4th of July

[Gene Clem]

Ideas for an Independance Day rally:

o Picnic for family
o Food vendors
o Oration contests
o Constitution quiz bowls
o Are you smarter than a 5th grader history quizes
o Organizational discussion groups
o Issues discussion groups
o Sack races
o Balloon toss
o Fireworks

......Can we do it?.........

[Doug Till]

I think that a "Cut the Pork" pig roast with side dishes like potato salad, corn on the cob, watermelon, cole slaw, etc would be a great idea. We could tie in a presentation about budget excess items that show out of control government as pork that needs to be cut with the "cut the pork" pig roast theme. There are many local vendors that are able to handle roast pigs or do "pig pickin" type barbeques. Or volunteers would be even better. I've done pig roasts over the years for family reunions that have turned out great. Just have to figure on tending the smokers for 16 hours or more.

The cost would be minimal and most of the side dishes could be purchased pre-prepared at places like Gordan Food Service. For those that don't like pork, we could have hamburgers, hot dogs or maybe sloppy joes. A picnic could be easily put together that would serve many people and cost little with a profit potential for the group. Tickets would be purchased for each plate and beverage with adult and childrens portions different prices.

Tust a thought.

[Tia Gazi]

Well without dragging this out to the extent that it appears to be bickering, I would like to make a final post. When looking for speakers, we are looking for individuals to educate us on verious topics. We, like any other organization will be looking for speakers to talk on various subjects such as , for example, the Tenth Amendment, The FairTax, the effect of Confiscatory Tax rates on businesses and individuals, perhaps the errosion of various constitutionally gaurenteed rights. These are all different topix and yet each is pertinant to our platform and thoughts and are all subjects on which we could have a speaker give a talk on without any confusion, and without specifically endorsing their organization. What is the point of having speakers if they all say the same thing. The Tea Party is not a One subject movement, our disagreements with the government are on its disreguard for the constitution as a whole, which is made up of violating the various statutes of the constitution individually. Meaning, that even though previously there were many organisations such as the NRA, or The American Tax Payers Union, RTL, and others. We are the Unity of all those ideas. We are not choosing one particular Amendment to stand up for, rather we stand up for the Constitution as a whole. We can become a Unifying force for all the seperate groups. Its up to us to decide to help bring together the many to form the One Loud Voice for a Return to a respect for the American People.

[Jan Novak-Voeltzke]

I don't conclude that conversations as a whole regarding speakers result in bickering. If there can be no exchange of ideas without "feelings" being hurt then we aren't much of an organization, are we. I can confirm that I believe that speakers with topics that are relative to our organization (which is vast if each one picks a "spoke" to address) will be very enlighening and educational. We just need to be careful that organizations/speakers be "vetted" with respect to their whole philosophy/ideology. That's all.

Tia Gazi said:

Well without dragging this out to the extent that it appears to be bickering, I would like to make a final post. When looking for speakers, we are looking for individuals to educate us on verious topics. We, like any other organization will be looking for speakers to talk on various subjects such as , for example, the Tenth Amendment, The FairTax, the effect of Confiscatory Tax rates on businesses and individuals, perhaps the errosion of various constitutionally gaurenteed rights. These are all different topix and yet each is pertinant to our platform and thoughts and are all subjects on which we could have a speaker give a talk on without any confusion, and without specifically endorsing their organization. What is the point of having speakers if they all say the same thing. The Tea Party is not a One subject movement, our disagreements with the government are on its disreguard for the constitution as a whole, which is made up of violating the various statutes of the constitution individually. Meaning, that even though previously there were many organisations such as the NRA, or The American Tax Payers Union, RTL, and others. We are the Unity of all those ideas. We are not choosing one particular Amendment to stand up for, rather we stand up for the Constitution as a whole. We can become a Unifying force for all the seperate groups. Its up to us to decide to help bring together the many to form the One Loud Voice for a Return to a respect for the American People.

[Jan Novak-Voeltzke]

Doug: This sounds mouth-watering good! with fun stirred in. You should know since you've done things like this before.

Doug Till said:

I think that a "Cut the Pork" pig roast with side dishes like potato salad, corn on the cob, watermelon, cole slaw, etc would be a great idea. We could tie in a presentation about budget excess items that show out of control government as pork that needs to be cut with the "cut the pork" pig roast theme. There are many local vendors that are able to handle roast pigs or do "pig pickin" type barbeques. Or volunteers would be even better. I've done pig roasts over the years for family reunions that have turned out great. Just have to figure on tending the smokers for 16 hours or more.

The cost would be minimal and most of the side dishes could be purchased pre-prepared at places like Gordan Food Service. For those that don't like pork, we could have hamburgers, hot dogs or maybe sloppy joes. A picnic could be easily put together that would serve many people and cost little with a profit potential for the group. Tickets would be purchased for each plate and beverage with adult and childrens portions different prices.

Tust a thought.

[Cynthia Gustafson]

Tia,
You were talking about speakers for the 4th? Somehow I managed to miss that part. Although, actually, not being a Christian myself I don't feel completely comfortable about having a speaker who would concentrate his speech on Christians in the public arena. I think we should focus on tax and spending protest and reducing the size and power of the Federal government drastically. I don't know. Maybe one of the FairTax people?

[Cynthia Gustafson]

It also occurred to me that our first really big event could be very defining. It would probably be better to err on the side of repeating ourselves than to err on the side of saying too many things or being vague or confusing.

[Tia Gazi]

Cynthia Gustafson said:

Tia,
You were talking about speakers for the 4th? Somehow I managed to miss that part. Although, actually, not being a Christian myself I don't feel completely comfortable about having a speaker who would concentrate his speech on Christians in the public arena. I think we should focus on tax and spending protest and reducing the size and power of the Federal government drastically. I don't know. Maybe one of the FairTax people?

Oh I don't know for the forth, or specifically this guy. He is the President of the Acton Institute, and that is a secular institution mainly about taxation and how government relates to business. I just figured that the Institute may or may not be a place to look at.
What I think caused the continuance of the discussion was both Cynthia and Jan's good points about vetting our speakers, and also about what groups areas, and topics suit us and which don't.

I just don't want us to wander into to narrow a pigeon hole because we do have a broad area of topics that would be educational, and we can have a large base from which to choose speakers through as time goes on.

[Dan Matecki]

I like Tia's idea about reading the constitution. Also I wouldn't mind having someone from Acton as long as they kept on target. Cut the pork was a good idea also. :)

[Peter A. Monroe]

Reading the constitution is a very good idea. We could have several people read to relieve one another. Plan it soon so they can practice thier parts.

[Peter A. Monroe]

A food vendor will be inpossible to find. I spoke to two sunday, I have names and numbers. Most plan events annually especially major holidays.

[Anthony Dugal]

I'm waiting for return phone call from Schoolcraft 4th parade organizer. Does our local group have anyone from Schoolcraft (if it makes any difference whether we can march in parade, or have a booth set up)? I recall someone lives in Vicksburg. Tony Dugal

[Jan Novak-Voeltzke]

Michael: Per the specifics you mention--Gene said at the meeting that as soon as the Mission Statement and Platform were written he would post them on the site. I have researched others that have been written and our Committee is meeting Wednesday Night to start working on them. Just fyi. You are right.....they should be posted.

Michael Pelletier said:

I believe we should post the different specifics that are the basis for our rally. The name T.E.A. (taxed enough already) is really about the deluge of taxes about to descend upon us due to the out-of-control ridiculous spending of our money by congress and our president. Then there's the bail-outs of failing companies. The take-over of businesses. The "spreading the wealth" taking from wage earners and handing our earnings to sloths. These come to mind ... but I certain there are other things along these lines which should be listed.