Dick Gregory

ATLANTA….On Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the Birmingham Sheraton in Birmingham, Alabama, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (Federation) will honor the renowned comedian, civil rights activist and humanitarian Dick Gregory at the Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner. Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) will serve as honorary chair of the event.  The Annual Meeting will continue on August 17 & 18 at the Federation’s Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama.

The theme for 45th Anniversary  “Cooperatives Make a Better World”. The theme is acknowledging not only the significant contributions made with cooperatives in the South, the country and the world, but also this year has been designated by the United Nations as the “International Year of the Cooperative”.

The Annual Meeting celebration at the Federation’s Rural Training & Research Center in Epes, Alabama will include workshops  and plenaries on the upcoming Farm Bill, Rural Development programs that impact our rural communities, an update on the Black Farmer Lawsuit and information about the women’s lawsuit filed against the USDA. There will also be a fish fry, shrimp boil ( shrimps provided by a new co-op of south Alabama fishers) and auction on Friday evening followed by state caucuses the next day.

“We look forward to seeing many of you from around the country at our Annual Meeting in Epes this year and honoring Dick Gregory in Birmingham”, said Ralph Paige, Executive Director of the Federation. “It is a time of year that we can assess what needs to be done in subsequent policy discussions in Congress and in state legislatures. But we can only do this with advice from farmers and others in the South and from around the country on their needs and concerns.”

“Every year we have farmers, USDA officials, academics, activists, and representatives of  NGO’s from around the country attending out Annual event,” continued Ralph Paige, “and we look forward to seeing you again this year.”

For  more information please call Jackie Ward in our Atlanta office at 404 765 0991 or go to our website at www.federation.coop