Posted on 01/24/2006 8:41:44 PM PST by Taxman
Americans for Fair Taxation Educational and Networking Conferences
It was my pleasure to attend an AFFT Educational and Networking Conference in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, January 21st, along with about 300 enthusiastic FairTax supporters. The cost was $10.00 per person to cover lunch and handout materials, which included a nicely done FairTax Volunteer Manual and a Florida Congressional Contact sp;readsheet.
Hosted by David Allen, a local talk show host and ardent FairTax supporter, the meeting was focused on grassroots organizing and creating effective citizen action teams to move the FairTax issue forward in Jacksonville and the state of Florida.
Following opening remarks by Mr. Allen, Anthony Holm, Esq., a strategic communication specialist, gave the keynote address wherein he encouraged each of us to become intimately familiar with the provisions of the FairTax and then become FairTax advocates in our community and state.
Mr. Holm was followed by Mrs. Genie Hayes, AFFT Communications and Grassroots Director. Before she gave us a brief rundown of the key features of the FairTax, Genie graciously allowed your humble servant (thass me, "Taxman") to recount some of the early history of the National Retail Sales Tax movement (I have been a National Retail Sales Tax activist and lobbyist since 1991). Mrs. Hayes and Dr. Karen Walby, Ph.D. (Economics) the AFFT Director of Research then conducted a Q&A session which was followed by a break.
Mr. Holm led off the next session with a "Media and Messaging" presentation which was followed by "Volunteer Structure – Goals and Roles" and "Congressional Contact" sessions, both led by Genie.
Following a one hour break for lunch, Mr. Holm, Steve Patterson and Dave DeKamp, Jacksonville Times Union reporters, conducted a very informative panel session addressing the question: "The Politics of Tax Reform" (my title, since that is what the title "Taxes and Politics," evolved into).
After another "pause for the cause," Genie led us through a letter writing exercise wherein we all were encouraged to write a short letter to our Congressman and both Senators urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 25/S. 25, the FairTax Act of 2005. We then divided into groups based on our Congressional Districts and conducted a brief organizational meeting to establish a time and place for further meetings to increase our FairTax advocacy efforts and effectiveness.
The meeting adjourned promptly at 4:00 PM following short presentations by FairTax suporters in the form of (mostly) local and state politicians and candidates (or their spokesmen) for state and federal offices and another Q&A session. The FairTax is beginning to get longer and sturdier legs -- for example, a Democrat candidate for US Senate endorsed the FairTax!
In summary, the event registration began at 8:00 AM, the first session kicked off promptly at 9:00 AM and we adjourned at 4:00 PM. All in all, a very well-spent 8 hours. Very informative re: the FairTax and how to effectively promote it. And it was a great networking opportunity – I made a lot of new FRiends and am already scheduled to deliver a FairTax speech to a coalition of Westside community groups on February 20.
It is fair to say, that having been "out of the game" for the past two years, Taxman is back in the game.
Posted below is the current schedule for AFFT Educational and Networking Conferences scheduled as of this date. I would suggest that if you are interested in fundamental tax reform, you give serious consideration to attending one of them. You will come away energized and better equipped for the battle we have ahead of us.
Please RSVP for all conferences by calling 1-800-FAIRTAX or by e-mailing info@fairtax.org and including the name of the event city, your full name, and telephone number.
St. Augustine, Florida Educational and Networking Conference - January 28, 2006 Conference time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Conference location and contact information: Channel Marker 71 Barrier Island Inn & Restaurant 7601 A1A South St. Augustine, FL 32080 (1.4 miles south of S.R. 206 on A1A) 904.461.4288
Dayton Educational and Networking Conference - February 4, 2006 Conference time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Conference location and contact information: Dayton Downtown Doubletree 11 South Ludlow Dayton, OH 45402 937.461.4700
Birmingham Educational and Networking Conference - February 11, 2006. Conference time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference location and contact information: Incahoots Restaurant 4300 Helena Rd. Helena, Alabama 35080 205.621.3939
Virginia Beach Educational and Networking Conference - February 18, 2006. Conference time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference location and contact information: Doubletree Hotel Virginia Beach 1900 Pavilion Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23451 757.422.8900
Raleigh Educational and Networking Conference - February 25, 2006. Conference time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference location and contact information: The Carolina Inn 211 Pittsboro Street Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919.933.2001
Indianapolis Educational and Networking Conference - March 4, 2006. Conference time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference location and contact information: Hilton Indianapolis North 8181 North Shadeland Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46250 317.849.6668
Ping your list, please sir.
Per your request -- sorry I took so long. 'Puter is AOK, now. Took some doing, though!
Looks to me like a scam to sell a book. But what do I know? I'm just a girl.
No books for sale Saturday -- there was a young man selling some nifty Tee-shirts, though.
You don't have to buy a book to learn about the FairTax. A considerable body of FRee information is available at http://www.fairtax.org. Read some of it. You might like the idea.
We will never be a FRee people so long as we have the income tax and the IRS.
Great wok and great report Taxman!
These meeting are occuring all over the country right now and we will hit the tipping point soon!
Thanks, Bigun. I believe that conferences such as these will help us move the FairTax more into the public view.
Tipping point here we come!
HEY ZACH! WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
Last Friday the Washington Post ran a story about the great Republican agenda of 2006. That story was particularly pleasing to me because it seems that Republican officeholders are upset that gas prices and the FairTax seem to be at the top of the conversational list for constituents. The Post reported that Tennessee Republican Congressman Zach Wamp "lamented" the fact that more people were interest in The FairTax Book written by Congressman John Linder and myself than were interested in changing government. Somehow Congressman Wamp misses the fact that changing our tax code and adopting the FairTax IS changing government. Well, yesterday Wamp was interviewed on my Knoxville affiliate. He was interviewed by the incredible Hallerin Hill on NewsTalk 100 WNOX-FM. It seems that Mr. Wamp had some things to say about the FairTax that were not, shall we say, quite accurate. This is par for the course for politicos who oppose the FairTax. They first have to change the terms, then they oppose the legislation on the basis of the fictions they created. Well ... the intrepid Belinda called Congressman Wamp's office to invite him to discuss the FairTax and his concerns on the air. He declined. He said he didn't want to "give Neal Boortz any more publicity." Now there is a congressman who has a real grip on this "represent the people" gig. Oh well, he's probably a decent guy who is making sure his dog gets enough cheese ... whatever that means.
http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html
Politicians listen up as constituents talk about The FairTax Book in The Washington Post, January 20, 2006 Read more
No books being sold here, move on.org please. I'm not saying I don't favor tax reform or book sales, just pointing out that the two are being combined.
Why are you fixiated on Boortz' book? He and Rep. Linder wrote the book to spread the word about the FairTax. You got a problem with that?
I am quite unable to fathom the reason for your negativity. If you don't like the FairTax, say so, and say why so we can debate the issue.
But don't come here with negative innuendo -- the two are being combined on purpose! Boortz and Linder sell books to promote the FairTax and AFFT promotes the book to increase awareness of the FairTax. It is called "synergy," and the technique is used with some measure of success in many different ventures.
Could it be that the Republican leadership has told their "up and coming" stars to disrespect the FairTax?
And Zach is just following orders?
I don't know. Anyone in Zach Wimp's district?
Thanks Taxman...
Any updates on numbers of cosigners, AFFT members, or any other DC news?
The attitude that Zach espouses is one that several of the Representatives show no matter the party ... it's called cowardice and is an offshoot of the "don't rock the boat" syndrome.
Once these guys begin to realize that their reelection depends on their FairTax support (and it already does in many cases), their tune will change from the present "Tiptoe Through the Tax Code Tinkering Tango". The reticent ones buy into the notion that you don't want to make waves - cowardice personified. They need a good dose of constituent feedback and indeed some are geting it big time.
Thanks for the wonderful feedback. I'll keep my eyes peeled for one I can get to.
Zach does not seem to realize that the FairTax is a GREAT way of changing government - and in much more dramatic ways that he will ever accomplish brown-nosing around he Beltway.
It is - truly - a grassroots movement and it's pickin up supporters as we go along.
Have you guys seen this site? Boortz met the young couple that owns it:
http://www.fairtaxgroups.com/
Also ping this one, especially for our local SQL's:
http://www.fairtaxstuff.com/
Thanks for the head-s up
Going to be in Dayton next weekend.
If I can go, I'll repot in!
I already pointed out the fact that I oppose neither tax reform nor book selling. I don't understand why you are being so defensive about the matter. As for my negative innuendo, if I acquire some I shall take it wherever I please. This country is still free even if books about fair taxes are not.
Thanks for the excellent report. Too bad I'm not near one of the scheduled sessions.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.