11/24/2013 (with minor updates 4/23/20)

ERAL Case Intake Form and Rules

 

This form is to be filled out by the person with the problem. Initial contact with potential clients can be informal, but the form is to be used by the person with the problem to clarify the situation and provide information to our members (along with the person with the problem's attorney), so they could help in a focused way.  Note the protocols for identifying people requesting help. Please provide the following instructions:

 

---Send the rest of this message to the person with the problem--

 

I am sending you an Earth Religions Assistance List (ERAL) case intake form.  It is to be filled out by the person with the problem. 

 

To get the best response from ERAL, get an attorney and fill out and e-mail the form back to the nearest ERAL public contact and to lcornett@en.com, along with a brief summary of your situation (preferably less than two pages long), citing the case intake form and other documents that you provide for additional details. Also mail hardcopy or e-mail, as an attachment, a scanned signed copy of the signed waivers (as a pdf).

 

If you are unsure how to check an item, or respond, select the whole form in your e-mail manager as a message you are replying to, then reply as you would with any e-mail.  To fill out checklist portions of the form, do it like this:

 

 _X_ I understand and agree to...

 

In general, the essay portions of form should be dealt with like a reply to e-mail, in which either:

 

1.  The form is replied to in your e-mail “reply to message” software, or

 

2.  Copied into a blank word processing template, and replied to by writing in your response to the questions.  Either way will allow you to include in the form as much text as you may need to explain the circumstances of your situation. 

 

If you fill out the form on a word processor, you can then convert and e-mail the filled out form as an attached MS Word or .rtf file attached to an e-mail message, or simply copy the text into the body of a single e-mail message (if your e-mail software allows a message as long as your filled out form to be entered into the body of an e-mail message). 

 

If necessary, the filled out form can also be broken down into several pieces and sent in several pieces of e-mail (with Subject headers like ERAL Intake form (Part 1 of 3 or Part 2 of 3, or Part 3 of 3 assuming it is sent in three pieces).

 

If you did not receive the form in e-mail, or you don’t have e-mail, you should request a disk containing an ASCII, MS Word 2003 or .rtf version of the form, for you to reply to using a PC with word processing software, according to the above instructions, except that a disk containing the filled out form should be sent to your ERAL contact.  Please specify if you are using an MSDOS compatible operating system or a MAC, when requesting a disk; and find out if your contact has a MAC or an MSDOS compatible operating system, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to post the filled out form by one of our contacts with a suitable personal computer.

 

Either way of filling out and submitting the form electronically will leave you with all the space needed for a reasonably complete explanation of your situation and why it constitutes religious discrimination. 

 

Please also send your ERAL contact scanned or word-processed versions of the complaint against you and of pertinent evidence, statements by witnesses, etc., to be forwarded on to ERAL. ERAL is an e-mail list operating on the Internet.

 

The more complete you make your electronic submission, the more complete the potential response may be from  ERAL members, most of whom will only see what has been electronically provided directly concerning your case.

 

Some portions of the form require hardcopy being sent to your contact on ERAL, particularly signatures.  Scanned copies of the pertinent pages, sent as an attachment to your e-mail, will suffice.

 

Be sure and save your reply and make some copies for your attorney and others you ask for assistance.

 

 

 


EARTH RELIGION LEGAL PROBLEM INTAKE GUIDE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

 

HELP WE MAY PROVIDE

 

We help those who are being discriminated against based on their Pagan/Mystic/Earth-based spiritual beliefs or practices, particularly where there are no other complicating non-religious issues.  We might be able to help by providing you and your attorney information or by referring you to organizations that would be better able to help you.  We might also be able to help by finding a volunteer to serve as a coordinator connecting you with individuals, expert witnesses and information

 

We generally do not provide money towards your legal expenses, however we may refer you to people and organizations that can help you with free or sliding scale services or who may let it be known if you need money for such expenses. 

 

Do not count on any or all of the above types of help. We are unpaid volunteers with limited resources, and what help we can provide is dependent on whether or not you give us the information that we need to assess your situation and whether or not we find one or more volunteers to assist in your situation.

 

You are also expected to do what you can to help yourself.

 

We may post your information and requests to the Earth Religions Assistance Lists (ERAL) and other locations where it would be seen by religious rights activists, including members of the Lady Liberty League, AREN, other Earth Religion rights organizations and activists, human rights attorneys, etc. Individuals, organizations, and electronic media contacted may forward the information and requests on elsewhere on the Internet, and individuals or organizations may contact you through us or directly.  Please specify what information concerning your identity you would want to have us share. 

 

It is our usual practice to post full identifying information on the ERAL and to forward it to persons who we consider to be reliable, and to use initials, or a first name, or an alias (or nickname or Craftname), and a P.O. Box or other secure way to contact you in more publicly available media, such as e-mail lists or publications.  However, you post your identification at your own risk. Religious Bigots exist who can cause problems.  We assume no responsibility for any leaks of sensitive information to inappropriate locations or the consequences.

 

If you agree to this, enter your signature and the date here

 

___________________________________  Date __________________

Please also provide a parental signature if you are a minor

 


Please do not use identifying information about anyone (including addresses/phone numbers/fax numbers) without explicit permission of the individual.  Please do not make defamatory statements (false statements which might damage someone's reputation), and stick to the facts.  Please let us know if you receive any useful or not so useful information or if any problems arise with any individual or organization.

 

While we need to receive the form filled out in electronic format  (either as e-mail or as an ASCII file or Word 6.0 or WordPerfect 5.1 or earlier, for MSDOS),  please also send a hardcopy printout, with your signature where indicated, and each page initialed and dated.

 

========INFORMATION FOR YOU TO FILL OUT=================

 

Please provide your:

 

Name:

Address:

      City, State and Zip Code:

Phone number:

Birth Date: 

Please provide parental consent if a minor)

FAX:

E-mail address:

Do you accept phone calls:

 

Information for public release:

Alias or Initials:

P.O. Box or mail drop:

      (If you don't have one, you might consider getting

      one temporarily--they cost $5-$25 per month.)

Phone number, e-mail address or other information for public release:

 

Please provide your Attorney’s:

Name:

 Address:

    City, State and Zip Code:

Phone number:

FAX:

E-mail address:

 

 

Information for potential public release:

Alias or Initials:

P.O. Box or mail drop:

Phone number, e-mail address or other information for public release:

 

 

CONFIDENTIALITY LEVEL FOR INFORMATION ON THIS FORM

 

For you:

 

__   Do you understand that all information you  provide on this

       form is at your own risk?

 

__     OK to post full identifying information on the ERAL list and

    to forward it to persons who we consider to be reliable, at
    your own risk

 

__  OK  to use initials, or a first name, or an alias (or nickname or Craftname), and a P.O. Box or other secure way to specified above to contact you and your attorney in more publicly available media, such as e-mail lists, websites, or publications, at your own risk.

 

__  Only use initials, or a first name, or an alias (or nickname or Craftname), and a P.O. Box or other secure way to contact you specified above for all communications

 

__  OK to post full identifying information anywhere

 

Other Instructions concerning Confidentiality:

 

Do you have your attorney’ approval for the information on this form?____

 

Has your attorney reviewed and approved this form?___

If not,  Please explain why not: 

 

For your Attorney:

 

__   Do you understand that all information you  provide on this

       form is at your own risk?

 

__     OK to post full identifying information on the ERAL and to forward it to persons who we consider to be reliable, at your own risk

 

__    OK  to use initials, or a first name, or an alias (or nickname or Craftname), and a P.O. Box or other secure way to specified above to contact you and your attorney in more publicly available media, such as e-mail lists, websites or publications, at your own risk.

 

__    Only use initials, or a first name, or an alias (or nickname or Craftname), and a P.O. Box or other secure way to contact you specified above for all communications

 

__    OK to post full identifying information anywhere

 

Other Instructions concerning Confidentiality:

 

 

 

HELP YOU ARE REQUESTING

 

__ (1) Locating an attorney

__ (2) Would you and your attorney--like us or others to contact

    your attorney?

__ (3) Would you like your attorney to consult with other

    attorneys who are knowledgeable about freedom of religion and

    the law and if you do, does your attorney want to consult

    with others?

__ (4) Information on freedom of religion law (with the clear understanding that the information provided will not be tailored for your particular case and will not constitute legal advice)?

__ (5) Evidentiary materials to help prove that your Pagan/ Mystic/Earth-based tradition is a religion protected under the constitution?

__ (6) Evidentiary materials to help prove that your Pagan/

    Mystic/Earth-based tradition is ethical and good for society

    and families

__ (7) Third Party Mediation

__ (8) Pagan Friendly Third Party Mediation

__ (9) Pagan Clergy Contact

__ (9) Somebody to consult with while I figure out what to do

    next

__ (10) Help finding out what my options are

__ (11)Wider publicity to expose these (explicative deleted)

   for what they are and generate more public support for my

   cause.

__ (12) Other (please specify):

 

 

RELIGIOUS RIGHTS PROBLEM

 

For us to help you, we need the following information from you about your case:

 

*       What happened to you that you believe constitutes discrimination on the basis of your religion? 

 

*       In what context did this occur?  (education, employment, criminal proceedings, divorce/custody proceedings, use of public facilities, military rules, prison rules?  If other context, please specify.)

 

*       When did this occur? (date)

 

*       Where did this occur? (state)

 

*       What parties are involved? (first names and titles of individuals involved, and relationship to you)

 

*       What institutions are involved, if any? (public or private school? public or private employer? sheriff's office or police department? local, state, or federal court? administrative agency? military service? prison?) 

 

*       Are you currently in court or administrative proceedings?  If so, do you have any pending court dates, the case number, in what court it is, before what judge or investigator? 

 

*       What is the purpose of the hearing?

 

*       Why did this occur? (Did any actions of yours contribute to the situation?  What objective evidence do you have about the motives of other parties?) 

 

*       Are there any other allegations at issue not related to freedom of religion that might complicate your case? This includes not only the your allegations, but also any allegations by the other party.

 

*       How is the government involved? (Do you believe the government discriminated by making an administrative decision? by making a judicial decision? by enacting a law? by enforcing a law?  If other, please specify.)

 

*       Were you punished, threatened, or harmed for holding a religious belief?  If so, what religious belief, and how were you punished, threatened, or harmed?

 

*       Were you punished, threatened, or harmed for performing a religious practice? Were you prevented from performing a religious practice?  If so, describe the religious practice.  Is this practice necessary to your religious tradition?  Please explain why.  Does this religious practice encroach in any way on the rights or interests of others?  If so, what have you done to accommodate the rights or interests of others?

 

 

BACKGROUND ON CUSTODY CASES

 

*       Is the child adopted and if so, have they gone to the final adoption hearing?

 

*       Is it the birth mother or the adoptive mother that the child was taken from?

 

*       Was this a private adoption or was it done through State or other agencies?

 

*       What is the final adoption court date, has it occurred or is it still pending?

 

 

INFORMATION ON YOUR RELIGIOUS TRADITION

 

(This is important for us to locate the right people and information to help, and important for you to be able to testify about in court, against hostile questioners, if needed)

 

*       What religious tradition do you follow?

 

*       What do you call your tradition? 

 

*       How long have you followed this tradition? 

 

*       Have you consistently identified yourself as a practitioner of this tradition to your family and friends? within the Pagan community? outside the Pagan community?  If not, why not? 

 

*       Briefly describe your general beliefs concerning Deity, its relationship to the mundane world, life and death, and ethics.

 

*       Do you adhere to the "respect all/harm none" philosophy? 

 

*       Briefly describe the practices followed in your tradition.

 

*       Identify which books reflect your religious tradition. 

 

*       Describe any local, regional, and national affiliations.

 

*       Identify leaders recognized in this tradition, if any (in so far as able, given the confidentiality requirements)

 

 

OTHER HELP YOU HAVE SOUGHT

 

*       What action have you taken concerning the alleged religious discrimination?  (Have you filed an EEO complaint? filed a complaint with your union? filed a complaint with your state human rights commission? If other, please specify.)

 

*       Have you requested help from other civil rights organizations? (contacted the ACLU? Contacted any other religious rights organizations? Contacted any other Pagan rights organizations, such as the Alternative Religions Educational Network (AREN), or Lady Liberty League?) 

 

*       If so, describe who you have contacted and how they responded. 

 

*       Who else have you contacted to help?

 

*       Would you--and your contact(s)--like us or others to contact them?  If so, provide a first name and e-mail/P.O. Box address/phone or fax number (with permission of the contact only).  If you have not contacted any of these organizations, do you know of any such organizations near you?

 

 

AUTHENTICATING INFORMATION

 

All information provided, including the media and/or paper that it arrives in/on, shall become the property of EARL and/or the volunteer(s) that is (are) handling the case.   It will not be returned unless special arrangements are made, EARL is not and  will not be responsible for returning any information.  Do not send originals, or your only copy

 

Please provide a statement by one or more witnesses to your problem (if any) and, with the permission of the witness, how we may contact him or her:

 

Please send the following documents to the address we may provide you.  We will attempt to keep this information confidential.  In general, we provide this information (or details on the contents only to our attorneys and, perhaps, the volunteers that they work with.  Of course, the person receiving your mail will have access to it.

 

*       If the case is a criminal case, a copy of the indictment or other official charging document (stating the criminal charges) and the police report.

 

*       If the case is a civil case, a copy of the civil petition or complaint initiating the lawsuit, and your response or answer.

 

*       Copies of available witness affidavits, depositions, or interrogatories, and/or hearing transcripts or tapes.

 

*       Copies of the legal bills for the lawyer's or court reporter's services, along with their addresses and phone numbers, for verification of the amounts and the purposes of the services rendered.  (You will need to advise these parties that you consent to them discussing this information with one of our representatives.)

 

ERAL PUBLIC CONTACTS 9/11/08

 

(some of this information may be very out of date.  If you have any problems reaching any of these people, contact Larry Cornett at hugnome42@yahoo.com or by phoning him at 216 583-0007).

 

 

CALIFORNIA

 

Sandy Brundage

Redwood City, CA

650.293.7754

tarthulhu@sbcglobal.net  (verified 9/3/07)

 

Lisa Morgenstern aka Ariadne Morningstar

PO Box 3065

Quartz Hill, CA 93586-0065

661-722-3887

lisa@fpcav.org

http://paganpride.avpagans.org

Dragon's Weyr Circle, National Member, Covenant of the Goddess

http://dragonsweyrcircle.org

First Pantheistic Center, Antelope Valley

http://fpcav.org

(Verified 1/29/07)

 

 

COLORADO

 

Earth Spirit Pagans

Attn: Chris West

721 N. Hancock Av

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

info@earthspiritpagans.org

http://www.earthspiritpagans.org

(Verified 9/7/08)

 

 

 

FLORIDA

 

Roger Paraselsu Coleman

Church of Iron Oak, ATC

Box 060672

Palm Bay, FL 32906-0672

Phone: (407) 722-0291

Roger@ironoak.org

ERAL

(Verified 9/11/08)

 

Bill Kilborn

PO Box 1893

Trenton, FL 32693

352-463-9318

http://www.journey1.org

bill@journey1.org

bill@journeyi.net

AREN:

http://www.aren.org

aren1@aren.org (verified 9/6/08)

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS

 

Dennis Kirkpatrick                                        

Current Outreach: MA

dmk@trinacrianrose.org

http://www.trinacrianrose.org/

POWER (Protective Order of Witches & Earth Religions), ERAL

(Verified 12/12/12)

 

Jerrie Hildebrand

jerrie@circlesanctuary.org

Assistant Director, Lady Liberty League;

M and Adm Team Our Freedom Coalition;

M CUUPS; M UU; M ERAL; Minister, Circle Sanctuary;

past coordinator, board member and/or officer

of a variety of Pagan organizations.

Location: Northeastern MA (Verified 9/3/08)

 

 

MINNESOTA

 

Rev. Dr. Christa Heiden Landon

7331-Rosewood Ln., N.

Maple Grove, MN  55369-5236

Phone:  763-493-3634 (Phone verified 4/19/2010)

Fax:        763-493-3657

chlandon@aol.com 

CUUPS, UU Minister

 

 

NEW YORK

 

Phyllis Curott, Esq.

aradia@mindspring.com  

(Verified 4/19/2010 but does not work11/10/13)

 

 

OHIO

 

Larry Cornett
2450 W. 6 St, Apt UpS

Cleveland OH 44113 

(216) 583-0007
hugnome42@yahoo.com
http://www.erlan.org     

Moderator ERAL Moderator, President ERLAN, SEA rep., LLL specialist in Networking, and AREN member

(Verified 4/19/2010)

 

 

OKLAHOMA

 

Fr. Michael Wayne Adams

Padaman@aol.com

Former OK State Director PAL & P.A.C.T.

Can advise on general legal and school issues, assist networking with Pagans in local area for aid in legal matters.

(Verified 9/8/08)

 

 

PENNSYLVANIA

 

Orren Whiddon                                  

Four Quarters Farm, RD1 62C,

Silver Mills Rd, Artemis PA 17211

Phone: 814-784-3075

megalith@4qf.org 

ERAL

(Verified 4/19/2010)

 

 

TEXAS

 

Judy Kay Craft 
Houston, Texas
judy.craft@broussard-sa.net

jkcraft_cuups@earthlink.net

ERAL CUUPS liaison

(Verified 5/19/2009)

 

VERMONT

 

C. Creek Kelsey, Esq.

Law in the Public Interest, L3C*

98 Norford Lake Road

Thetford Center, VT 05075-9024

Phone/Fax 802-649-2342/5171

cckelseyesq@yahoo.com

cckelsey@VTConsumerAid.org

(Verified 11/24/13)

 

VIRGINIA

 

Rev. E. Rhiannon Melanson
a/k/a Rev. Rhiannon DragonSinger
Norfolk, VA 23504
(757) 292-9085
revrhiannon@gmail.com
HPs and Founder Coven at High Reaches - Rochester NY
HPs and Founder Tidewater Spiritual Congregation - Portsmouth, VA
Pagan Liaison USN Chaplain’s Office
State Chairperson, Pagan Unity Campaign
Prison Ministry Available
(Verified 12/4/08)

 

WASHINGTON STATE

 

Rev. James Assad, ULC
223 Yesler Way, #410
Seattle WA 98104
teknomancer@outlook.com (subscribed to ERAL) (Verified 9/19/2013)

(206)790-9052
Board Member of Gothic Pride Seattle,

Former Director, WARD WA State,

http://blake.prohosting.com/~jassad
Former BoD Secretary 1997-1999, CAW
6th Circle Scion, CAW
Member of the Fellowship of Isis,
Ordained Minister, ULC

 

 

OUR LEGAL DISCLAIMER

 

ERAL is not your lawyer.  ERAL is not providing you with legal advice.  What ERAL does provide is information from other cases that are similar to yours and generic information.  Many of the people who make up ERAL are not attorneys nor do they claim to be attorneys.  None of the attorneys working with ERAL will provide any specific legal information about your case to any non-attorneys.  ERAL is not, nor will it ever be, responsible if you take the advice offered as legal advice and act thereon.

 

ERAL does not claim to keep private any information submitted to it.  Nor does ERAL claim to be able to protect any information transmitted (by any means) to any individuals or organizations for any purpose whatsoever.  ERAL is not responsible for any actions taken by anyone who receives any transmitted information.

 

 


COMPLAINANT'S LEGAL WAIVER

 

By requesting help or submitting information, the complainant agrees to hold harmless ERAL and its representatives for all purposes. 

 

The complainant understands that there is no guarantee that legal, informational, or financial help will be procured by the networking service or from us.  The complainant agrees that we are not responsible for actions of any individuals, organizations, or electronic media that we submit information to or request help from.  The complainant asserts that he/she has no expectation of privacy for information submitted to us.

 

The complainant asserts that no information submitted to us is false, defamatory, or identifies any individual by last name, street address, or without the individual's permission. 

 

The complainant understands that the legal or factual information provided to him/her is only meant to be educational and does not substitute for the services of an attorney.  The complainant understands that nothing any of us communicates constitutes legal advice.  And the complainant agrees that we are not responsible for the outcome of his/her legal case.

 

I, ______, understand that by requesting help and/or submitting information to EARL that I agree that I will not hold EARL, its moderators, its members, its volunteers, and/or anyone connected with EARL liable, blameworthy, or in any way financially responsible for any information given to me and/or any reliance I placed on such   information.

 

Sign below and enter the date:

 

 

_________________________________     Date_____________

Please also provide a parental signature if you are a minor

 

 

 


GENERAL POLICIES

 

We will not handle any case where the complainant deliberately lies, deceives us, or misrepresents the facts of his/her case, or his/her financial liabilities to us. We reserve the right to immediately cease all work on the case.

 

Unless you can prove to us that the allegations listed below are false, we will not handle:

 

*       Any case where the complainant is accused of violent behavior.

 

*       Any case where the complainant is accused of criminal conduct that is not directly related to the issue of religious discrimination.

 

*       Any case where the complainant has been fired from his/her employment or expelled from school allegedly due to theft, dishonesty, violence, absenteeism, alcohol or drug abuse, or poor performance.

 

*       Any divorce/custody case where the complainant is accused of physical or sexual abuse of a child or spouse, child neglect, prostitution, alcohol or drug abuse, or any other criminal act.

 

We also need to be aware of any case where the complainant has been diagnosed by a medical doctor as suffering from a mental illness and/or has been committed to a mental institution and the associated diagnosis.

 

We reserve the right to provide limited help and refuse help to anyone we decide to, at our discretion.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

 


GUIDE FOR A COMPLAINANT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY

 

From the answers you submitted to us in response to the Intake Guide and Questionnaire, I understand that you do not have an attorney or would like help getting an attorney in your area knowledgeable about freedom of religion law.

 

We strongly suggests that you hire an attorney licensed in your state familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the particular context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law, etc.)

 

If you request/requested us to help you in this regard, we may submit the request to various individuals, organizations, and electronic media to help you find an attorney.  However, you should understand that there is no guarantee that an attorney will be located via this networking service that will be able to help you.  Ultimately, the responsibility for finding an attorney remains with you.

 

We strongly suggest that you seek out an attorney on your own.  Our informational services are not a substitute for legal services, and neither I nor those I work with can provide you legal advice.  Our informational services are best used in conjunction with the services of an attorney licensed in your state.  It is very important that you have an attorney representing you to provide you legal advice and to protect your rights!

 

To find an attorney on your own, we suggest the following course of action:

 

*       Call the local chapter of the ACLU (look in your local telephone book in the business section of the white pages under "American Civil Liberties Union").  Ask them if the ACLU would be willing to take your case or if it could refer you to attorneys who might be willing to take your case.  Request them to provide names of attorneys familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)

 

*       Call lawyers referral services, if available (look in your local telephone book in the yellow pages under "lawyer’s referral services").  Request them to provide names of attorneys familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)

 

*       Call the State Bar Association (look in your local telephone book in the business section of the white pages or in the blue pages under "[state name] [State] Bar Association").  Request them to provide names of attorneys familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)

 

*       Contact the local Bar Association and ask if there is a pro bono program.  Many local bar associations lower their dues if the members do assigned pro bono or reduced cost work.

 

*       Call attorneys directly (look in your local telephone book in the yellow pages under "attorneys" or "lawyers").  Contact attorneys that advertise experience in the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)

 

 

If you think you cannot afford an attorney, we suggest the following course of action:

 

*       Ask the ACLU, the lawyers referral services, and the State Bar Association to provide names of attorneys willing to work on a sliding scale (based on income) or willing to work for free (pro bono). 

 

*       Ask the attorneys advertised in the telephone book if they are willing to work on a sliding scale (based on income) or work for free (pro bono). 

 

*       Contact legal aid services in your area, if available.  These can be found in your local telephone book in the yellow pages under "legal aid services" "legal aid clinics" or "legal clinics".

 

If you are asking for an attorney to work on a sliding scale or on a pro bono basis, it will be harder to find an attorney, but not impossible.  Keep trying! 

 

============end of form======================

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

FOR THIRD PARTY REQUESTS WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY:

 

To get the best response from ERAL, and some other lists and individuals, the individual with the problem needs to fill out and e-mail the ERAL Case Intake Form below back to the nearest ERAL public contact (with a copy to lcornett@en.com), along with a brief summary of their situation (preferably less than two pages long) -- citing the case intake form and other documents for additional details. They also need to send hardcopy of the signed waivers, along with a notarized release from their parents (if they are minors). The form is to be filled out by the persons with the problem.  If they are unsure how to check an item, or respond, select the whole form in their e-mail manager as a message that are replying to, then reply as with any e-mail.  To fill out checklist portions of the form, do it like this:

 

 _X_ I understand and agree to...

 

In general, the essay portions of form should be dealt with like a reply to e-mail, in which either:

 

*       The form is replied to in your e-mail “reply to message” software, or

 

*       Entered as an ASCII file into your word processing software (or simply copied into a blank word processing template), and replied to by writing in their response to the questions.  Either way will allow them to include in the form as much text as you may need to explain the circumstances of your situation. 

 

If they fill out the form on a word processor, they can then convert and e-mail the filled out form as an attached ASCII, MS Word  or RTF file attached to an e-mail message, or simply copy the text into the body of a single e-mail .

 

They can also send the ERAL contacts scanned or word-processed versions of any complaints against them and of pertinent evidence, statements by witnesses, etc., to be forwarded on to ERAL. The more complete they make their electronic submission, the more complete the potential response may be from  ERAL members, most of whom will only see what has been electronically provided directly concerning your case.

 

Some portions of the form require hardcopy being sent to their contact on ERAL, particularly signatures.

 

They need to be sure and save their reply and make some copies for their attorney (and to help recruit an attorney, if they still do not have one) and others you ask for assistance.

 

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BOILERPLATE TEXT FOR ATTORNEY REQUESTS WHEN ERAL HAS AN ATTORNEY WHO IS A PUBLIC CONTACT AND WHO IS LICENSED IN THEIR STATE, ETC.

 

Your request for assistance locating a Pagan friendly attorney on ______ was posted on the Earth Religions Assistance List (ERAL) today. ERAL is an e-mail list operating on the Internet. Details are available at http://www.erlan.org.  This site also contains links to many websites with additional information and links that might be helpful to you, especially our Topic Specific Web Pages for Finding Help at http://www.erlan.org/helplink.htm.

ERAL has nine attorneys among our members, including ______ licensed in (insert State here) and another (insert State here) Attorney who is not a public contact.