Mainers for Cynthia McKinney

Meeting Minutes 04/13/2008

  1. Introductions

    Attending: Jacqui Deveneau, Wells Staley-Mays, Anthony Zeli, Anna Trevorrow, Jane Meisenbach

  2. Update from the Treasurer

    We raised $90 at the last meeting. We bought checks for the account, paid for our new website’s domain name and Internet hosting for eight months, and had 100 brochures printed. We are left with $22.04 in the bank account. The next collection will be at the next meeting on the 27th.

  3. Old Business:

    1. Brochure update – Jacqui

      Brochures have been printed, and will be distributed shortly

    2. Website update

      We now have a website. It is www.mainers4mckinney.org

    3. Local issues – Did anyone bring their write-ups?

      Tabled until next meeting

    4. College interest update – Anna

      Anna has had a hard time finding time to put into this initiative. She has collected some college contact names, but is finding it time consuming to look up their contact info online. If people can provide her with contact info, she will try to contact them to collect interest in having Cynthia speak.

      We encourage anyone that has a college or university contact, to inquire as to the interest and feasibility of having Cynthia McKinney speak.

      Reminder for all to write to their newspapers & other media

  4. New Business:

    1. Update on Cynthia’s travel plans – Jacqui

      We have had no definite plans for Cynthia to visit. We have inquired, but have not heard. Cynthia has suffered from political brutality in her prior campaigns, and in her career; thus she has surrounded herself with a very small and trusted staff for her current campaign. Unfortunately, this has hampered her ability to meet the demands of groups like ourselves, that want to bring her to our communities to promote her candidacy. Jacqui is working on getting firmer details.

    2. Jared Ball and Head-Roc possible tour – Anna

      Anna has been in contact with Head-Roc and Jared Ball, who, as it turns out, are already working together on a presentation called Capitol Resistance. They have established a website, www.capitolresistance.com, which describes the presentation as follows:

      This Ground breaking 60-minute audio, visual, and lecture presentation invites the attendees to share in a full sensory exploration of the role Hip-Hop plays in mass media. Capitol Resistance will give provocative insight as to the inner working of the music industry and its role in shaping recent world history.

      They have expressed interest in bringing this presentation to Maine on behalf of Cynthia McKinney. Like Cynthia, herself, however, they have little to no travel resources, and would need for travel, lodging, and venue all to be provided. Some discussion took place on the logistics of bringing them here. It was suggested that we focus on more local speakers, as we are likely not going to be able to raise enough money to have them here, especially without losing out on what we could have raised for Cynthia herself. Anna will follow up with Head-Roc and Jared Ball on specific figures for a trip, expressing to them our position in terms of funding, and will report back. Wells volunteered his contacts with the youth community, if we were to have some kind of musical performance from a hip-hop artist such as Head-Roc.

    3. Fundraising – Jacqui

      Every Monday at 9 p.m. and Thursday at 10 p.m., there is a planning meeting call for the Run Cynthia Run campaign Anyone interested in fundraising planning is welcome on the call. Please contact Jacqui.

    4. Convention Updates (State and National) – Jacqui & Tony

      State Convention:

      It is scheduled for May 18th at the Log Cabin in Yarmouth. For a copy of the anticipated agenda, contact Jacqui.

      Having no definite answer from Cynthia on her travel plans, we may want to think about someone to speak on her behalf. We will ask Bruce to speak at the convention in the event that Cynthia cannot make it.

      National Convention:

      We are putting together a van to commute to the convention. We have had a good number of people express serious interest in this travel method. So, at this point, we are asking people to secure their spot in the van with a $20 deposit. This will go toward the required $160 deposit to officially secure the van for the trip. The $20 deposit will be deducted from the final $175 / person that we have calculated for the round-trip. Please contact Tony to make your $20 deposit.

  5. Next meeting: Apr.27th Adams-Melman House, 212 Centre St, Bath 12PM-2:30PM (snacks). Stay for Pot Luck 3-5PM

  6. Upcoming events

    1. TONIGHT – Film screening of American Blackout

    2. April 18 & 19 Mid-coast Green Collaborative, Green tabling: we will be tabling in Damariscotta this Friday and Saturday at the 2nd annual Mid-Coast Green Collaborative Sustainable Energy Expo

    3. April 19 Hope Festival, Green tabling: we will be tabling at the Field House, UMaine, Orono this Saturday for the HOPE (Help Organize Peace Earthwide) fair

    4. May 2 American Blackout film screening @ Adams-Melman House: this is the second film screening of American Blackout. We will be asking for donations to the MGIP Delegate fund, which will go toward covering registration fees for the National Convention. The film follows Cynthia McKinney’s story, and documents the grim details of the stolen elections in 2000 and 2004 – A MUST SEE!


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