Newly elected…
By Kathianne Boniello
The Queens chapter of the Million Mom March was slated to be officially chartered this week more than a year after members of the boroughwide group joined in a nationwide effort to lobby for gun control on Capitol Hill in May 2000.
Newly elected President Joan Gold, the Little Neck woman who helped kick off Queens Million Mom March efforts last February, said the group now includes about 100 members from across the borough. The Million Mom March Foundation of Queens held elections last week and was expected to receive its charter this week, Gold said.
“We’re a bona fide chapter here in Queens,” Gold said. “It’s exciting.”
On May 14 last year, which was Mother’s Day, hundreds of thousands of mothers and their families from across the country journeyed to Washington, D.C. for a march in support of what the group describes as “common sense gun control.”
The Queens delegation sent between 2,000 and 3,000 people to the nationwide march last year. In the past year the group has held voter registration drives, hosted a candidates’ night and conducted a candlelight vigil outside the Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Flushing, where five workers were shot to death execution-style in May 2000.
Gold, one of four officers elected by the Queens chapter last week, said the group was in the early stages of planning a picnic-style event in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for Mother’s Day this year.
Gold said the Mother’s Day picnic in Flushing Meadows would feature survivors of gun violence.
“We’re looking for people whose lives have been touched by gun violence in some form or fashion so they can speak or be listened to at this event,” she said.
Music, food, speakers, politicians and families were all expected to be a part of the Queens chapter’s event, said Gold, who emphasized that anyone willing to volunteer for or donate to the picnic should contact the Queens foundation.
The Little Neck mother of two said the Queens chapter would like to have Wendy’s help sponsor its Mother’s Day 2001 picnic.
“If they joined up with us, that would be great,” said Gold, who said she sent a request for help to the company last week.
On its web site, www.millionmommarch.com, the organizers of the group describe their mission as one of “educating our children and our country about the life-threatening danger of guns.”
“While we acknowledge that guns may be necessary for hunting, law enforcement, and national security,” the web site said, “the proliferation of firearms intended for one purpose only — killing another human being — has become untenable.”
Along with Gold, three other women were elected as officers of the Queens Million Mom March Foundation.
Lois McGuinness of Middle Village was chosen as vice president, Sharon Cafferata of Corona was elected as secretary and Marie Epstein of Douglaston was picked as treasurer.
Epstein’s husband, Ira, who owned a check-cashing business on Astoria Boulevard in Corona, was shot to death during a botched robbery attempt in December 1996. Charles Davis, an off-duty police officer from St. Albans who was moonlighting in Epstein’s store as a security guard, also was killed during the robbery.
Those seeking more information on the Mother’s Day 2001 picnic or who would like to ask questions or join the Queens chapter can do so by calling (718) 781-4971 or emailing MMMQueensmom@aol.com.
Those wishing to donate to the group can sent their contributions to: Million Mom March Foundation, P.O. Box 309, 176-25 Union Tpke, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
