3rd Annual Leadership Retreat Draws the Praise of Members
 Rachel
Bliss of Kingsort described TFT's 3rd Annual Leadership Retreat as "probably
one of the best leadership development weekends I've ever been to." Phil
Loney of Sewanee agreed, adding, "As usual, the people who showed up made this
event a success."
TFT held it's third annual Leadership Retreat at the Shoney's
Inn in Lebanon on February 11-12. After the original January date
was 'snowed' out, about 30 TFT members from around the state attended the new
retreat date. Much of the retreat was facilitated by Ron Davis of Knoxville,
formerly with the Highlander Center. As well, a media training was conducted
at the end, and was facilitated by Mimi Bliss with the Center for Nonprofit
Management. Both facilitators earned the praise of members there.
 "It
was amazing how we were able to get a mish-mash of ideas and come out with five
committees with real do-able goals and plans of action," stated Rachel.
Throughout the weekend, members engaged in a healthy discussion
of where TFT is going and laid very concrete foundations for the coming months.
Five committees were formed around media, grassroots education, analysis of
spending, legislative intelligence, and developing TFT's own proposal.
These committees have been very active since the retreat, racking up TFT's conference
call bills as they make real headway towards building a movement for tax reform.
As a result of plans made and follow-up from the retreat, members have since
then held two full-day media trainings in Knoxville and Nashville, conducted
nearly a dozen ten interviews, organized tax day actions in six cities, convened
the Legislative Caucus, laid the foundations for the May Day March, and much
more! "I can't believe we've done all that in the seven weeks since the
retreat," declared on staff member.
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