survivalist thinking.

For life and freedom,

James C. Jones

 

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