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.

Delta Nutrition Fundraiser; & Late Registration for Oct. 17-18 Delta Conference

Posted on October 10, 2013 at 04:21 PM

The Oct. 17-18 Delta conference at Memphis Agricenter will feature Sen. Mark Pryor, Rep. Tom Cotton, Rep. Steve Cohen, the two frontrunners for the Arkansas governor’s race in Asa Hutchinson and Mike Ross, Mayor A. C. Wharton of Memphis, and leaders from across the eight-state region. We have 140 RSVPs as of now.

The conference speakers start promptly at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Memphis Agricenter banquet room, so please be there promptly at 4:30 p.m. We have to start earlier than usual because of the jam-packed agenda.

We will address private sector as well as public policy, including a private sector fundraiser for two excellent nonprofits working in the field of nutrition and other key regional activities.

As President Clinton said in his great presentation to the Delta Caucus in May, 2013 at the Clinton Center, “micro-economic” activities of the kind that many of our private sector organizations engage in all the time have a major cumulative impact in the region. We want to highlight the best practices and role models for development that ought to be replicated across the region.

Due to the dysfunctional nature of Washington, DC nowadays, many of the most constructive activities come from the private sector or the state level, such as the Arkansas “Private Option” for Medicaid expansion and the Osceola, Arkansas steel mill project.

Apparently a temporary deal has just been reached to avoid a default, which would have been disastrous. If the Members of Congress have to be in Washington, DC on Friday, we will hear from them by live call-ins from Washington. We urge our national elected leaders to avoid default and end the shutdown.

The Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge is a fundraiser using Sharemeister, Inc.’s innovative Internet technology and social giving platform to raise funds for two excellent nonprofit institutions in our region: TOPPS (Target Our People’s Priorities with Service) led by Annette Dove in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and the Memphis Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) in Memphis, Tennessee. How you can donate to that is explained below.

In this newsletter we will cover:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Basic Schedule

  2. Late Registrations

  3. Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge in Cooperation with Sharemeister, Inc., Starting at Oct. 17-18 Delta Conference and Continuing on the Internet Until Christmas

  4. Draft Agenda

  5. Group Hotel

  6. Directions to the Agricenter from Several Different Directions

1. Basic Schedule

Opening session is Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Memphis Agricenter.

The Friday, Oct. 18 session is from 8:30 a.m. to about 3 p.m. at the Agricenter.

2. LATE REGISTRATIONS

LATE REGISTRATIONS: We still have a number of people who want to attend but have not registered yet. If you are in that category, the rule is that if you did not know about the early registration fees deadline of Oct. 4, we ask for $100 in fees. If you did know about it but just did not send in the fees on time, we would ask for the late registration fee level of $150–this is the only inducement we have to get people to send registration fees in on time by creating a difference between early and late registrations.

Many others have their checks in the mail, we are told by them.

You register by mailing in the registration fees checks, which is the preferred way to register, but if that is not possible in your case, then we can accept the checks at the front desk at the time of the conference. We greatly prefer to get them ahead of time to avoid long lines of people registering when we are trying to get the program started.

Please mail the $100 check (if you did not know about the early registration deadline or learned about this conference at a late date), or in otherwise the late registration fees check made out to “Delta Caucus” to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

3. The Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge Fundraising Initiative

The Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge is partnering with Sharemeister in an effort to raise funds for two exemplary nonprofit organizations that work in the fields of nutrition, health and other constructive activities in the Delta: TOPPS (Targeting Our People’s Priorities with Service), led by Annette Dove in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and the Memphis Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge will begin now in conjunction with the Oct. 17-18, 2013 Delta Grassroots Caucus conference at the Memphis, Tennessee Agricenter International and continue on the website through the Christmas season. Mapco, Inc., is also working with Sharemeister, and people can earn reward points when they buy gas or food at Mapco stores in the Mid-South and they can be redeemed by donating to these good causes.

MIFA has many excellent programs for providing nutritious food to economically distressed neighborhoods in Memphis and many other beneficial community and economic development activities, and has received widespread recognition for their exemplary work. They were established right after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968 to continue his work for racial, social and economic justice in the Mid-South.

Annette Dove’s TOPPS does exemplary work in feeding economically distressed families in Pine Bluff, as well as excellent mentoring and tutoring for youths and job training. We especially want to reward the best practices of great nonprofits at this time when so many lower income families are having great difficulty in getting access to fresh, nutrition produce.

You can donate on behalf of either the “West Delta Team” of Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri, or the “East Delta Team of Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, and Alabama. This is just to engage in a friendly challenge to see which region of the Delta can donate more funds for these good causes. This has proven to be an entertaining, fun way to raise funds for good causes.

The proceeds are divided equally between MIFA and TOPPS, regardless of whether the West Delta Team or the East Delta Team donates more money, so there is no real “competition” of any kind.

Marlon Henderson, CEO of Sharemeister, will speak at the conference to explain how the “Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge” will work.

Annette Dove of TOPPS and Alan Gumbel of MIFA will speak at the opening session of the conference on Thursday, Oct. 17 starting at 4:30 p.m. That session goes on until 7:45 p.m.

If this fundraiser proves productive, we will rotate the recipients to other nonprofits and other areas of the reason in challenges lasting several months each, enabling us to aid excellent nonprofits across the region over the years. The Delta Caucus is a private sector organization and has wide freedom of action in fundraising activities for good causes.

Here are the step by step instructions as to how you give on the Sharemeister website:

Below are the registration instructions for Sharemeister on both the Website and Mobile Apps:

REGISTRATION IS FREE.

Website:

1.) Go to www.sharemeister.com

2.) Click “Sign Up” in the middle of the screen on Individuals

3.) Click “Let’s Get Started” and fill out the information You will then see your profile where you can add in more information (pictures, etc.)

4.) Click “Events” (at top on left side)

5.) Select the “Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge

6.) Pick a team “West Delta” or East Delta”

7.) Then “Give” on behalf of your selected team.

Proceeds will be divided equally between the two nonprofits.

There are two ways in which you can give, “$” (credit/debit card donations” and “S!” (Mapco Reward Points and points from other services). Continue to give to help your team win.

Mobile Application:

Download the Sharemeister app on Apple Store or Android Market

1.) Click “Login or Register” at the bottom

2.) Click “Register” and create username and password and “Agree”

3.) Go through the 3 step tutorial and click “Join The Fun”

4.) Select the “Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge”

5.) Pick a team “West Delta” or “East Delta”

6.) Then select “Donate”

There are two ways in which you can give, “$” (credit/debit card donations” and “S!” (Mapco Reward Points and points from other services). Continue to give to help your team win.

4. Group hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott at Memphis-Germantown

The Courtyard by Marriott at Memphis-Germantown at (901) 751-0230.

Many people will want to stay just for the night of Oct. 17, check out the morning of Oct. 18. The conference is scheduled to end about 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18.

Memphis cultural, historical and musical attractions: Some people who have not seen the major attractions in Memphis may want to stay on for Friday, Oct. 18. Memphis offers such attractions as the Beale Street blues and jazz halls such as B.B. King’s place, Graceland, and others.

The National Civil Rights Museum is open on Saturday morning, Oct. 19, for those who wanted to stay on Friday night, Oct. 18. For many of us the greatest attraction is the National Civil Rights Museum, which has great exhibits and videos about the history of the civil rights movement and is based at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

5. AGENDA

Delta Grassroots Caucus Conference

“Jobs, Nutrition and the Farm Bill, Health Care”

Memphis Agricenter International, Oct. 17-18, 2013

Informal Gathering, 3:45 to 4:15 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott Group Hotel Bar, led by Arkansas Rep. Mark McElroy, Delta Caucus Vice Chairman

INFORMATION TABLES AT MEMPHIS AGRICENTER ON DELTA REGIONAL PROJECTS:

Betty Dobson, The Historic Hotel Metropolitan and other Delta Heritage Tourism Attractions of the Upper Town Heritage Foundation, Paducah, Kentucky

Newport Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Blue Bridge Project and other Notable Activities in the Newport area

Greg Maxted, Executive Director of the Harahan Bridge Project across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee to West Memphis, Arkansas

Annette Dove, TOPPS nonprofit in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, working on education, nutrition, job training, and mentoring and tutoring of youth

Society of St. Andrew-the importance of gleaning and food recovery in the fight against hunger in the Delta

Sharemeister and Mapco, Inc. explaining the Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge

Pamela Marshall, Memphis Area Association of Governments

OPENING SESSION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013, 4:30 to 7:45 p.m., Memphis Agricenter Banquet Room

4:30 p.m.–Lee Powell, Delta Caucus Executive Director, Introduction

Delta Heritage Tourism

  1. Betty Dobson, Director, Upper Town Heritage Foundation in Paducah, Kentucky-4:37 to 4:45 p.m.
  2. Greg Maxted, Executive Director, Harahan Bridge Project over the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee to West Memphis, Arkansas; projected includes tourism, transportation and health activities, 4:45 to 4:52 p.m..
  3. President Beverly Robertson, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, 4:52 p.m.to 5:02 p.m.
  4. Shelley Ritter, Director, Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 5:02 to 5:12 p.m. Pamela Marshall, Memphis Area Association of Governments-5:12 to 5:20

Daphene McFerren, Executive Director, the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis-5:20 to 5:30 p.m.

Hunger, nutrition and health:

  1. Marlon Henderson, CEO, Sharemeister, Inc., explaining the “Delta Caucus Nutrition Challenge” Fundraising Initiative for the Pine Bluff, AR, TOPPS nonprofit and MIFA nonprofit in Memphis on the Sharemeister social giving platform-5:30 to 5:35 p.m.
  2. Annette Dove, Executive Director, TOPPS nonprofit organization, Pine Bluff, AR: 5:35 to 5:45 p.m.
  3. Alan Gumbel, Memphis Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA), Director of Performance and Quality Improvement, 5:45 to 5:53
  4. Melissa Rice McGowan, Feeding America Southeast Missouri Food Bank, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 5:53 p.m. to 6:03 p.m
  5. Albert Nylander, Director, McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, the University of Mississippi-6:03 to 6:11 p.m.

Jobs, Infrastructure and Regional Economic Development: 6:10 7:10 p.m.

  1. Mayor Bill Luckett, Clarksdale, Mississippi-Jobs, Nutrition, Health-to 6:11 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.
  2. Randy Henderson, Nucor Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel of Arkansas, Blytheville, Arkansas, 6:20 to 6:28 p.m.
  3. Lane Kidd, President, Arkansas Trucking Association, on the federal highway bill and other transportation issues–6:28 to 6:38 p.m.
  4. John Charles Wilson, President, Memphis Agri-Center–Renewable energy and small farmers’ programs; 6:38 p.m. to 6:48 p.m.
  5. Steve Bares, President, Memphis BioWorks Foundation, 6:48 p.m. to 6:56 p.m.
  6. Srikant Gir, Co-Director of the University of Memphis BioFuels Institute, 6:56 p.m. to 7:04 p.m.

FRIDAY SESSION, OCT. 18, 2013, 8:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.

Memphis Agricenter Banquet Room

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. –Panel–SNAP nutrition and health care-(These will be scheduled over the course of Friday morning and we will have to be flexible about the exact times)

  1. Kim Sanders, Southern Illinois University Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, on implementation of the federal health care reform law

  2. Dianne Williams, Chief Program Officer, Arkansas Foodbank (serving 33 Arkansas counties)

  3. Jeff Wood, Tyson Foods, Community Relations Director, on the SNAP nutrition program

  4. Billy Senter on Independent Payments Advisory Board and other issues for federal health care reform law

  5. Senchel Matthews, Heifer International, based in Memphis, on “Seeds of Change” project in the east Arkasnsas Delta

  6. Mayor Robert Myer, New Roads, Louisiana–hunger and nutrition issues

9:30 a.m.–US Senator Mark Pryor

10 A.M. – Former Congressman Mike Ross, Candidate for Governor of Arkansas

10:45 A.M.-Congressman Tom Cotton, (R-AR)

11:30 a.m.–Former Congressman Asa Hutchinson, Candidate for Governor of Arkansas

LUNCHEON: Noon to 1: 20 p.m.

Media statement on SNAP and the farm bill and health care, Caucus Director Lee Powell and Caucus Vice Chairman, Rep. Mark McElroy–12:20 to 12:30

President Glen Fenter, Mid-South Community College, West Memphis–or mid to late morning–12:30 to 12:42

Mayor A. C. Wharton, Jr. Memphis, Tennessee–introduced by Minnie Bommer, veteran Delta regional advocate and the first African American woman elected to the Covington, Tennessee City Council)–12:42 to 12:55

Congressman Steve Cohen, Memphis, Tennessee–12:55 to 1:15 p.m.

1:20 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.–Big picture panel on regional community and economic development

  1. Bob Nash, Speaker and Moderator, President of Bob Nash & Associates, formerly Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House, earlier USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, Clinton administration

  2. Steve Jones, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Senior Vice President/Director of Programs, based in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas and active in many communities across the Delta; and DRA Alternate for Gov. Mike Beebe

  3. Loretta Daniel, Murray State University, Director of Regional Business and Innovation Center, western Kentucky

  4. J. William McFarland, Special Assistant to the President, University of West Alabama

  5. Jeff Jones, Century Link, Manager of Market Development for broadband expansion programs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas

  6. Jerry Smith, Delta Center for Economic Development, Arkansas State University

Delta Grassroots Caucus Conference Sponsors

“Jobs, Nutrition and the Farm Bill, Health Care”

Memphis, Tennessee Agricenter International, Oct. 17-18, 2013

LEAD SPONSORS

Fed Ex Express, Memphis, Tennessee

Nucor Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel of Arkansas, Blytheville, Arkansas

MAJOR CO-SPONSORS

University of Mississippi McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, Oxford, Mississippi

Arkansas Trucking Association

Heifer International

Housing Assistance Council, Washington, DC

Mississippi County AR Economic Opportunity Commission

SPONSORS

J. William McFarland, Jr., Special Assistant to the President, University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama

West Tennessee Delta Partners

Southeast Missouri Delta Partners

Rep. Mark McElroy, southeast Arkansas

McGehee Industrial Foundation

East Arkansas Enterprise Community

BGACDC Agency, Phillips County, Arkansas

The City of Earle, Arkansas

Delta Caucus Grassroots Caucus Partners

Last but not least, we would like to thank the hundreds of people who made contributions in the range of $125, $100, $50 or $25 in the form of annual membership dues, registration fees, and other contributions. For a grassroots regional coalition, we need to have a diversified, broad base of financial support from large numbers of relatively modest contributions. The large number of these contributions really adds up to a major part of our budget, and we could not do our work without these donations.

6. Directions to Memphis Agricenter International from four different directions

From Nashville, Tennessee:

Travel I-40 west, exit Germantown Road (exit 16A). Go south on Germantown Road approximately 5 miles. You will go under the overpass at Walnut Grove Road, turn right at the stop light at Timbercreek. This is the entrance…Agricenter Expo Center is the large grayish white building, Show Place Arena is the large yellowish building on your left immediately past the Butcher Shop Restaurant.

From Little Rock, Arkansas:

Travel I-40 east across the bridge into downtown Memphis, follow I-40 to I-240 east. Take Walnut Grove (exit 13) heading east. Go east on Walnut Grove approximately 2 ½ miles. Turn right into the Agricenter entrance… Agricenter Expo Center is the large grayish white building on the right past the Ducks Unlimited entrance, Show Place Arena is the large yellowish building on your left past the Farmer’s Market (Red Barn).

From Jackson, Mississippi:

Travel I-55 north towards Memphis. Follow signs to I-240 east (exit 6A). Follow I-240 east until you reach Walnut Grove (exit 13) heading east. Go east on Walnut Grove approximately 2 ½ miles. Turn right into the Agricenter entrance… Agricenter Expo Center is the large grayish white building on the right past the Ducks Unlimited entrance, Show Place Arena is the large yellowish building on your left past the Farmer’s Market (Red Barn).

From St. Louis, Missouri:

Travel I-55 south towards Arkansas. When freeway forks, keep left to Memphis. Follow to I-40 to I-240 east. Take Walnut Grove (exit 13) heading east. Go east on Walnut Grove approximately 2 ½ miles. Turn right into the Agricenter entrance… Agricenter Expo Center is the large grayish white building on the right past the Ducks Unlimited entrance, Show Place Arena is the large yellowish building on your left past the Farmer’s Market (Red Barn).