Change for Kentucky

Mike, Jeremy, Dan, Jane & Tracey

Changes

For the past four years, you and I and all of us have built Change for Kentucky into something amazing. After 2004, we were supposed to go away, to go back to hiding, afraid of being called "liberal" or "unpatriotic" or "naive" or "out of touch with Kentucky". But we didn't do this. We supported (and elected) candidates who may have felt abandoned by others; we trained hundreds of new political activists, and pulled untold numbers of new people out of their living rooms (yelling at the television) and into living rooms of other people who feel the same way. We had fun and some laughs and some crying, and we all at some point felt that little glow in our hearts that says "yes, I am doing something right today."

Well, the fun isn't over, and our organization continues on as strong as ever.

After consultation with our State Leadership, I’d like to announce our new Co-Organizers, who will take the reins from me as of Monday, July 2, 2007:

Mike Bailey, of Change for Louisville/DFA- Mike will be the new liaison with Democracy for America, he will help craft our state-wide message, work with our state-wide leadership to identify candidates, schedule trainings, and help Change for Kentucky continue to be the strong progressive voice in Kentucky. Mike will be the new person spamming you the most. (But we don’t really spam). You can contact Mike at: mbailey@changeforkentucky.com

Tracy Heflin of Mason County Change for Kentucky- Tracey will serve as our Grassroots Field Director, working with county groups as we get out into neighborhoods, work for candidates, develop local and state events, and grow our organization from the ground up. Tracy and her crew grew Maysville CFK into a political force in a very conservative area. She knows her stuff. You can contact Tracy at: theflin@changforkentucky.com

Dan Shumer, CFK Fayette County- Dan will serve as the new Chairman of Change for Kentucky PAC, our political action committee. CFKPAC is our fundraising arm, and will also be the organization making expenditures for candidates, trainings, ads, etc. Dan has been at my side for over two years, and I could not trust anyone more to take the reins of CFKPAC. You can contact Dan at: dshumer@changeforkentucky.com

So much has changed in four years, and it’s all for the better. I've said before in jest that one of Change for Kentucky’s goals was to someday "put ourselves out of business". I envisioned a day where new people, with progressive ideas, didn't have to stand outside and look into the political world of Kentucky, but we would BECOME the political world of Kentucky.

I think that day draws closer every day.

Thank you to every single person who came out, walked a precinct, attended a training, gave a dollar, or even just read one of these danged emails. You are all the reason and the hope of Change for Kentucky.