"It's tooooo expensive!"     "Who can afford it?~ We are a one income family!"  "Even with our support group discount, I can't fork over that kind of money right now."  "Maybe next year.....we'll see." 

Well, now that I have your attention, I just have to tell you that after all these years, I just finally joined HSLDA.

 I have been thinking about this for a long time, but had a lot of misinformation and a lot of really lame excuses for not joining.  Some of those quotes above actually were some of my "very good reasons."  But, here are some more that I have heard from various homeschoolers over the years:

"I don't need HSLDA if I am in compliance with our state law." 

 (I guess I better ask my new buddy Scott just how the stats are on that.  I am not sure, but probably those folks who aren't complying with their state homeschool statutes don't give too much of a hoot about getting help from HSLDA.  We'll see.)

"HSLDA says you gotta follow a set curriculum." 

 This has been a subject of consternation with some of my unschooling friends.  Once again, I don't know for sure (but I bet we will find out) their opinion.  My opinion is this:  Even those folks that might classify themselves as unschoolers do use tangible resources, and can document their unschooling curriculum!  That may sound like an oxymoron, but it is possible to show or journal your educational progress in many ways.  Just because what you are using isn't a typical course of study doesn't mean it isn't a valid course of study.  Whether you want to believe it or not, even in the most un-institutional learning situation, incremental learning happens all the time.  Line upon line, precept upon precept.  

"HSLDA is only for Christians." 

 Nope, not true.  Although HSLDA is made up of stong Christian lawyers and leaders, you do not have to agree with a statement of faith.  However, they have a strict moral code that you must adhere to in order to utilize their services.  I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong about that. 

"HSLDA doesn't represent the majority of homeschoolers." 

 Well, there are other groups out there pulling for us, and I for one appreciate anyone who has homeschooling close to their heart and is willing to speak out for us.  But HSLDA has been out there for a lotta years now, and is on the front lines in courtrooms and in legislative meetings with a collective knowledge and education of many highly respected lawyers---many, if not all of them being homeschool families themselves.  These people love us homeschoolers because they ARE hoemschoolers.

"I just can't fork over that kind of dough for the membership." 

This is one fallacy I just proved wrong.  A lot of support groups have a discount AND I just found out that they have payment options!!! Woo hoo!  I can easily do the quarterly plan, and I just can't tell you how excited I am.  Oh, and one last word.  This legal support is truly something that is worth the $$.  In our day, with so much opposition and misinformation out there this membership is priceless.

OK, so if I have indeed managed to wash all my arguments down the drain, good.  If you have anything to add, good or bad (with-in the rules of respectable debate) feel free to post them here.  I do want to say however, that whether you are a Christian Homeschooler, or not, you need to thank your lucky stars---whoever they may be, for their help in upholding the freedom that we are still fighting to get or retain.  (Whether we "should" have to is another blog for a later time.)

Oh, and one more quick thing.  If you are following the relief effort,  I can well imagine that you are as blessed as I am to see the outpouring of support.  Here is one response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina via HSLDA:

Home School Legal Defense Association has also established Operation Extended Family to bring together homeschoolers who have needs during this time with homeschoolers who would like to help with housing, employment, or other needs. So many of you—over 3,500 families—have expressed your willingness to help. We have been overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you! If you did not receive a response, please accept our apology—we simply could not respond to each offer of help.

And just one last LAST detail:

From Today's HSLDA update:  "The best things in life are free."

    And if you think that HSLDA membership is one of the good things
    in your life, then this statement can still be true. When you
    encourage three of your friends to join HSLDA, not only will they
    enlist in the important fight on behalf of homeschooling freedoms,
    but you can have your membership renewed for one year...absolutely
    free!

    More reasons to join HSLDA...
    http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=2079

Tell them Nancy sent you!