Important KFTC Announcements

Just received the following from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and am passing it on.

Dear Madison County KFTC Member,

Below are Madison County KFTC updates and upcoming events. We hope to see you there!

1.) FINAL WEEK BEFORE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: HELP REGISTER AND EDUCATE VOTERS -- The chapter will be door-knocking and tabling in Berea and Richmond this final week before the closely approaching voter registration deadline (October 6th). Last Saturday KFTC members registered 33 folks at the Berea Walmart and had great conversations with many more folks about the importance of voting and KFTC's issues. There is still time to help out and get more folks registered before the October 6th deadline:*

Tabling: This Friday evening (October 3rd) from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. we will be tabling all day (most likely at the Berea Walmart , Berea Sav a Lot, and possibly Richmond Kroger - but stay tuned for specific location). If you can volunteer for a two-hour shift of time, please let us know (and when you are available).*

Door-Knocking: On Saturday, October 4th we will be door-knocking in Berea - We will meet at 10 a.m. at the KFTC office (green house behind the MACED building on Chestnut St. in Berea) for a short training and determine our walking paths. Door-knocking is an important way to engage with folks who we might not otherwise be able to reach through other methods. Many KFTC volunteers have said that the best conversations about the importance of voting happen on someone's front door step.

If you can volunteer to take a shift registering voters or help cover a street in a neighborhood, please RSVP to Carissa at Carissa@kftc.org or 986-1277 Ext. 224. The more volunteers, the more ground we can cover - which means more registered voters!

2.) BEREA SOLAR TOUR THIS SATURDAY: The Berea Solar Tour is this Saturday, October 4 from 10am-2pm. 10 solar homes and buildings will be open for viewing. This is your opportunity to view and ask questions about solar hot water and solar electric systems; net metering; passive solar design; and home energy conservation.

Also, there will be two solar workshops: "Logistics of Home Solar Installation." 9am-10am in the Second floor classroom, Child Development Laboratory, 125 Jefferson Street and "Ask an Expert: Questions and answers on home solar energy." 2pm-3pm at 302 Center Street.

In addition, there will be a van to outlying solar homes. It departs Memorial Park parking lot (125 Jefferson St.) at 10:15 am and returns by 12:30. Limited to 10 seats. To reserve a seat, call 985-1689 or info@sustainableberea.org

.3.) LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOLDS BEREA CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM: Tuesday, October 14th from 7 to 9:15 p.m. at the Berea City Hall Chambers on Chestnut St. Stay tuned for more information.

4.) LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS/ENERGY AND EMPOWERMENT EVENT: The League of Women Voters/Energy and Empowerment gathering, featuring Amy Malick from International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) will be on October 15th at the Berea public library from 6 - 8:30. Amy will speak on what local governments can do to address climate change. The event will also include tasty food. Hope you can join us!

5.) MADISON COUNTY FRIENDRAISER: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24th - Mark your calendars now for the Madison County Fall Friend-raiser in Berea. The fun will kick-off with a tasty potluck at 6 p.m. followed by entertainment and a short program at Union Church. We hope you can join us for this fun event - and bring a few friends with you! It should be a lot of fun!

6.) KFTC STATEWIDE ANNUAL MEETING - Register online today for KFTC's statewide annual meeting October 10th - 12th at the Kentucky Leadership Center in Faubush. There will be great workshops, thoughtful discussion, and lots of wonderful fellowship.

You also won't want to miss the keynote speaker, Dr. Phil Thompson, a nationally recognized urban planner and political scientist. Phil is a professor in the Urban Planning Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Phil will discuss ideas about how community organizations can develop locally-owned renewable energy systems that create jobs and potentially generate resources for low-income and people of color communities.

Phil worked as Deputy General Manager of the New York Housing Authority, and as Director of the Mayor's Office of Housing Coordination. Phil is a frequent advisor to trade unions in their efforts to work with immigrant and community groups across the United States. Phil's most recent academic work includes a 2004 review of public health interventions in poor black communities and a recent book called Double Trouble: Black Mayors, Black Communities and the Struggle for Deep Democracy published by Oxford University Press.

For more information or any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at 859-986-1277 Ext. 224 orCarissa@kftc.org.

Sincerely,Carissa Lenfert
Madison County Chapter Organizer
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

Good News from Christian Flights International (CFI)

Late this afternoon Scott Mandl of CFI sent in the following:

First I wanted to let you know we have had a great response to our Hurricane Relief initiative. We have sent $4,000 for emergency food down this week and already have over $7,000 more pledged that will be sent down next week. The second amount also includes money for seeds to help families replenish their family gardens wiped out by the storms. As more comes in, we will continue to send it down to provide critically needed help. If you know of a church or individual that wants to help, let them know about us.

I should note that 100% of the Hurricane Relief donations will go just to that -- not to any other CFI programs.

Second, I would like to ask your help in an unusual way. Next week is our CFI Board meeting. During this time, our nine board members assemble for a couple of days to meet, pray, review and plan the ministry of CFI. We do this twice each year. These folks not only are regular donors, they give generously of their time and expertise to help this ministry in a vital way. To attend our meetings, they drive, at their own cost, from as far away as Florida and North Carolina. Most are Team Leaders who have taken numerous teams to Haiti, while paying their own way in the process, and accepting a lot of work and responsibility. They are leaders, and they are selfless servants.

CFI would like to show our appreciation to this group by taking them to the UK-WKU game Saturday, Sept. 27. We currently have 4 tickets but need 8 more for this game (or even entry into a box -- whatever works!). If you have tickets you aren't using or have connections to anyone who could help us get these folks in to the game, it would be much appreciated.

Just drop me an email and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Thanks & God Bless,

Scott

Help Provide Food for Haiti's Hungry

This just in from Scott Mandel at Christian Flights International:

Dear CFI Leaders,

We try to be careful in asking for finances as we know many of you are already giving what you can and as God leads. But the recent storms have provided a critical need and a special opportunity.

As such, we will be sending some special wires to Ranquitte to provide some critically-needed relief.

Below is a request written by CFI Team Leader and Buildings and Grounds Director Eddie Arnold. You can help with a check (address below) or by clicking on the donate link on our website and noting this is for Hurricane Relief.

We have provided some Hurricane Info on the home page link above, as well as a link to a video and news article.

Of course, we will continue to help with those long-term needs through our school, clinic, ag-reforestation, wells and homes projects, but wanted to give you a chance to help the immediate need.

Your prayers and response are much appreciated!

Dear CFI Board
Members and Friends,

I am writing you today to ask for your prayers and/or financial support for the village of Ranquitte, Haiti. The devastation caused by three hurricanes has left the village flooded, homes damaged or destroyed, and gardens washed away. As you know, these gardens supply the main source of food to these families.

Life is often hard in the mountain village of Ranquitte, but the toll that these repetitive storms have taken on the land and the people has caused damage that will not easily be repaired.

Ranquitte Mayor George Derval said that these “winter storms” have taken over the land and that his people are hungry. He would like to provide beans and rice to the people immediately.

The people of Ranquitte need our help. Susan and I approached our church and asked for help through prayers and funds. God provided. We ask that you do the same thing in your communities.

Time is of the essence. We plan to send an initial money wire the first of this week, and then a second wire when additional funds are provided. If you would like to help, please send checks made out to: Christian Flights International, and marked for “hurricane relief.” The full mailing address is below. If you have questions or would like additional information, you can reach me at https://owa.eku.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=ab23078ca5e249d39a4755ed4361c0c6&URL=mailto%3aeddiearnold%40hotmail.com
or by calling (859) 936-9520.

Sincerely,

Eddie Arnold

Send checks to:

Christian Flights International
Susan Arnold, Treasurer
580 Roy Arnold Blvd.
Danville, KY 40422

From the Daily Grist: 16 September 2008

Pipeline to Nowhere?

Alaska natural-gas pipeline is far from a done deal
In her speech at the Republican National Convention, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin touted her role in moving forward a plan for a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope to the Lower 48. The GOP veep candidate declared, "That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart." She failed to mention, however, that the project is far from a done deal. It so far exists only on paper, and federal approvals are years out. In addition, Palin is in a bit of a catch-22: She gained a reputation for standing up to Big Oil when she stridently criticized the former governor's pipeline plan as a handout to ExxonMobil, BP, and ConocoPhillips -- but she must gain the cooperation of those companies, which have development rights to much of the North Slope, in order to make the pipeline operational. Meanwhile, BP and Conoco have announced plans to move forward with their own separate pipeline. Realistically, only one pipeline will be built; whatever form that will take, there will assuredly be much political and regulatory wrangling to come.

Sources: The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. News and World Report, Reuters, The Washington Post.

See also, in Grist:

• Palin asks Schwarzenegger to veto bill that would reduce port pollution

• Palin's record of secrecy and cronyism affects environment among other issues

• Palin has offered mixed message on climate change

• Palin has a mixed record on supporting renewables in home state

Viva la Causa! Sponsorship

Viva la Causa! Sponsorship

In Fall 2008, the Southern Poverty Law Center will release a new Teaching Tolerance documentary film, Viva la Causa! free to classrooms across the country. The film is about one of the seminal events in the march for human rights — the grape strike and boycott led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta — and will highlight the parallels between the farmworkers' and civil rights movements.

This film could not be timelier. Racist rhetoric is polluting the immigration debate, immigrant workers are being abused in the fields, anti-Latino hate crimes are on the rise, and Latino children are being demonized in our schools.

This new Teaching Tolerance film kit will inspire children for years to come, and teach them that there are non-violent ways to make positive social change.

Sponsor our new documentary Viva la Causa and support our other work for justice and tolerance. Sponsors donating $100 or more will be listed in the credits of the classroom documentary and receive an advance copy of the DVD. Deadline for sponsors is Aug. 15, 2008.

For ways to donate, visit the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Image: Grape strike leader César Chávez talks to grape workers who were exploited for their cheap labor in the 1960s.

Give blood!

Just received this notice!

We need more donors or we will not have enough blood for Kentucky hospitals!

This is a particularly good time to be a blood donor. Everyone who donates will be eligible for the 2009 Toyota Camry LE that we are giving away to celebrate our 40th anniversary (everyone who donates between 7/21 and 9/21 who is at least 18-years-old will be eligible). The winner will be announced at the UK-Western football game at Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 27. Details are on our website: www.kybloodcenter.org The first local drive is August 14 from Noon to 7:00pm at the Madison County Public Library at 507 W. Main in Richmond.


Visit https:/www.kybloodcenter.org for a full list of mobile drives in Madison County and to schedule a donation time at a drive. You could win a Camry. You will definitely save lives! Please share the gift of life!

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth: An August Update

It's been a month since my last posting, an interruption caused in part by the crash of my laptop and by a visit to Ranquitte, Haiti. Now that I'm back, I promise to be more faithful in posting news and comments.

Of real interest are the following announcements sent out from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC) by Carissa Lenfert:

AUGUST 8 -- KFTC Chapter Voter Empowerment Workgroup Meeting on August 8 at 2 p.m. Folks interested in helping further plan and carryout this year's voter empowerment efforts are meeting again at the KFTC office in Berea (behind the MACED building on Chestnut). All are welcome to participate.

AUGUST 14 -- The Madison County KFTC chapter's energy workteam will meet next Thursday, August 14th, at 6:30 p.m. in the community meeting room of the new Madison County Library in Berea. Members will continue their discussion about how to work locally and beyond regarding energy related issues.

AUGUST 19 - The City Council will be holding a work session to discuss the proposed Berea utility rate increase. This important public discussion will be around 5 p.m. (stay tuned for a specific time) on the 19th in the Community Room of Berea City Hall. At 6:30 the City Council will hold their regular meeting where a vote on the utility issue is possible. Please plan to attend if possible to demonstrate the communities continued interest in energy and conservation.

AUGUST 25th -- The Madison County Chapter will hold its annual meeting on Monday, August 25th at the Child Development Lab on Jefferson St. in Berea. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. (a half hour earlier than normal). At the annual meeting members have the opportunity to elect members to fill chapter leadership positions, make suggestions for KFTC's issue platform, nominate members to serve on KFTC's statewide committees, and decide whether or not to remain a KFTC Chapter. Documents to help guide these decisions can be found on on our website at http://www.kftc.org/our-work/chapters/annual-chapter-meeting-materials. Also, below are notes from the previous chapter meeting on July 28.

Please contact me with any questions or for additional information.

Carissa Lenfert

Madison County Chapter Organizer

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

859-986-1277, Ext. 224

Carissa@kftc.org

Notes from Madison County KFTC Chapter MeetingMonday, July 28, 20081.

• We discussed plans for Fall voter outreach activities in Madison County.


• The voter workgroup laid out their proposal for the fall which included:


• Tabling at Kroger/Big Lots in Richmond and Walmart/Sav a lot in Berea


• Tabling at Spoonbread Festival and KY Artist Guild Fall Fair


• Door-knock two days in the fall


• A sign-up sheet was passed around for folks to volunteer for these activities


• Folks were also interested in trying to register students at Berea College and EKU as well as reaching out to the Latino population.


• Folks were encouraged to attend the voter empowerment training in Louisville August 1st and there was also interest in holding a similar training locally for folks who can not attend the Louisville training.


• The voter workgroup will meet again on Friday, August 8th at 2 p.m. at the KFTC office in Berea - all are welcome to attend!2. We heard an update on the Berea Utility Proposed Rate Change


• Steve Boyce and Bill Stolte provided an update about the Berea City Council's proposed utility rate change. The Berea city council is proposing to increase rates for city-owned electric, water and sewer. At issue is the extent to which the particular rate changes recommended by the Prime Group, a consulting firm hired by the city, reflect the values being singled out by KFTC and its allies: promoting and rewarding the conservation of water and electricity; encouraging the emergence of renewable energy; shielding all rate payers, especially low-income people, from unnecessarily high utility bills by promoting energy efficiency and addressing the root causes of waste.


• The City Council has made modifications to the original proposal that KFTC member believe move it in the right direction. They are now proposing to only increase the "base" rate (flat fee that all customers pay regardless of use) to $9 (was originally proposed at $10). In addition, the city council is now proposing that all revenue adjustments in the future only address the usage rate and not the base rate - which could attempt to promote conservation in the future.


• Folks agreed that these were all movements in the right direction and that they likely would not have been made without the efforts of KFTC members and other allies working on this issue!


• Folks anticipated that the City Council members will discuss the utility rate change at an upcoming work session and possibly vote at their August 19th meeting. Folks liked the idea of attending those meetings to demonstrate their continued interest in this issue. Stay tuned for more information about those as the dates get closer.


• It was also agreed that the energy work-team will meet again in August to continue developing plans for additional work around energy related issues. Stay tuned for a meeting date and time.3.


• We discussed plans for fall fundraising and membership recruitment.


• Folks discussed again the Each One Reach One campaign, which asks KFTC members to each recruit at least one new member. Almost everyone present signed up to participate in Each One Reach One.


• We reviewed our commitment towards fundraising as a chapter and discussed ideas for fall chapter fundraising efforts.


• People liked the idea of doing another fall friendraiser. Some also liked the idea of having an issue meeting that raises money.


• It was announced that an anonymous donor has committed to donating $2,000 as a challenge grant if the chapter can set a fundraising goal and meet that goal. Folks discussed various ideas surrounding the challenge grant including setting a fundraising goal around the fall friendraiser.


• We decided to convene a small workgroup to plan through the various ideas and activities. This group will meet at some point in August. Stay tuned for information about a date and time.


• If you are interested in participating in this planning, please contact Carissa Lenfert at Carissa@kftc.org or 986-1277 Ext. 224.4.


• We made plans for the August Chapter Annual Meeting.


• Folks reviewed the agenda from last year's annual meeting. We agreed that the format of having a business meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and then inviting a guest speaker from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. works well. People liked the idea of focusing on a local public official. Possible guest speakers for this year's annual meeting included: The Mayor of Berea, Mayor of Richmond, Berea City Manager, Berea City Council (chairman of the finance committee), and Madison County Fiscal Court Judge Executive.