Upcoming Events


June 5, 2005
5K Run - The Richard M. Keane Foundation Annual 5K Run
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Standish Park in Old Wethersfield
Bring the entire family!
More

 

June 6, 2005
9/11 Commission:
Unfinished Agenda First public panel, on CIA and FBI
Reform

Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004... More

 

June 11, 2005
Third Annual “FDNY FF Michael Kiefer Walk-a-Thon”
To benefit N.Y. Firefighters Burn Center Foundation
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Long Beach Boardwalk, * Long Beach , L.I.
* Walk will start at Michael's Bench between Lincoln & Monroe Blvd... More

 

June 13, 2005
9/11 Commission:
Unfinished Agenda Second public panel, on Challenges Facing the Director of National Intelligence
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004... More


June 23, 2005
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) World Trade Center investigation
Final Public Briefing
Time: 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Location: The Marriott New York Financial Center Hotel Grand Ballroom... More

 

 

June 3, 2005

 

 


Dear Families and Friends,

The Public Discourse Project, formerly the 9/11 Commission, begins a series of public hearings this week in Washington, D.C. to assess how the government has responded to the recommendations in the Commission’s official report. The first hearing, on Monday, June 6 will focus particularly on whether substantial improvements have been made in information sharing between the agencies, and within the intelligence community as a whole. It will also examine the status of the FBI’s counterterrorism capabilities, and the CIA’s efforts to rebuild analytic and human intelligence capabilities. The panel will be held at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. from 9:30 to 11:30 am. To learn more about issues related to the hearing visit our website. For a schedule of upcoming hearings, including the June 13th session on issues facing the Director of National Intelligence, click here.

 

Like many of you, after my son's death on 9/11, I learned the importance of staying informed about the issues that affect my family. The safety of our families and our country hinges on the willingness of our government officials to implement the long overdue reforms recommended in the 9/11 Commission Report released July 22, 2004.    

 

We encourage you to become an active participant by attending the hearings or watching them on C-SPAN and reading the updates and information we will provide in the VOICES weekly newsletter. Seating at the hearings will be set aside for family members, so we hope to see you in Washington. Feel free to contact our office with any questions.    

 

Warm regards,

Mary Fetchet


 

Spotlight On…



Jamie S. Gorelick
Moderator of the Unfinished Agenda
First Public Panel on CIA and FBI Reform

Jamie Gorelick is a former Democratic member of the 9/11 Commission, and an active member of the 9/11 Public Discourse Project. Prior to her work on the 9/11 Commission, Ms. Gorelick served, among other positions, as deputy attorney general of the United States and general counsel of the Department of Defense. She is currently a lawyer in private practice in Washington. Her knowledge and hard work has advanced the implementation of many of the recommendations put forth by her and her fellow commissioners in their July, 2004 report. We thank her for her work, and look forward to hearing her thoughts on the successes and failures of the 9/11 Commission recommendations relating to CIA and FBI reform thus far.

Information and picture from the National Commission of Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

 

VOICES Programs

Mental Health

VOICES of September 11th Teleconferencing Parent Support Group
Led by Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D.

Caring for your Child and Teen: Tools for Today and Tomorrow

 

·          For 9/11 Spouses and Caregivers of Children and Teens

8 Sessions – Twice a Month

·          Parents with Children 3-7 Years Old

Beginning Thursday, June 16, 2005 11am – 12pm EST

·          Parents with Children 8-14 Years Old

Beginning Wednesday, June 22, 2005, 11am – 12pm EST

·          Parents with Teens 15-20 Years Old

Beginning Tuesday, June 21, 2005, 9 pm-10pm EST

 

Although it is almost four years since 9/11 we recognize that families are facing different challenges in raising children and have new questions. We are expanding our support services to meet the needs of parents and their children. Dr. Robin Goodman will lead new teleconference groups for spouses and caregivers of children and teens. The series, “Caring for Your Child and Teen: Tools for Today and Tomorrow,” will be held twice a month for 8 sessions. Topics include:

·        understanding your child’s feelings and behaviors

·        family communication

·        coping strategies

·        memory making

 

All those who are interested in participating or would like more information should send an email to robingoodman@voicesofsept11.org or call VOICES at 866-505-3911. The telephone groups are provided at no cost to participants, but registration is required.

 


Buy-a-Bear-Send-a-Bear For Beslan Families

As a gesture of good will and empathy, VOICES will send teddy bears to the 344 families who lost loved ones in the Beslan, Russia school attack. If you would like to participate in this program to commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks, you may either send us a teddy bear or a check for $10, made payable to VOICES of September 11th at 93 Cherry St., New Canaan, CT 06840. VOICES would like to encourage everyone participating in the program to include a brief message, which we will translate into Russian, to be sent along with your bear.

Those of us who lost a loved one on September 11 remember how meaningful it was to receive messages of support and consolation along with an international symbol of friendship like the teddy bear. Small gestures like these helped us stay strong during those trying days, and we would like to extend the same good will to the people of Beslan. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut has arranged for us to present the bears to officials at the Russian Embassy in Washington on June 27. Our deadline is Friday, June 14th. Inquiries should be addressed to Debbie Westfal at dwestfal@voicesofsept11.org or by phone at (203) 966-3911.

 

Summer Camp Information


Despite the chilly weather here in the Northeast, summer is just around the corner. This week we are featuring some of the wonderful camps that allow children affected by 9/11 to enjoy the great outdoors and share their experiences with each other. The camps are run at little or no cost to the families, but many have fast approaching enrollment deadlines, so don’t wait to sign your child up for one of these fantastic opportunities.

Boston-based Crossroads for Kids is offering an exciting opportunity for older children, ages 12-16, affected by the September 11 attacks: Adventure Camp, a three-week outward-bound style camping experience in the Massachusetts Berkshires with two sessions, July 2-22 and July 29-August 18. Scholarships are available to cover part or all of the camp’s tuition…more

America’s Camp is currently enrolling boys and girls, ages 7-15, for its August 17-24 session. This will be America’s Camp’s fourth summer in operation. Enrollment grew the first three summers from 79 to 185 campers, and enrollment is expected to cap at 200 this summer. Less than 25 spaces remain…more

Camp Better Days and the Better Days Foundation was set up to help families affected by 9/11 by providing a free week long summer camp for children ages 6-14 years old (exceptions will be made on these ages depending on the situation) who lost loved ones (parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and any other close relationships) in the attacks on September 11, 2001...
more

Camp Haze is a free, one-week sleep-away summer camp experience held at Camp Kenny Brook in Monticello, New York during the week of August 20 - 26, 2005. This will be the fourth summer and, except for children who have previously attended, the camp is offered to children ages 7 -12 of families who lost a loved one on September 11…
more

New in 2005, Comfort Zone Camp’s NY/NJ program will expand to include not only children who lost a loved one on September 11th, but to any grieving child who has experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver to any type of loss…
more

Finding New Hope helps 9/11 families cope with their loss by utilizing various disciplines of arts and creativity, supplemented by structured intercultural exposure, as catalysts for healing. The program’s two components are the Children’s Summer Camps and the year round Weekend Family Get-a-ways…
more

 

 

Featured Memorial Foundation Event



The Richard M. Keane Foundation Annual 5K Run

The Keane Foundation was established soon after 9/11, in memory of Richard Keane, a Wethersfield, CT resident who was lost in the World Trade Center attack. The Keane Foundation’s goal is to create a 9/11 Memorial Sports Center, for youth and families in the community.

The certified, flat-track course begins at Standish Park near the DMV and follows Garden Street taking the runners through beautiful Old Wethersfield, circling the Broad Street Green and back to Standish Park.

When:  Sunday, June 5 at 11:00 am
Where:  Standish Park, Old Wethersfield, CT
Race Day Registration: $15 ( 9:30 - 10:30 am ) Children 10 and under: $5
For Information or Volunteer Opportunities call (203) 563-7316 or (203) 563-3387

We try to keep the most up-to-date information on memorials and foundations available on our website. If you would like to have information on your event, memorial, or foundation listed, please click here.

 

News and Notes

June 3, 2005
Counterterrorism Center Awaits Presidential Action
The nation's primary agency for analyzing terrorist threats and planning counterterrorism operations at home and abroad is waiting for President Bush to name its director and settle whether that person will report directly to the president or go through Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte... More

June 2, 2005

Bill seeks dignified site for WTC victims' ashes
State Sen. Thomas P. Morahan says passage of his bill directing removal of the ashes of World Trade Center victims from a landfill on Staten Island is just the first step in a process... More

May 30, 2005

Cellphones on planes worry security
Justice Dept., FBI and Homeland Security outline potential dangers of use of cellphones in the sky... More


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Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Voices of September 11th (“VOICES”) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting public policy reform for prevention, preparedness and response related to terrorism. VOICES supports and advocates for all those impacted by September 11, 2001 and other terrorist attacks.