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We need to organize for action in the event nothing good happens in the legislature.
I live in extreme north central alabama and am not terribly far from Huntsville and Decatur. If we don't organize and make a big impression on the legislature, we will be out of luck.
Agreed...I honestly think we will not get anything in stone out of the legislature before the session ends on May 18th, maybe a resolution to uphold and fund the future of PACT at best...
That said we will have much more time to organize...we are working to develop our own areas and districts for PACT leadership in their areas
Anyone who feels they are up to the task of leadership in their area of Alabama please post here!
Let's get moving!
Huckaby
Re: Organize
This is a personal letter I sent to all our emailers today:
It looks about like we have reached a point with the PACT problem (or very soon will) when we contract holders may need to think about doing something more drastic. Maybe we should solicit everyone we can for ideas as to how to go about this.
Here are a few ideas that just fell out of my brain:
A sit-in on the capitol steps?
A march on Montgomery?
Someone suggested from Troy University
I suggested from the large Crampton Bowl parking lot (closer)
Logistics? Parade permit?
All dress in the same color to draw attention.
Wear backpacks as a symbol?
Carry a book?
Maybe some other pertinent symbol?
Show up in mass at the next Board Meeting armed with leaflets (time is short)
Get a lot of students involved and marching, lobbying, etc.,etc. They should have the most incentive. How can we get their attention? Post flyers in their dorms? Have students solicit other students? Why not use teens, and younger - what about toddlers? We need a crowd for impact. After all it's for their future too.
Most important, in my opinion, is to try to add to our roles by use of our website and our email and any publicity we can generate.
I think we should definitely solicit ideas from everyone as to our next step. So folks, send in those ideas or post them on www.savealabamapact.com.
TIME IS SHORT!
Donna Peacher
Last edited by dhpeacher (06-30-2009 9:42:05 pm)
An emailer wrote today:
"LETS GET STARTED, I AM PISSED!
I'M READY TO MARCH!
OF COURSE I CALL THE TREASURY OFFICE TODAY AS WELL, I HAD TO TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH OF COURSE NO CALL BACK."
Another emailer wrote today:
"Looks to me like the important thing now is to pound on the board members to keep it alive, keep making payments for summer and fall, and not do anything stupid at their next meeting. There is $450 million or more in there. Surely a solution can be found within a year before the critical line is reached."
A second email was sent to:
"PACT board members and legislators:
Given the number of bills that have been offered in the legislature, from both parties, it's obvious everybody seeks a solution of some kind. A solution will come together at some point. Meanwhile, you should have $450 million or more of funds. To not continue to pay tuitions this summer and fall and next year would be almost criminal, if not absolutely criminal. You just can't pick any point in time and say, "okay, we're not paying anymore." This is the real world, real kids going to college, real parents who need PACT to send their kids to college. Now is not the time to panic. Move forward until the solution is reached. If anything, it's been a long time since I've seen so many legislators rally around an issue like they have PACT. It's just that they haven't found common ground yet. They will."
Last edited by dhpeacher (05-08-2009 7:43:46 pm)
Another emailer wrote today:
"March 20th, Wed.... the PACT board meeting... (week after next) is the 1st opportunity we have to make a statement.... I, for 1 will be at the board meeting. I want some answers and feel they will probably let us ask them, as long as we don't get out of hand.... We need to take the high road on this and do it the right way... If we all still have issues, which we will... let's see what they all have to say after being in session.... Remember, they will have had time to brain storm and gather their thoughts and we need to be doing the same thing... Make notes for yourselves and lets try and get some answers and then we can regroup with everyone, attorneys included !!!!! Don't really know what time or even where the meeting is, but have already taken the day off....(self employed/without pay) My oldest son graduates on the 22nd and then we have his Senior trip. I am very nervous about his FALL tuition payments. Let's get ourselves organized and ready ! "
I say we bring the children to the meeting! Let them see the people they are REALLY letting down!!!!
Either Kay and the Pact board are trying to goad the legislature into action or they are about to pull the biggest con in Alabama state history!!!!! They want us to walk away from a committment the STATE signed. I Don't Think So.
They tried to pawn it off on the legislature and now looks like they want to dig their political graves.
We made ourselves perfectly clear at the 1st and 2nd meeting --- DONOT DISOLVE thePACT program --- NO Child left behind!
There is a lot of talk floating around on emails about getting together a possible walk on Montgomery.
A peaceful demonstration with all in uniform color to be visible - and possibly bringing out the FACE of PACT as well!
Please post you ideas/comments on when, what format you prefer...NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE AS PACT OWNERS AND SUPPORTS CAN DO IN UNISOM THAT WILL MAKE OURSELVES KNOWN AND BE SEEN - WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO DO AND WHEN IS THE BEST TIME?!
I have NEVER been told that I have ever taken the EASY way out of a situation...It would be way too easy to bail out ---That way we as pact holders will destroy our own program... And the legislators will be able to say... "We tried to help ---no one would give us a chance to FIX IT!!!!" I say NO NO NO... We will make them deliver to us exactly what was promised....-and paid for..--I really feel for all the parents and students who are about to do to that next wonderful level of education-- the hard work for alll- the planning,study hours, choosing your new school, ect and to have it all in such a crisis that was not deserved.....This should be a time of joy ....not being upset that the funds will not be available..and worse you have to fight and scream for the $$$ already saved and lovingly spent to fullfil a college dream... I am not sure HOW but I know that we WILL come out of this if we do not panic and destroy ourselves...March we will We can all wear Green shirts of any kind to represent $$$ . This has to be big or it will be wasted.. We need all the college students in Montgomery and all who can come from anywhere else...We must get the media involved.. Newspapers, radio and TV. abc33/40 has been with us all the way and will be there for us... Call everyone... We will furnish times, meeting place, ect on a post on Monday... be READY !!!!
What can we do? With the failure of Sen. Bedford's bill, PACT contract owners overrun by money-hungry universities and the teachers union. It's time for action. Somehow, someway, we need to get more organized with communications and messages into members, Gov. Riley, Lt. Gov. Folsom, etc. I'm located in Huntsville and very interested in organizing interested parties from this part of the state.
Patriot, take a look at the official PACT website for the state...its home page has been changed to go directly to Contract Options page...this is now their front home page...I was told this has just happened...
I think we need you to determine if we did organize a meeting, march, etc., do you think it would be well received, when would be a range of dates that people in your area would attend, etc.
The legislature is not back in session until Thursday of next week...that may be good or bad...not sure yet.
Huckaby
Patriot, I'm in Huntsville too. I'm an old lady so anything too physical may be beyond me, but I'll be glad to help in any way I can. I have a pretty good email list, and I'm going to send a notice to them to let me know who all is from this area. In fact, I'll ask them all where they're from and then I can forward the info to savealabamapact.com. on anything I find out. If you will join our email list, at dhpeacher@mchsi.com, I'll try to keep you updated and help you all I can. I will contact 4 or 5 PACT holders in this area that I know of that haven't joined our email list yet to see if they're interested.
Last edited by dhpeacher (05-09-2009 1:26:42 pm)
An emailer's message today:
"I'm in Montgomery, on the edge of downtown near I-65 N.. I can see the road leading to the front of the Capitol building outside of our office. I will be on a business trip May 16-21, and again June 4-6 and again June 10-13, not that I should hold anything up; other than that I'm around. As far as a march, the most impressive thing that could be done would be to walk up Dexter Ave., beginning at some point, to the front steps of the Capitol. (the same thing Martin Luther King did way back when). We could have speakers and microphones at the steps, etc. I don't know what's involved with getting such permits. People could park around the train shed, Renaissance Hotel, etc. and walk about a half mile to the steps. The problem with meeting at Crampton Bowl parking lot is that there's no good, media visible way to walk to the Capitol building. I'm in the publishing business and in fact am a part-time instructor at Auburn (journalism). "
Patriot, take a look at my post on forum under Legislator's Who Support PACT for Bedford....he is a winner and one of biggest supporters in the Senate and he will not give up or shut up...some might want to wonder about the others that would not allow his SB581 to be heard this week...I think they are looking for publicity...hint...you might find their names there if you look hard.
Regarding organization..I am down Auburn way...we need some stand up guys and gals to follow me to Montgomery if need be, soon!
If you live anywhere near Auburn to south of Montgomery, please post here your city so we can organize more...I will email you
Thanks to everyone,
Richard Huckaby
Since Senator Bedford seems to be "on our side," how about getting him to pressure the State Treasurer's Office to release the names and addresses to us of PACT purchasers and beneficiaries. Legislative requests often get a much better response than requests from individual citizens.
Last edited by kittycollier (05-10-2009 9:58:11 am)
Good comment...I will address that today...thanks
What about convening a prayer service at one of our Montgomery churches for the purpose of praying that the State of Alabama will honor its PACT guarantees and contracts in general, and in specific, will pay fall and spring tuition next year? Invite members of the legislature and the PACT Board, the Governor, and presidents of all the two-year and four-year institutions? Maybe one of the downtown churches would be willing to host it . . . Timing would be important - would need to be before the meeting on May 20.
Richard, please contact me by e-mail in regards to your post on 5/9 about organizing. kgandy@southernco.com
Thanks!
Karen
I requested the names and addresses via the Freedom of Information Action Act certified mail. No response yet, but the request has been received.
Dave, I thought someone had already done that with no results. I've forgotten where on the website (I think) I read that..
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the irritation and dismay many (of us – myself included) PACT purchasers have had with the legislature’s lack of action this session, and I am coming to the conclusion that we need to change the pressure point a bit. In all fairness to the legislature (I find it really strange to be defending them), they did not learn about this problem any sooner than we did – and yet they were expected to come up with the solution in just a couple of months. After reading Kay’s press release, it sounds to me like she is saying that if the legislature does not pass any of the proposed bills or a resolution, the PACT Board will have to close the program. WHY? The program has operated since 1989 pr 1990 without a resolution or additional legislation. At this point, the worst thing that could happen is that “bad” or “incomplete” legislation be enacted. I think we should ask the legislature to join us in 1) pressuring the PACT Board to commit to pay fall and winter tuition & fees next year, and 2) working with the a committee of the legislature, PACT purchasers, Governor’s Office, PACT Board, higher ed institutions, etc. to develop a solution before the session begins next year.
I agree with Kitty Collier. Knee jerk reactions are not usualy helpful but often times counter-poductive. Also do not forget that this is the first year out of 19 + years that he stock market investments have lost money. THERE IS NO REASON TO DISSOLVE PACT NOW AND NO REASON TUITION SHOULD NOT BE PAID THIS FALL AND SPRING UNTIL LEGISLAtiON IS PASSED. This is not quite the dire emergencies like the flood waters in Montgomery last week where something must be done very quickly. Don't misundestand me-somethig must be done to save PACT or drastic measures will need to be taken but there is time to make sure the best solution is found. The solution is there-it needs to be found
I'm right there with you, Kitty Collier. This whole debacle has been too slimey from the very beginning. I repeat bamall, "THERE IS NO REASON TO DISSOLVE PACT NOW AND NO REASON TUITION SHOULD NOT BE PAID THIS FALL AND SRING UNTIL LEGISLATION IS PASSED." It's quite possible by that time the fund could be turned around and be healthy as a horse. Where is this fund we've all paid into? What's being done with it right now to get it back on track. Who's managing it? Hopefully not the same economic idiots who lost almost half of it to begin with! And what I'd really like to know is exactly how much has been paid out to who for what in the name of "management fees?" Forgive my ranting, but I feel like the victim of one of the biggest scams ever pulled off by an Alabama politician and at the expense of my daughter's education. I believe if there's anything we PACT holders want it's to get our fund into the hands of people who know what they're doing with proper oversight and stop all this nonsense.
Thank you,
and may the good Lord take a likin' to ya
You guys have just defined the Resolution that we wrote to carry to Montgomery with us today...obviously we have no guarantees that our proposed resolution will be sponored over anothers that may be equally effective but it has the points you defined explicitly:
1) PACT Trust Fund will pay all tuitions due for the Summer 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010 period.
2) Committee of Lt. Gov/othersand PACT Board will find workable solution over the summer/fall and be prepared immediately at the beginning of the 2010 session to present and pass the solution to save every PACT contract.
I won't post the document itself yet, with respect to the potential sponsors, but it has already been forwarded to appropriate hands.
Be ready, guys our job though may be just beginning...once the best solution that can be obtained is out there, we must absolutely drive this message home to each legislator and seek their support.
I personally agree with you Kitty, knee jerks are not what we need...not out of Kay Ivey...not out of the Senate and House...this problem with PACT did not start a few months ago...it has been festering for quite some time...it will take a little while to resolve it....but the PACT contract holders who are waiting "patiently" deserve an answer they can trust....we are going to do the best we can to get us one.
Look for posts tonight late regarding our trip...call every legislator you can today...tell them you want some resolution passed securing the two principles listed above and that we are in Montgomery today talking, watching and taking names....
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