A  Short  Mission  Statement

The Mission of Thomas Paine Friends, Inc., is to encourage people to learn about and from

Thomas Paine, his times and philosophy so that they may be inspired to participate

in public affairs reflective of the spirit of Paine's life, thought and ideals.

 

Thomas  Paine  Day  Stalled......Time  to  Revive  Action

 

    Nine states with a permanent, annual Thomas Paine Day every January 29 are: Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Missouri.

    In many states no activity at all is happening. We earnestly ask that you consider making a sustained try at getting Thomas Paine Day in your state. TPF will assist and will supply information packets to your state legislators. Please contact Robert N. Walsh if you can take on the task, tpainein50@bellsouth.net , or you may contact Martha Spiegelman, spiegelman22@yahoo.com .

 

    Bob Walsh sent word of what he knows is happening -- or not happening -- in some states.

Connecticut - Proposed Bill Number 5873; passage possible up to June 6, I'm told. Maine - A new representative; will contact in October 2008.  New Jersey - Senate Concurrent Resolution  93; Committee meets intermittently -- could pass.  Oregon - House Joint Resolution 24; will try for 2008.  New Mexico - Same situation as for Maine. California - Will contact principal of Thomas Paine School in Garden Grove CA in October 2007.

 

      Martha Spiegelman adds some information.

Arkansas - Bill was defeated in House of Representatives (see articles, this issue, pages 4 and 5); expect another introduction in next session, which will be in 2009.  West Virginia - Board member Timothy Nelms and Paine group in Morgantown continue efforts, but no new progress reported.  Illinois - Board member John Skibiski is assisting an Illinois advocate for a Thomas Paine Day; no up-date yet. (TPF contacted Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana IL, but no reply so far; we certainly will try again.)  Alaska - TPF does not have any Alaska members now, after death a few years ago of member Paul Emerson, who had made a request to his legislators; TPF will renew contact with Emerson's legislators who seemed to be interested before.  Georgia - Our contact in the legislature has retired, so TPF will have to locate another sympathetic legislator; we have one member in Georgia.  Washington - Board member Mark Levinson has made a request to his legislators; no action reported yet.  New York - Board member Ann Kalloudis made a request a year-and-a-half ago, but she is no longer active on the project, so TPF will have to try again. (A member in Rochester obtained a one-year resolution in 2007, so maybe he will want to pursue a permanent Thomas Paine Day.)

 

   Also, re: New Jersey, we've contacted Thomas Paine Elementary School in Cherry Hill, but no response came. TPF will try again.

    Most state legislatures hold two-year sessions or else meet only every other year. Timing, therefore, is important. An example is the action in the Arkansas General Assembly this year. With defeat of the Bill in 2007, it will be eligible to be introduced again in 2009 -- and it will be.

 

        

Bulletin of Thomas Paine Friends

185 Middle Street   Amherst MA 01002-3011

www.thomaspainefriends.org

 copyright 2007 Thomas Paine Friends, Inc.

 

Board of Directors
          Joyce Chumbley, President                                  Vernon Turner, Treasurer            
3213 Burchfield Avenue, Orlando FL 32812           194 Amity Street, Amherst MA 01002  

JChum80600@aol.com                                   vern.turner@verizon.net
          Irwin Spiegelman, Vice President                            Robert N. Walsh, Vice President
          185 Middle Street, Amherst MA 01002           2150 Indian Creek Blvd. East, Vero Beach FL 32966           
413-253-7934 / spieg52@yahoo.com                          tpainein50@bellsouth.net

 

Martha Spiegelman, Secretary
185 Middle Street, Amherst MA 01002
413-253-7934 / spiegelman22@yahoo.com

                                                              MauriceBisheff          Ann Kalloudis            Mark Levinson         Timothy Nelms
                                                              Santa Barbara CA          Elmont NY                 Edmonds WA           Morgantown WV

  Klara Rukshina        John F. Skibiski, Jr.     Sherwood V. Smith      James Tepfer
       Cambridge MA         Northampton MA            Fredericksburg VA      Santa Barbara CA

                       Printed by Collective Copies               71 So. Pleasant Street, Amherst MA 01002