Family Impact Summit “Attendance Less Than Hoped”

Jim Burroway

September 30th, 2007

The American Family Association’s OneNewsNow reports on the dismal turnout for last weekend’s “Family Impact Summit” held in Brandon, Florida. The final tally was only about half of what they had hoped to achieve:

By Friday evening, just over 100 people had registered to hear speakers that included Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Southern Baptist leader Richard Land, former presidential candidate Gary Bauer and the American Family Association’s Don Wildmon.

A workshop on grass roots activism drew a handful of people — and one was a spy, an activist for Americans United for Separation of Church and State researching the opposition.

Well, there was more than just that one “spy” there. There was also Cathy James, whose calm and measured demeanor brought low the mighty during a question and answer session. And of course, there was yours truly.

Family Impact Summit

But I can vouch for the low turnout, especially during the morning and afternoon sessions. It often felt as if there were more volunteers, exhibitors and speakers milling around than actual attendees. Only during the evening hours would the audience swell to three hundred or so. On the last night of the event, the turnought might have approached four hundred to hear the much-anticipated stars of the event, Ken Blackwell and Tony Perkins. By the way, the evening events were generally free of charge to the public.

I often overheard a few speakers and volunteers grumble about the attendance during breaks and over dinner. The disappointments weren’t limited to this event either. A few complained about how difficult it was to get a decent turnout at even larger, better funded and more heavily advertised events as well.

Is this a harbinger for things to come?

UAFA

September 30th, 2007

Great news. Thanks. But lets not lower our guard. These people are vicious.

Emily K

September 30th, 2007

hopefully.

Lynn David

October 1st, 2007

There were people there from Right Wing Watch also.

So you think maybe 10%? LOL!

Timothy Kincaid

October 1st, 2007

With membership over 6,000, it is embarrassing that they couldn’t get 7% of their congregants to show up to hear these heros of their cause speak for free.

homer

October 2nd, 2007

Maybe if they had a drag show that could stir up some interest and increase attendance! Or maybe some porn stars dancing on gogo platforms during the all-night drug-fueled dance. Or a showing of Brokeback Mountain.

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