CLT's annual brunch will be
held on Sunday, November 15th. Its success is essential to
our continuing as the voice of the Massachusetts taxpayer.
Over the thirty-five years of its
existence, CLT has been financially on the brink many times. (Barbara remembers
it considered laying her off in 1979 until she pointed out that her boss at the
time couldn't type. She also recalls working without pay during part of the 1980
Prop 2˝ campaign.) Somehow, with the help of its loyal activists, and some
generous assistance from a very few "John Hancock" contributors, we've muddled
through.
But right now we are hurting
financially more than ever before, partly because most of those few "larger"
contributors have passed on or have moved to a better state. Because of the
generous response to our September mailing from some members, we figure we can
stay afloat until after the annual brunch (more details below) on
November 15. The next day -- November 16th -- CLT will shut down.
Financially it must, because we have always said we would not go into debt.
Three of us are looking into
collecting unemployment compensation (except for Barbara, who is on Social
Security). CLT as a legal organization will remain intact -- but with nobody
working for it. It will become an empty shell.
We intend to do an end-of-year
mailing to the membership as usual, again asking those who have not contributed
this year to rejoin us. This letter should be received by you in early- to
mid-December. I do all that work in-house to get mailings to you and our members
to save outside production costs, and I will do it again -- salary or not,
regardless of what I'm doing then. But there will still be the unavoidable
printing and mailing costs, a few thousands of dollars. The response to it will
decide if we can become rehired, if CLT can be resurrected in time for our
planned "Revolution 2010."
Already, one staffer has requested
that she not be rehired -- that living on this precipice day-to-day for
so long is "enough is enough." I know exactly how she feels. We will not
find anyone else who'll work for her meager salary, who'll replace doing what
she does (and is capable of doing from her years of experience doing it) from
her dedication. One casualty is among us already.
Three of us remain, are still
available -- sort of. All bets are off if a better opportunity is offered to any
of us while we're unemployed.
To be honest -- I'm open for
one. I've lived frugally and precariously like this for too long. Somebody
make me an offer!
If one more of us remaining three
staffers -- Barbara Anderson, Chip Faulkner, or me -- depart permanently, in my
opinion there can and will be no chance of CLT ever happening again. It
will become just a 35-year piece of history in Massachusetts politics -- a
wonderful memory; a sudden vulnerability for taxpayers.
And you will be on your own.
For your interest and
contemplation: Just the taxes alone on the four CLT salaries for a
four-week month like September are $2,754.20 -- October is a five-week month
thus the taxes will be more.
CLT doesn't have "more." It
doesn't have enough, so it must start withholding paychecks, while still
organizing the brunch, which WILL be held -- because we have made a
commitment. What little crumbs remain in the treasury is and must be so
dedicated to the brunch.
Annual brunch invitations are being
mailed next week to everyone who's made a contribution of $50 or more since
January 1, 2007. If you fit into this category, you should be receiving your
invitation during the following week. If you don't, and would like to attend,
information on the event follows. We expect it to be informative and fun as
usual, and -- we hope -- a kick-off event for Revolution: 2010 -- instead of a
farewell party.
For a Copy
of the Invitation Package (PDF File):
CLICK HERE
-- DETAILS --
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2009
12:00 - 3:00 PM
LOMBARDO’S
ROUTE 128, EXIT 5A
RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
WRKO TALK SHOW HOST TODD FEINBURG
$60 PER PERSON
$600 PER SPONSOR
$6,000 PER TABLE
Your check -- made out to CLT --
MUST be received by us no later than November 8th to ensure
your reservation. All per-person reservations arriving after November 8th:
$75.00
OR CALL (781) 344-2797
You can make your reservation(s) by
mailing your check made out to CLT, with your notation of how many in your
party, to:
CLT
PO Box 1147
Marblehead, MA 01945-5147
There's also credit card payments
available
through PayPal -- with your notation during the transaction
that it's for the brunch and how many are in your party. Without a
notation, we won't know to have your reservation at the door.
You will not be seated, as we won't be able to arrange for your meal(s).
This is not a major fundraising
event -- at $60 per person, CLT barely breaks even. (In the past, "John Hancock"
supporters and those who could not attend but sent a contribution RSVP, made it
financially worthwhile.) It is generally a celebration where members get
together once a year to socialize and strategize. This year it may become a
memoriam of CLT's accomplishments over the past 35 years, and a farewell.
Either way, Barbara, Chip Faulkner,
and I hope to see you there . . .
BLASTS
FROM THE PAST
Last
year's CLT brunch, with Michael Graham
2007
CLT brunch, with Jon Keller
2006 CLT
brunch, with Jim Braude
2005
CLT brunch, with Charlie Baker
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Chip Ford |
