Update from our April SD Conference call

Our presenters were:

Ken Hoagland spoke about the development of the FairTax grassroots movement (including some highs and lows) and what we need to build the grassroots necessary to pass the FT. We need to build our FairTax.org data base to at least 5 million -- with 10 million people even better -- to have the political muscle to get FT passed and defeat any amendments that will weaken the bill.

Carol Adams McLean with the Grass Roots Freedom Ride for FairTax at www.grassrootsfreedomride.com
We're working to promote FairTax events nationwide around activities that bring funds to all levels of FairTax - national, state and local. We offer our chapter captains FairTax supplies at cost to raise funds locally, while dues and pledges go to AFFT and the state consortium to assist states.

Phil Hinson plh001@yahoo.com and Carol McLean caroladams@grassrootsfreedomride.com reported on the Independence Caucus at ourcaucus.com
The Independence Caucus looks into campaign contributions. It also offers training and strategy to elect federal politicians who do not accept lobby funds for their campaigns using about 1000 volunteers. To use this proven strategy, each district needs a year lead time to research their politicians and create videos to distribute. Sign up and get involved in your local district to see this happen for 2010. (Remember AFFT can not get involved in campaigns)


Colin Malker -- announces the first FT rally west of the Mississippi! More news to follow.
This brings us another step closer to making FairTax a national campaign.
June 13th, 8 am to 10 pm -- Boone County Fairgrounds, Columbia, MO
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocod...

John Collet reported on a draft document by an Obama staffer on how to pass the FairTax. If you are willing to help make this into a working document please contact John at Johncollet@aol.com


On the House keeping items:

1)I have attached the tri-fold template to record the information from the post cards in electronic form for your use and to forward the information on to Houston. If you do not have the resources to record the information from the forms electronically please continue to send in the post cards to Houston.
Every name and email address is another step toward our goal of 5 million names.

2) How not to get tagged as a spammer. Some groups have problems with sending out so may emails they get tagged as a spammer. When we all get on the Convio system this problem should go away. Until then you can use an email service such as Constant Contact which has a 60 day free trial.
http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp

Dave Dayton, PA shared this message with me:
This is a follow up to my comment on the SD conference call tonight regarding mailing list software. To keep the cost down, I use a package called 1st Mass Mailer to maintain my mailing lists and send out messages. While products like this are not as feature-rich as online services such as Constant Contact, it's an easy, inexpensive way to communicate. With products like this, you buy to software once and then it as much as you choose without any ongoing costs for sending messages. I have had no problems with my outgoing e-mails being blocked or rejected as spam. For details on 1st Mass Mailer, go to http://www.softstack.com/fstmail.html.


Our next Conference Call will be on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 8 PM ET.

Please send me your agenda items.

Thanks,
Marilyn Rickert