CRIBA thanks everyone for attending the Stacy Mitchell event

Stacy Mitchell addresses the group at Carmine's Restaurant (Credit: Anthony Cresswell)

CRIBA is off to a great start, and we owe it all to you.  The response from the Stacy Mitchell breakfast last Friday was great.  65 people attended to hear Stacy speak about how we as residents, owners, employees, and activists can work towards substantive change.  We thank everyone for attending, especially Mayor Jerry Jennings, who gave an impromptu speech, excerpts of which are here.

To Carmine, Armand and the wonderful staff at Carmine’s Restaurant, we say thank you for rising so early and so high for the event.  To Paul and Pat from Talk 1300, we say thank you for spreading the word and broadcasting live that morning.  To CRIBA’s founding board, we say thank you for your support, in all its different forms.  And to Stacy Mitchell, we say thank you for writing Big Box Swindle and for being such a strong voice for true change.

Following the event, we took Stacy to WRGB Channel 6 in Schenectady where she was interview by Liz Bishop on the noon news broadcast.  Stacy’s segment immediatley followed news of the federal government’s $700 billion bailout of the mortgage industry.  It was a perfect juxtaposition of the rationale for doing business with local vendors and the current economic crisis.

As the event nears…

We’re all gearing up for tomorrow’s event, taking a few last-minute registrations, and getting everything set.  If we do say so ourselves, we’re pleased at the way in which our first event has come together.  We are quite grateful to everyone who registered, and all who helped us pull it together – Stacy Mitchell for speaking, Carmine for opening his doors so early, Paul Vandenburg for helping us promote the event and for broadcasting live tomorrow.  The response has been great, ane we’re looking forward to seeing it all play out.

See you tomorrow morning!

Founding Board Members visit Stacy Mitchell in NH

Two of CRIBA’s founding board members, Jim and Rick Gile, travel to Warner New Hampshire to attend the Growing the Local Business Movement in New England gathering. Stacy Mitchell, author of Big-Box Swindle and Chair of the Board of AMIBA, will be the featured speaker and moderator. Attendees will include over 30 representatives from 16 different local first groups and independent business alliances.