The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

102 RSVPs Now & Space Rapidly Filling Up for May 3-4 Delta events at Clinton Center

Posted on April 05, 2012 at 11:01 AM

Space is filling up for the May 3-4 Delta conference at the Clinton Center, so please register ASAP if you wish to be assured of a place. We have 102 RSVPs and growing, and we will go somewhat over the 100 limit but after that number the space starts to get crowded. You register by mailing in the $100 early registration fees.

Please make out the $100 early registration fees check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

The late registration fees go up to $150 on April 20, although if the demand keeps increasing we may have to cut off the numbers before then. We would prefer to include all the Delta grassroots leaders who are interested, but the meeting space we have is limited.

Contact information for Lee Powell, Caucus director, is (202) 360-6347 or leepowell@delta.comcastbiz.net. Group hotel information is below in this email.

Each year we have had great presentations from Members of Congress, a live audio presentation from President Clinton, Gov. Beebe, and grassroots leaders from all eight DRA states. We have one of our best programs ever lined up focusing on job creation/economic recovery, renewable energy, energy retrofits, green jobs, hunger and nutrition, health, and developing a well-trained and employable workforce, especially in promoting literacy.

SCHEDULE: Opening session starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes to 8 p.m. at the Clinton School of Public Service on Thursday evening, May 3 (NOTE: WE START EARLIER– AT 4:30 P.M.–THIS YEAR)

Friday session: We meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 4 at the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Library

Main speakers include:

–CEO and President Daryl Dulaney of Siemens Industry, Inc., a multi-billion dollar national corporation that conducts extensive renewable energy as well as energy efficiency projects in the Delta and throughout the country;

–President Fitzgerald Hill of Arkansas Baptist College, the Arkansas Literacy Councils, Deborah Owens of ASU, Save the Children and other leaders in the fight against illiteracy in the Delta;

–Leaders on nutrition issues including Oscar Castaneda and Tamidra Marable of Heifer International, child obesity expert Dr. Georgianna Tuuri of LSU; Melissa Rice of the Missouri Feeding America food bank organization; and Kim Sanders, director of the Southern Illinois University Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development;

–Joe Quinn, senior director for issue management at Wal-Mart, which has an impressive and generous range of constructive activities on hunger and nutrition, placement of new stores in lower-income food desert areas, and other beneficial activities in the Delta;

–Sen. John Boozman, Congressman Mike Ross and other Members of Congress, USDA Assistant Secretary Pearlie Reed, Alternate Federal Co-Chairman Mike Marshall of the Delta Regional Authority, several major Congressional candidates, among other main speakers.

–We will have panels on renewable energy, energy retrofits and green jobs led by Chad Nobles of Siemens Corp.; a panel on education and especially literacy led by President Fitzgerald Hill of Arkansas Baptist College; a panel on nutrition, child obesity, farmers’ markets and related issues led by Tamidra Marable of Heifer International; and Albert Nylander of Delta State University and John Green of Ole Miss on health care issues.

President Bill Clinton has given excellent live presentations over the audio system every year and we always look forward to that highlight of the conference.

President Clinton is a great champion for the priorities of this conference: job creation/economic recovery, renewable energy/energy retrofits/green jobs, child obesity and other nutrition issues and the vital link between education and economic development in literacy and related fields. These are subjects where President Clinton’s ideas have held a beneficial impact nationally and across the Delta. We all know the Delta still has serious economic problems but these innovative initiatives hold great potential for a brighter future.

We will have feedback from Congressional candidates, including the four First District of Arkansas candidates in presentations and answers to questionnaires on key job creation and other economic issues in the Delta.

We are glad to have Alternate Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority Mike Marshall of Sikeston, Missouri speaking at the opening session at the Clinton School of Public Service on Thursday evening, May 3. Help us support the great work of Mike Marshall, Chairman Chris Masingill, the eight Delta state governors and all the team at the DRA!

GROUP HOTEL: Comfort Inn at the Clinton Library, Little Rock, Arkansas; Please call the hotel at (501) 687-7700 and say you are with the Delta Caucus group to get the lower group rate of $82 a night for a standard room, for the nights of Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4. The deadline to get the group rate is Friday, April 20, close of business.

Many people may only want to stay for the one night of Thursday, May 3, because the conference begins at 5 p.m. on that evening and ends the next afternoon, May 4 at about 3:45 p.m. People can check out of the hotel on the morning of May 4 in the morning and store their luggage there, and then come back and pick up the luggage that afternoon after the conference ends.

We will keep you posted as we continue to put together the agenda and please register soon if you want to be assured of joining us at the conference. Thanks very much. For questions call Lee Powell, director, Delta Grassroots Caucus (202) 360-6347 or Desha County Judge Mark McElroy (870) 877-2426