To: PD, KG, CW, KM
Re: NCADP Convention, Chicago, January 14-16-2011
Here is my report on my attendance at the NCADP Convention.
1.
ACTION TAKEN: talked to Indiana coalition leaders about engaging Hospira since its
headquarters are in its state and making an argument that Hospira’s opportunity to do more
business in Europe may be constrained by their unwanted but key role in executions by lethal
injection. Made the same presentation to Aureile PLACAIS, Campaign Officer, World Coalition
Against the Death Penalty. She is headquartered in France.
ACTION TAKEN: during Kentucky report (limited to one minute) | asked the assembly to write to
Governor Beshear and ask him to delay signing the three execution warrants on his desk until
the ABA report is issued and reminding him that if Kentucky goes thru with the executions it will
have executed as many people in a month as it has executed in the last 48 years. Also asked for
letters to Hospira asking them to evaluate their indirect but key role in lethal injections and
deliberate whether this might impact adversely their good will and standing in the world
community ( Hospira’s annual report says it is a global citizen).
MOST VALUABLE TAKE AWAYS: Richard Dieter’s detailed coverage of the new Lake poll showing
61% prefer sentence other than death; that prison sentence coupled with restitution to the
victims’ families attracts the most support (never used this approach before) and that the
number one argument that sways people against the death penalty is fairness followed by
innocence ( which is also related to fairness); the economic argument is NOT resonating with
conservatives, they too are moved by the fairness argument; in the tech presentation one leader
from West Virginia reported getting a lot of response to a Facebook Ad for about $200.00 (never
thought of this).
PLENARY SESSIONS: there were three, very well attended. Two were aspirational ( a reflection
on fairness and a very moving story of a father whose son was murdered but he nevertheless is
against the death penalty), motivational or reportorial. One was analytical and the most helpful
in my work: “Understanding the Broader Political Landscape...” The main point here was in
building bridges to those who don’t agree with us in principle is to cast our argument around
THEIR mission statement. While this may seem self-evident, it was very helpful to me.
INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS: the two writing sections were strong and helpful making two points for
effective writing: 1) shorter is better 2) always better to tell a real story either about yourself or
another person that illustrates the point. She likes letters to the editor under 100 words. The
social networking presentation told me we are at the state of the art (thanks Zach).
FYI: Mary Achilles, who did a very impressive job at the conference, asked me about Rachel’s
Fund; | told her PD was putting together a report based on polling the board and that Maria and
Ray, who attended the conference, liked what she was doing and | introduced them.
FOLLOW-UP meeting with the film maker that is working on Marie Hines’ story ( PD and |
attended the interviews).
The mood at the conference was restrained joy with the passage of the abolition bill. There was
no strutting or chest thumping, however. The governor has 60 days to sign the bill; it can
10.
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become law without his signature; most informed people think (hope?) he will sign it.
ATTENDANCE: from my inexpert visual assessment, | would say the conference attracted more
people than Kentucky although the awards dinner was not as well attended nor was the closing
spiritual service. There were a lot of new faces and, as always, virtually every generational
group from the 20s to the 70s was well represented.
| had a long lunch with Ray and Maria and they seemed to enjoy talking about our work at the
Coalition.
NEST YEAR: no decision has been made on when or where the conference will be held. There is
apparently a groundswell for moving it from January since that is the month most legislatures
convene.
Even though | am no social butterfly, | did make a conscious attempt to talk to as many state
reps as possible to show the Kentucky flag.
DV
January 18, 2011
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