It's amazing how varied and diverse our activities relating to the 'selling of freedom' have become over the summer. When I say 'amazing', perhaps what I really mean is 'unexpected'. Because when opportunity comes knocking, then it's time to answer the door.

And opportunity came knocking.

Our actions certainly produced several reactions, and often from quite unusual sources and in unusual ways. So without much further ado, we'll analyze our measure of failures and successes in the same goal-oriented format established in previous issues of the Freedom Flyer.

This is the only area of our activities in which we experienced any level of disappointment, but even that was offset by a good measure of success.

First, the bad news: the mailing of our second newsletter and various personal appeals virtually produced a nil response to the solicitation of funds, and this was, needless to say, an unexpected disappointment. Though we can always count on a handful of our sponsors to see us through the task of meeting our operating and production expenses, the lack of response from the membership at large (particularly in the Toronto area) has forced us to leave a number of projects sitting (literally) on the shelf.

Despite the proof of our activity, results, and literature, there were few who chose to reward us for our efforts. To those few (and you know who you are), I must extend my hearty thanks. But to the majority of you I must make the following comment and challenge: If you're not doing anything to maintain your membership or support status with Freedom party, then you do have an obligation to financially support us. Yes, that's right - an obligation.

Being a 'member' or 'supporter' of an organization involves much more than simply offering your agreement, moral support, or 'best wishes' for success. It means offering a physical committment (i.e., money or activity), without which any organization simply does not exist! Our committment to you has been made clear, time and time again - and committment is a two-way proposition. But there are no two ways about it: As Thomas Paine so adequately summed up the nature of such obligation: 'Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.'

So we're offering you a choice (after all, freedom of choice is what we're all about!): give now, or stop taking. We're not a something for nothing organization and we don't intend to operate on that principle. It's blatantly unfair to those who are making the effort, and it robs them of the necessary results and feedback required to show that their effort is not being expended needlessly. The covering letter enclosed with this newsletter has your name on it, and it has your options. This is your chance to prove what your principles and philosophies really mean to you. And we expect you to do the right thing.

Now, the good news: Help is on the way. Where our efforts apparently failed to produce any substantial financial response, when it came to volunteers and activists, it was an entirely different story. Perhaps it was the nature of the various issues we fought, or perhaps it was our consistent effort and visibility in the community that drew volunteers to our door; whatever the cause, the support offered in this area was overwhelmingly satisfying. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In just over a week's time period, operating at a leisurely pace, our London volunteers successfully managed to deliver 20,000 pamphlets in a door-to-door campaign aimed at preventing the taxpayer (federal, provincial, and municipal) from having to foot the bill for London's hosting of the 1991 Pan-Am Games. And most of these volunteers offered to deliver pamphlets, telephone solicit, etc., in our upcoming election effort, a committment which promises to offer us a most credible and effective campaign in the London area.

But there's more good news! Freedom Party is about to have ratified an official campus association at the University of Western Ontario this fall. Organized by member Charles (Chuck) Altman, the necessary number of activists has already been reached, and the association promises to be a tremendously effective recruiting tool for the future. Anyone wishing to join the group, or anyone interested in forming a similar association in their area, is urgently requested to contact provincial headquarters now. The opportunities are boundless, and the resources we have to offer will make you the envy of your competition.

And here's good news for those of you living in the Toronto area: By year's end, we fully expect to have reestablished a Toronto constituency association! Negotiations are already under way with certain individuals in the Toronto area who have expressed and demonstrated their willingness to undertake the challenge, and more will be said on this in the very near future. If you're interested in participating, this is an opportunity that should not be passed up. With our resources, services, and support, your work will already have been cut in half --- and 'we promise you --- you will not be left alone and unsupported in your efforts. Call us now!

Finally, our greatest opportunity for recruitment is now before us: the upcoming provincial election. Whatever else may be accomplished by our efforts in this regard, one thing is certain: our primary goal is (and always should be) the further recruitment of members and supporters. With our election material already on the drawing boards, you can be certain that our literature in this regard will be specifically designed to bring such individuals to our aid.

Thus, as you can see, an election becomes another valuable tool for recruitment. Beyond the self-evident fact that our candidates get to share the public spotlight with their political adversaries, there's also the factor that provincially registered political parties are permitted to effectively double the financial contributions of their supporters, who in turn can double their own tax credit. Yes, opportunity abounds --- but only for those who are willing to take advantage of it.

Since we're already on the subject, there are a few more comments to make about our (upcoming) election literature.

Unlike our issue papers, which are limitless as to their scope of subject matter, our election literature will focus on not more than three areas of major political concern, most specifically in those areas vvhere we can obtain the greatest amount of political leverage. This means picking issues where our position is already the most popular, or where persuasive effort is minimized to the greatest degree possible.

As to format, actual content, and style, I cannot make further comment due to the fact we are still at the preliminary stage on this project, and that we are employing the use of professional services whose results and designs we have yet to see and approve. But I can guarantee there's a pleasant surprise in store for all.

One surprise you won't have to wait for is the result of our ever-continuing and consistent program of creating issue papers. This time around, we've enclosed the following: OHIP, the [Mis]rule of Law, Job Creation, Poverty, Crass Capitalists? Government In Business, Why Freedom Party? Lesson From History, Property Rights, and '1984' is Here! Remember, our issue papers have not been designed as election instruments, though they certainly will have applications to those efforts. And by all means, please order quantities so that our ideas can spread. Distributing literature to friends is just one of the many activities that our members and supporters can get involved in.

If you have an issue you'd like to see addressed, feel free to send us your draft; you can leave the editing and marketing aspects to us. Your only limitations are (1) space, and (2) an adherence to our statement of principles, and you can get a pretty accurate idea of those limitations from examining the enclosed issue papers. I heartily encourage one and all to participate in this manner --- the satisfaction derived from seeing your work in print is just one of the many rewards you'll receive from working with Freedom Party.

Without doubt, the efforts that focussed the greatest deal of media attention on us were our two media releases: one on censorship, and another, more locally (London) oriented release on the Pan-Am Games. Separate articles on both are included elsewhere in this newsletter.

Since both releases were radically different in scope, nature, and effectiveness, we learned a lot about the pros and cons of issuing them. For example, a local release is far more effective in gaining attention than a province-wide release. This is partly due to the fact that it's also easier to measure the results and public reaction.

For example, when we issued our province-wide censorship release on June 1, we were only aware of reaction that was brought directly to our attention, either by the media itself, or by members of the public who were gracious enough to bring coverage in their area to our attention. The radio coverage that we were aware of included my being interviewed on CFPL-AM (London), CKLA-FM (Guelph), CHLO-AM (St. Thomas), CFCA-FM (Kitchener), and CHAM-AM (Hamilton). And because our release was accompanied by several issue papers, some of the media simply ignored the issue of censorship and chose instead to focus on one of the subjects dealt with in an issue paper (ie., coverage on the Hawkesbury Solution). And surprisingly, much of the reaction to our censorship release came as late as two months after it was issued!

On the Pan-Am Games release, however, our experience was entirely different. Because the vast bulk of our pamphlet deliveries preceeded the media release, it was already an event eligible as a worthy news item --- and the public was definitely on our side on this issue! We've received over 100 calls of support on the issue, including the support of the few London aldermen who oppose London's hosting of the 1991 event. Press and radio surveys revealed a whopping 72-85% opposition rate to using tax dollars to pay for the Games.

Other areas of activity that brought us into the public spotlight included several taped interviews for a local radio program (6X-FM) called Straight Talk. Four separate taped programs (half and full hour interviews) were taped with both myself and Freedom Party activist Marc Emery. CBC's Ontario Morning program aired in the spring also featured a fifteen-minute spot on Emery's battle with 'feminist' attempts to censor material they find objectionable.

I myself was given the opportunity to address the 30th Annual High School Seminar [Huron College, University of Western Ontario] on the subject of 'Canada's role in the Third World'. The May 6-9 event was hosted by the United Nations Association in Canada, and was recorded for broadcast on 6X-FM Radio and on London TV cablecast. These broadcasts were re-played during the entire summer.

According to Bill Paul, one of the event's organizers, I was one of only seven speakers (out of thirty) who was even remembered at the end of the four-day event. Reaction to my basic appeal for free trade as the most effective way to 'help' the third world ranged from total support to 'violent disagreement'.

Also keeping us in the public spotlight were our executives and members' consistently-submitted letters to the editor, and our participation on local open-line talk shows. Once again, I encourage all those interested in promoting individual freedom to participate in similar avenues of expression. The effectiveness of a well-reasoned and well-expressed argument in these forums cannot be overstated.

Finally, as proof of our success at being visible in the media, it has been most reassuring to have an increasing number of individuals from both the public at large and even from the media itself constantly make comments like: 'Boy, you guys sure are in the news a lot lately!' This perception culminated in a radio news broadcast (aired August 13) featuring Freedom Party, when I was quoted as saying: 'We're as active in an off-election period as we are during an election.'

Music to my ears.

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Page last updated on April 28, 2002