Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund

Federation Rural Training Center
Epes, Alabama

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund's
2009 Annual Meeting - August 13-15

Dear Friend:

This year, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund will commemorate more than four decades of service to rural communities in the southeast at its 42nd Anniversary Celebration and Eighth Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner. We are writing to invite you to join us in this historic celebration Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 7:00PM at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel, in Birmingham, AL.

For the past seven years, the Federation has recognized those individuals who have made significant contributions for justice and peace in America and throughout the world. We are honored to present the Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award to Representative Barbara Lee. Congresswoman Lee was sworn in as the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on January 6, 2009. The 42-member CBC is one of the longest standing caucuses in Congress and is often referred to as the “conscience of the Congress” for their willingness to tackle the most serious social and economic issues facing minorities in the United States. Congresswoman Lee's willingness to stand on principle earned her international acclaim when she was the only member of Congress to vote against giving President Bush a blank check to wage war after the September 11th attacks. In addition to being one of Congress' most vocal opponents of the war in Iraq, Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in promoting policies that foster international peace, security and human rights.

Past recipients of the Award include Mr. Danny Glover (2002), Mr. Harry Belafonte (2003), Ms. Cicely Tyson (2004), the Honorable Andrew Young (2005), Dr. Joseph E. Lowery and Mrs. Evelyn Gibson Lowery (2006), Senator Hank Sanders and Mr. Tavis Smiley (2007) and U. S. Representative John Lewis (2008).

Help us celebrate this momentous occasion by supporting a table of ten. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Federation’s continuous efforts to build strong rural communities and help reverse the trend of African-American land loss while offering land based sustainable development opportunities for landowners, families and communities. Please see the attached Response Form for details.

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives is the nation’s premier African American organization working in 100 of the poorest communities across America’s Southeast Black Belt Region assisting small farmers and rural poor people to help themselves by creating economic opportunities. Our work includes cooperative development, marketing, jobs creation, land retention, credit union development, development of affordable housing and training, education and technical assistance to limited resourced farmers.

The Federation owns 1,000 acres of pristine farm and forestland where it operates its Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, AL. Its work in 13 southern states is carried out from five offices located in Atlanta, GA; Albany, GA; Jackson, MS; Epes, AL and, Quinby, SC.

Mrs. Estelle Witherspoon, for whom the prestigious Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award is named, was the leader and founder of the Freedom Quilting Bee in Alberta, Alabama. She was renowned for her service toward the empowerment of those in her community. Mrs. Witherspoon was an advocate for civil rights, as well as social and economic justice. In the mid sixties, African-Americans in the Gees Bend community of rural Alabama farmed on rented land. Because of their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, many were evicted from their homes and lost their jobs. In response to this injustice, Mrs. Witherspoon worked tirelessly to help poor African American women in the Gees Bend community of Wilcox County, AL use their talent in quilt making. The women began to sell their quilts, with the encouragement and assistance of a network of supporters from around the country. As their cause gained support and their work gained admiration, Freedom Quilting Bee quilts were sold in Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bonwits and Lord & Taylor’s. The quilts were exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute’s Folk Life Festivals and the Corcoran Museum in Washington, DC and featured in articles in Vogue, House and Garden, and the New York Times.

We also invite you to join us August 14-15, 2009 at the Federation’s Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama for the Annual Meeting. We are honored to have as guest speakers for the Annual Meeting Dr. Joe Leonard, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, USDA; and Mr. Dallas Tonsager, Undersecretary for Rural Development. Both, nominated by President Barack Obama, will bring a breath of fresh air to USDA and new perspectives that embodies the needs African American farmers and rural communities. On Friday, August 14 will we hold a series of activities to include exhibits, cooperative trainings and workshops. Later that evening at 6:00PM enjoy the fun and excitement of the Annual Live Auction and Fish Fry with live entertainment! Saturday’s Annual Meeting will begin with a Prayer Breakfast and a sumptuous home cooked southern meal.

Your support is very important to us. I hope you will play a major role in the Federation's 42nd Anniversary Celebration. Kindly complete and return the enclosed Response Form. If you have questions, please call my assistant, Ms. Jackie Ward, or me at (404) 765-099.

Cooperatively yours,

Ralph Paige, Executive Director