Plans are underway for our annual meeting. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 23. The event will take place at the Boone County Extension Center located at 6028 Camp Ernst Road (Rt. 237) 3.0 miles west of I-75 off Rt. 18. The social hour begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7:30 p.m. Our speaker will be Gary W. Moore, Boone County Judge/Executive.

We would like to welcome two of the founding members of the Al Yelton Chapter in Grant County to the League of Kentucky Property Owners Board of Directors. Dorothy Gordon Altman and John Malone will be welcome additions to the board.

President's Message

"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions." - James Madison

When did you last read and digest the Declaration of Independence ? Would be an appropriate activity during this month in which we celebrate our freedoms from the tyrannical impositions England imposed upon our countrymen.

Our founding fathers understood our individual right to own and control property was the cornerstone of our new nation. They clearly saw that property rights are the base foundation of a free society. If we permit the government to gain the power to control or confiscate private property through general edict, this vision our forefathers provided us is lost.

Our charge is to educate all those individuals who are politically involved in areas of property rights legislation or regulation that they now shoulder the responsibilities begun by Madison, Adams, Washington, et al. Individually, each of us can dramatically influence these people by leading them through our Constitution and Bill of Rights, pointing out that they are sworn to serve their country-not a bureauracy.

william h adkisson, President

League Activity Update for 2002

Last year board members of the League of Kentucky Property Owners assembled an article highlighting the many successes of our organization since its inception six years ago. Included as examples in that article was the passage of both a state and local "Right-to-Farm Act," the defeat of a massive tax and spend land grab bill known as CARA (Conservation & Reinvestment Act), the establishment of permanent support for our Property Rights Protection Act in the State Legislature, and the elimination of subversive planning regulations aimed at transforming Boone County into a national model for the United Nations' radical "Smart Growth" Agenda.

But that is only the beginning. The real story behind the League of Kentucky Property Owners lies in the personalities of those who make it a success, and more importantly - a thriving champion for the cause of liberty. Indeed, it has often been said in the media and by our elected officials that the only reason sweeping new controls on property rights have not yet been implemented in Kentucky is due to the efforts of vigilant organizations such as our own. In fact, Kentucky remains the only state to have thus far thwarted proposed "Smart Growth" legislation when it has been clearly supported by a sitting governor. This is a huge accomplishment, and should be heralded for the success it truly is.

In pointing this success out, however, the League would be committing a great disservice if it did not also recognize the efforts of its statewide counterparts, especially that of Take Back Kentucky chairman Norm Davis, who with the support of his staff and membership, almost single-handedly prepared the initial documentation needed to counter the false claims perpetuated by the United Nations and its "Smart Growth" Agenda.

In the coming years, citizens throughout the nation may well be faced with an apocalyptic decision - they will be faced with choosing between individual ownership of private property or Government ownership of all property in common. The result will have permanent ramifications for all mankind.

To put it more aptly, we must ask ourselves the following question: As a human being, is it I who maintains my rights because I own property and defend it, or is it the Government who grants me privileges to use its property because I own nothing and possess no rights to defend it?

The ultimate goal of certain elitists seeking to hold the reigns of Government's unyielding power is to abolish private property rights, primarily because they realize it is the rights individuals possess in their property that prevents the Government from becoming humanity's all-powerful master in the first place. Consequently, once the tyrannical tendencies of Government seize control of property in common, be it through regulation or title, then individuals no longer possess rights of their own, but rather only those specific privileges granted by their Master. It is no wonder why the abolition of private property rights is the Communist Manifesto's equivalent to our First Amendment. Obviously then, in order for a conspiracy to be successful, the victim cannot know they are being duped. And that is exactly what the League of Kentucky Property Owners has worked to prevent. We will see no human being deceived by the criminal actions of another without a fight!

The Mission of the League of Kentucky Property Owners is one of education, action and prayer. It is not to raise money or develop new ways to regulate humanity, but rather to educate humanity about its own historical tendencies toward corruption. Ours must be a League of Property Owners unilaterally determined to defend each and every individual's property as it were our own. We must be dedicated to an attitude that accepts little compromise, because to accept compromise and lose only a little at a time is still to lose. Ultimately, our victory will not be measured by the number of court battles ruled in our favor, but by the number of souls converted to the cause of Liberty. If we are to be successful, we must not only increase our numbers, but also our personal dedication and devotion as well.

In lieu of this revelation, perhaps the most substantial victory the League of Kentucky Property Owners has thus far achieved in 2002 was the formation of its 50+ member Grant County - Al Yelton Chapter. Under the trusted guidance of long-time member Charlie Phillips, the Grant County Chapter was recently formed in honor of the late Al Yelton as a means to prevent the adoption of enhanced land controls in that community. A dedicated patriot, husband and father, Al Yelton spent much of his adult life working to point out fraud and corruption in his own community while earning a living as a farmer and businessman. We cannot thank him enough.
Today, as we continue to examine the state of our nation and world, it is clear that there remains many decisions for us to make and many sacrifices for us to endure. And, although the League of Kentucky Property Owners as an organization has made many strides in our community, state and nation, it is still the collective voice of our members upon which we must rely. Without your continuing support, our organization will most certainly perish, and along with it the concept of liberty we have all come to admire and love.

Submitted by
Brett Gaspard

Update from the Al Yelton Chapter in Grant County League of Kentucky Property Owners

The League is pleased to have its first chapter in Grant County. Each upcoming issue of the News Digest will include information submitted by the Al Yelton chapter. The following article was submitted by their President, Charlie Phillips, who also serves on the League Board.

* * *

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, to all the people who attended our first ever membership drive at the Grant County High School Lunch Room on May 14, 2002. Hopefully we can make this event an annual membership drive and general membership meeting.

We have much work to do. I attended a Planning & Zoning education class on June 24, 2002 and stayed for the scheduled Planning & Zoning Meeting. KRS 147A requires continuing education for each Planning Commissioner, Board of Adjustment members, Planning Professional. Zoning Officer, Planning Assistant and Code enforcement Officer. I serve on the Board of Adjustments for the City of Dry Ridge.

If the State requires continuing education, then we must continue to find ways to neutralize their attacks on property owners, and make no mistake about it, this is an assault on private property rights.

The class on Monday night, June 24th, was about "Due Process." There are two parts to Due Process; procedural due process and substantive due process. The instructors gave some examples of each and taught the class how to ask questions and how to respond to questions asked. You can see that the general public doesn't have a chance before these trained professionals.

There are several ways we can help ourselves with these government agencies. We can learn to lobby our elected officials effectively, and late in the year, our Board of Directors in Grant County will hold some hands on training meetings about how to call, e-mail, or visit our elected official to lobby our concerns. We can try to get people appointed to some of these positions on the Planning Commission and on the board of Adjustment Offices. If we can prove to the public that we are sincere about our goal then we could get candidates to run for offices that would be sensitive to our cause.

At the regular Planning & Zoning meeting the most asked question was "Would you agree never to have this plat subdivided again?" This question was asked at two different applicants for a zone change. I'm sure neither of these applicants had been before a Planning Commission before. Both parties agree that their particular plat would never be subdivided again. My point is, is this an intimidating question? Yes. Will it always be what the people and government need? Probably not. How much cost in money and applications will it take to get this changed in the future? No one knows. Absolutely no good can come from this form of questions.

Again, thanks to all who came to our membership drive and a special thanks to those who joined our league. Our members number 50+ and growing.

Our monthly meeting night has changed to the 4th Tuesday of each month and the next Meeting is on July 23, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Building in Williamstown. Please come, bring a friend or neighbor who is interested in property rights.

Charlie Phillips, President
Al Yelton Chapter
in Grant County
859-824-6501