July 20, 2006

Tour News: Good and Bad

SATURDAY  July 22  Houston, Texas 
SUNDAY  July 23  Austin, Texas 

This weekend’s Texas events scheduled for Houston and Austin will proceed as planned.  

Guest speakers for the Saturday event in Houston are U.S. Congressman Ron Paul (Texas) and Jim Cabaniss, president of AVIDD, American Veterans In Domestic Defense. Note: At press time, we were still waiting for final confirmation from Ron Paul. 

Guest speakers for the Sunday WTP event include Liz MacIntyre, co-author of “Spychips” detailing corporate and government plans to track every aspect of Americans’ lives with RFID chips and Jon Roland, founder of the Constitution Society.

Both events are from 3 PM - 5 PM. 
 

SATURDAY  July 22  Houston, Texas  

Houston Baptist University
Mabee Theater
7502 Fondren Rd.
Houston, Texas  77074

www.hbu.edu
Direction & Maps:  http://www.hbu.edu/Pages/cinfo/F2drctns.html

SUNDAY  July 23  Austin, Texas  

Woodland Hotel & Conference Center
3401 S. I-35 (Exit #232A)
Austin, Texas  78741

www.woodwardausting.com
Directions & Maps:  http://www.woodwardaustin.com/index.asp 
 

The good news is that after twelve venues we have overcome the equipment, software and logistical challenges to “broadcasting” live on the Internet.   We have succeeded in learning how to set up and operate the complex set of sound, video, stage and broadcast equipment.

In addition, we have further honed our ability and confidence in conducting live on-camera interviews with guests and we have also experienced what a massive undertaking is involved putting such a show on the road. Finally we have activated and energized the members of the WTP Congress, many of whom have performed admirably in making the early tour events in their area a success and in planning for future meetings. 

In brief, we have also discovered that webcasting is a very powerful public education medium -- one that we can put to very effective use in the near future if we go about it in the right way. 

The not so good news is that for a variety of reasons, we are not going to be able to complete the Right-to-Petition tour as originally planned.

We underestimated the stamina and time requirements that would be required to move and set up the trailer full of equipment day after day while simultaneously overseeing many of the tour logistics including selecting and contracting with every event facility on the schedule, locating and negotiating with high-quality guest speakers, and coordinating with local “ground teams” to support the event -- all with adequate advance notice for local communications, planning and preparation.

In short, although we have achieved marked successes thus far on the tour, it is apparent we should have invested more resources in forward event planning and control.   

An unfortunate effect of our decision to restructure the tour at this point will be that we will not be able to visit many of the cities and towns that we wanted to get to but as yet, have not during our long initiative to institutionalize nationwide vigilance in defense of our Constitution.  Bob wants everyone to know that he greatly looks forward to meeting and spending time with the local members and supporters that are the energy and life blood of the organization and keep the work of WTP moving forward. (This was one of the reasons for scheduling the trip as aggressively as it was.) 

Bob has often remarked that the people he meets on these journeys are the main reason he loves to share the WTP message in person. He is always inspired by their personal stories and commitment to Liberty, and feels that these in-person meetings are too few and far between.
 

Bottom Line: A Mid-Course Correction 

After considering various factors, issues and opportunity costs, (including the desire to plan for and to initiate a weekly, professional high-quality Liberty Hour webcast from Virginia, and the necessity to prepare for the larger, upcoming Washington, DC Right-to-Petition events for September and October) it is clear that continuing the tour as originally planned is not the most effective use of our resources or energy. 

Following this weekend’s events in Texas Bob may remain a few days in Texas to attend the premier of Aaron Russo’s film in Austin on July 28^th. After that Bob may head for home. If anyone feels very strongly that Bob should host a webcast in a particular city, whether or not that city is on the route from Austin to New York,  because of commitments that have been made for a meeting there, including a commitment to a facility and a speaker, please call Bob on his cell phone (518-573-8046). 

Following this weekend, additional decisions will made regarding the balance of the planned tour events.  We will post new schedule information as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your understanding and support. 

Your Continued Support Is Needed

Liberty needs your support. We need your support.

Without your financial assistance the work of the Foundation and Congress cannot move forward.  It takes significant resources to pull together and execute our projects.  

The list of costs for the current Tour have been daunting: gasoline, hotels, computer equipment, software, video/sound & stage equipment and even a meal or two for the WTP crew.  These costs do not include the normal recurring operational costs for the Foundation and Congress (electricity, phone, technical services, etc.)  Beyond all these costs, our plans for the Liberty Hour and the events in DC this fall will require funding.

We use the utmost diligence to extract every ounce of value from your donations to get our messages to America and to directly confront those that would seize our Liberty.  Although we don’t publish big headlines every week and our battle is long with only occasional notoriety and recognition, each and every day We The People is making a big difference -- and as a not-for-profit organization, it’s only through your help that it happens.

And in the end, it’s really fairly simple:  We can be as significant as our supporters will dream.   

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