On April 30th, the central Kentucky chapter of KFTC held a chili-cook off friendraiser. What's a friendraiser you ask? Well it's an opportunity to raise money for the organization but with a focus on giving members a chance to hang out with one another, celebrate all of our hard work, and just have a darn good time.

The event was held at the Lexington Friends meeting house on Price street. Six folks entered chili into the contest and nearly forty people came out to partake in the deliciousness.

The chili was fantastic, and incredibly diverse. There were chilis w/ sirloin, turkey and chicken, as well as two vegan options. One chili even had cornbread baked right into it!

I'm not surprised that folks put such effort into their entries considering the prize for first place! The winner of the event took home a copy of the beautiful hard covered book about mountain top removal mining plundering appalachia, a gift certificate for a one-hour massage, and a dinner for two from Stella's Kentucky deli.

Our three wonderful judges that evening are each KFTC members with a keen sense of what makes a good chili. Member Chris Oaks who hails from the Cincinatti area explained to the contestants that what he looks for in a chili is "depth,"while Danielle Boucher who is a newer member and a UK undergraduate explained that she looks for "kick." Our third judge, Marty Mudd who is active on KFTC's land reform committee and also a member of Kentucky mountain justice informed us that he would be looking for a chili w/ "many layers."  

Our winner that evening was long time KFTC member Teresa McReynolds with her sirloin chili. However, in my opinion everyone was a winner considering there wasn't a drop of chili left by the end of the night! In addition to the cook off we also held a raffle. Tickets were $1 and raffle items were donated by several local businesses including Stella's Kentucky Deli, The Morris Book Shop, Woodland Computers, and Charmed Life Tattoo. We also had two professional massages donated by Nishaan Sandhu and Phil Robinson.

It was a rockin' good time and we ended up raising almost $280. Thanks to everyone who came out, to all the businesses and individuals who donated raffle items, to everyone who entered chili, and a special thanks to our intern Jordan Panning for coming up with the idea and organizing the event. We'll be sure to do it again next year!

During our last two chapter meetings we’ve hosted a skill-share, where members had the opportunity to learn from one another a new skill. In February our skill-share focused on blogging , and in March we had a lively discussion about people’s experiences with civil disobedience and direct-action.

We’ve also hit the ground running with KFTC’s New Power Leader Program. New Power Leaders are citizens who are committed to increasing KFTC’s power through working to organize and empower their own communities. So far we have seven folks committed to the New Power Leader Program. We had our first new power potluck on Friday March 6th where we were able to eat drink and be merry, as well as discuss different organizing skills we’d like to learn and how to get started working in our communities.

On April 6th, four CKY members met with Lexington-Fayette urban county council person Linda Gorton to share their concerns about how EKPC's proposed Smith Plant could negatively impact Lexington's air and water.

Finally, we’ve got a ton of stuff in the works. Next Thursday, April 14th we’re co-hosting a candidate forum for the folks running for Lexington city council (specifically the 1st district and the at-large candidates). We’re also working on a friendraiser at the end of the month that will focus on a chili cook off for justice!

If you’re interested in getting involved in any of these activities, please contact the central Kentucky organizer at ondine@kftc.org.

Madison County Premier of Coal Country 

This film by Mari-Lynn Evans and Phylis Geller is a dramatic look at modern coal mining. We get to know working miners along with activists who are battling coal companies in Appalachia. Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Come and find out for yourself!  This film has been drawing sell-out crowds inother cities.

The Madison County Chapter is screening the film at the Madison County Public Library of Berea (319 Chestnut St.) at 6:30 p.m. on November 19th and also in Room 108 of EKU's library in Richmond at 6 p.m. on November 9th.  The event is open to the public.  Admission is free but donations to KFTC are appreciated.  We hope you can join us!

Almost 100 KFTC members and friends turned out on a rainy Saturday for the Madison County SpringFest. 

The event start off with a reading of the brand new book "Something's Rising:  Applachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal"  from authors Silas House and Jason Howard. 

Folks also enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner that featured locally raised meat and music from loved local band Mudpi. 

A friendly Derby pool and silent auction helped raise fun – and funds -- for KFTC.

"I enjoy having the chance to socialize with members and prospective members in a party atmosphere where there is a minimum of business to discuss.  I think that kind of outreach is as important as all the tabling, phone banking and chapter and committee meetings that we members do throughout the year."  -- Toby Wilcher, Berea.

The event was a great celebration of the strength and work of the nearly 500-member strong Madison County chapter.  Thanks to all who volunteered and helped make the event a success!

Last week about 20 KFTC supporters recently gathered for an informal house party in Perry County. People ate good food, shared fellowship, played music together, and discussed the upcoming legislative session.

Members also took some time to reflect on why they have value KFTC. From these reflections, a series of Haikus were born. Here are some of the creative gems that were born out of this exercise:

Empower people
Education excitement
Haikus for justice

Motivate justice
Fantabulous hopes and dreams
Wonderful action

Calm before the storm
Family community
starry wonderment

Warning rebuttle
We must rise up for action
Of the earth’s power

Freakin’ progressive
Empowering Kentucky
Cool KFTC

Community voice
Warning of earth’s rebuttal
We will scream out loud

Clean coal is bullcrap
KFTC rocks my socks
Motivated folks

Simple liberty
Can be attained with action
With people power

The Berea neighborhood of West Ridges was built in the 1940s and '50s.  Over the last several years a new generation of families and children have moved into the neighborhood and are now sharing it with many of the original homeowners.

This second generation, including almost two dozen KFTC members, has revived the neighborhood association to create a sense of community and to address neighborhood concerns.

 On Sunday the neighborhood had its first KFTC Friendraiser, hosted by Carol and Tim Lamm and by Cait McClanahan and Martin Richards.  Existing KFTC members invited neighbors to learn more about KFTC and how KFTC supports communities all across Kentucky.

 There was several hours of great conversation, including a wonderful introduction by Carol Lamm of why KFTC is important to her. There also was plenty of food including Carol's much complimented chocolate mousse cake and Cait McClanahan's Walnut Feta dip.

 All in all, a great evening was had by everyone, including the children, with KFTC gaining new members, existing members renewing and the neighborhood creating deeper bonds.