Bastards Get Down on the Bayou

By Cyn Bertrand Holub ckbh@juno.com

After being postponed from its original October date as a result of the tragedy of September 11, Bastards on the Bayou took place May 17-18 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a great time was had by all. Bastards and Friends from across North America convened at the DoubleTree Hotel on Canal Street to compare notes and learn more about adoptee rights activism.

Friday started with Part One of "Bastardly Basics" with the ExecCom's Cynthia Bertrand Holub, a roundup of the history of sealed records and adoption reform as well as a discussion of conditional legislation and court cases involving records legislation. This was followed by Cheron Brylski of Brylski & Co., who imparted valuable information on handling public relations, stressing the importance of presenting a moderate message and trying to convert neutral parties as well as formulating a written timeline with specific achievable goals.

Then it was off to the protest in Duncan Plaza in front of Louisiana's Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics. We chanted and marched and handed out leaflets for an hour, meeting with favorable responses from passers-by. Several local TV and radio stations showed up to interview Kenny Tucker (BN and LA Adoption Associates), Christy Little (LAA), and BN's Marley Greiner.

After a quick bite on the way back, we were addressed by Carolyn Chassee of Virtual Development, LLC, who made very helpful suggestions regarding our website and fundraising strategies, such as requesting help for a specific purpose, giving yourself before asking others to do so, making the membership form more accessible, and leading with the most expensive membership level. Both she and Ms. Brylski distributed extremely useful information packets, which we will try to get on the web at some point for all our members' use.

This was followed by Paul Fournier's documentary-in-process, "Measurable Rights." It literally left us speechless. When it was over, there was no round of applause, just a profound silence as we all processed this incredible reliving of the experience of Oregon's Measure 58 and what a remarkable achievement it had been. Once we could speak again, we all said, "Oh, if we could only show that film everywhere!" It made those of us there truly proud to be Bastards, and to have been involved with that effort in whatever capacity we may have been.

After a great dinner at the Crescent City Brewhouse we were thoroughly entertained by Alison Larkin's performance of "The English American." (See review by Charles Filius in last BQ.) It was simultaneously hysterically funny and very moving. Alison sat and talked with us after the show and told us how great it was to perform it for a bunch of Bastards, a first for her.

Saturday began with a meeting with the ExecCom, chaired by Treasurer Donna Martz, which was largely devoted to a discussion of our new bylaws and the upcoming elections for the ExecCom as well as suggestions for improving the website. Part Two of "Bastardly Basics" followed, with Executive Chair Marley Greiner presenting an information-packed rundown on the enemies of open records. We were so motivated by all the ideas that kept pouring forth that we stayed at the DoubleTree and had a working lunch to discuss the specifics of implementation for many of them.

After lunch Beth Butler of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) spoke to us most inspiringly of the long road to social change. She has been a community organizer for over twenty years (most recently one of the leaders of the successful campaign to pass the country's first citywide Living Wage ordinance in New Orleans), and told us how impressed she was with what we have been able to accomplish in only six. She gave us many ideas for membership and alliance-building, also stressing the need to keep on a simple and clear message.

The Legislative Panel followed, moderated by ExecCom members and Legislative Co-Chairs David Ansardi and Anita Field, who had assembled a handout of all records legislation proposed since the founding of BN. On the panel to recount their experiences lobbying in their states were Tammie Biffle from Arkansas, Jean Uhrich from California, Janet Allen from New Hampshire, Kenny Tucker and Christy Little from Louisiana, and Natalie Proctor Servant from Ontario, Canada. A great deal was learned by all to be taken back and put into practice across the continent.

After a wonderful dinner at Mulate's (complete with Cajun music and dancing), we gathered in the hospitality suite for the awards presentation and the Who's Next? Adoptee Rights Fund Raffle. Awards of Achievement were presented to Tammie Biffle and Shanna Castle (AR), Jean Uhrich (CA), Anita Field (IL), Lindsay Woodside and Carol Kurtz (MO) and Natalie Proctor Servant (Ontario). Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Marlena Villers and Kenny Tucker for their tremendous efforts in putting the conference together, making it run so smoothly, and be such fun! The Charles Filius Limerick Contest Award was presented to Natalie Proctor Servant, and kind parting words were said and tokens given to Cynthia Bertrand Holub, who has stepped down from her BN leadership positions. That done, some of us called it a night in the Big Easy. Laissez les bons temps rouler, B^atards et amis! We let the good times roll, and accomplished a great deal at the same time.

This year's Conference Chair, Marlena Villers, would like to extend thanks to Charles Filius, Kenny Tucker, Tammie Biffle, the BN ExecCom (especially Donna Martz for the web pages and her generosity), Kevin McCarty, Paul Fournier, all the presenters and performers as well as Jim Keenan with "The English American," everyone who donated items to the raffle, everyone who attended the conference, and Toff Philippo for his generous donation.

(This feature appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)