Central Kentucky Chapter celebrates at monthly meeting

The Central Kentucky KFTC Chapter held their monthly chapter meeting on Thursday, March 21st at 7 p.m. The meeting was a space to celebrate our recent accomplishments, participate in a training opportunity, and to send well wishes to Ondine Quinn, our Central Kentucky Organizer, as she heads out for a new chapter in her life.

"My last chapter meeting was fantastic. It was super well organized and I really enjoyed that there was time made for a skill-building exercise about membership recruitment as well as time to celebrate our remarkable first quarter. It was a perfect send-off for me. I have learned so much and met so many thoughtful and creative people during my four-and-a-half year tenure at KFTC. I am excited to hear about all of the amazing things that they will continue to do to make our state a better place to live for all people" Quinn said.

The chapter members started the meeting by looking at a slideshow of pictures from KFTC's 2013 local and statewide efforts: Lexington Loves Mountains events, such as the Old Time Music Showcase at Al's Bar and the Legislative Letter Writing Party and reading by Nikky Finney and Bianca Spriggs at Morris Bookshop; I Love Mountains Day in Frankfort; lobbying and rallies in Frankfort, and local chapter meetings. Also, the chapter celebrated and discussed the local victory around winning a resolution from the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government stating that the city of Lexington and Fayette County supports HB 70 and Restoration of Voting Rights for former felons. Central Kentucky members were able to reflect on their excitement around the local events and issues in Lexington and think about ways to keep the momentum moving forward, especially in continuing to do local work.

As a way to build on the excitement, Central Kentucky member Erika Skaggs organized an opportunity for chapter members to take a personality test and learn to use their natural strengths in ways to change their communities and our state, particularly by continuing to build power by recruiting and engaging community members in our work. For example, extroverted chapter members talked about organizing house parties or events in the community to educate people on KFTC issues in a social setting, while our more introverted members talked about writing letters to family and friends encouraging them to get involved.

And then, finally, there was cake! Members spent the last half of the meeting sharing conversation over delicious cake and cupcakes made by Erika Skaggs and presenting Ondine with a new journal to take on her travels with handwritten notes and words of encouragement from KFTC members. The evening's meeting chair Abby Dorrity said this chapter meeting was indicative of why she looks forward to the monthly meeting: "Great food, great community, great meeting!"

Mark your calendars and join us at our next Central Kentucky Chapter meeting on Thursday, April 18th at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Mission House on the corner of  4th Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. (across from the Living Arts and Science Center) in Lexington.