[statecom-discuss] The Committee for Our Communities

[Mike Heichman]

Hi State Comm and Platform Comm:

FYI

I will be away on family business and will be unable to attend.

Can somebody attend this meeting?

Mike Heichman

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The Committee for Our Communities
A campaign to defeat the ballot initiative to eliminate the state income 
tax in Massachusetts

April 7, 2008

Dear Colleague:

We would like to invite you to the first meeting of The Committee for 
Our Communities, the coalition to defeat a ballot initiative to 
eliminate our state income tax. Please join us on Thursday, April 24th, 
from 1:00 to 2:30, at the office park of Bayside Expo Center near UMass 
Boston (directions on reverse). Please come to hear Tom Kiley present 
his findings on what it will take to defeat this measure, discuss 
overall strategy and timetable for the campaign, and tell us how you 
want to contribute to this broad coalition effort to protect our state’s 
economy and families.

We believe this ballot proposal to eliminate the income tax would 
severely damage the Commonwealth’s economy and jeopardize the vital 
local services our families need. Reducing the state budget by 40 
percent would make it impossible for the state to make essential 
investments in public schools and colleges, health care, roads and 
bridges – all the things that are necessary to attract new business to 
the state. And it would decimate local aid to cities and towns, forcing 
communities to raise property taxes to provide needed services such as 
schools, fire and police protection, and emergency medical services.

Our goal is to build a broad coalition of communities, businesspeople, 
and labor organizations to carry this message to the voters of 
Massachusetts and defeat this measure by a significant enough margin to 
protect our local services and state programs for years to come.

Join our coalition kick-off on April 24th. Please RSVP or direct 
questions to Harris Gruman at 617-316-0443, or harris.gruman at seiu.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

1199 SEIU
AFSCME Council 93
American Federation of Teachers MA
Massachusetts Building Trades Council
Massachusetts AFL-CIO
Massachusetts Municipal Association
Massachusetts Nurses Association
Massachusetts Teachers Association
M.O.S.E.S.
SEIU Local 509
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COALITION PURPOSE:

The Committee for Our communities is a coalition formed with the sole 
purpose of defeating the 2008 ballot initiative to eliminate our state 
income tax. We believe this ballot proposal would severely damage the 
Commonwealth’s economy and jeopardize the vital local services our 
families need. Our goal is to continue to build a broad coalition of 
communities, businesspeople, and labor to carry our message to the 
voters of Massachusetts and defeat this measure by a significant enough 
margin to protect our local services and state programs for years to 
come. 
____________________________________________________________________________
YES, COUNT ME/US IN! I am/we are committed to the purpose of the 
Committee for Our Communities and want to join the coalition as (check 
all that apply):
 A financial contributor to the campaign committee

 An Endorsing Organization or Individual – we will:
• Support defeat of the ballot measure to eliminate the income tax
• Allow the coalition to list my/our organization’s name as opposing the 
ballot question
• Educate people to oppose the ballot measure
• Participate in coalition events

 Member of the Core Group of the Committee (Pending Approval by the 
Committee)
• I/we commit significant monetary and/or in-kind resources (e.g., 
activating your members and volunteers, lending staff expertise to the 
coalition, donating in-house vendor services such as phone banks and 
printing, etc.)
• I/we will participate in monthly Committee meetings
• I/we will participate in at least one Committee Working Group (e.g. 
Fundraising, Field, Earned Media)
Core Group Members make all long-term strategy decisions (consensus 
preferred, 2/3’s vote of members present [phone and email votes 
accepted] with majority quorum)
Our commitment will include: _______¬¬¬¬¬¬ 
________________________________¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

 Member of the Managing Committee (Pending Approval by the Managing 
Committee)
• I/we commit major financial support to the campaign ($250,000 or more)
• I/we have been invited to be a Member by the Managing Committee
• I/we will participate in weekly Managing Committee meetings
Managing Committee members make all time-sensitive decisions and approve 
all actions involving expenditure of significant funds (consensus 
preferred, or majority vote of all members)

Lead Contact Name:

Organization:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Email:

PLEASE RETURN TO:
The Committee for Our Communities, harris.gruman at seiu.org; fax: 617-482-6521

-----------------------

Directions to Bayside Expo Center and 1199 SEIU Office:
 From the South
Use Exit 14 from I-93, the Southeast Expressway. Stay in the right
hand lane and follow Morrissey Boulevard. At your 3rd set of lights take 
a right onto Mount Vernon Street. Follow the signs and take your 1st 
left into the Bayside Expo Main Entrance. Turn left into the parking lot 
of the Corcoran-Jennison Building for 1199 SEIU (3rd Floor).
 From the North and the West
 From points North and/or West take the Massachusetts Turnpike, 
Interstate-90 east to Interstate 93 South. Take Exit 15 (Columbia Road) 
off of Interstate 93. Stay in the left-hand lane and take a left off of 
the ramp. Go ¾ of the way around the Rotary and bear right onto Day 
Blvd. Proceed past the Mass State Police Barracks and take your first 
right into the Bayside Expo North Entrance. Pass the booth and turn 
right into the parking lot of the Corcoran-Jennison Building for 1199 
SEIU (3rd Floor).
Transit
As a convenient alternative, take the T or Commuter Rail. The MBTA Red 
Line and Old Colony (Plymouth/Kingston and Middleboro/Lakeville) Branch 
of the commuter rail system both stop at the UMass/JFK station directly 
across the street from us. Walk under the overpass, pass the big 
intersection and turn in to the left at the tall Bayside Expo Sign. Turn 
left into the gate of the Corcoran-Jennison Building for 1199 SEIU (3rd 
Floor).

Handicapped Parking Available in the Parking Lot of the 
Corcoran-Jennison Building.