Kentucky 9/12 Project

Our Hearts and Prayers for Americas Heartlnd

2013-05-21T18:41:00.001-04:00

These tornadoes were devastating and fatal. We will have more infomation on what needs done and how you can help. But today please consider these things

View this time-lapse video of the tornado that charged through Oklahoma City on May 20th: http://www.wmctv.com/category/240217/video-landing-page?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8899079

Our hearts go out to those affected by the storms. Now help us put our hands to work to help them!

WE ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO PLEASE HELP OUT MONETARYILY WITH ANY SIZE DONATION TO MERCURY ONE. http://mercuryone.fundly.com/2013-midwest-tornado-relief
There will be a time for food, supplies and other resources but money is the best thing you can do today and through this organization it will go to the people that can make a difference there.

Mercury One is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, which enables the IRS to recognize some contributions to Mercury One as tax-deductible. Your donation amount may be considered tax-deductible. Please consult with a tax attorney or an accountant for guidance.

NEXT FOR ANYONE WANTING TO HELP THE ANIMALS OF OKLAHOMA:
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/how-to-help-animals-affected-by-the-oklahoma-tornado?Wt.mc_id=jcfacebook

Please these pets are many times forgotten and need our help too. Thanks to Debbie Wimsatt she is providing information on what you can do.

Vetstreet has compiled the information for many ways you can help animals and rescue dogs in need. Please help and visit this page if you would like to join the effort

Finally please keep our heartland and everyone affected in your prayers. 9/12 Project was partially founded on the idea of people we were the day after 9-11 when we were not red states or blue states but bond together as Americans. Today we are all Oklahomans and we stand with them and need to lift them up in our prayers.

What a week - IRS 9/12 Project and Tea Party

2013-05-19T23:31:00.002-04:00

You know something is wrong when you answer the phone and it is a reporter from the Huffington Post and his very first words are “I was wondering if I could get your response?” This is how my day began Friday May 10 at about 11:00am

The Associated Press broke a story quoting Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt groups, as saying that organizations which included the words "tea party" or "patriot" or “9/12” in their applications for tax-exempt status were singled out for additional reviews. This set off a firestorm in Washington and back here at home. The government was admitting what we had been saying for over a year and gave proof that the Kentucky 9/12 Project had been targeted by this administration and held hostage for close to two years.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/10/irs-apology-conservative-groups-2012-election/2149939/

Kentucky 9/12 Project was one of the very first large organizations to face the overreaching authority of the IRS and had the opportunity to help break this story nationwide over a year ago. It was clear to us in February of 2012 that our organization was being singled out and collectively the board of directors decided we must take a stand. It has become apparent with the IRS admission that that we were correct in our fears and that they unjustly targeted our organization and they offered a public apology in connection to these actions.

By the time I had left work to come home I had spoken with Fox News, The Blaze, ABC, CBS, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, and USA Today (I only emailed the Huffington Post and did not give them a verbal interview)

My initial statements on behalf of the organization were “The apology is a victory for Free Speech and Liberty. While we should feel vindicated for or principled stance against the government’s use of the IRS as a weapon against liberty groups - we also feel there are many still unanswered questions. Clearly like the targeted attacks on groups like ours, this was politically motivated and questions of who was requesting this information, why, and for what purpose need to still be addressed.”

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/13/real-news-and-wilkow-irs-scandal-coverage-highlights/

Well it turned out as bad as we believed things were – they were even worse.

Monday and through this past week more and more revelations have come to light and more and more groups have begun to come forward with much more terrifying stories than ours. Although this administration tried to intentionally bury this story in a Friday media dump and hoped that it would be forgotten I knew this wasn’t going away when Kentucky 9/12 Project and my statements were trending at the top of Drudge’s page Monday evening.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/05/13/3297726/kentucky-activist-to-irs-apology.html

By Tuesday of the week I was asked to fly to Washington DC almost immediately in regards to what was going on. I am proud of the other groups that also joined me and are now bravely telling their stories as well of intimidation and scrutiny and I am proud of our membership here in Kentucky for your support and honored I could represent all of you. I am also very very thankful for the ACLJ and FreedomWorks who took care of all the expenses for my travel so that it would not put a burden on our organization or my family.

Thursday May 16 - Kentucky 9/12 Project proudly stood with the ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice), 16 liberty groups from around the country, as well as members of Congress including Senator Rand Paul (R – KY) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R – KY). The conference was sent up by Michelle Bachmann outside the capital to discuss the IRS scandal and the tea party and 9/12 Projects demands.

Speaking for the group I said “Our press conference at the capital helps shine a light on these injustices and the clear targeting and overreach of the government on citizens and their free speech”

Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, speaking at a press conference said the IRS may face more than civil litigation as a result of the decision to give extra scrutiny to Tea Party and 9/12 groups. The threat of criminal charges, he said, “is real and serious.”

There have been many more sound bites but the biggest revelation which we had been saying all along is that this was not what was being originally reported – this was not low level officials nor was this isolated to just a Cincinnati office. This was clearly targeted and coordinated from above. Even scarier we now also know that it crossed agencies within this administration for other people after filing being harassed by the OSHA, EPA, FBI and a collect selection of alphabet organizations. This was not incompetence but a culture and examples of Chicago thug politics.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/18/could-lose-everything-tea-party-groups-prepare-to-sue-irs/

Clearly what this administration has done was unconstitutional, illegal, and possible they are even liable for civil lawsuits.

Many representatives are calling for investigations and people to be held accountable. Thursday we testified to the council of the government oversight committee lead by Darrel Issa (and the committee Thomas Massie sits on) and Mr. Issa let us in on what they would be investigating and I was shocked by the information he collaborated and confided in us. On the Senate side the Finance committee with the co-chair Mitch McConnell will be doing hearings as well and we have submitted swore testimony on what has occurred to the Kentucky 9/12 Project.

On Friday the Ways and Means had a full committee hearing with Steve Smith from the IRS and the current IG. Of course if you had watched the testimony you would learn that they couldn’t remember anything, didn’t recall anything, wasn’t sure about anything, and couldn’t even say who they spoke with a week prior. The three big moments though were
1. Steve Smith saying he personally did not believe there was anything wrong or illegal with targeting conservatives for additional scrutiny
2. The IG said a key phrase that went unnoticed in the press “at this time” – this leaves the door wide open for more information to come with additional investigation from the IG office (and I am sure it will)
3. That after Rep Mike Kelly from PA goes on for 5 min on the meaning of what this intimidation to people like us and you and another person gives him a standing ovation that you get gaveled (but it was worth it!!!!)

I made it back home but this past week could be the tip of the iceberg. For starters the Kentucky 9/12 Project is working and would be represented by the ACLJ and could file a civil suit in federal court against the Internal Revenue Service as soon as this week. Congress is going forward with investigations and I have been insured I will be going back to DC to possibly testify. More individuals and groups are coming out that were previously scared to tell their stories - and some of them are pretty spooky.

The 9/12 Project was founded on principles and the idea of standing together and to show that you are not alone. It is in principle that we objected to the obvious overreach of federal agencies beyond its authority. It is our groups spirit of personal responsibility and accountability that we made a principled stance against the IRS early on and demonstrated to an overreaching administration that WE SURROUND THEM.

It is our hopes that the proper people are held accountable and as important that a low level official in the future will think twice before blinding taking an order that is illegal or unconstitutional. Next that citizens in bondage and fearing the government will feel just a little empowered and begin to take stances when similar things happen and less people will go along and follow orders without questioning with boldness.

To that end PLEASE if you or anyone you know has been a target of the IRS unjustly in the past couple of years for your political activism please we need your story. Please let us or Freedomworks know about the details of what you went through. We need to stand together on this and for the freedom of assembling and freedom of speech.

On a final note I want to say thank you so very much. I have heard words of support from many of you and I cannot tell you how important that is and how much I need to know that we are in this together. I have said that this is not about a tax designation or the KY 9/12 Project but a principled stance and a stance for everyone in any liberty group.

We still have a journey a head of us on this one so please keep us (including my entire family) in your prayers. This is stressful and I would be a miss if I did not say scary what we are doing. Our family truly grasp the seriousness of this and the ramifications in our actions – your support is what keeps us going and us knowing we are doing it for the right reasons.

Two days that could change your life,

2013-05-15T07:24:00.003-04:00

Changing the Culture By Winning Campaigns

An Exclusive Two-Day Campaign Seminar presented by the Commonwealth Policy Center Including special emphasis on beating incumbents – even in primaries!

Do values matter in modern-day politics? It’s alarming that we’ve reached the point where that question even needs to be asked – but, unfortunately, we have. More and more political leaders and parties are choosing to sacrifice culture-defining issues such as life, liberty, marriage and the family on the altar of political expediency, mistakenly believing that values no longer matter to voters.

The truth is voters today – perhaps more than at any time in recent history – are yearning for principled candidates committed to standing strong for the timeless values upon which our country was founded and standing stronger against the politics-as-usual establishment working to undermine those values.

The Winning Campaigns seminar shows principled candidates, campaign staff, and grassroots activists how to run winning campaigns without compromising their values – with a special emphasis placed on running and winning primaries (even against incumbents). You’ll learn:

• Secrets campaign pros use to develop winning strategies.
• How to raise all the money you need to win even if you’ve never raised money before.
• Keys to persuading voters in-person, through the mail, over the phone, and online.

May 17, 18th
Elizabethtown, KY
Register To Attend Today!
commonwealthpolicycenter.org
Call (270) 719-1640

Two days that could change your life, your state and your country.

Break the News Cycle

2013-05-12T16:54:00.002-04:00

To control the news cycles you lead the week with good news and end it with bad.

The Friday news dump is a time-honored tradition in media.

While most of the country is making dinner reservations for Mother’s Day, checking tee times for Saturday morning or making family plans for the weekend, government officials release news they’d rather brush under the rug, knowing that in 48 hours when Monday comes back around the headlines of the previous week will be ancient history.

Friday we witnessed this with the “unexpected” release of information that the IRS willfully targeted conservative groups and held up applications and conducted more intrusive questioning.

Make no mistake there is more to this story. Their objective is to have this swept under the rug by Monday morning. They are trying to control the flow of information and setting the rules for this game.

WE CAN BREAK THOSE RULES!!!!

We have the power to keep the message going and keep this story going. Please share stories and tweets on the #IRSintimidation and use this hash tag. Share stories from the Blaze and other news organizations on your Facebook wall. Encourage your friends to re-tweet and share your messages.

With the power of you and the power of social media we can change the rules of this game and make the IRS and this administration pay for their abuse of power and the #IRSintimidation.

Remember be radical - break the rules to help break the news cycle.

Tweet often using #IRSintimidation
Share stories on facebook
Keep the message going

Articles and information:
Kentucky 9/12 statement - http://www.ky912.com/2013/05/apology-not-accepted.html

Blaze - http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/11/glenn-becks-withering-response-to-irs-targeting-912-project-conservative-groups/

ACLJ - http://aclj.org/free-speech-2/irs-admits-targeting-conservative-groups-apologizes

CNN - http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/10/following-tea-party-complaints-irs-admits-mistakes/comment-page-5/

Hot Air top 10 IRS questions - http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/10/10-crazy-things-the-irs-asked-tea-party-groups/comment-page-1/

APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED!

2013-05-12T08:59:00.001-04:00

NEWS ADVISORY

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2013

Contact: Eric Wilson
Cell Phone: 859-983-5190
Email: ericwilson@ky912.com

APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED!

Kentucky – Kentucky 9/12 Project was one of the very first large organizations to face the overreaching authority of the IRS and had the opportunity to tell our story to the Blaze helping breaking this story. It was clear to us in February of 2012 that our organization was being singled out due to implied affiliation with Glenn Beck and patriot organizations. It has become apparent with the IRS admission that that we were correct in our fears and that they unjustly targeted our organization and they offered a public apology in connection to these actions.

Kentucky 9/12 Project has fought back against this unwarranted attack from the IRS on our organization from day one. We refused to comply with their egregious demands and have consistently said these attacks have been coordinated and targeted.

Eric Wilson the Director of the Kentucky 9/12 Project makes this statement “while this is a victory for free speech and liberty in regards to the IRS recent apology I would say apology not accepted.”

The Kentucky 9/12 Project filed for a 501(c)(4) status in December of 2010. They received their first correspondence almost immediately back from their application saying there would be a determination within 90 days. Since then all of their activities, relations, and dealings have falling well within the bonds of that which defines this status. Despite this and with no reference to any issues with its original application or specific concerns almost 14 months later they received a letter (dated February 14) requesting detailed documentation to answer 30 questions with sub-bullets (88 total separate inquiries) and only a two-week period to comply. Even more alarming to directors of the group were the personal information the IRS were requesting and overreaching questions.On April 1 2013 after the election we received a 1 paragraph response from the IRS granted us our designation with no further questions or explanation for the delays

The Kentucky 9/12 Project operates a civic organization for the purpose of charity, education, and recreational purposes. Their mission is to provide a forum for individuals grounded in the 9 Principles and 12 Values, and to foster an environment to inspire and empower Self-Governing Leaders through the process of education, independence, sacrifice, with a firm reliance on Divine providence.

For more information about The Kentucky 9/12 Project, please visit their website at www.ky912.com

# # # #

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with:

The Kentucky 9/12 Project - Eric Wilson (Executive Director KY912) at 859-983-5190
Ohio Liberty Council – Tom Zawistowski (President of OLC) at 303-592-1848

IRS Says I'm sorry

2013-05-10T14:30:00.003-04:00

Kentucky – Today the Associated Press broke a story quoting Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt groups, as saying that organizations which included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their applications for tax-exempt status were singled out for additional reviews. Lerner also said the practice, initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati, was wrong and she apologized while speaking at a conference in Washington.

Eric Wilson, President of the Kentucky 912 and National 912 Co-Chair – “Today's apology is a victory for Free Speech and Liberty. While we should feel vindicated for or principled stance against the government’s use of the IRS as a weapon against liberty groups - we also feel there are many still unanswered questions. Clearly like the targeted attacks on groups like ours, this was politically motivated and questions of who was requesting this information, why, and for what purpose need to still be addressed.”

Tom Zawistowski, Executive Director of the Portage County TEA Party and recent Past President of the Ohio Liberty Coalition, add this "We will accept Ms. Lerner's apology as being appropriate, because what the IRS did was wrong and we proved it was wrong. However, we cannot accept her statement that this attack on our organizations and our liberty was orchestrated by low-level IRS employees in the Cincinnati office. We have proof that the same questions were being asked of groups from Virginia to Hawaii. We have further proof that agents admitted that they were being told by "higher ups" not to process applications from "TEA Party Groups". Our legal representatives, the American Center for Law and Justice, has information from groups all over the nation that substantiate this pattern of abuse."

Common Core v Classical Liberal Arts

2013-04-29T14:02:00.000-04:00

Common Core has been hitting the headlines and Brush Fire Forum has a recent article as well that is making its rounds on various sites: “Common Core Hammers the Final Death Nail in Education”

Self-afflicted, but after 100 years of government intervention there is a problem with education system today. The solution though is not more money, more training, more tests, and definitely not Common Core. Instead of a single “common core” standard and centralization of our education, we need to de-centralize it. Education is a family and a community issue, and we need to reclaim local control of educating our children.

Secondly, one size does not fit all, and our exceptional students are not common. Instead of a conveyor belt system to train our children, we need to free the education system and free the minds of the students. We must again begin to “teach to learn” instead of “lecturing to recite.” Teachers left to their own abilities will teach and inspire as they did for generations past.

For a 250-year span that brought innovation and enlightenment, our foundation was a classical liberal arts education. A nationalized Common Core standard in education will close the door on innovation and not only set us back but throw us forward into educational bondage. If efforts do not occur to turn back the advancement of Common Core and nationalization of our education system, our children may not learn or ever again realize the liberties this country once offered its citizenry.

Great new article not only giving a comparison of what education was (or should be) but what are the real dangers today of implementation of Common Core. We need to be aware of what common core will mean to our children’s education, our schools, and our community. We need to stop the bus on common core and bring back local control and learning to the classrooms.

Conflict of Visions - by Thomas Sowell

2013-04-29T13:41:00.000-04:00

Conflict of Visions, by Thomas Sowell

In this classic work, Thomas Sowell analyzes the two competing visions that shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power: the “constrained” vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the “unconstrained” vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. He describes how these two radically opposed views have manifested themselves in the political controversies of the past two centuries, including such contemporary issues as welfare reform, social justice, and crime. Updated to include sweeping political changes since its first publication in 1987, this revised edition of A Conflict of Visions offers a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes circle around the disparity between both outlooks.

Eric Wilson’s Review: This book is not about Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or liberals. It is far more fundamental than that. This gets to the heart and minds of people’s ideological thinking and why. Not sure if I am naive or arrogant but I did disagree silently in the absolutes of the two “visions” but this is still an absolute must read and amazing perspective into politics and reason. Must admit it reads a lot like a textbook (which I enjoy) but like a good novel, wherever you put the book down you are anxious to learn what is coming next. This is a book not only for the serious student of political science, but for anyone who wants a better understanding of what leads honest and sincere individuals to hold extraordinarily divergent views.

Find this and other books reading list: Click here

Upcoming events on Common Core:

2013-04-24T22:54:00.000-04:00

Thursday, April 25, at Korea Saehan Church of Louisville, KY (P.C.A. Presbyterian Church in America) from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. - Richard Innes, the education analyst for the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, brings a uniquely independent viewpoint to public education research, approaching those studies from a parent-oriented viewpoint.

Monday, April 29, at Substation II Dream St. in Florence (right off I-75 Florence-Union exit) 6 p.m. - Richard Innes, the education analyst for the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, brings a uniquely independent viewpoint to public education research, approaching those studies from a parent-oriented viewpoint.

Monday, May 6, at Shakey's Pub & Grub..7718 U S 42 in Florence, KY 41042, 6:00p.m. to 7:30p.m.- Phyllis Sparks is going to speak at the Boone County TP

Stop the Bus on Common Core in Kentucky

2013-04-24T22:47:00.001-04:00

You have heard a lot about Common Core Standards lately and wondering is it really as bad as Glenn makes it out to be -- YES. Not only is it a poor curriculum, invasion of privacy, and will cost the state millions -- it is bad for our children and dangerous to America. Education is a family and a community issue, and we need to reclaim local control of educating our children. Please sign up, come out, and get informed. This can be stopped but we must act NOW!!

- Visit Kentuckians Against Common Core @ http://www.kentuckiansagainstcommoncorestandards.com/

Learn more and PLEASE sign the on-line petition

They Saved The Best For Last

2013-04-24T22:27:00.000-04:00

National 9/12 Project in close coordination with local groups have been hosting regional Leadership Development Conference. The next you is for us right here in our region.

The last conference in Columbus, OH is soon approaching (Saturday May 4) and we need you to be there! Our first two in Kansas City and Phoenix were VERY well received! Our presentations on Origins of Social Movements, Volunteer Management, along with Preparedness, Common Core/AG21 and FreedomWorks, help build a more cohesive movement in moving "forward".

We have 912ers from 12 states attend the first events. You need to be there to represent our state, network and help build our movement! Please let us know if you are attending. We need to provide numbers for breakfast and lunch. Also, PLEASE forward this on to group members and any other 912 contacts you have in other areas. Can't wait to see you all there!

Columbus, OH
Saturday May 4, 2013
- Begins at 8:30am
- Ends approx. 2:00pm with networking with other groups immediately following
Cost $40 at the door

Embassy Suites Columbus – Airport
2886 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43219
614-536-0500

details @ http://the912-project.com/2013/03/912-regional-leadership-development-conferences/

Kentucky 9/12 Project wins against the IRS

2013-04-01T22:42:00.000-04:00

After almost two and a half years of fighting for our legal right for our “tax exempt” status as a non-profit corporation, the Kentucky 912 Project was notified yesterday by the IRS that the organization is indeed exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Ever since the IRS first overstepped their authority and challenged our organization we responded with a bold and defiant statement of we will not comply. This become a rallying cry and KY9/12 help lead a national coalition to fight and to protect the rights of our supporters and similar groups that were also being targeted.

All of the work and support of many many of you have paid off with this announcement and finally making our non-profit 501(c)(4) status official. Also we owe a huge gratitude to Jay Sekulow and his staff, particularly Miles Terry, at the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), without whom we could not have afforded or been able to wage this fight. Thank you everyone!!

Finally once again we know we were not standing for KY912 or ourselves but we were standing for you, standing for liberty, and standing for principles. Before you congratulate us we are asking that you please consider thanking and support the ACLJ and their efforts in representing us and similar fights like this. http://aclj.org

It is our belief and hope that our victory today will pave the way for other liberty groups around the nation to replicate our success.

Kentucky 9/12 project, Inc. operates as a social welfare organization organized and has filed in December 2010 under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code Contributions to Kentucky 9/12 Project, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

The Fourth Turning - by Howe & Straus

2013-04-01T22:32:00.001-04:00

The Fourth Turning, by Howe & Straus

Strauss and Howe will change the way you see the world--and your place in it. In The Fourth Turning, they apply their generational theories to the cycles of history and locate America in the middle of an unraveling period, on the brink of a crisis. How you prepare for this crisis--the Fourth Turning--is intimately connected to the mood and attitude of your particular generation. Are you one of the can-do "GI generation," who triumphed in the last crisis? Do you belong to the mediating "Silent Majority," who enjoyed the 1950s High? Do you fall into the "awakened" Boomer category of the 1970s and 1980s, or are you a Gen-Xer struggling to adapt to our splintering world? Whatever your stage of life, The Fourth Turning offers bold predictions about how all of us can prepare, individually and collectively, for America's next rendezvous with destiny.

Eric Wilson’s Review: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Everything has a purpose and in everything you may discover a cycle. This book lays out a chilling cycles that continue to play themselves over and over again much like the season spring, summer, fall, and now winter. Much like the Tyler Cycle this is a wakeup call of where we are and where we are heading. Admittedly it starts a little slow but you need to pick this book up and keep reading through it. Pay attention because if you get half way through you will be hooked. Read this, take lots of notes, and recommend it to a friend. It is one of the essential reads of our time.

Find this and other books in our recommended reading list: Click here

Sheriff's Forum in Danville 9/12

2013-03-17T22:24:00.003-04:00

Happy Anniversary from KY9/12

2013-03-12T08:13:00.004-04:00

It just proves we have a happy marriage when you don’t really celebrate your anniversaries anymore….

It was four years ago that four little words sparked a new kind of revolution. One based on principles and values to bring us back to a people we were and should be.

Since we first came together to prove to each other that we were not alone many things have changed (some bad, but some good) and many of us have grown. We have made an impact in our own lives and those around us and totally changed the landscape of political thinking. From 140 people at the first viewing party we now have over three thousand members state wide and many new close bonds and new found friends. We have garnished international attention, inspired national initiatives, and became one of the most recognized 9/12 groups in the nation.

On this day I wanted to thank you not for what you are doing but what you gave me and so many others these last four years. You continue to remind us of those four little words that first brought us together that we can hold through struggles, and the troubling times ahead.

Happy Anniversary
And always remember

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!

Still Fighting the IRS after all these years

2013-02-13T08:20:00.001-05:00

We have been asked to provide an update on our fight with the IRS. The update we are still fighting and we are not backing down or bowing to the heavy hand of the régime!!

We would like to give our sincere thanks to The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) who currently represents Kentucky 9/12 Project in its dealings with the IRS regarding the organization’s application for 501(c)(4) status. Below is a timeline of our application process with the IRS. This week the ACLJ has resubmitted to the IRS over 250 pages of documentation (redacted where necessary)

I want to thank everyone that has and continues to support us through this process and let you know we will not roll over and see this to the end. Also we know we are not standing for an organization or ourselves but we are standing for you, standing for liberty, and standing for principles. If you would like to help we are asking that you please do not send funds to us but please support the ACLJ and their efforts in representing us. http://aclj.org/

Timeline:
- We (KY912) submitted its initial request to the IRS on or about December 31, 2010.

- We received a form letter back stating we would hear back within 90 days of our submission (they never said which 90 days though). As we could tell the IRS did little or nothing with respect to the submitted application for approximately 13 months.

- On or about February 14, 2012, the Kentucky 9/12 Project received a letter from the IRS requesting extensive additional information. Our response “We will not comply”. The request for additional information included the following: requests for information that had already been provided with the initial submission as well as requests for information in addition to that which had already been submitted. With respect to information that had not already been submitted, the letter included some requests that appear to be overly burdensome in their scope, some requests that are beyond the scope of legitimate inquiry for a 501(c)(4) application, and/or some requests that violate the First Amendment or other rights of the organization and/or its members.

- We retained the services of the ACLJ which requested a 90 day extension to the IRS overreaching and unreasonable requests.

- On May 11, 2012, the ACLJ sent a letter to the IRS noting that due to the detailed and thorough nature of their additional questions and the amount of time that it was taking to compile the information and request documents, they respectfully requested an additional 60 days to respond. The IRS never responded to our May 11, 2012 letter.

- On June 6, 2012, the ACLJ again contacted the IRS in a second letter noting our recent attempt to request an extension that went unanswered and again requested an additional 60 days to respond. The IRS never responded to our second request.

- On August 20, 2012, the ACLJ, for a third time, sent a letter to the IRS requesting an additional 90 days to respond and noted that our last two attempts to communicate with the IRS were ignored.

- On September 4, 2012, the IRS contacted the ACLJ via fax with a 5 page communication stating that the IRS had completed another review of Kentucky 9/12’s file and concluded that it did not need all of the additional materials that were previously requested. In the September 4, 2012 letter, the IRS withdrew its previous questions and resubmitted a new set of questions to Kentucky 9/12. The IRS also established a new deadline of September 26, 2012 for the ACLJ to respond.

- On September 6, 2012, the ACLJ sent a letter to the IRS noting receipt of the IRS’s September 4, 2012 fax that included the new set of questions and respectfully requested an additional 90 days to respond from the date of our letter. To date, over four months later, the IRS has yet to respond to our September 6, 2012 communication.

- February 14, 2013 (one year after the IRS initial inquiry) Nevertheless, as a courtesy, the Kentucky 9/12 Project has just provided anew the information previously submitted for which a subsequent request has been made by the IRS. The Kentucky 9/12 Project is also providing additional information requested that appears to be within the legitimate scope of IRS inquiry. However, where the request is unduly burdensome, exceeds the scope of legitimate IRS inquiry regarding a 501(c)(4) application, and/or violates the First Amendment or other rights of the organization and/or its members, the Kentucky 9/12 Project declines to provide such information and interposes the appropriate legal defense thereto.

If Posting This Can Save Just One Life

2013-02-04T12:52:00.001-05:00

If It Saves Just One Life. Exert from article on Brush Fire Forum by Dr Shanon Brooks

If it only saves one life, we should ban peanuts, sports, and fishing.
If it saves only one life, we should ban electricity.
If it only saves one life, we should ban alcoholic beverages, hammers, and knives.
If it only saves one life, we should ban travel, mountains, and water.
If it only saves one life, we should consider banning everything but sitting around.

But by that same logic,

if it saves just one life we should arm every citizen.
If it only saves one life, we should encourage all citizens to take gun safety courses.
If it only saves one life, the government should encourage all fathers and mothers to stay married and love each other.
If it only saves one life, fathers should spend more time with and showing true affection to their sons and daughters.
If it only saves one life, families should start going back to church.
If it only saves one life, we should stop the spending and start living within our means.

The real question is not so much if it saves one life, but do we give up liberty for security?

Read Full Article…

Libraryseed; "The Three Strikes of the Match" (FREE PUBLIC EVENT)

2013-01-30T14:34:00.002-05:00

When: Tuesday February 5th

Where: Lexington Public Library140 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507

You Should Know: Hear your history and heritage like you have never heard it before. Learn about the people and events of the first day of the Revolutionary War; April 19, 1775. Hear of the triumphs and the tragedies as you find out the answers to these questions:

1. When and where was the American Revolution won, according to John Adams?

2. When and where did the Revolutionary War break out?

3. What caused the British regulars, components of a fine, well-equipped, well-trained, well-disciplined army, to break and run at Concord's North Bridge, after only two minutes of musket fire by an assortment of farmers, shopkeepers and tradesmen who had a desire to defend their liberty?

4. What caused one of the most perceptive British generals - who was present that day, on Battle Road - to completely turn around on his previously negative and dismissive opinion of the military worth of Americans?

Presented by the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, a nationwide, non-profit 501(c)(3), non-partisan organization. www.rwva.org

Atlas Shrugged - by Ayn Rand

2013-01-30T10:30:00.003-05:00

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

With this acclaimed work and its immortal query, "Who is John Galt?”. Ayn Rand found the perfect artistic form with this classic Atlas Shrugged to express her vision of existence. This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies, but against those who needed him most, and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world’s motor—and the motive power of every man? You will know the answer to these questions when you discover the reason behind the baffling events that play havoc with the lives of the characters in this story.

Tremendous in its scope, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life—from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy—to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction—to the philosopher who becomes a pirate—to the composer who gives up his career on the night of his triumph—to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad—to the lowest track worker in her Terminal tunnels.

Eric Wilson’s Review: Surprisingly it has taken me this long to formally write a review of this book. I have just recently completed this book for yet another time and it is even more relevant today and keeps getting more pertinent every day. You must be prepared, when you read this book, to check every premise at the root of your convictions. Getting past some of the run on dialogue and flowery descriptions of scenery there lays a frightening analogy of what we see today. At its core this book is a philosophical journey of human nature and at its meaning it continues as a warning to everyone. If you read this and it does not make the hair stand up on the back of your neck; if you don’t think it can happen here and is happening now – check your premises because one of them is wrong.

Find this and other books in our recommended reading list: Click here

Celebrating National School Choice Week

2013-01-27T14:48:00.002-05:00

For immediate release

Saturday, January 26, 2013
From: Bluegrass Institute

Celebrating National School Choice Week: Too bad Kentucky hardly has any

(LEXINGTON, Ky.) – Parents, students and educators nationwide will celebrate National School Choice Week beginning tomorrow.

Students in 41 states plus Washington, DC currently have the option of attending public charter schools, where parents – rather than zip codes or bureaucrats – ultimately decide where their child can best be educated.

Parents and students also are thrilled about growing evidence that charter schools are doing better and better, especially for minority and under-privileged students.

“It’s time for Kentucky’s legislators – especially those who claim to represent the interests of low-income, minority citizens – to step up to the plate and change the education picture in the commonwealth,” said Jim Waters, president of the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky’s free market think tank. “By the time School Choice Week 2014 rolls around, Kentuckians should be able to join the celebration instead of just having to watch – again – from the sidelines.”

In honor of School Choice Week, the Bluegrass Institute is releasing a series of video interviews, beginning Sunday, with Billy Harper, a former member of the Kentucky Board of Education.

The latest good news about the performance of charter schools comes from the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), which just released “Who Attends Charter Schools and How Are Those Students Doing?”

Some key findings include:

• National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP, otherwise known as the Nation’s Report Card) scores in grades 4 and 8 reading and math have increased between 2003 and 2011, in both regular public and charter schools, with larger gains for charter schools.

• In many subject/grade combinations (black, Hispanic and low-income students) in charter schools performed significantly better in 2011 than those in regular public schools.

• The performance of low-income black students attending charter schools in large cities is particularly striking.

Meanwhile, thanks to selfish “adult interests,” charter schools and other choice options like private-school vouchers remain only a dream in Kentucky.

While students in most of Kentucky's neighboring states have options to escape seriously underperforming schools, students in Kentucky, “must attend their neighborhood public school regardless of its safety, quality, class sizes, teaching staff, or other issues outside their parents’ control,” as Robert Enlow, president and CEO, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, recently stated.

For information, please contact Jim Waters at 270-782-2140 or jwaters@freedomkentucky.com.

School choice: Kentucky families deserve it

2013-01-25T14:18:00.002-05:00

Since the Bluegrass Institute began a decade ago, they have been extolling the virtues of school choice.

From Bluegrass Institute Newsletter:

We said: "Parents deserve a choice so Kentucky's kids have a chance."

We also predicted that the longer parents in other states had choice, the higher the mountain of research indicating school choice provides a better education for our most at-risk kids would grow.

We were right then ... and we are right today. New research indicates growing progress -- especially among the nation's charter schools, as a whole -- among charter schools in providing low-income, minority students with the type of education that will allow them to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and failure that often has dominated their families for generations.

Beginning Sunday, the institute will celebrate National School Choice Week by calling attention to the successes of charter schools around the nation. We also will release a seven-part video series taken from a recent interview with Billy Harper, a former gubernatorial candidate and member of the Kentucky Board of Education, who is committed to improving our state's public schools.

Contact your legislator today and simply tell them: We want charter schools in Kentucky.

To contact your legislator, call toll-free (800) 372-7181. You do not have to have to know the name of your legislator. You only need to give your name, address and question. It will then be forwarded to those legislators that represent your area of Kentucky.

Learn more and visit BIPPS at http://www.bipps.org/post-lead-education-reform/

January 28 2013 – Education forum in Louisville

More information at http://louisville912.com/2013/01/21/january-28-2013-education-forum/

This month’s Louisville 9/12 meeting will be an education forum in which we will ask the participants two questions: 1. What is a good education? 2. How do we get there from here?

Confirmed panelists are Jim Waters, John Kemper, and Tomas Mauricio.

There is general consensus that our education system is broken, but what can we do to try to fix it? The first step, which is missing from most discussions, is to determine what is a good education. If we don’t know what our goal is, we have little chance of reaching it.

Once we have a good idea of our goal, we will consider options for how we might try to get there.

We are hopeful that, by approaching the education issue from the perspective of having the end in mind, we will come up with some new ideas and will see what role we, as parents, grandparents, and citizens, can play in the process.

The public is welcome to attend. The forum will be at the J-town library, January 28, 2013, 7-8:30 pm.

RIP Norm Davis

2013-01-22T07:38:00.004-05:00

We are saddened in the passing of Norm Davis, our hearts and prayers go out to his wife Lydia and family. Norm was one of the biggest political influences in Kentucky for years and true activist for liberty. He inspired Take Back Kentucky (the original pro-liberty organization in Kentucky defending rights for over 30 years) and his influence has grown and touched thousands over the span of his life.

Our gratitude goes out to this man that stood for all of us – we will miss you, the Commonwealth of Kentucky will miss you, and the nation will morn your passing. Thanks for everything and RIP our friend – your memory will live through our continued vigilance.

The True Crisis in Washington

2013-01-15T15:58:00.005-05:00

Exert from article from http://www.brushfireforum.com

The True Crisis in Washington

We narrowly avoided the fiscal cliff. Our nation’s credit rating still hangs in the balance. We continue to face economic catastrophe with a looming debate on the debt ceiling. This is all in addition to the gun crisis and…I am not sure but…is there still a “war on women?” Welcome to the 21st-century of politics, where statesmanship and governance are quaint historical concepts and politics is all there is.

Governance today is tilting at windmills, pitting one side against another, and manufacturing an enemy for you to attack. Parties now run full-time – not just during elections – and the status quo is constantly playing politics. Reflection, wisdom, principles, and ideals – these are things of a far-distant past.

The goal today is not to “fix” a problem but to “fixate” you on a problem. The media follows the same pattern – treating daily news like a campaign rather than anything that resembles journalism.

Historically, you would have been able to find two camps of people. Examining the two extremes, first are short term pragmatists doing whatever it takes to fix a crisis. These people are usually reactionary and desire more rapid or precipitous change. In the other camp is principled realism, these individuals represent the most idealist views and their focus is not necessarily what is currently happening but promotion of change for future states.

Ideally, what should occur is a healthy balance of these two camps, and governance is principled and considered. When “real” immediate problems occur, the short term pragmatism will kick in and do what it takes to solve the emergency. Then when the crisis ended and normalcy returned, what you would see would be a shift from short term pragmatism back to the principled realism.

By contrast, today the crises intentionally never end and neither does the campaigning. Instead of winning the campaign and then settling down to governing with principled realism, the status quo never stops creating a crisis and running for office. What has replaced principled realism is a permanent campaign.

We have followed suit and become a society of crisis pragmatists looking to be saved. Everybody wants to be rescued, and few any longer have faith in long term principled realism. We have been caught in a trap of either expecting someone else to fix things or accepting the vision they provide for us.

We continue to look at others as the solution, look up to politicians as rock stars, and celebrate “getting ahead” as being part of the system. We lay our trust and our future in the hands of the system and that one party can save us from the other. The answer must become that we do not just elect a different leader, but we (you) become a self-governing leader. The answer is not in “R’s” and “D’s” but “you’s” and “I’s.”

Read full story...

Author: Eric Wilson is heavily involved encouraging the principle of self-governing leadership and is the Executive Director for Kentucky 9/12 Project, co-author of the book “We Surround Them; Our Journey From Apathy to Action”, and is the Network Administrator and co-founder of Brush Fire Forum.com

NEW MEETUP - E-Town Jan 21

2013-01-11T09:48:00.002-05:00

New meetup (wonder if we still need to call them that) and initial meeting in Elizabethtown, KY

Monday - January 21 6:00pm
Hometown Buffet (should be familiar meeting place to a few of you)

Let’s come out and support her and find out that you are not alone!!!

Heather Cooper Smith -

“Getting in touch worried we really are alone out here. Especially interested in any others working toward knowledge and self sufficiency. Let’s shoot for a 1st meeting date of Monday January 21st at hometown buffet. 6pm If you are interested in coming please shoot me an email so I can look out for you and so I can make sure we have a big enough table. Heatherlsmithky@gmail.com”

Willing To Stand (are you)

2013-01-11T09:42:00.003-05:00

Jackson County Sheriff Denny Peyman has some advice for federal officials attempting to confiscate legal guns held by citizens in his jurisdiction: “go ahead, make my day.”

Sheriff Peyman says he is very concerned about proposed federal legislation that could result in massive gun ownership bans and orders of confiscation.

“My office will not comply with any federal action which violates the United States Constitution or the Kentucky Constitution which I swore to uphold,” Peyman said. “Let them pull that stuff in other places if they want, but not in Jackson County, Kentucky.”

Peyman hopes his strong stand in support of the Second Amendment encourages law enforcement officers around Kentucky and elsewhere to reassure citizens of their protection from overzealous federal action on gun control.

“Just a few of us have to be willing to stand up to political opposition putting our people at risk,” Peyman said. “The other side will back down.”

(Presented by David Adams)

We need to Stand, support and like this page of a constitutional Sheriff here in Kentucky who is refusing to confiscate guns http://www.facebook.com/StandWithTheSheriff

In addition would everybody take the time from each of your perspective counties to ask your sheriff if they would join the Sheriff in Jackson County for a press conference at 1 PM Saturday January 12.