The Alternative Press.com
May 11, 2010

The Citizens' Campaign today announced the first-ever "Jersey Call to Service Summit," a free statewide event expected to draw more than 1,000 citizens to New Brunswick on June 9, 2010. The Summit will bring together government and political leaders with Jersey residents who want to step up and take responsibility to build a new culture of service and frugality in the Garden State. The Summit will be held on Wednesday, June 9th from 5:40 pm to 8:30 pm at the New Brunswick Hyatt, with registration beginning at 5:15pm.

Attendees can choose from four leadership forums, which will include discussion with respected government experts and will provide insider tips and the political know-how for citizens to exercise leadership in their hometowns. The Summit will feature a forum on passing ready-to-adopt waste cutting measures at town councils and school boards. The Citizens Campaign's Law and Policy Task Force has developed twenty ready for adoption resolutions, suggested by citizens, that can produce significant savings in municipal and school district budgets.

The Summit is part of the "Jersey Call to Service," a non-partisan campaign to inspire and empower 5,000 citizens to become leaders in their communities and reverse the tide of government waste and self interest. Over 1,000 residents have been empowered in just the last several months.

Some of New Jersey's brightest business, political, and governmental leaders will be on hand to share their insights and expertise. Former New Jersey Secretary of State, DeForest "Buster" Soaries will give the keynote address at a cocktail party and "Celebration of Citizen Service" following the leadership forums.

Other speakers include:

Governor Brendan Byrne
Dennis Bone, President, Verizon; Chairman, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
Bart Oates, three-time Super Bowl Champion and President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame

Residents from across New Jersey are invited to learn from and mingle with Governors, Senators, political experts and celebrities from across the state.

The Summit will offer the following Leadership Forums:

Tools for Citizens to Control Property Taxes & Cut Government Waste

Matthew Boxer, New Jersey State Comptroller
Christopher Daggett, former gubernatorial candidate
Tom Byrne, Jr., Chair of NJ Tax and Fiscal Policy Study Commission
Councilman Michael Lenz, City of Hoboken, and former municipal CFO (Moderator)

New Opportunities to Serve on Government Policy Boards
Michele Brown, Appointments Counsel to Governor Chris Christie
Mayor Dana Redd, City of Camden
Gil Medina, former Secretary of Commerce
Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, City of Orange (Moderator)

Citizen Leadership of Political Parties
Assemblyman John Wisniewski, State Democratic Chair
Senator Joseph Kyrillos, former State Republican Chair
Dale Florio - Somerset County Republican Party Chairman
Cristina Maria Rojas, Citizens' Campaign Hudson County Chair (Moderator)

Citizen Journalism: A Cure for Closed Door Government
Debra Galant, Baristanet.com
Ted Mann, InJersey.com
Michael Shapiro, TheAlternativePress.com (Moderator)

This Summit is free to participants who attend one of the citizen leadership forums at the Summit or who complete an online leadership forum prior to the Summit. Tickets for those attending the cocktail reception without participating in a leadership forum are $50 per person. There is limited seating, so advanced registration is required online at www.JoinTheCampaign.com or by calling (732) 548-9798 x2.