Sample Presentation to Coalition Partners
July , 2009
1. What is the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
(KCADP)? KCADP is a 501 c 3 organization qualified as a non-profit, tax
exempt public charity within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code.
2. How is KCADP governed? KCADP is governed by a self-perpetuating
board of directors, elected annually. While KCADP has individual and
organizational ‘members’ in a colloquial sense who receive regular
mailings and invitations to periodic meetings, KCADP is not a membership
organization in a legal sense.
3. Do KCADP coalition members have a role in governance? No, not by
virtue of their status as coalition members. Coalition members endorse
KCADP'’s work, its message and allow use of its name and goodwill.
4. What exactly does it mean to be a Coalition Member of the KCADP?
Members of the Coalition are joined together in common cause to abolish
capital punishment as a penal option. Coalition members (1) allow their
names to be used by KCADP in its public statements against capital
punishment and in furtherance of its mission, message and position; (2)
inform their own members of KCADP events and action requests; (3)
assist KCADP supporters in identifying speaking venues and recruitment
opportunities; (4) participate in KCADP events and action requests as
when possible.
5. What is the Mission of KCADP? KCADP'’s official Mission Statement is:
Mission
To abolish the death penalty in Kentucky
Vision
To assemble a broad-based coalition of individuals and organizations committed to
ending the death penalty in Kentucky by
¢ educating residents of the commonwealth about why it is in their best
interest to abolish the death penalty
¢ organizing and mobilizing throughout the commonwealth
¢ engaging in advocacy efforts that move constituents to persuade the
governor and the General Assembly to abolish the death penalty
Guiding Principles
Perseverance—We are dedicated to the ongoing work necessary to abolish the death
penalty; until that goal is possible, we are willing to bring about small changes that
eventually will lead to the abolition of the death penalty.
Broad tent—We recognize that ending the death penalty in Kentucky requires the shared
knowledge, resources, and efforts of many; we strive to establish alliances with diverse
individuals and organizations with related missions to advance our cause.
Credibility—We conduct ourselves with uncompromising integrity and honesty, striving
to earn enduring credibility with others, which is essential to long-term success.
Strategic Goals
1. Develop a system to identify and understand what is occurring and has occurred in
Kentucky and elsewhere, and use this system to our advantage.
Develop and implement a system to garner volunteer and financial resources.
Create and implement a marketing and education campaign to engage supporters,
educate the undecided, influence public opinion, and counter myths.
4. Develop a statewide system to organize supporters and move them to action.
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5. Who are the current organizational members of the Coalition?
Separate list.
6. Who are the current board members and officers of KCADP?
The Rev. Patrick Delahanty, Chair
Carl Wedekind, lawyer, author and former state coordinator
Kaye Gallagher, treasurer and KCADP Coordinator
Sr. Chris Beckett, President Presentation Academy, former Catholic volunteer
chaplain at Eddyville’s Death Row
Dawn Jenkins, Department of Public Advocacy
Mark Meade, Bellarmine University, Thomas Merton Center
Maria Hines, social activist on behalf of victims groups, member, Murder
Victims’ Families for Reconciliation
Randall Wheeler, lawyer and retired public defender
Richard Mitchell, Lexington -U.K. Dental School.
Sheriall Cunningham, Director, Mental Health America of Kentucky
Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, legislative agent, President Junior League of
Louisville
Ben Griffith, piano tuner and member of Murder Victims’ Families for
Reconciliation
Charles Bussey, retired professor of history, Western KY University
Donald Vish, director of advocacy and education, KCADP.
8. What is the message of KCADP? KCADP’s message is: the death
penalty is too risky, too costly, unnecessary, unfair and too broke to
fix. It is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency and no
randomly selected jury in Kentucky would impose it.
KCADP endorses a seven point position:
(1) There is no compelling evidence that the death penalty as administered in
Kentucky rationally serves a legitimate penological interest.
(2) The costs of the death penalty are greater than the costs of life in prison
without parole, but it is not possible to measure these costs with any degree of
precision.
(3) There is increasing evidence that the death penalty is inconsistent with
evolving standards of decency.
(4) Abolition of the death penalty will eliminate the risk of disproportionality in
capital sentencing.
(5) The penological interest in executing a small number of persons guilty of
murder is not sufficiently compelling to justify the risk of making an irreversible
mistake.
(6) The alternative of life imprisonment in a maximum-security institution without
the possibility of parole would sufficiently ensure public safety and address other
legitimate social and penological interests, including the interests of the families
of murder victims.
(7) Resources must be dedicated to ensure adequate services and advocacy for
the families of murder victims.
9. What is KCADP’s budget? KCADP has adopted a three year budget of
$240,000. It has currently raised $160,000.
10. Does KCADP lobby? Only in strict compliance with the Internal
Revenue Code and state laws. Basically, less than 20% of KCADP
resources are used for lobbying.
First Draft May 19, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009 (Presented to Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky)
Revised July 7, 2009
