• Registered: 03-28-2009
  • Posts: 257

Topic: Call Out

Here's my letter in response to the Call Out by S.A.P:

To:  Governor Bob Riley
       Senator Paul Sanford
       Senator Lowell Barron
       Representative Laura Hall
       Representative Howard Sanderford
       Representative Randy Hinshaw
       Representative Butch Taylor       

I have been heavily involved in recruiting PACT contract owners to join the Madison County PACT chapter of the statewide Save Alabama Pact organization.  As I am the email conduit for all our Madison County members, I am in the position of being privy to many, many heart rending stories of what would happen should the State not honor it's commitment.   

It is inconceivable to me that this could ever happen.  Afterall, this is our State that we are talking about.  I have never doubted that Alabama would honor it's word.  It's a matter of honor and integrity.

I think of the sweet young lady, a stranger from the north, who became a widow.  Out of her sorrow, she heard of this wonderful opportunity to see her children get their college degrees.  She lives paycheck-to-paycheck in her struggle to deal with what life has handed her, secure in her confidence that her children would be educated, no matter what.  And, then she was shocked by the infamous "February" letter.

I think of the wonderful lady from a nearby city who called me and told me her husband had just died the month before.  He had been so worried about the PACTS he had purchased for his grandchildren.  In an effort to ease his mental pain during the final stages of his illness, she told him an untruth - that the PACT problem had been resolved and that he didn't have to worry anymore.  He died peacefully.  She has since joined our cause in an effort to make the lie a truth.

I think of the young couple who had struggled so long to have a baby.  The grandmother, in poor health, wanted a grandchild desperately.  She was unable to hold out long enough, but left a small inheritance for the future of the grandchild.  Finally, and wonderfully, a child was born.  After much research and soul-searching, the young couple invested the money in a PACT, strongly believing in what the great Seal of Alabama meant to them.  They felt the grandmother was looking down and smiling at what they had done.  Then came the shock.

There are hundreds more stories.  I ask you to please help us.  Please do whatever is in your power to make this right. 

In deepest appreciation,


Donna H. Peacher
231 Bell Road
Huntsville, AL   35811
(256) 852-7817
dhpeacher@gmail.com

Last edited by dhpeacher (09-16-2009 1:25:15 am)

  • Registered: 03-28-2009
  • Posts: 257

Re: Call Out

Please, please all you Madison County folks - Write your congressmen!  The link with all their addresses is in the mass call out email just sent to you.  People we need your participation!  Do we want those people in Montgomery to think we don't give a d*mn?  We need your help today if we're going to get these contracts funded! Come on and do your part!

Last edited by dhpeacher (09-16-2009 4:35:18 pm)

  • Registered: 03-28-2009
  • Posts: 257

Re: Call Out

The following very good email from a Madison County contract owner, Paul Pettit,  was received today as a result of the "Call Out":

"Our government really works! I've had conversations with Rep McCutcheon and Rep Williams this week over the phone. Both have displayed the appropriate amount of dismay and, as of today, most I've heard is (relatively) positive. They both expressed an intent to vote to help us ALL (not just the pre disclaimer) participants. When asked how we got here, Mac said (paraphrased) the problem with PACT goes back to
inception and that the treasury should have begun to correct this long ago. There should have been adjustments early to compensate fo ballooning tuitions at the major colleges and warning flags should have gone up long before they had to start investing in non conservative markets. Phil says much the same but he can't quite understand (like me) how they let it continue on in shaky investments until the loss was 50%
of the existing principal ($450M).

Both Reps were concerned that the perception at the Alabama Capital is that the program should be OK for the next year or 2 and that PACT may not even come up in session this year (the new session starts 1/12/10). They both stated they would push the issue and that we should keep up the pressure. If WE don't, we'll lose out. I must admit that hearing
nothing from Treas. Ivey doesn't give me a warm fuzzy but I will follow up with her again this week and see if I can get a response. I have both Rep. McCutcheon's and Rep Williams' personal contact numbers and they know I've got close to 60K invested in this mess so we'll all be talking quite a bit.

I must say I greatly respect both these gentlemen for responding. Again, both guys seemed very concerned and responded as both citizens and public officials. CALL THEM. I'm not a great judge of sincerity but I'd say they're both really concerned and want to honor the pact we made
with the State. I'd like to publicly thank both gentlemen for their personal responses and will continue to speak to them as new issues arise.

This proves absolutely that you and I do have a voice, that we're not just yelling down a pipe as I originally feared. These folks are very concerned that we're concerned. The only way to get this moving is to be relentless in your contacts with Reps, Treasurer, Governor and Congress. If you don't get an answer, contact them again. If they still won't respond, tell the Save Alabama PACT folks and we'll go after answers
together. We need every official from Reps on up anywhere within Alabama's borders to know we're upset and aware. Please take the time to make calls in your area. It really, really matters."

Paul Pettit

Last edited by dhpeacher (09-21-2009 4:15:19 pm)