March 25, 2003
In this issue:
• ACCR's
2003 conference a success
• Governor's
commission to release final report Thursday
• 'Reform
One' on the road again
• Auburn
University and Florence to organize local ACCR chapters
• Upcoming
constitutional reform events
ACCR's
2003 conference a success
"Road
to Reform: Moving Toward a Modern Constitution" was held on a
rainy Monday morning in Birmingham on March 17, 2003. Despite the
nasty weather, over 250 brave souls attended the conference to learn
the latest information on comprehensive constitutional reform. Many
of the state's leaders in government, business, and education were
on hand to discuss the current problems facing the state and take
questions from the audience. Conference attendees were invited to
sign ACCR's decorated school bus, "Reform One", after lunch
to show their support for constitutional reform as it begins a new
statewide tour.
Click here for conference pictures
Governor's commission to
release final report Thursday
The Alabama Citizens' Constitution Commission will release
its printed report and draft legislation at 11:00 AM on March 27th
at the State House. We'd like to thank everyone that attended the
public hearings this commission held in Montgomery and Birmingham.
Special thanks is due to those people that made public comments in
support of constitutional reform at the meetings.
ACCR has closely monitored the commission's work. We
will continue to update and inform our members about any proposed
constitutional reform legislation that is introduced from the governor's
commission, as well as other legislation proposed independently.
For those of you unable to attend and witness the wonderful
public input from ACCR members at these commission meetings, we have
added the remarks that Lucy Jones of UAB delivered to the commission
in Birmingham as a shining example.
Click here for Lucy Jones' remarks
'Reform One' on the
road again
ACCR’s
popular school bus, “Reform One”, has returned to the roads
of Alabama this spring to spread the message of constitutional reform
far and wide. Last fall’s tour included stops in over 30 cities
from every area of the state. The help of our members was crucial
to the success of last year’s tour. We are in the process of
organizing even more stops for this spring and we need your help to
make it happen.
If you are interested in helping bring “Reform One”
to your community for the first time, or for a return visit, please
contact Kevin Garrison at our office in Montgomery at 334-834-5495
or email him at accr3@bellsouth.net.
As the tour progresses, pictures and daily reports will
be available from our website through "The Bus Driver Diaries:
Behind the Steering Wheel." Pictures from the tour's first stop
in Pell City are now online.
Click here for "The Bus Driver Diaries"
and pictures
Auburn University and
Florence to organize
local ACCR chapters
The grassroots movement to reform the constitution continues to grow!
Last week, students at Auburn University (pictured to the right) met
to establish a student chapter on campus. Dr Wayne Flynt will be the
faculty advisor and also their first guest speaker. They are currently
working on a speaker series for April.
Another local ACCR chapter is springing up and this time
it's in "The Renaissance City" of Florence. Interested citizens
of northwest Alabama are invited to attend the first meeting on April
10 at Noon at the Florence Conference Center. Representatives from
ACCR's oldest local chapter in Huntsville will be on hand to answer
questions and help get the group off to a good start.
For more information on the Auburn student group, contact
Cullan Duke at 334-502-4999 or dukecul@auburn.edu. For more information
on the Florence group, contact Steve Holt at 256-764-4661 or steveh@shoalschamber.com.
Upcoming
constitutional reform events
Although not all of these are ACCR events, you may call
us at 334-834-5495 or reply to this email for more information on
them.
1) March 25, HUNTSVILLE: Susan Pace
Hamill in the sanctuary of Fellowship Presbyterian Church at 7:00
PM.
2) March 27, MONTGOMERY: The Governor's
Commission releases its printed report including draft legislation
at 11:00 AM in the State House.
3) April 2, MONTGOMERY: Joint Committee
on Constitutional Reform in the Senate Chamber at 10:00 AM. Speakers
will include Hon. Jim Bennett and members of the Commission appointed
by the Governor, Rep. Jack Venable, Bishop Robert Fannin on the United
Methodist Church, and Alabama Arise.
4) April 10, FLORENCE: Organizational
meeting of a Northwest Alabama Chapter of ACCR from Noon to 1:00 PM
at the Florence Conference Center. For more information, contact Steve
Holt at 256-764-4661.
5) April 9, MONTGOMERY: Joint Committee
on Constitutional Reform in the Senate Chamber at 10:00 AM. Speakers
will include representatives from ACCR, Business Council of Alabama,
and Dr Paul Hubbert (AEA).
6) April 11, EUFAULA (Bus Tour): Breakfast
at 7:45 AM at "The Depot" (James S. Clark Center on Broad
Street) sponsored by the Eufaula Tribune and the Eufaula Chamber of
Commerce. Dr Wayne Flynt will be the guest speaker.
7) April 16, MONTGOMERY: Joint Committee
on Constitutional Reform in the Senate Chamber at 10:00 AM. Speakers
will include representatives from Alabama Farmers' Federation, Alabama
Forestry Association, and comment and questions from the general public.
8) April 17, DECATUR (Bus Tour): Public
forum at 6:00 PM in the Decatur Utilities auditorium on Central Parkway.
Speakers will be Dr Tom Corts, Dr Bill Stewart, and Karen Stanley.
The event is sponsored by the Decatur Daily and the Decatur-Morgan
County Chamber of Commerce.
Join or renew your membership
online!
