Monday, July 9, 2012

Highlights from national conference




HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2012
ACT! FOR AMERICA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AND
A HISTORIC DAY ON CAPITOL HILL



ACT! for America Chapter Leaders and members gathered in Washington, DC, from June 27-29 to learn, network, and demonstrate our strength up on Capitol Hill as part of the ACT! for America 2012 National Conference and Legislative Briefing.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to join us this year, we hope the following highlights will show you what you missed, and inspire you to attend next year! If you were with us this year, we hope this e-mail will remind you of why your participation was so important. ACT! for America is growing and it’s an exciting and critical time to be active in the fight to preserve our country and our democratic freedoms.

Day One: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 – Welcome!

Conference attendees arrived in Washington, DC, and gathered at the beautiful and historic Omni Shoreham Hotel to kick off the conference. Our first event was a “meet and greet” dessert reception, where conference attendees could form new relationships and grow existing ones with other activists who are fighting against radical Islam. It’s all about knowing that we are all in this together.

After a heartfelt “Welcome” from our President and founder, Brigitte Gabriel, ACT! for America Chapter Leaders from all across the nation—the engine of the ACT! for America machine—were officially recognized. Afterward, our attendees learned about “Legal Jihad” through an informative and riveting presentation by Richard Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center.

Day Two: Thursday, June 28, 2012 – ACT! for America Goes Up to the Hill

Our conference attendees awoke bright and early for a full day up on Capitol Hill. There was electricity in the air that day, not only because of ACT! for America’s presence in the Halls of Congress, but because of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the President’s health care legislation, as well as Attorney General Eric Holder’s “contempt of Congress” vote by the full House of Representatives—which some of our conference attendees were able to watch live in the House chamber!
Our day began with a private 2-hour National Security Legislative Briefing in the beautiful Cannon Caucus Room, where our conference attendees heard about a variety of notational security-related issues by a record number of Members of Congress including:
   




Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX/1st)

Rep. Frank Wolf (VA/10th)  Sponsor: Priority Legislation, the
          Team B Act

Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS/4th)

Rep. Trent Franks (AZ/2nd)  Sponsor: Priority Legislation, the
          SHIELD Act

Rep. Renee Ellmers (NC/2nd)

Rep. Steve King (IA/5th)  Sponsor: Priority Legislation, the Birthright
          Citizenship Protection Act

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN/7th)

Rep. Robert Turner (NY/9th)

Rep. Sandy Adams (FL/24th)

Immediately after the briefing by these legislators, our group moved to the Capitol Hill Club for our annual Legislative Awards Luncheon, where we honored those Members of Congress who fight the hardest to protect us from radical Islam.

While enjoying a lovely lunch, our conference attendees heard from Members of Congress/award recipients such as:
   

   

2012 National Security Eagle Award

2012 National Security Eagle Award

2012 National Security Eagle Award

2012 National Security Eagle Award

2012 National Security Patriot Award

2012 National Security Patriot Award

2012 National Security Patriot Award

Immediately following the Awards Luncheon, some of our members visited with their Members of Congress and then headed back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest before the evening activities began!

After a viewing of the inspirational and heart-wrenching movie, “Losing Our Sons,” attendees headed to the final event of the day, an informational briefing by Executive Director, Guy Rodgers and Director of Government Relations, Lisa Piraneo, on the presidential campaigns and the most hotly-contested congressional races.

Day Three: Friday, June 29, 2012 – General Sessions and Dinner Gala

Our third and final day of the conference included several general sessions on a wide range of topics, delivered by national security experts and former high-level government officials such as:
  • Author and Congressional candidate, Kenneth Timmerman, who spoke about the Iranian threat to America.
  • Former CIA operative Clare Lopez, who educated about the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America.
  • ACT! for America Executive Director, Guy Rodgers, and author, Deborah Weiss who discussed UN Resolution 16/18 and the Assault on Freedom of Speech
  • Egyptian former Islamic extremist and current reformer, Dr. Tawfik Hamid, who informed attendees about life “Inside Jihad.”
  • President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Director, the Honorable Robert McFarlane, who talked about the Electric Grid, Oil’s Monopoly and OPEC’s Cartel.
  • ACT! for America’s National Field Director, Kelly Cook, and Director of Government Relations, Lisa Piraneo, who updated attendees about a variety of state-wide and federal initiatives on which ACT! for America is currently working.
The day culminated with our annual Gala Dinner at the Omni Shoreham ballroom, at which we honored Houston Chapter Leaders, Steve Wilson and Susan Watts, as our Chapter Leaders of the Year; Kansas Chapter Leader, Lisa Ritchie, as the Citizen Legislator of the Year in honor of her perseverance in fighting to win passage of Kansas American Laws for American Courts legislation; and Kansas State Representative Peggy Mast with the National Security Eagle Award, for leading the successful charge as the sponsor of the Kansas American Laws for American Courts legislation.

While enjoying a delicious dinner, all attendees solidified newfound friendships, caught up one last time with old friends, and celebrated everything we have accomplished TOGETHER as a part of the growing ACT! for America wave of resistance.

During her Keynote address entitled, “The Power of One,” President and founder, Brigitte Gabriel reminded everyone of just how powerful one ACT! for America member can be when joined by the 235,000 others members. And we have only just begun!



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ACT for America
P.O. Box 12765
Pensacola, FL 32591
www.actforamerica.org


ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

The news items, blogs, educational materials and other information in our emails and on our website are only intended to provide information, news and commentary on events and issues related to the threat of radical Islam. Much of this information is based upon media sources, such as the AP wire services, newspapers, magazines, books, online news blog and news services, and radio and television, which we deem to be reliable. However, we have undertaken no independent investigation to verify the accuracy of the information reported by these media sources. We therefore disclaim all liability for false or inaccurate information from these media sources. We also disclaim all liability for the third-party information that may be accessed through the material referenced in our emails or posted on our website.

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