As part of this year’s “I Love Mountains” day, more than 20 KFTC young people – all between the ages of 5 and 25 – met with five members of Governor Beshear’s staff.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss concerns about the harm that mountaintop removal coal mining creates as well as talk about creating a transition towards a clean and sustainable energy economy.  The KFTC meeting was entirely youth-planned and youth-led.

Six-year old Makayla Urias from Pike County shared what it is like living next to a mountaintop removal operation.  She talked about her polluted water, being scared from the large blasting noises, and having to cover her face when going outside because of the dust pollution.  She even brought some of her dirty water to share with the Governor’s office. 

The young KFTC members presented scientific information about the pollution and destruction created by mountaintop removal coal mining.  They also presented information about the economic benefits and jobs that could be created in Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the state if Kentucky chose to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives.

The group used a large board to list the questions they asked the administration with a space to mark answers they received as a “yes”, “no”, or “waffle.”  By the end of the meeting, the group received a commitment to meeting with Governor Beshear within a month.  The youth delegation is excited to begin preparing to meet with Governor Beshear.  They are even talking about having their next planning meeting over waffles! 

Below is a complete summary of their questions and responses received.

1.) Will Governor Beshear support S.B. 139 and H.B. 416, the Stream Saver Bill?
    Answer:  Waffle

2.) Will the Governor create and announce a plan to end mountaintop removal and valley fills coal mining?
    Answer:  No

3.) Will Governor Beshear support H.B. 408, the Clean-Energy bill?
   Answer:  ? (Will get back to us soon once they study the bill – stay tuned for their response.)

4.) Will the Governor begin working vigorously to create new, green jobs and a new clean energy economy in Kentucky, especially for coal-producing areas and workers?
    Answer:  Yes

5.) Will Governor Beshear meet with KFTC – within a month – to talk about mountaintop removal and Kentucky’s clean energy future?
    Answer:  Yes

Here is a 7-minute video summary of their meeting.  Click on the video to watch it.

KFTC youth-led "I Love Mountains" meeting with Governor Beshear from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on Vimeo.

Here is a 2-minute video summary of just the discussion around renewable energy possibilities in Kentucky.

"Renewable is Doable" KFTC youth meeting with Beshear Administration from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on Vimeo.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth strongly believes that we need better candidates if we want better decisions made in state and local government – and we want YOU to seriously think about what it would be like to run for office or to help one of your friends run.

Come to a powerful, energetic weekend at the beautiful Hindman Settlement School where we’ll build skills, connections, and confidence to work on elections or run for public office.

Led in partnership with Wellstone Action, a national center for training and leadership development for progressives, workshops topics will include campaign planning and budgeting, telling your story, grassroots voter contact, fundraising, base-building, stump speeches, developing a winning message and more.

For more information and to register online, Click Here.

     

Sixteen Kentuckians with KFTC and our allies at KY Jobs With Justice have been in Nevada for the last several days at a big convening of the PUSHBACK Network.  Over 160 members and staff from PUSHBACK ally organizations gathered to make connections between our various grassroots base-building organizations so we can learn from eachother, particularly around voter empowerment campaigns to educate and mobilize voters in our respective states.  

It's an honor and a privilege to be here and to share with this group.  It's about meeting people and really coming together to build the world we want to see. - Tayna Fogle, Kenton County

    

Workshops included pieces on the US Census, inter-generational organizing, integrating voter work with issue work, fundraising, green jobs, voter list management, and tax and fiscal policy.  There was also a strong emphasis on peer-to-peer learning - making connections between organizations and members to lead to more exchanges and learning in the future.

"The networking here is great," said Jim Shepard of Perry County. 

I'm just so proud of Kentucky!  This is a powerful coalition and we're really representing our state and leading so much of it." - Angela Rudd, Louisville

"I thought this was really great," said Janet Tucker of Lexington.  "I still have so many questions."

"There's also a lot of work to get done," added Sean Thomas.  "But we're better equipped and motivated to do it!"

KFTC members living in Scott County have stepped-up in recent months to build our local campaign to restore voting rights to former felons.  Scott County members are especially influential in this issue because they are constituents of Senator Damon Thayer, chair of the State and Local Government Committee.

We've had small kitchen-table meetings, class presentations, conversations between members, and a few larger events like tabling at the Pete Seeger concert on Georgetown's campus a few weeks ago.  Scott County members have also been involved in all three of the meetings we've had with Senator Damon Thayer on this issue earlier during the legislative session.

Last night, we had our first ever KFTC Voting Rights Community Meeting in Georgetown, bringing everyone together to meet each other for the first time, develop an identity as a group, and plan more events.

Seventeen folks attended, including two former felons, three mothers of former felons, African American community representation, college professors, new folks, long-time KFTC members coming to their first meeting, and more.

"There are a lot of challenging public issues in which you have to carefully weight the pros and the cons.  This issue is different in that I just don't see any cons.  There's no reason for us not to be able to give these people the right to vote."                   - Linda Kubala, Scott County

We spent a lot of time talking about the Voting Rights issue, the path to win a constitutional amendment, the importance of Scott County in the fight, and some tentative ideas about what we can do locally to win.  

"I have a young son who is incarcerated...  When he comes out of prison, I want him to be able to make and impact - a real positive impact - on his community.  He needs to be able to start by being a part of his community and to be able to vote and that's why I'm here tonight" - Elwanda McNeal, Scott County

  

  

Eager to keep going, they pushed to schedule their big next meeting *next week* - just seven days from now on Thursday, June 4th at 6:30pm at the Ed Davis Learning Center - 151 Ed Davis Ln, Georgetown. 

   Bowling Green KFTC Members met with new Kentucky Senator Mike Reynolds earlier today, as part of a broader resolution by KFTC to spend more time building relationships with legislators outside of the annual General Assembly sessions near the start of each year.

   Apart from just teaching Senator Reynolds about KFTC's background, members talked about local issues including housing problems and our issues in the state legislature, including the Streamsaver bill.

Reynolds was very aware of the legal system in Bowling Green with respect to landlords and tenant law, said member Dana Beasley-Brown.  "It'll be really useful to keep that conversation going, including what kinds of legislation we can pass on a statewide level to make things safer for renters here."

   Members also thanked Reynold for his support of HB 70 to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society. 

It was really important to have your vote on the Senate committee for that," said Greg Capillo.  "We hope to bring the bill back to you next year and get a hearing from the Chairman so we can pass it."

  

   

   This was the first time some of the nine KFTC members who made it out to the meeting had ever lobbied a legislator.

He was really frank and easy to relate to and it was great to work on building a relationship with him," said Kristen Houser.  "It was easy and we should do this kind of thing more often."

   Bowling Green KFTC members will have the opportunity to meet with another legislator quite soon, actually.  They have a meeting with Congressman Brett Guthrie tomorrow morning.

This past Thursday, Central KY KFTC members gathered to celebrate another great year, to enjoy some music and good food, and unwind.

    

This is event is part of a proud tradition of rightly-earned relaxation and celebration going including last year, but going back 10 years or more in the chapter's history.

   I suspect we'll have a lot more pictures, information, and videos from KFTC's incredible Statewide Annual Meeting this past weekend... but here's a few more pictures to tide you over until then.

   Thanks again to all 175 of you who came out to be a part of the energy of the meeting this year.  It's been said by many who have been to more than a few KFTC Annual Meetings in their days that this was perhaps the very best. 

   

   

   

   

Thanks to Jerry Moody for uploading some great clips from the Variety Show from KFTC's Statewide Annual Meeting this past weekend.  There are some real gems here.

Almost 40 folks came out to Berea last night to attend the Madison County KFTC Chapter annual meeting.  Members discussed plans for work throughout the fall as well as elected chapter officers and conducted official business.  Berea Mayor Steve Connelly was their invited guest. 

I would like to say how proud I am that we have a group like KFTC in Berea,” said Berea Steve Connelly who was the invited guest speaker.  “We are glad you are here.

Mayor Connelly brought with him two city council members and discussed issues relating to the future of Berea and answered questions from the audience.  Topics discussed included growth and economic development, education, energy conservation, and the needs of low-income folks.

I was really energized by the meeting,” said chapter member Gail Waldeck.  “I learned more about issues facing Berea from Mayor Connelly.  And I also saw a lot of new faces at the meeting, folks I hadn’t met before.

Members also celebrated previous efforts and renewed their commitment to the issues.  “I was really encouraged by the article about the mountain-top removal tour with Representative Chandler,” said chapter member Joyce Hubbard.  “It shows that we mean business.”

Active members and leaders from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, as well as the Central KY Council for Peace and Justice (CKCPJ), North East Lexington Initiative (NELI), Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (KCIRR), BCTC Peace and Justice Coalition, New Morning, and other groups gathered in Lexington yesterday to start a conversation about the 2008 Election.  The gathering was largely organized by KFTC leader Janet Tucker. 

Group members discussed what is at stake in terms of the 2008 election cycle and the need to be involved in voter empowerment organizing in general.  We talked about why so many people don't vote and what we can accomplish as progressive non-profit groups to change that.  This conversation will continue amongst allies in Lexington and across the state as we develop our Voter Empowerment campaign leading to November 4th and beyond. 

 
Primary Voter Registration Deadline - Monday, April 21^st

Absentee Ballot Deadline – Tuesday, May 13th - Last day to apply for a primary mail-in absentee ballot through your local County Clerk (not later than close of business 7 days before election) Applications must be received on this day.

Primary Election – Tuesday, May 20^th.  Polls open from 6am to 6pm.

Voter Registration Deadline – Monday, October 6th

Absentee Ballot Deadline – Tuesday, October 28th - Last day to apply for mail-in absentee ballot through your local County Clerk (not later than close of business 7 days before election) Applications must be received on this day.

Election Day – Tuesday, November 4^th.  Polls open from 6am to 6pm.

   In KFTC, hitting a big goal often means throwing a big party to celebrate!  We have a LOT to celebrate across the state as 2007 draws to a close and the Central Kentucky Chapter threw a huge bash last night with over 60 members participating, great food, games, live music (compliments of Hot Jam Trio!), and stories. 

   Members cited victories, memories, stories and accomplishments too numerous to repeat, but including:

   - The creating and phenomenal work of the UK KFTC student group on campus

   - The Legislative Mountain Witness Tour just a few weeks ago

   - Winning a Minimum Wage increase victory in Frankfort this year

   - A great campaign against the Special Session and subsidies for liquid coal that brought a lot of attention to Mountaintop Removal Mining.

   - Registering over 1,300 voters and contacting over 10,000 voters three times leading to the General Election in a campaign that included great voter guides, door-to-door work, events, phone banks, and so much more!

   - Bringing over 200 citizen lobbyists out to I Love Mountains Day

   - A tremendous year of over 100 community outreach events including tabling at festivals and special events across the city.  The Fourth of July and the Roots and Heritage Festival

   - Passing the Restoration of Voting Rights Bill out of the Kentucky House and laying a lot of groundwork to get it through the Senate in the coming year.

   - Building a 2,400-person group on Facebook as a totally new method of reaching out to youth

   - Great Concerts including the Last Waltz, Concert For The Commonwealth, and Bluegrass Green-Earth

   - An energetic campaign for Robinson Forest to raise awareness and deter future stripmining plans for the forest. 

   - Immigrants Rights ally work in support of KCIRR, including lobby days in Frankfort and public testimony in Lexington.

   - A KFTC presence at Fancy Farm, led by CKY members. 

   - The evolution of our website including this very blog!

    But perhaps the biggest news of the evening was that KFTC hit our incredible expansion goal of reaching 5,000 Members and $200,000 in grassroots fundraising at the end of a three-year push.  Members took a lot of pride in hitting the goal and were all-smiles, talking about what kind of impact we can collectively make in the coming year with that much added strength and support.

   It'll be a huge year ahead, with a 60-day Legislative Session and extremely lively elections on the local, state, and national levels and lots of important ground work in the service of democracy.  But for now, take some time to celebrate a year done good.  You've earned it!