Please RSVP & Register by May 1 Early Registration Deadline for May 30-31, 2024 Delta Caucus Zoom Meeting

Posted on April 24, 2024 at 01:48 PM

Please Register for the May 30-31, 2024 Delta Caucus Meeting by Zoom; Early Registration Deadline is May 1, 2024.

You register and RSVP by paying the registration fees–that information is below in this message. Early registration fees are $75 but after May 1 they go up to $100.

The Zoom meeting is just as important as an in-person meeting. We have about 30 RSVPs now and are adding more each day.

The Zoom format will reduce expense, time and other challenges of larger, in-person conferences, and enable more participation from people who live a long way from Little Rock, AR. There is a broad trend toward Zoom meetings and we need to acknowledge that fact.

We will provide information on how to tune in to the Zoom meeting when it gets closer to the time.

The key issues will be job creation, infrastructure, health care, hunger and nutrition, Delta Heritage tourism, the Delta Regional Authority budget and impact, education/workforce development, transportation and related regional development subjects.

SCHEDULE

The opening session will be the evening of May 30, 2024, Thursday, about 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

The Friday session May 31, 2024 will be from 9 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION

You register by paying the registration fees.

The early registration fee of $75 is good until May 1, 2024 to provide an incentive to get the registration fees in before the time of the conference. Registration fees go up to $100 starting May 1.

The fastest and easiest way to register is to go on the website at mdgc.us and go to the PayPal link that says “Donate.”

If you prefer to pay by check, please make out the check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

After May 1 and up to May 31 the registration fees go up to $100.

We would request that people NOT wait until the time of the conference to pay registration fees because it takes up time to collect them while we are trying to get the program started.

We would greatly prefer to not have to collect registration fees after the conference is over, so the fees go up to $125 each if we have to collect them at that late time.

Group discount: We will offer a group discount of $50 each for a group of three or more, and a discount down to $30 each for a group of five or more.

Preliminary information on key issues and speakers:

The key subjects will include job creation, infrastructure, health care, hunger and nutrition, Delta Heritage tourism, the Delta Regional Authority, education/workforce development, transportation and related regional development subjects.

Panel on The Delta regional initiative from the late 1980s to the present:

–Lee Powell, Caucus Director, former Presidential appointee in the Clinton administration, one of managers of the New Markets Initiative and the Delta Regional Initiative (originally from Arkansas);

–Wilson Golden, former Presidential appointee in the Clinton administration, manager of the New Markets Initiative and the Delta Regional Initiative along with Lee Powell and the late Al Eisenberg), native of Mississippi;

–Mike Marshall, former Alternate Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, veteran Delta regional leader from Sikeston, Missouri;

We are working on many other invitations. Below are some confirmed speakers on a range of other issues:

–Michelle Monse, King Foundation;

–Ralph Brown, Southern Bancorp Community Partners;

–Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families;

–Cody Behles, University of Memphis, Executive Director for Innovation and Research Support;

–President Chris Heigle, Arkansas Northeastern College;

–Herb Simmons, Professor Emeritus at Grambling State University, author, civil rights leader;

–Munnie Jordan, Executive Director of the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena, Arkansas;

Thanks again for all your great support of the Delta regional advocacy initiative over the years. Lee Powell, Director, Delta Grassroots Caucus (202) 360-6347

Caucus Director's Email Out of Service (Temporarily, we hope); & Mark Twain quote

Posted on April 18, 2024 at 03:09 PM

Technical note and comic relief: Caucus Director Lee Powell’s MicroSoft Outlook email is out of service. We hope this is temporary, but since Mr. Powell has the technological expertise of an oyster, the issue is still in doubt.

The unfortunate Mr. Powell clumsily pushed the wrong button and was ejected from MicroSoft Outlook, and he can’t get back in because he forgot his password. He has not been able to reach MicroSoft for a new password because he has been placed on hold for over an hour each time he has called over three days, and then disconnected.

(On the plus side, he has memorized the Muzak melodies they play while on hold.)

We have not been able to get through the cumbersome process for getting the password from the website.

They have a tutorial explaining how to use the website that lasts almost an hour, but I couldn’t understand it and started to get drowsy after 20 minutes on there.

If anybody needs to get in touch with LP, right now the only way is by phone at 202-360-6347.

Mark Twain’s advice on how to deal with a situation where you have choices that are both bad is the following:

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, eat him first thing in the morning.

If it’s your job to eat two frogs, eat the bigger one first.”

I have been pondering long and hard over how Mr. Twain’s advice can help me in my current dilemma. I guess he is too deep a thinker for me because I can’t figure it out.

I guess I’ll just have to keep trying. Surely I will reach MicroSoft before the May 30-31 Delta Caucus meeting by Zoom. Thanks–Lee Powell, Delta Caucus

Delta Caucus May 30-31, 2024 Meeting Will Be by Zoom and Not In-Person in LR

Posted on April 10, 2024 at 12:50 PM

Delta Caucus Meeting on May 30-31, 2024 Will Be by Zoom

April 10, 2024

We have changed the format of the May 30-31, 2024 meeting to a Zoom meeting to enable more participation from people who live a long distance from Little Rock and to reduce the time and expense of travel.

You register and RSVP by paying the registration fees–that information is below in this message.

The Zoom meeting is just as important as an in-person meeting and we will continue working hard to get as strong a turnout as possible.

There is a trend nowadays toward Zoom meetings and away from in-person meetings and we have to deal with that reality.

The meeting will only be by Zoom and of course we are cancelling the meeting space and group hotel bloc in Little Rock.

The key issues will be job creation, infrastructure, health care, hunger and nutrition, Delta Heritage tourism, education/workforce development, transportation and related regional development subjects.

We have 35 RSVPs as of now, have many other invitations sent out, and will keep working to increase that number until May 30.

SCHEDULE

The opening session will be the evening of May 30, 2024, Thursday, about 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

The Friday session May 31, 2024 will be from about 8:45 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION

You register by paying the registration fees,

The early registration fee of $75 is good until May 1, 2024 to provide an incentive to get the registration fees in before the time of the conference.

After May 1 and up to May 31 the registration fees go up to $100. We would request that people NOT wait until the time of the conference to pay registration fees because it takes up time to collect them while we are trying to get the program started.

The fastest and easiest way to register is to go on the website at mdgc.us and go to the PayPal link that says “Donate.”

If you prefer to pay by check, please make out the check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf Md 20601

We would greatly prefer to not have to collect registration fees after the conference is over, so the fees go up to $125 each if we have to collect them at that late time.

Group discount: We will offer a group discount of $50 each for a group of three or more, and a discount down to $30 each for a group of five or more.

Thanks again for all your support of the Delta regional advocacy initiative over the years. Lee Powell, Director, Delta Grassroots Caucus (202) 360-6347

Please Register for Delta Caucus Conference in Little Rock on May 30-31, 2024

Posted on March 22, 2024 at 12:02 PM

Please register by paying the registration fees for the Delta Caucus spring conference in Little Rock on May 30-31, 2024. You register by paying the registration fees.

You can pay the registration fees at the website on mdgc.us by going to the PayPal link that says “Donate,” or pay by check to the address listed below.

You can reserve a room at the Comfort Inn Presidential for the night of May 30 by calling the sales manager Sierra Logan at (501) 297-9005.

Early registration fees of $75 until April 30 for an individual will save you money and help expedite matters for the group as a whole. For a group of three or more you will get a discounted rate to $50 each and $30 for a group of five or more.

NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Schedule

2. Registration fees

3. Group hotel

SCHEDULE

Opening Session:

Thursday, May 30–Speakers from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by a networking dinner on your own at the Dean-MacArthur meeting room at Comfort Inn Presidential in Little Rock, Arkansas from about 7:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. at hotel restaurant near the meeting room

Friday, May 31 session:

Clinton Library Great Hall from 8:45 a.m. to lunch from noon to 1 p.m., May 31, 2024.

REGISTRATION FEES

Early registration fees will be discounted to $75 each if received by the early registration deadline of April 30, 2024.

Registration fees go up to $100 from May 1, 2024 to May 30-31, 2024.

We discourage people from paying at the front desk at the time of the conference, because this leads to bottlenecks and detracts from a full focus on getting the conference underway.

LATE REGISTRATION FEES–For those who pay after the conference is over, registration fees increase to $125 as an incentive to get the registration fees in on time.

The fastest and easiest way to pay the registration fees is to go to the website at mdgc.us and go to the PayPal link that says “Donate.”

If you prefer to pay by check, please make the check out to “Delta Caucus” and mail to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

While the great majority of people pay the registration fees, some do not and recently we had an unusually large number who either did not pay the fees on time or still have not paid them. For those who ignore or refuse the obligation to pay the fees, they will not be able to attend Delta Caucus events.

The Delta Caucus is a volunteer, private sector group and this is by invitation only.

GROUP HOTEL

The group hotel is the Comfort Inn & Suites Presidential in Little Rock.

You can make the reservation to get the lower group rate of $129 by calling the Comfort Inn sales manager, Sierra Logan, at (501) 297-9005 and saying you are with the Delta Caucus group.

The address is Comfort Inn Presidential

707 Interstate 30

Little Rock, AR 72202

Debi Alexander Honored by Inclusion in Marquis' Who's Who; She is the Wife of former US Rep. Bill Alexander

Posted on March 21, 2024 at 05:59 PM

Debi Alexander, Wife of former U.S. Rep. Bill Alexander, Included in Marquis Who’s Who for Work to Help Adults with Disabilities

We would like to inform our partners across the 8-state Greater Delta that Debi Alexander, wife of the Hon. Bill Alexander who served as US Representative for the First District of AR, has been included in the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who for her service in helping adults with disabilities.

Most of our partners will vividly remember Debi Alexander as a dynamic, thoughtful leader who was active across the First District in helping Congressman Alexander in his work promoting community and economic progress in the Greater Delta. Bill Alexander served the First District for 24 years and Debi was by his side with her vivacious leadership across our region.

We believe in recognizing partners in our network when they have received acclaim, and here is the statement from Who’s Who honoring Debi:

RESTON, VA, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ – Debi D. Alexander has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Alexander is noted for her leadership expertise as the executive director at Specially Adapted Resource Clubs (SPARC), a respected organization based in Reston, Virginia, that provides exceptional community-based day programs for adults with disabilities. With five locations throughout Northern Virginia, SPARC strives to maintain a safe, caring, and inclusive environment where these young adults with severe disabilities can thrive. SPARC also maintains a public-private partnership with Fairfax County, Virginia, offering an alternative to the traditional Medicaid model.

Passionate about advocating for those who often go unseen, Ms. Alexander is eager to continue helping expand SPARC into Loudoun County, Prince William County, and along the Route One corridor. She is confident she can secure the necessary funding to see it through.

Before joining SPARC in 2020, Ms. Alexander was the director of development and communications at PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families from 2015 to 2020, a private, nonprofit organization founded over 50 years ago that serves over 500 children and their families annually throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

She also worked as an executive director for the Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center between 2006 and 2015. During an earlier stage of her career, Ms. Alexander worked in public relations and marketing with the Fairfax County Office of Partnerships and as the director of presidential letters and messages at The White House.

In addition to her full-time career endeavors, Ms. Alexander has lent her expertise to the board of directors for Northern Virginia Community College and joined the NOVA Foundation as a member of the board of directors and communications chair. Civically invested, Ms. Alexander presently serves in various roles with the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of University Women, and, among other organizations, Serve Our Willing Warriors.

Ms. Alexander graduated from George Mason University in 1994 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. She also completed leadership training at the Leadership Fairfax Institute in 2017.

Highlighting her achievements, Ms. Alexander was one of six to be recognized by Northern Virginia Magazine as a Northern Virginian of the Year in 2013.

About Marquis Who’s Who®: Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com