National Conference for Election Reform -- April 8-10, Nashville

"Gathering to Save Our Democracy" -- National Conference on 2004 Election & Need for Election Reform - Nashville, TN - April 8-10, 2005

Featuring:
Judith Alter
Cliff Arnebeck
David Cobb
Clinton Curtis
Dr. Sonnye Dixon
Kathy Dopp
Larry English
Bob Fitrakis
Brad Friedman
Phil Fry
John Gideon
Teresa Hommel
Dr. Charles Kimbrough
Paul Lehto
David Lytel
Dr. Tommie Morton-Young
R. H. Phillips
Larry Quick
Joanne Roush
Lara Schaffer
Jonathan Simon
Bernard Windham

BACKGROUND

Since November 3, 2004, there has been a groundswell of concern, and a plethora of evidence, that the conduct of the 2004 Presidential election in the United States was highly problematic. These concerns have been belittled by many and ignored by the corporate media in this country. However, the weight of the evidence is overwhelming that a multi-faceted strategy of voter intimidation and disenfranchisement, potential manipulation of electronically cast votes in many states, and other instances of election fraud and theft improperly influenced the will of the American people and may have subverted the "consent of the governed". This evidence was sufficient to have stimulated the Government Accountability Office and U.S. Representative John Conyers and other national leaders to investigate the evidence of wrong-doing. This evidence also caused the U.S. Congress to suspend their routine business and to debate the merits of accepting Ohio's electoral votes on January 6, 2005, a historic occasion that highlighted the many problems in Ohio and also served to shed light on similar problems in other states. With this Congressional debate, the American people's responsibility to win back our democratic process was enumerated and enjoined.

To date, most of the discussion and information sharing on the problems with the 2004 election have occurred in the virtual world of the Internet. While there have been some local gatherings and regional and national protests focused on this issue, there has been no opportunity for concerned citizens, researchers, activists and elected officials to meet under one roof to review the wealth of evidence for the many threats to our democratic processes which the 2004 election revealed and to discuss the urgent need for election reform. While some panels on this topic have been added to several national meetings, these panels are not nearly sufficient to present all of the evidence for the 2004 election problems. It is also insufficient to fully inform the American people enough to motivate them to seek redress for the violations of our voting rights which occurred with this past election and to coalesce sentiment around an election reform agenda.

For these reasons, this three day Gathering To Save Our Democracy - A National Conference will provide the appropriate forum for expanding public awareness, for congregating the accumulated knowledge under one roof and for providing a platform for mobilizing support for election reform and justice. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting of this conference. Nashville has a proud history of early successes in the 1960s civil rights movement, we are in a Southern and supposedly "red" state (we prefer to consider ourselves an Orange State, in deference to the Ukrainian example), we are centrally located within a day's drive of 60% of the U.S. population, we have an international airport serviced by a dozen major airlines, and we have several locations tentatively identified as appropriate and historic venues for hosting the conference. But most importantly, we have an energetic (and growing) band of citizen-activists for election reform in Tennessee who would insure the successful implementation of this conference.

This conference will be a comprehensive and historic event that will bring together the "major players" who have surfaced in the dialogue over the problems with the 2004 election and the need for election reform. We also anticipate that the conference will be a gathering place for the many concerned citizens throughout the nation and the world who are intent on preserving democracies. We hope that this conference will help break the media silence about the problems with the 2004 election within our country and provide a forum for increasing the world's attention to our threatened democratic principles. In addition, we will hold discussion sessions before and after the conference to exchange ideas and build coalitions to pursue the necessary elements of election reform and to redress our concerns with the 2004 election.

The conference registration fee is $30 (with exceptions for hardships), and will cover all conference-related activities. Please review the tentative conference agenda, complete the conference registration form and register using PayPal. (People who cannot attend the conference but who would like to support the conference by making a donation can do so using PayPal also.) We will send you the final conference agenda and other details one week prior to the conference. Please contact Bernard Ellis, Jr., MA, MPH (931/682-2864; tracevu@bellsouth.net ) for more information on the conference.

Thank you for supporting the conference and for promoting the preservation of democracy in America.

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/03/gathering-to-save-our-democracy.html

... DUers and the word is still just getting out. If anyone wants more information, go to our web-link: www.freepress.org/conf.php

You can see the conference description and tentative schedule, and you can register for the conference or make a donation to help us cover expenses. Anyone who does that should be able to get a 12 hour set of videotapes of the plenary sessions (we're working on that now.)

If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me at tracevu@bellsouth.net We hope to have lots of focused and energetic election reformers to benefit from a great lineup of speakers. (And we're adding a few more that we'll announce shortly).

There are two more threads on the Nashville conference and I appreciate the enthusiasm and support being shown on DU and other web-sites for the Gathering. Let's hope we draw a crowd to Nashville, and to a springtime assembly of committed nation-lovers taking our country back, starting in the South.

There's a pretty major Country Music show in town that weekend and some of the downtown hotels are already sold out (or so it appears on line). Any idea where in Nashville this will take place so we can start making reservations?

I just talked to student teacher in my school who in very interested in politics and has lived in Nashville. We are both talking to our husbands this weekend. Mine will feel better that I won't be going alone. :)

Can't wait! I think a lot of e-USE members will show too.

and the registration process can be found here:

www.freepress.org/conf.php

Come on, all you DUers. Would you rather meet each other amid the snow and the pepper spray of DC or the warm, flower-scented breezes of the Southland in the spring?

Y'all come now, y'hear.

The line-up of speakers is also inviting. I'm checking out my schedule right now.

Hope we can gather a big crowd!

Some of us need to start thinking about hotel location.

Friday evening, we will convene at the historic Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church (which seats 500) for the plenary session. On Sunday, we will likely be at the Black Cultural Center at Vanderbilt University. Saturday we are studying between Vanderbilt and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' (IBEW) Training Center; and for the Friday discussion groups, we are exploring Tennessee State University, with the help of the Nashville and TSU NAACP chapters.

It's amazing how much energy there is behind this Gathering, both locally and nationally, and we hope more and more DUers will decide to join us in Nashville in early April. This is still a grassroots effort, but it is a chance for all of us to get together and to invite the national and international media (once again) to cover the story of the century. Nothing like a large crowd of REALLY concerned citizens, buttressed by several days of updates from experts and activists speaking from their own experience, to draw some attention, we hope.

Once again, the conference link is: www.freepress.org/conf.php

We will be sending out hotel information to everyone who registers for the conference on-line. In addition, we're working to secure volunteers to offer guest space in private homes and you can indicate a desire for that on the registration form.

:yourock:

PENNSYLVANIA "WENT BLUE" BUT WE HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE ELECTION OF 2004

** Pennsylvania Exit Polls were way "off" -- by a larger margin than in many other states, including Ohio

**More PA "incidents" were reported to the Election Incident Reporting Service than any other state except Florida


www.votePA.us


MB in PA
Green Party Ohio Recount Regional Coordinator (Eastern Ohio / PA Border Area)

Nashville; don't know where things are or best way to get where I need to be.

I'm willing to share a rental car and room with someone if someone else is getting in at the airport about the same time.

Where's the best place to stay?

I am preparing a memo for all the speakers, which you should get shortly. Thanks so much for coming -- I look forward to meeting you.

Here's a chance to coalesce the movement, bring advocates together, and begin to build a common plan and message. If you can't attend, send a surrogate, and, by all means, spread the word.

We have added Andrew Silver from the North Carolina Coalition for Verifiable Voting and R. Lee Wrights, Vice-Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. We have also invited a syndicated columnist from the Chicago Tribune to join us and speak on the media's response in the post-election period, and we've invited the Associated Press and the New York Times to cover the Gathering.

AND I am now in discussions with one of the top three leaders in the US Congress for election reform to appear and give a keynote. (Keep your fingers crossed). We'll post more updates as we have them.

23 states coming and counting .... Y'all come now, y'hear!!

...this conference. Just not possible. But I am VERY INTERESTED in it. I'd be there if it were at all possible. I'd sacrifice a lot to be there--but it's not a matter of sacrificing. It's a matter of unbreakable prior commitments. And I'm sure there are lots and lots of others in the same boat--want to go, can't go.

Can we have a DESIGNATED BLOGGER at the conference, reporting what's happening as it happens, and maybe even realtime getting our questions and comments to the conference participants?

I can't even participate remotely, live. I will be in a situation with no computer access during the main hours of the conference. But I would GREATLY APPRECIATE being able to plug in late at night--read reports of the conference, offer ideas & comment.

Designated Blogger would do kind of like what William Rivers Pitt did for us re: the Jan. 6 events. Almost real time reports.

And/or, an upload of video (raw vid would be fine), once or twice during the day, or at least each night (or quickly just after the end of the conf--if earlier uploads not possible).

And/or: is there a Pacifica or other good radio station nearby that might do a live stream? (and archive for nighttime--for people in my situation).

I do think there is potentially huge interest in the content of this conference. 60 to 70 million disenfranchised voters, who know in their gut that something is very wrong, and who may just be getting word of the evidence that the election was stolen. It's getting out there, I'm sure of that--slowly leaking out into the greater population, as with the lies about Iraq (which took about a year to expose). So there is potential (re a radio broadcaster committing to live stream). But publicity would have to be done.

And what about Air America? Would they maybe do even part of a live stream? Would Randi Rhodes or Mike Malloy devote a show or two to live portions?

Anyway, trying to think outside the box, here--how activists who can't go can participate, and how to make the proceedings more widely accessible?

I feel like Thomas Jefferson would have felt if his horse had broken a leg and he couldn't have gotten to Philadelphia. Like the 1st Congress of the New American Revolution is meeting--and I can't get there. But we have it all over TJ as to technology. (Boy, would he have loved the Internet! Do you know that he invented a double-writing pen apparatus, to make duplicates of his writings as he wrote? He anticipated the Mimeograph Machine! --which led to the Xerox machine, which got combined with the telephone and led to....).

But I digress.

But it makes me nervous to be the only source.

That church's main sanctuary seats around 500 people, with a full-size and adjustable altar that has a full sound system. There is also a small lobby where registration will take place and a larger kitchen/dining area where people will be able to get refreshments and organizations will be able to table.

We also have at least two small rooms that can be used for media and related interviews and small impromptu meetings.

Lunch on Saturday is still iffy but we'll figure something out.

The discussion groups will take place in classrooms and meeting rooms of differing sizes (some could hold 100) on three university campuses. We'll have maps to direct you at the church, which will be our primary registration site starting at noon on Friday.

As I understand it, they are now conducting an independent investigation into the Franklin Co., Ohio election. Seems like their perspective would be very useful. See this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x344688

PARTIAL LIST OF SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
(in alphabetical order: 3/16/05)

51 Capital March
Citizens' Alliance for Secure Elections - America
Citizens' Alliance for Secure Elections - Ohio
Coalition Against Election Fraud
Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism
Count The Vote
Democratic Underground
Election Fraud and Reform Center
Election Incident Reporting System
Fisk University Civil Rights Institute
Freepress.org
Gathering To Save Our Democracy
Green Party of the United States
Honest Elections Campaign Fund
Illinois Ballot Integrity Project
Information Impact International
Justice Through Music
Libertarian Party of the United States
National Ballot Integrity Project
Open Voting Consortium
Progressive Democrats of America
NAACP (Tennessee, Nashville and Tennessee State University chapters)
US Count Votes
Vanderbilt University Black Cultural Center
Velvet Revolution
Voter Standardization Group
Voters Unite
Where’s the Paper

I expect that, at the time of the conference, this list will have about 40 organizations listed. Come join us. Go on-line and register at www.freepress.org/conf.php We are considering the registration fee to be a donation, and we will not turn away any serious election reform activist (space permitting) who can't spare that much. If you're willing to work hard to take our country back, you're more than welcome.

Y'all (and I do mean all y'all) come now, y'hear.

We've just added the National Coordinator of Common Cause's Election Reform program (our 31st supporting organization) to the program, coming all the way from Maine (our 24th state).

Come on, folks. It's time for a two day election reform revival in early April on Jefferson Street in Nashville, Tennessee. An update on the problems AND the solutions. It should be something.

www.freepress.org/conf.php Don't say you weren't invited. We'd love to see you all here.

(How about it, Wyoming and Nevada? How about it, Hawaii and Alaska?)

Just added another supporting organization (Help America Recount).

That makes 32. We may blow past 40 and hit 50 before we're done.

HEY THERE, ALL YOU DUER ELECTION FRAUDSTERS.

COME ON DOWN (OR UP OR OVER).

Nashville, April 8-10: www.freepress.org/conf.php

Here they are:

Barbara Burt (from Maine), National Coordinator for Election Reform, Common Cause;
Lowell Finley (from Berkeley), Help America Recount; and
Robert Koehler, syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune and the author of this recent piece on the election theft:

http://www.commonwonders.com/archives/col285.htm

The conference just keeps getting better. Only 21 days 'til it happens.

I sent an email to monica@brazileassociates.com,

she is the project manager for the newly formed DNC panel Howard Dean assigned Donna Brazile to the project of Ohio and election fraud in general.

They seemed generally interested in attending, but you might want to contact them directly to make sure they have all the details..

GOOD LUCK! and have Bernard or someone contact me about our discussed speaker opportunities.. I'm thinking we could do a really good legal panel with Lehto, myself and if we can get her, Lynn Landes. To date we are all fighting the secret vote counting part of DRE machines. Also, In GA we have lots of information to share regarding our Audit... we've purchased about 15 counties now and can provide enormously detailed analysis of what goes into an audit and how to make one succeed. So far I'm getting everything... even the Diebold contract from the state..... it's awesome...

so glad you are having this conference....

... of the DNC Ohio investigation team, thank you.

I am glad that the program is set and will not be changing. We appreciated input and suggestions several months ago about suggested content and speakers. By now, not so much.

What we do appreciate is the interest being shown by DUers and other election reform folks for the value of this Gathering. Now the challenge is to fill the seats. That will be this week's focus, and our main focus from here to the conference.

The discussion groups were a good idea, because they will provide the space for the respectful exchange of ideas among activists. In particular, I think the discussion group on effective state-level models will be a good group. I am looking forward to hearing about Maryland and Utah and Oregon and Georgia and Pennsylvania and .... (on and on). We look to our trained facilitators to manage the energy (and the strong egos) that will be convening with us. I sure hope we succeed, because we have a great deal of election theft heat that still needs to be turned into the light of election reform and election justice.

Looking forward to meeting all of you. Please bring a big crowd from Georgia.