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Faxed to: (202) 225-3393

September 17, 2009

The Honorable Paul Ryan

US House of Representatives
1113 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Ryan:

This is to request your help regarding unanswered letters I’ve sent to two federal officials.

You were copied on my May 1, 2009 letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Secretary Janet Napolitano regarding the Save-A-Life Foundation, a Chicago-area nonprofit that
has been a FEMA affiliate organization since January 23, 2003. I did not receive a reply, so I
sent Secretary Napolitano an August 5 follow-up letter (attached). I have not received a reply to
that letter either.

You were also copied on the attached September 12, 2009 e-mail I sent to Karen Marsh, Director
of Citizen Corps, the FEMA division of which the Save-A-Life Foundation has been an affiliate.
As you can see, my e-mail to Ms. Marsh was my third attempt since August 9 to obtain the
following straightforward information:

Please advise if the Save-A-Life Foundation (SALF) of Schiller Park IL remains in

good standing as a Citizen Corps affiliate organization. If SALF is no longer
affiliated with Citizen Corps, please provide me with the date that affiliation ended.

It’s unclear why Director Marsh’s office has not provided me with this information or why
Secretary Napolitano’s office has not responded to my two letters. Therefore, as one of your
constituents, I’d greatly welcome your help in resolving this. Would you please contact Secretary
Napolitano and Director Marsh on my behalf and ask them to provide you with an approximate
date when I may expect to receive their responses? I’d welcome being copied on any
correspondence.

Thanks very much for your consideration and for any help. I would also appreciate it if your
office would e-mail me to confirm receipt of this letter.

Sincerely,

Gordon T. Pratt
PO Box 18121
Milwaukee, WI 53218

Ph/FAX: (707)667-1746
e-mail: gordy.pratt@gmail.com
Page 1 of 4

Faxed to: (202)282-8401

August 5, 2009

Secretary Janet Napolitano

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

In my letter of May 1, 2009, I provided you with information that raised concerns about
the Save-A-Life Foundation (SALF), a member organization of FEMA’s Citizen Corps. I
also requested your responses to factual questions.

I have not received a reply therefore I would welcome some indication from you when I
may expect a response from you or your representative.

I also have additional questions based on this information published in a July 17, 2009
Daily Herald article, “Suit dropped as Save A Life Changes Mission” by Kimberly Pohl
(attached):

The high-profile nonprofit organization, which taught schoolchildren first aid

techniques, ceased its old mission and closed its office to the public on July
1…(SALF Founder/president Carol) Spizzirri said the organization is negotiating
for smaller quarters, has turned its focus to the future of emergency medical
services and has been supporting related state legislation.

As of today, Citizen Corps’s SALF web page (attached) appears unchanged since SALF
changed its mission. Therefore I presume that a FEMA representative has reviewed and
endorsed SALF’s new mission. If that is incorrect, please advise.

Finally, would you please provide me with the name of the employee who is responsible
for overseeing FEMA’s relationship with the Save-A-Life Foundation? Would you also
please make arrangements for that employee to contact me?

Thank you for your continued attention to this matter. I look forward to your reply.

1
Sincerely,

Gordon T. Pratt
PO Box 18121
Milwaukee, WI 53218

Ph: (707)667-1746
e-mail: gordy.pratt@gmail.com

cc:

The Daily Herald

Kimberly Pohl, Anne Halston

Encl:

July 17, 2009 Daily Herald article

Web page (accessed today): http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/salf.shtm

2
 Suit dropped as Save A Life changes mission
By Kimberly Pohl | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 7/15/2009 5:27 PM

Two years after filing a defamation lawsuit to repair its tarnished image, Save A Life Foundation of suburban Schiller Park
has closed its doors for good.

The high-profile nonprofit organization, which taught schoolchildren first aid techniques such as the Heimlich maneuver,
ceased operations on July 1. Days later, Save A Life's attorney filed a motion to drop the suit against three men accused
of organizing a smear campaign against the foundation and harassing employees and board members, among them
ex-Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins.

Founder Carol Spizzirri said the legal action became too costly to pursue, but declined to say exactly why she shuttered
an organization she said helped more than 1 million children. The lawsuit claimed the defendants' actions caused lost
business opportunities and partnerships.

"There's certainly a connection (between the closing and the lawsuit) but I don't want to go into it," Spizzirri said. "We're
not supposed to discuss the case."

Named in the suit was Peter Heimlich, estranged son of maneuver namesake Dr. Henry Heimlich, who served on Save A
Life's medical advisory board. A blogger and a doctor critical of the Heimlich maneuver were also defendants.

Chuck Goudie, an ABC 7 reporter and Daily Herald columnist, was briefly part of the suit for a derogatory report he did on
Save A Life, but the case against him was dropped in March 2008. His report questioned Spizzirri's credentials and said
the foundation, which received millions of dollars in government money and corporate donations, was misappropriating
funds and teaching the maneuver inappropriately - all falsehoods, according to the lawsuit.

Spizzirri's new focus is fighting the type of online stalking outlined in the suit. She has a meeting scheduled later this
month with several legislators and has been working with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.

"Cyberworld is the Wild West with absolutely no governance," Spizzirri said. "Anyone can say terrible things about
people, put it on the Internet and nobody can do anything about it. Reputations and credibility are ruined."

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Gmail - 3RD & FINAL REQUEST - inquiry re: Citizen Corps http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...

Gordy Pratt <gordy.pratt@gmail.com>

3RD & FINAL REQUEST - inquiry re: Citizen Corps

Gordy Pratt <gordy.pratt@gmail.com> Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 12:53 PM
To: Karen.Marsh@dhs.gov
3RD & FINAL REQUEST - SENT VIA E-MAIL & FAXED TO: (202)282-8408

Karen Marsh, Director

FEMA Community Preparedness Division
National Office of Citizen Corps
800 K Street NW, Suite 640
Washington, DC 20472-3630

Ms. Marsh:

I have not received a reply to my e-mails of August 9 and August 17 follow-up (copied below) which
requested the following information from you:

Please advise if the Save-A-Life Foundation (SALF) of Schiller Park IL remains in good standing as a
Citizen Corps affiliate organization. If SALF is no longer affiliated with Citizen Corps, please provide
me with the date that affiliation ended.

If you are unable or unwilling to supply this information, please provide me with the name and e-mail address
of your superior.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to receiving your reply via e-mail or FAX no later than
September 16, 2009. If I do not receive your reply by then, I will assume you do not intend to respond.

Sincerely,

Gordon T. Pratt
PO Box 18121
Milwaukee, WI 53218

gordy.pratt@gmail.com
Ph/FAX: (707)667-1746

cc:

Sen. Russell D. Feingold, WI

FAX: (202)224-2725

Sen. Herb Kohl, WI

FAX: (202)224-9787

Rep. Paul Ryan, 1st District, WI

FAX:(202) 225-3393

Secretary Janet Napolitano

US Department of Homeland Security
FAX: (202)282-8401
Gmail - 3RD & FINAL REQUEST - inquiry re: Citizen Corps http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=e1a2b66204&view=pt&search=s...

>> On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 7:59 PM, Gordy Pratt <gordy.pratt@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 9:20 PM, Gordy Pratt <gordy.pratt@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Karen Marsh, Director
>> FEMA Community Preparedness Division
>> National Office of Citizen Corps
>> 800 K Street NW, Suite 640
>> Washington, DC 20472-3630
>>
>> Ms. Marsh:
>>
>> Please advise if the Save-A-Life Foundation (SALF) of Schiller Park IL remains in good standing as a
Citizen Corps affiliate organization. If SALF is no longer affiliated with Citizen Corps, please provide me with
the date that affiliation ended.
>>
>> I would welcome a prompt response, so please feel free to e-mail me.
>>
>> Thank you for your assistance and I look forward to your reply.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Gordon T. Pratt
>> PO Box 18121
>> Milwaukee, WI 53218
>>
>> Ph: (707)667-1746
>>
>> cc:
>>
>> Secretary Janet Napolitano
>> US Department of Homeland Security
>> Faxed to: (202)282-8401