VADP Progress Report @
September 2008 - May 2009
VIRGINIANS FOR
This report is generated from the goals established during the September 26, 2008 ALTERNATIVES
strategic planning meeting and tracks the progress of VADP from that meeting until April © Mibe@Adadeiedsiallaaiocind
27, 2009. Goals and deadlines set at the September meeting are underlined and progress
on these goals thus far is in bold.
Fundraising:
Total Raised by 6/30/09 - $85,000
e Total as of April 27: $28,720.20
e Fundraising plan developed 10/08 - completed
Mailings: $35,000 by 6/30/09
e Total as of April 27: $14,625.20
e Campaign packets sent out 11/7/08 with introduction letter from ED, new campaign materials and
remittance envelope (but did not specifically ask for donation).
e Fundraising appeal - 12/5/08
e Includes individual donors under $500.
e Spring fundraising appeal will be sent in May 2009.
Events: $5,000 by 6/30/09
e Total as of April 27: $650
e Event related collections/ Honoraria for 25 events/speaking tour
e Put off big events for now because not very profitable
Coalition partners: $10,000 by 6/30/09
e Total as of April 27: $6,445
e Sent targeted campaign packets to churches and organizations on 11/7/08
e Fundraising appeal sent 12/5/08
e Includes all supporting churches and organizations.
Major Donors: $22,500 by 6/30/09
e Total as of April 27: $7,000
e All major ($500 +) and potential major (250 +) donors were sent personalized appeal letters in the
12/08 mailing and a board member or staff called to follow-up.
e Includes donors over $500.
Monthly donors: Increase by 50 donors by 6/30/09
e Increased from 7 to 9: (lost 1, gained 3, $223/mo., $2,676/yr.)
Board: 100% participation - not 100% participation in 2008
Foundations: $11,700
e Total as of April 27: $0
e LOI to FADP submitted 12/31/08 - No foundation was interested in VADP submitting a proposal.
Open Society replied “maybe”. VADP sent email to FADP coordinator after successes during veto
session offering to craft update for OSI, no response yet.
e Foundation applications: Catholic Campaign for Human Development 10/08 (denied), Blue Moon
LOI 1/6/09, RESIST 2/08 (denied), Westminster Presbyterian 2/08, Unitarian Universalist Fund fora
Just Society 3/09, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation 4/09.
¢ Schedule of deadlines for Virginia and national foundations developed - submitting to all foundations
that VA DP is eligible.
Membership Development
e Add 1,000 new members by 6/30/09
o Number of new members: 290 (26 new donors)
o Number of new email addresses: 523
e Participate in 25 events by 12/15/08 - During the 10/08 board meeting, the board decided that this
was an unrealistic goal and was not necessarily where the energy of VADP staff should be focused
during fall 2008. No other target number for events was assigned.
e Board members identify groups that they are involved in and will volunteer to speak at or connect
Beth to speak to the group (info provided by 10/7/08) - Two board members participated by either
speaking at events themselves or inviting Beth to speak to groups where they belong. Information
provided in 10/08 and 11/08.
e Speaking Tour at the beginning of the legislative session - 1/31/09- modified and completed 4/5/09
o Did not hold speaking tour at the beginning of the session, instead held 7 events in and around
targeted districts in the five weeks between the regular session and the reconvene session
(veto session).
e Events:
o 10/14/08, 10/15/08, 11/11/08 - 3 film screenings of “Love Lived on Death Row” with panel
discussion, co-sponsored with the ACLU in Harrisonburg, Roanoke, and Norfolk
10/27/08 - JMU event, students volunteers staffed VA DP table
11/24/08 - VADP NOVA meeting - introduce to ED and strategic plan
1/11/09 - Community Dinner (Steve Northup)
1/31/09 - Peace Community Dinner
2/4/09 - "The Death Penalty & Race: Equal Justice for All?" at GMU - sponsored by
Amnesty, Albert Monroe spoke for VADP
2/27/09 - Table at Michael Franti & Spearhead concert
3/8/09 - Forum at St. James Episcopal Church with Kathleen Kenny
3/22/09 - Forum at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Chris Ramos (VCC) and Colleen
Barringer (Catholic Diocese of Richmond)
3/23/09 - Lecture at Walsingham Academy
3/24/09 - Shujaa Graham lecture at Christopher Newport University
3/36/09 - Thomas Cahill lecture and book signing (co-sponsored with VIC PP)
4/5/09 - Forum at Richmond Friends Meeting
4/5/09 - Panel discussion on criminal justice issues at St. Charles Borromeo Church
4/15/09 - Monticello High School
4/21/09 - “Confronting Injustice: Race, Poverty and the Death Penalty” lecture by Bryan
Stevenson (co-sponsored with Sojourners United Church of Christ)
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o 4/23/09 - Film screening & discussion at CNU
Develop membership development work plan - comp d
Sort membership by legislative district - in progress - membership can be sorted but not easily sent
email blasts from that list
NCADP conference - 5 VADP members attended
o Promoted conference at events, on website, and through email alerts
Track new members at each event - completed & ongoing
Create list of volunteer opportunities - I
Coalition Development
Create coalition partners work plan - in progress
Meet with allies during fall 2008 - ¢ leted
o Dick Dieter of DPIC
Jeff Caruso and Chris Ramos of the Virginia Catholic Conference
Kent Willis and Hope A mezquita of the ACLU
Doug Smith of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Breanna Peterson of Amnesty International
Michael Stone of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Bishop David Jones of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
Betsy Edwards of the Virginia Fair Trial Project
Kurt Rosenberg of Witness to Innocence
Rev. Whitney Zimmerman of St. James Episcopal Church
John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute
Bill Broaddus (Advisory Board member, former AG)
Jim Hingley of the VA Bar Association (on ex parte hearing bill)
Colleen Barringer of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond)
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Collaborated with allies to co-sponsor several events and worked closely with allies on legislative
advocacy.
Internal/External Communications
Develop an Execution Communications Plan - 1/15/08 - completed
Adapted the crisis media plan from NCADP - 10/08 - leted
Develop Membership Communications Plan - completed
Develop fact sheets/brochures - 12/15/08 - completed
Distribute Moratorium Campaign packets - completed
o Distributed to board members and key allies
o Email list and postal mail 11/7/08
Database upgrade - in progress
o On the waiting list for EJUSA free database. Other databases researched, but very costly.
Website updated daily with news and events
Regularly use Facebook to advertise events and build membership base
Create a consistent logo/V ADP brand - ¢ let
o Worked with designer who completed a new brand that includes a horizontal and vertical
logo. VADP staff “phasing” this logo into our existing materials.
Beth will attend media training by 12/31/08 - not ¢ leted
Pro- Active Media: press outreach - been cultivating relationships - now have relationship with
member of editorial board at The Virginia Pilot and several reporters
Utilizing consistent messages in communication materials, at events, and with the press
Press releases:
o DPIC report
© Justin Wolfe 4" circuit hearing
o Eddie Bell’s execution
o New Mexico Repeal
0 Senate sustains Governor's vetoes
Media Coverage:
0 1/27/08 Radio - WRIR 30 minute interview
0 Op-Ed in Bacon’s Rebellion
0 Op-Ed in Virginia Pilot
0 Letters to the Editor - RTD (1/09, 3/09), Northern Virginia Daily, Augusta Free Press,
Alexandria Gazette, Culpeper Star Exponent, etc.
o Numerous articles where VADP and the abolitionist perspective was mentioned
Identify and ask 5 individuals to be non-VADP spokespeople - 11/15/08 - in progress
0 John Whitehead (conservative), Jon Sheldon (legal), Bill Broaddus (law enforcement) have
agreed to be non-V ADP spokespeople
Legislative Assessment
Develop a legislator tracking system - completed
Convene Legislative Tracking Committee - 11/17/08 -
o Aimee, Doug Smith, Jeff Caruso
Determine and meet with other allies who are working on the Edwards bill by 11/14/08
o Sen. Edwards decided not to introduce the bill even after VADP met with him and asked
allies to encourage him.
o VADP focused on another reform, SB 939, and worked with Jim Hingley from the VA Bar
Association. This bill failed in House Courts of Justice.
Develop a legislative mobilization plan (talking points, materials) by Thanksgiving - completed
Met with 6 key legislators in their districts prior to 2009 session (Edwards, Marsh, Melvin, Valentine,
Watts, Hargrove)
Mobilized allies and members during session on 5 expansion bills, one reform bill (SB 939) and an
abolition bill. VADP staff kept a presence at the General Assembly throughout session, organized
members to testify at committee meetings, meet with legislators, and contact via email and phone.
Set up 5 constituent meetings with key Senators (Miller, Northam, Petersen, Barker, Edwards)
between the regular session and the reconvene session to sustain Governor's vetoes. Worked with
the Virginia Catholic Conference to ensure strong participation of residents.
o All Senators changed their vote on at least one bill
lated
o Changes:
Bill Regular Session - House | Regular Session - Senate | Reconvene Session
Senate
SB 961 (triggerman) 74 - 26 24-16 24 - 16
HB 2358 (triggerman) 73 - 25 24 - 13 24 - 16
SB 1409 (aux. police) 80 - 18 30-10 23 - 15
HB 2638 (fire m., aux p) 75 - 22 29-11 25-15
SB 1069 (fire marshals) 81-17 29-11 25-15
Board Partnership
lated
Develop Board Development plan - 12/9/08 - not c
o Board Development Committee must be established - completed
Develop Advisory Board Development Plan - 3/9/08 - not completed
Board Communications - establish a regular meeting schedule and set the dates for a 2 day strategic
planning retreat in May
o Jonand Beth - 10/15/08 - completed
Set up meetings with all Advisory Board members and invite others to be part of the Board by
4/30/08 - partially completed
0 Invited two new board members, meetings with Advisory Board members have not been
arranged
Governor Kaine- 1 1/2 years
Meet with Gov. Kaine to let him know what we are doing to seriously end the death penalty in
Virginia and see what he is willing to do - not completed
To Do/Catch All
Find out more about the Crime Commission including how members are appointed - completed
o 13 members: 9 legislative members, 3 non-legislative citizen members, and 1 state official as
follows: 6 members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 3
members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; 3 non-legislative
citizen members to be appointed by the Governor; and the A ttorney General or his designee
Monitor Crime Commission - completed
oO Monitored all meetings, testified on fire marshal legislation and worked with allies to reduce
the scope of the bill
Clarify the warrant process - not completed
Details on Dem. in Action/others - check on software w/ legislative districts - researched several
databases - very costly and decided to wait for the free service from EJ USA
Legislative coordinator - not completed
List for NCADP Conference - completed - advertised on website, through email blasts
Filing deadline to run for office - completed
o April 10, 2009 - filing deadline for primary candidates
o June 9, 2009 - filing deadline for independent candidates
Assessment of victim services - not completed
Planned giving options - not c leted
Monthly giving - increased slightly
Build email - in process
ED attended Restorative Justice Annual Conference - completed
Beyond Summer '09
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Martin Luther King Day 2010 - Large Lobby Day
recruit candidates
legislative study commission
complete cost study - GMU submitted LOI to FADP to fund full cost study, Radford professors
interested in working on smaller case study on cost - this will cost $9,000 and could be completed by
the end of summer 2009
craft legislation
fundraiser
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