Members from Letcher and Knott counties joined the Perry County chapter members Tuesday night in Hazard at the Perry County Public Library for a Holiday feast and screening of I Was There in the Library's theater.  Around 25 people brought family, friends, and food to celebrate the upcoming holidays, another powerful year of grassroots organizing in east Kentucky, and the 79th birthday of the 2011 KFTC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, McKinley Sumner of Montgomery Creek, Vicco.  

During the party, the Perry Chapter sold two 30th anniversary DVDs, two green KFTC t-shirts, and 5 members renewed their dues to support our final fall fundraising push!  After folks filled their bellies with the spread of fried chicken, sides, and desserts, we filed into the Library theater for a group viewing of  I Was There: The First 30 Years of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.  For many, this was their first viewing of the film, complete with stove-top popcorn!  

With a group from three counties, ages 4 to 79, and from varying walks of life, this was a great finale to the Perry chapter's work this year, our 30th anniversary of action for justice.  See if you can spot any familiar faces below and see even more pictures on our flickr, here. 

KFTC members from the Central Kentucky plugged away tonight calling folks whose KFTC memberships needed to be renewed. Many great conversations were had about the work over 2011 and several folks committed to donating and/or becoming sustaining givers.

There's still time for you to renew your membership and to continue supporting all of our amazing work! Just visit us online at www.kftc.org/donate.

We're just completing the Central KY KFTC Fall Fundraising phone bank tonight, with half a dozen volunteers making calls or writing letters.

A few people worked from their homes and offices and others joined us at the Lexington KFTC office.  Together, we talked to tons of KFTC members, sent 52 personal follow-up letters, and had fun doing it. 

"This is actually my first time volunteering with KFTC.  I went to my first meeting just recently.  It felt pretty good." - Paul Brown

"Everyone I talked to on the phone was so nice.  The vast majority of them agreed to give another donation to KFTC and that was pretty great." - Saraya Brewer

There's one last Central KY KFTC phone bank tomorrow night (Wednesday) between 6pm and 9pm at the KFTC office (250 Plaza Dr, upstairs).  Come on out and volunteer with us if you can.

And if you can take a moment to make a special donation online to sustain our work, please click here.

Joining other chapters throughout the state, Scott County KFTC members have been calling our members to ask them to renew their memberships or make a special donation for our Fall Fundraising Campaign.  As of last week, we've managed to call through our chapter list, plus several other counties. 

Tomorrow night, a few Scott County KFTC members will be joining our allies at the Central KY Chapter to call part of their massive member list.  If you'd like to join us, we'll be at 250 Plaza Dr, Lexington, KY from 6pm to 9pm.

And if you'd like to donate to KFTC right now to help us in our campaign, you can quickly and easily donate online here.

In other Scott County KFTC news, we have a chapter meeting this Thursday at 7pm at the Georgetown Public Library.

This week faculty from Union College, who attended our Annual Meeting back in August, hosted a screening of "I Was There: The first 30 years of KFTC" in the Union Student Center.  At least 30 people turned out, including students, faculty, and several from the off-campus community.  Local Know County members were especially excited to have a local KFTC event to attend and connect with others interested in our work.  Five folks became new members and we raised almost $40!  The group hopes to keep meeting after the new year/ semester and perhaps mobilize a Knox County/ Union College contingent to Frankfort on February 14th for I LOVE MOUNTAINS DAY 2012!  Thanks to all who came out and made the night such a great time! 

 Last week, Harlan County Chapter Steering Committee Rep. and New Power leader, Carl Shoupe, invited the chapter and greater Tri-Cities community into his Benham home for a showing of "I Was There: The First 30 Years of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth". 

Friends and neighbors from Benham, Lynch, and Cumberland gathered for good food, fellowship and the film screening.  The event raised $60, including donations from friends who could not attend, but sent in their support by mail ahead of time.  

During the film showing, 8 year-old Chase Gladson, of Cumberland, said in response to footage of youth meeting with the Governor's staff, "They let kids do it too?".  Sounds like Chase might have a lobby trip in his future. 

Last night, we held our annual Arty Pie Party in Scott County - an event full of great music, fun, local art, delicious pies and just plain good conversation - all to benefit Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.

The event was hosted in the beautiful home of Tim Klarer and Rosanne Fitts Klarer, which is a work of art in itself, built primarily by Tim. 

Many thanks to Tim and Rosanne, plus musicians Jeri Katherine Howell and Jeff Ellis, all of the fantastic artists that donated pieces for the silent auction, all the folks who made pies, and the 80+ folks who came out and/or donated money.  It was a blast!

Oh - and the whip cream on top? - We raised over $2,100 for Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, plus lots of new memberships and membership renewals.

 

And if you want to see even more pictures of the event, including art pieces, etc., visit the collection on our Flickr page. 

Featuring:

- Delicious Pies

- Live Musicians Jeri Katherine Howell and Jeff Ellis

- A Silent Auction of Arts and Crafts

Suggested donation is $25 or a pie.

For more information, click here.

         

After the election join us at Al's Bar in Lexington to celebrate our people power and demand of the newly elected that KENTUCKY DESERVES BETTER!

Performances by: Madeline Adams Reva Williams Warren Byrom and Small Batch.

$5 cover, all ages. Proceeds from the door benefit the work of KFTC.

Members of the Central Kentucky chapter's economic justice work team went door to door once again in the Ohio Walnut neighborhood to talk to folks about economic justice issues. In just a couple of hours they were able to conduct 21 surveys with folks and have some really good and important conversations about the future of jobs in Lexington, the state of rental property and support for young people.

On Sunday, central Kentucky member Jessica Mohler held a house party to educate people about the importance of voting and to gain their support for house bill 70 - KFTC and Rep. Jesse Crenshaw's bill to restore voting rights to former felons who've served their time. About 20 folks attended and watched the film Democracy's Ghosts which is about the disenfranchisement of former felons across the country.

"I have been a KFTC member for eight years and this issue is very important to me. There is no reason to continue punishing people once they've served their time." - Jessica Mohler.

Six folks joined KFTC at the party and three folks renewed their memberships. People had a really great time.

If you'd like to host a house party benefit for KFTC please contact your local organizer. In the Lexington area you may get in touch with Ondine at ondine@kftc.org