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OZARK LIBERTY ALLIANCE
-- OLA!!!
NEWS RELEASE
September 19, 2002
Organizational activities to form an
“unincorporated civic education and action association” will be held
Saturday, September 28, 2002, beginning at 12noon at the Clinton Community
Center on Factory Road, just east of US Highway 65 on the south side of
Clinton.
According to organizers,
the agenda of the conceptual Ozark Liberty Alliance (OLA for short) will
include a word-by-word review of the group’s proposed Constitution and the
first election of Officers to the Executive Committee.
“Several of us have been
talking, since the Primaries earlier this year, about the need for there
to be some sort of grassroots nonpartisan voter alliance,” said
Lula Holeman
of
Formosa. “And I do feel that this has been a very inclusive organizing
effort.”
“Quite a few folks have
been kicking around these ideas since last May when a number of concerns
were voiced about local electoral practices and other governmental
functions,” said Christine Weiss, editor of Gozarks.com, who is acting as
media liaison for the conceptual effort until the formal organizational
meeting is held. “But what it really boils down to is taking these ideas
public and finding out what the people of our community have to say and
whether they care enough to get involved.”
Precursors are that this
type of effort may be just what local citizens seek. “I’m fascinated by
this, and commend the hard work that’s been done,” said Larry Williams of
Bee Branch. “I find the idea exciting,” said
Alice Chambers of Clinton. “It’s
looking good so far,” said Roger Campbell,
Republican candidate
for VBC Clerk. “Go for it.” said Robert Reed, Vice Chairman of the
Arkansas Libertarian Party.
One of the key topics on
the organizational agenda will be making a decision about whether the
group should or should not “endorse and campaign for” specific political
candidates. “There seems to be a difference of opinion here,” said Weiss.
“And the way the Proposed Constitution is written, this type of activity
would be prohibited.” A draft of the document is posted on the Internet at
www.gozarks.com/ola
in the hopes of generating informed public comment.
“However,” Weiss
continued, “several of the folks involved with this effort feel very
strongly that a group like this should take a more outspoken stand about
candidate eligibility and qualifications, so this is a key issue to be
decided by those who attend the organizational meeting.”
Weiss emphasized that
the meeting is open to the public. She said that people of all Party
affiliations, Independent voters, and media representatives are encouraged
to attend. “We are doing our best to put this together as a legitimate ‘we
the people’ effort,” Weiss asserted. “Everyone in attendance will have the
opportunity to be heard, vote, and be elected to office.”
Weiss also noted that a
supervised indoor playroom will be available for young children, free of
charge, however parents are requested to bring their own crayons, coloring
books, snacks and “quiet” games and will be responsible to help with
playroom clean-up when the meeting is done. For more information, contact
Christine Weiss, 501-723-4322,
editor@gozarks.com
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news release prepared and distributed by:
Christine Louise Weiss
POBox 211, Shirley, AR 72153
HomeOffice 501-723-4322
editor@gozarks.com
Gozarks: Everything Ozarks
http://www.gozarks.com
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