[Northkeep] Suggested Action in the Northern Region (Long)

[Cellach Ferguson]

Valstarr is correct.  If we want legislators to pay attention when we speak,
we have to do it nicely.  They will not listen to anyone rant and rave
(trust me).

The point regarding using Texas as a threat is a valid one.  A good deal of
economic freedom in this state is due to the fact that we can just drive to
Texas to get what we need.  Imagine if our neighbors were as closed minded
as the Oklahoma Legislature.  They'd have declared pixie stix illegal
because they are the same form of matter as cocaine and doublemint gum would
be illegal because of the those provocative twins on those immoral
commericals!  (Let's don't even get started on what they'd do to the
availability of good Scotch...)

Help the legislators see the light... slowly.  They do NOTHING fast.  It has
to sort of dawn on them. When they believe it was their idea all along,
THEN things will get done.

Cellach Ferguson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Yates" <valstarr_hawkwind at yahoo.com>
To: <northern at ansteorra.org>
Cc: <northkeep at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 1:45 AM
Subject: [Northkeep] Suggested Action in the Northern Region (Long)


> Greetings to Fellow Residents of the Northern Region!
>    Please permit me to introduce myself, as there are
> many in the region who have not met me; my SCA name is
> Valstarr Hawkwind, residing in the far southern part
> of the Barony of Northkeep (a little south of
> McAlester)
>    I have followed the tax issue regarding merchants
> at SCA events in the Northern Region in the wake of
> last year's action by Oklahoma's legilature.
>    I have personally brought this up with a number of
> legislators over the past few months, and most have
> seemed willing to either help, or at least be open to
> the idea, of change.
>    As many of you know, much of what went through last
> year in the legislature did not have a great deal of
> time to be screened/rviewed/amended.
>    I have been assured by at least one legislator that
> this issue will come up early in the session. What i
> am recommending is, that each of you contact your
> legislator.
>    Pretty simple, in sounding. I know that few people,
> myself included, take the time to write a letter,
> address it, and mail it for a political goal.
>    So, here are some links to help you out, if you are
> interested
>
> Oklahoma Houseof Represntatives
> http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/house/mememail.htm
>
> Oklahoma State Senate
> http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/directoryalpha.htm
>
>    I would encourage you to click on the link and the
> second one in the senators' cases, and e-mail them
> about your concern.
>    I would also encourage calls to the offices of your
> elected representative. Here is the toll free number
> for the Oklahoma House of Representatives
>    800-522-8502.
>
>    They can connect you with the office of your
> reresentative, without it costing you for a long
> distance call.
>    Even though a call is likely to be handled by a
> staff member, the input, I feel, will get passed
> along. I further feel it highly likely that e-mail
> input will be passed along, or read directly by the
> elected officials themselves.
>    Doing both e-mailing and calling also gives us
> 'double' contacts. We should be willing to identify
> ourselves, and when calling/e-mailing our
> senator/representative, point out we live in the
> district they represent (a friendly way fo saying you
> are a consituent)
>    A cordial demeanor should be in all our
> communications.
>    I would like to offer, in case some of you would
> like to use them, some of the types of points that I
> feel will be helpful in getting our view across.
>
> +  Mention that you undertsand there has been talk of
> looking at the issue of sales tax permits and making
> groups responsible for them again by the legislature.
>
> +  Point out that our group's regional (i.e.,
> kingdom,)organization has ruled that, (due to the
> perhaps unintended requirements the new law imposes,)
> generally ruled there will be no businesses allowed to
> sell at our events.
>
> + our events are not large, but it is a strain to make
> the local group both purchase a permit, and be
> responsible for collecting and remunerating what sales
> tax is collected.
>
> + we are somewhat similar to historical reenactment
> organizations, and our attendance is not huge at
> events.
>
> + without being able to purchase the specialty items
> for our hobby at these events, if we want to purchase
> them at an event, we have to go to Texas (I know,
> playing the Texas card,) Arkansas, or Kansas to an
> event there.
>
> + point out that this measure has implications to much
> larger festivals and events that communities in their
> district likely offer that are much larger than SCA
> events.
>
> + request that the law be changed so that an event
> organizer (as in a local group) is not responsible for
> the collection and remuneration to the state of sales
> tax collected at events
>
> + request that there not be a permit fee that an event
> organizer has to purchase to have items sold by
> private individuals/businesses that are not connected
> with the group.
>
> The legislative session begins Monday. It is a fine
> time for our friendly, positive voice to be heard, as
> citizens of the Great State of Oklahoma.
>
>    I thank you for your consideration.
> Regards,
> Valstarr
>
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