2010 sponsorship packet - May 20th...

CHAR2\11588The May 20th Society P.O. Box 30335 Charlotte, North Carolina 28230 www.May20thSociety.org

2010 sponsorship packet

According to popular legend, on May 20th, 1775, more than two dozen colonial leaders from Mecklenburg County approved and unanimously adopted the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, more commonly known as the “MecDec” - the “first” Declaration of Independence in America.

James Jack rode over 1100 miles to carry the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence by horseback to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in June of 1775. If he had been captured by loyalists or British soldiers he would have been hanged for treason – and in fact, he was nearly arrested in Salisbury not long into his journey. You don’t have to ride 1100 miles on horseback and deliver the MecDec to be an important part of Charlotte history. By supporting The May 20th Society you’re keeping the Spirit of Mecklenburg alive for Charlotte today and future generations. Capt. Jack stepped up to blaze a trail to freedom. As part of our 2010 fundraising campaign, we’re asking you to support The May 20th Society. Please review the enclosed sponsorship packet and make 2020 the year you join, or rejoin the revolution!

~ The May 20~ The May 20~ The May 20~ The May 20thththth Society Society Society Society

This original portrait of Captain Jack by artist Chas Fagan shows Captain Jack riding north from the Courthouse on Trade & Tryon to deliver the MecDec to the Congress.


in the community

The May 20th Society promotes Charlotte’s rich history of being the first to declare independence from Great Britain in the American colonies. The May 20th Society is a non-profit organization that celebrates the MecDec through hosting and sponsoring events, an annual speaker series featuring world renowned historians, and educational outreach. The May 20th Society supports historic and resource groups across the region and partners with a host of talented colonial re-enactors for our events. Rosedale Plantation, the Charlotte History Museum, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Libraries are just a few places we count as partners in bringing the story of the MecDec to the community. The May 20th Society is involved with the following community projects:

Thanks to your generous support, The May 20th Society is unveiling “The Spirit of Mecklenburg” statue of Capt. James Jack on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway on May

20th, 2010.

Our annual speaker series has featured Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ken Burns, David McCullough and Michael Beschloss.


Each year our featured speaker participates in a lecture and discussion with CMS schoolchildren in an effort to inspire them to get excited about history, and embrace the history of the city of Charlotte.

The May 20th Society hosts the annual MecDec noon observance commemoration for the general public. This year will be the 235th Celebration of the MecDec.

The May 20th Society sponsored the planting of the Liberty Tree in Freedom Park.


2010 events

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The May 20th Society proudly presents Cokie Roberts, an American Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author. Roberts will speak at our 5th Annual CMS Student Speaker Series and Discussion the morning of May 20th, 2010 to a group of 1,000 CMS middle and high school students with a 30 minute lecture and 30 minute question and answer session on the morning of May 20th, 2010. The May 20th Society is committed to education and is actively involved in outreach to the Charlotte community’s young people.

Cokie Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News, providing analysis for all network news programming. From 1996- 2002 she and Sam Donaldson co-anchored the weekly ABC interview program This Week. Ms. Roberts also serves as Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio. In her more than forty years in broadcasting, she has won countless awards, including three Emmys. She has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the fifty greatest women in the history of broadcasting. In addition to her appearances on the airwaves, Ms. Roberts, along with her husband, Steven V. Roberts, writes a weekly column syndicated in newspapers around the country by United Media. The Roberts are also contributing editors to USA Weekend Magazine, and together they wrote From this Day Forward, an account of their more than forty year marriage and other marriages in American history. The book immediately went onto The New York Times Bestseller list, following Cokie Roberts’ number one bestseller, We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters, an account of women’s roles and relationships throughout American history. Ms. Roberts' histories of women in America’s founding era--Founding Mothers, published in 2004 and Ladies of Liberty in 2008, also became instant bestsellers. Cokie Roberts holds more than twenty honorary degrees, serves on the boards of several non-profit institutions and on the President’s Commission on Service and Civic Participation. This year the Library of Congress named her a “Living Legend,” one of the very few Americans to have attained that honor. She is the mother of two and grandmother of six.


2010 events continued…

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May 20May 20May 20May 20thththth, 20, 20, 20, 2010101010

The May 20The May 20The May 20The May 20thththth Society produces an annual Society produces an annual Society produces an annual Society produces an annual freefreefreefree----totototo----thethethethe----public Noon Observance public Noon Observance public Noon Observance public Noon Observance CommemorationCommemorationCommemorationCommemoration.... On May 20th, 2010, The May 20th Society will celebrate the unveiling of the Spirit of Mecklenburg Statue of Captain James Jack. Captain James Jack’s ride from Charlotte to Philadelphia in June 1775 delivered the message of patriotic support for revolution. When news of the Battle of Lexington reached Charlotte, North Carolina on May 19, 1775, a local assembly of political leaders convened to declare their support for the cause which came to be known as the American Revolution. Tradition says that on May 20, 1775 and on May 31, 1775 a Declaration of Independence and a set of Resolves were adopted and expressed to the North Carolina delegates at the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Captain James Jack, a prominent member of the local militia was appointed and directed to deliver those documents. He left Charlotte on June 3, 1775 on horseback from the Courthouse located at the intersection of Trade and Tryon, near his father’s tavern. He returned in July 1775. The actions of the Mecklenburg Assembly were deemed premature in June 1775. A year later, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Trail of History on Little Sugar Creek Greenway will consist of a series of bronze statues that define the history of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area to the casual visitor, conventioneer, school children, commercial prospects and media. “The Spirit of Mecklenburg” statue will be the centerpiece of the Trail of History with casual seating and an overlook to Little Sugar Creek and a lower creekside plaza. Flanked by trees all around, the fountain, at an estimated 70 feet wide, will be a major attraction.


2 0 102 0 102 0 102 0 10 MecMecMecMecDecDecDecDec Celebration P Celebration P Celebration P Celebration Pledge Formledge Formledge Formledge Form

________ Yes, I will join you in supporting the revival of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence commemoration and celebration of our community’s rebellious and freedom-loving spirit. Enclosed is a contribution for: _______ Spirit of Mecklenburg ($5,000) _______ James Jack Sponsor ($1,000) _______ Friend of The May 20th Society ($_________)

_______ I cannot make a financial donation, but I would like to offer the following in-kind donation(s) to support the mission of The May 20th Society. __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________

CONTACT INFORMATION: Tell us how you or your company should be listed as a sponsor: Name of Contributor Company Address Phone E-mail Address

Please make checks payable to “The May 20“The May 20“The May 20“The May 20thththth Society” Society” Society” Society” and reference “20 and reference “20 and reference “20 and reference “2010101010 CelebCelebCelebCelebrationrationrationration” in the memo. ” in the memo. ” in the memo. ” in the memo.

The May 20th Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

All contributions to The May 20th Society are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your financial donation.


TheTheTheThe May 20th Society Board of Advisors May 20th Society Board of Advisors May 20th Society Board of Advisors May 20th Society Board of Advisors and and and and Directors Directors Directors Directors

Board of Advisors EmeritusBoard of Advisors EmeritusBoard of Advisors EmeritusBoard of Advisors Emeritus Michael Beschloss, Inaugural MecDec Lecturer David McCullough, Second Annual MecDec Lecturer Ken Burns, Third Annual MecDec Lecturer Doris Kearns Goodwin, Fourth Annual MecDec Lecturer 2010 Honorary Chairmen2010 Honorary Chairmen2010 Honorary Chairmen2010 Honorary Chairmen Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent, CMS Pam Syfert, Former Charlotte City Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler 2010 Board of Advisors2010 Board of Advisors2010 Board of Advisors2010 Board of Advisors Pierre Bader, Sonoma Restaurants Group Jan Bolyston, Senior Vice President, Bank of America Dumont Clarke, Mecklenburg County Commissioner John Crosland, Jr., Chairman, Crosland, Inc. Philip Dubois, Chancellor, UNCC Anthony Foxx, Mayor of Charlotte Hank Hankins, Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein Parks Helms, Former Mecklenburg County Commissioner John Lassiter, Former member, Charlotte City Council Vi Lyles, The Lee Institute Michael Marsicano, President, Foundation for the Carolinas Pat McCrory, Former Charlotte Mayor Ed McMahan, Former North Carolina House of Representatives Bob Morgan, President, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Pat Mumford, Director, Neighborhood & Economic Development,

City of Charlotte Hon. Sue Myrick, Congresswoman, 9th District Edwin Peacock III, Charlotte City Council Jim Puckett, Former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Ernie Reigel, Managing Partner, Moore & Van Allen Jennifer Watson Roberts, Chairman, Mecklenburg County

Commission Judge Chase Saunders, McNair Law Firm Michael Smith, President, Charlotte Center City Partners Allen Tate, Chairman & CEO, The Allen Tate Company Michael Teden, Honorary British Consul Richard Vinroot, Former Charlotte Mayor Kurt Waldthausen, Honorary German Consul Tony Zeiss, President, CPCC

Board of DirectorsBoard of DirectorsBoard of DirectorsBoard of Directors Louis Asbury Richard Bange Warren Cooksey Larry Dagenhart George Dewey Mary Gaertner Jane Johnson Charles Jonas Robert Krumbine Julie Lentz Eric Locher Patrick Mumford Burt Philips Walter Price Moira Quinn Scott Syfert Marty Viser Frank Whitney Hunter Widener Lauri Wilks Whit Wilks

2010 sponsorship packet - May 20th...

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