Rolling Bluegrass | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Rolling Bluegrass

If you think there should be a way for you to have more of a say about issues in Scott and Harrison counties, you're right! 

The Rolling Bluegrass Chapter of Kentuckians For The Commownealth is committed to holding elected officials accountable and making our democracy stronger while working to make our community better a better place for all of us. Come join us and get involved. We are currently working locally on making curbside recycling available in Georgetown, on pushing for a fairness ordinance in Scott and Harrison Counties, protecting water, and affirmatively furthering fair housing.

Recent Activities

Organizing for Fairness at Georgetown College

Jamie McClard, Christian Nunez, and Homer White on March 8, 2013 in , Rolling Bluegrass, LGBTQ equality

64212_10151350661874361_1135509954_nThe Scott County Chapter recently has acted in support of a new group at Georgetown College that seeks to persuade the College to expand non-discrimination protections to include such things as sexual orientation.

Georgetown College is a historically Baptist institution that traces its roots back to 1787, claiming as one its forebears Elijah Craig, the Kentucky Baptist preacher and Bourbon maker.  Long a stronghold moderate Baptist thinking, the College adopted a formal policy prohibiting discrimination against gay students in 2008, College officials shy away from public acknowledgment of these policies.  The College refused to formally sponsor a gay/student group until 2011, when gay students on campus boldly came out in the College newspaper and made the campus aware of the bullying and harassment to which they were at times subjected.  Even then, the College insisted that the name of the group (Campus Spectrum) should not directly suggest anything about its mission, which is to welcome and support all students, regardless of sexual orientation.

Campaigning for a Non-discrimination Policy at Georgetown College

Dave Newton on January 28, 2013 in , Rolling Bluegrass, LGBTQ equality

64212_10151350661874361_1135509954_n

In the last few months, students and faculty of Georgetown College have been trying to a pass a non-discrimination policy on campus to make a safer space for gay and lesbian members of the community, making it impossible for students, faculty, or staff to be fired or expelled from the college just because of their secxal identity.  

A proposal from the faculty to create such a policy moved to the Board of Trustees late last year, but the Board decded to not move forward with it. 

The Scott County Chapter of KFTC decided to support the campaign by facilitating a "power analysis" to help clarify the objectives of the campaign, map out where stakeholders stand on the issue and how much influence the have, to help plan next steps.  It was also a good space to root our work in why fighting discrimination and standing in solidarity woth the LGBT community is important. 

MLK Events in Lexington and Georgetown

Dave Newton on January 22, 2013 in Voting Rights, Central Kentucky, , Rolling Bluegrass, Voter Empowerment

gDSC_0772This weekend, KFTC members took part in powerful Martin Luther King Jr. marches and programs in Lexington and Georgetown, respectively.

We marched with allies, talked to elected officials, and publicized upcoming events, but mostly used the space to reflect on and celebrate King's legacy and the legacy of the Civil Rights movement. 

Scott County Update

Dave Newton on January 15, 2013 in , Rolling Bluegrass

gIMG_2552KFTC Members in Scott County have continued to do great local work late last year and for these first few weeks of 2013.

Late last year, we had a great Arty Pie Party fundraiser hosted by Rosanne Fitts Klarer and Tim Klarer that brought out over 70 people and brought in over $2,000 in grassroots fundraising work – in addition to just being a lot of fun. 

We’ve also gotten involved in a campaign led by Georgetown College students and faculty to adopt a nondiscrimination policy with regards to sexual orientation.  Despite a strong and thoughtful recommendation from the faculty, the Board of Trustees has declined to adopt the policy and KFTC members are helping people at the college to develop a strategic analysis of the campaign and plan next steps.

Remembering James Snyder

Dave Newton on January 15, 2013 in Voting Rights, Rolling Bluegrass, Voter Empowerment

Scott County KFTC member, former felon spokesperson, and KFTC voter empowerment strategy team member James Snyder passed away in his sleep suddenly earlier this month.

We interviewed James in balancing the scales and on this blog last year as part of a series of interviews with former felons struggling to get their right to vote back. 

He served in the army for 9 years, was politically active all of his life, but amongst other things, James had a felony in his distant past.  That didn’t keep him from voting where he lived in Illinois, but he returned to Kentucky to take care of his parents and so he wasn’t allowed to vote.

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Regular Meetings:

Scott County Public Llibrary
104 S. Bradford Ln.
Georgetown, KY 40324
Monthly chapter potluck

We meet on the 1st Thursday of the month starting at 6:30 p.m. People are encouraged to bring food to share, if they can. However, there always more than enough to go around!

Chapter Organizer:

Joe Gallenstein
Georgetown, KY
859-380-6103

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