Hi Saundra. Wondered if you were still here.
Yes, I’m still here. I have been under the radar for a while. Scott and I went back to school and got our BA degrees and working hard trying to survive.
I am very excited about this event!!
By the way:
The Central Valley Tea Party IS NOT ASSOCIATED with the Tea Party Express
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Dear Fellow Central Valley Tea Party Patriot,
While Ben Bergquam and I had the privilege of working on the Sac828 event in Sacramento last month, we also experienced the “fun” caused by involvement of the Tea Party Express at the event. Through this process, we got to know everyone at the state level (there aren’t that many, this is still VERY GRASSROOTS) and can assure everyone in the Central Valley that the state coordinators share the same values, ideals and concerns that we do.
Although the Tea Party Express got some good press for the Tea Party movement during their bus tour, I believe that trying to coordinate anything with them or their future activities would be a detriment to our long term goals. I have heard good things about everyone involved with the Tea Party Express other than Mark Williams (see below), but as an organization, they have different goals than the millions of Tea Party Patriots across the country.
To make the entire issue very simple to explain to any others that might ask about the Tea Party Express, it comes down to two points:
1. The Tea Party Express is a Republican PAC with different goals than the millions of us that identify ourselves as Tea Party Patriots.
2. This Republican PAC used the “Tea Party” name to try to position themselves as part of the Tea Party movement. While this was a good marketing technique for their efforts, it has caused a lot of confusion and they have not been completely forthcoming regarding their relationship and/or involvement with the actual grassroots Tea Party movement.
The Tea Party Express has another bus tour planned to start in San Diego on October 25th and looks to be traveling through Bakersfield and Fresno. The Central Valley Tea Party will not have any involvement with the Tea Party Express as they make their way through the valley. I have heard reports that the Tea Party Express is looking to raise $250,000 on or for this bus tour. Please understand that any donations to the Tea Party Express will not make their way back to or help with our efforts here in the Central Valley.
The California coordinators issued a statement on 9/25/09 regarding the Tea Party Express bus tour. If you would like to see a copy of this statement or have any questions or concerns involving the Tea Party Express, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Brad Roltgen, Coordinator
Central Valley Tea Party