FairTax at the Helen Keller Festival
Posted by BrianOver the weekend I joined eight other FairTax volunteers at a petition drive at the Helen Keller Festival in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Our efforts to spread the FairTax message paid off with over 260 people signing our petitions! In addition to those who signed the petitions we put literature in the hands of approximately 5,000 people.
Tuscumbia is a small town in the western portion of Alabama’s 5th congressional district, represented by Bud Cramer. We considered it fertile, but untapped, ground for the FairTax. Most of the people we spoke with had never heard of the FairTax. It was a great opportunity to put the FairTax in front of the uninitiated. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive.
This was one of the first major events for all of the volunteers, so it was a learning experience. We were fortunate enough to have the staffing for two tables and that worked out great. We had one table set up at the front of a parking lot so that everyone who came in had a fact card or thumbnail sketch put in their hand. Inside the festival we set up a booth with the craft vendors in a high traffic area. Many people didn’t want to take the time to hear about the FairTax on the way in, but they took our hand out. Apparently many of them looked over the material we gave them because they immediately signed a petition at the inside booth after reading the literature!
Once I handed a fact card to a person with a rather large family who didn’t want to slow down and hear about the FairTax. I noticed they were reading the fact card as they were walking and after about 30 feet they stopped and three of them came over to sign the petition. Behold the power of the FairTax!
An aspect of the FairTax that really resonated with people was the fact that illegal immigrants would finally be paying federal tax under the FairTax system. A lot of people are upset about Congress doing nothing to stop illegal immigration and they at least want the people here illegally to pay taxes. I had multiple people nearly yank the clipboard from my hand and write down their names when I told them about how illegals would not be able to avoid the FairTax.
Also, I must say that the Helen Keller Festival was a top notch, well organized event. I would recommend to anyone within a couple of hours driving distance to attend next year. All of the people helping out (parking lot attendees, security, etc.) were very courteous and professional – many of them liked hearing about the FairTax and I gave a T-shirt to one! The park it is held in is spacious and it never felt cramped despite the large crowd (estimated 30-45k at the peak times).
Like any event, we could not have pulled it off without the volunteers. Bill Rook, of FairTax Scorecard fame, drove up from Florida with his family to help out. Richard Brogger drove down from north Tennessee and had a great FairTax banner display. Chuck and Mary Lynn Bailey and Darrell Routon joined me to represent Huntsville. Many thanks to all of you who helped.
Going to an event like this will get you energized! It was great to “plant seeds” and I can’t wait to see what we can reap from our efforts.
Some pictures:
Bill with the FairTax book
The FairTax-Mobile!
Spreading the word!
FairTax Resources:
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Alabama FairTax Yahoo Group (a must!)
June 27th, 2006 at 3:08 am
Great work Brian and fellow volunteers!
We’re privileged to work with you towards passing this vital piece of legislation for America’s future.
Thanks again and lets get more people plugged into local efforts!
Aaron Schutte
Grassroots Special Projects
FairTax.org
800-324-7829 x9612
832-533-9612 direct
Find answers to FairTax questions at http://www.fairtax.org/research.html
June 27th, 2006 at 4:23 am
Great Work! Love the FT Sign mounted over the van. Keep up the good work!
FT Volunteer since 1999.
June 27th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
June 28th, 2006 at 1:28 am
Great job guys! You are an inspiration to us here in Georgia. Keep. up the great work!