An emailer wrote the following great message:
"Donna.....I just copied and pasted the PACT M'gomery meetings info and, along with my commentary, have e-mailed several blocks of approx. 500 Marshall Co. households. Several are likely NOT PACT contract holders, but they'll know those who are. It's so important that a LARGE presence of concerned contract holders show their presence on Wednesday, complete with the media on hand.
I went to the Alabama State Arts Awards at the Renaissance Hotel in M'gomery on Wednesday, to see a dear friend from Marshall County, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award. After enjoying the reception, I got on an elevator to the parking garage and found myself in the company of none other than Kay Ivey, along with a friend, both of whom had apparently also been in attendance. Without missing a beat, I asked her on the elevator ride about the status of PACT.....I'm telling you, she was surprised at the question in such an uncharacteristic place and time. Her quick response was to ask me if I'd contacted my legislator, blah-blah-blah. But clearly, after deboarding the elevator, she was quick to get to her car and leave.
On my drive home, it was crystal clear to me that there is a detachment there, and I'm all the more anxious to get some positive decisions made by these politicians on the matter of PACT.
Read my e-mail below.....
Subject: PACT (Pre-Paid Affordable College Tuition) Meetings in M'gomery this Wednesday!
Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 11:55:48 -0500
Friends - If you are a PACT contract holder, or if you KNOW those who are (forward this e-mail to them please!), make every effort to attend this Wednesday's meetings in M'gomery, as listed below. I know this is short notice....I only found out yesterday....but I've come to learn that this is how such PACT-oriented sessions operate. I've come across several PACT contract holders around Marshall County in recent weeks who ask me to keep them informed. While that expression may be well-meaning, at this juncture, it's not enough to merely be "kept informed" after the fact. Decisions are being made SOON about PACT that will determine PACT's future (and currently, it's not looking good....) and the Board of Directors need to see actual citizens (aka voters), concerned contract holders, on their turf, the State Capital Bldg. A number of these directors are running for state political office next year. If there's one thing I've learned in this PACT debacle, it's that such politicians are entirely comfortable with, and may even rely on, PACT contract holders' apathy and absence in their open discussions and voting. It's important for us to be in M'gomery.
Two days ago, I attended Auburn University Parent Orientation, and was reminded that ONE semester of tuition for my son costs $3226.00 for 10-15 credit hours (the usual class load). According to the distributed AU handbook, "These are current charges that are likely to increase following a June 2009 University Board of Trustees meeting". I'm sure that the same holds true for the University of Alabama, UAH, Jacksonville, UNA, Troy, and the rest.
The preservation of the existing PACT contracts is crucial to me, and should be to other PACT contract holders, too. My daughter graduates from Guntersville High School this Friday the 22nd, and I've got a full week ahead with her activities....the notice and timing of these PACT meetings are terrible for me, and may be for you, too. But it's important for my childrens' college tuitions.
If you own a contract(s), please drop everything for Wednesday and join me and others in attending these meetings.
(Information regarding time, place, map, etc were attached to the message)
Folks, we are going to need all the help we can get from you and everyone else that has a PACT. If you know of any PACT holders who have been apathetic or maybe just waiting and watching and hoping someone else would take care of the problem, they need to be told immediately to join