Good News Report Aug 2010
It’s interesting to note that of all the comments made on blogs, articles and through social media applications on the Internet, you’re likely to find mentions of The John Birch Society, especially when the discussion turns to politics and the tea party movement. Depending on the side of the political spectrum folks fall on, the remarks range from supportive to vicious. Many dissenters recycle old falsehoods about the Society. Keep in mind that old saying: tell a lie enough and it becomes truth.
One of the false statements we have seen this year is that JBS had been banned or excluded from participating in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). In fact, JBS has never been excluded or obstructed from participating in any way. Up until 2010, the organization had made the decision not to be part of it, except for one time in the mid 1990s when we had purchased a booth at the last minute (apparently it was the last one available).
Throughout the entire process of interacting with the good folks who plan and run CPAC, as well as those in neighboring booths and all the thousands of booth visitors, we had a very pleasant experience. Since CPAC, we have seen more than one blog claim that we won’t be asked back for 2011. But that’s not what an email and corresponding letter says that arrived in late June from CPAC officials. We’re sure we received the same form letter as the rest of the 2010 cosponsors.
It looks like the only changes being made include changing the designation of “cosponsors” to “affiliates” and limiting the amount of booths a single organization can purchase.
Given the success that we had in February at the 2010 conference, we are now planning to send in our financial commitment to be an affiliate with a double booth as we had previously. If you are planning on going, please get in touch with your Coordinator or Chapter Leader or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We’d very much like to meet you at the booth, as well as ask you to volunteer some of your time to help staff the booth. CPAC 2011 will be held at the same location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on February 10-12.
The media onslaught that occurred over our CPAC 2010 participation netted about 609 mentions through social media applications (like Twitter), blog postings, and in print, online and broadcast mainstream media. The total estimated circulation rate was about 25 million and a corresponding ad equivalency rate was around $84,000. You can count on it beginning again … soon.
