Please do what you can for an organization that has helped so many in the Bay State.

CLT's annual brunch will be held on Sunday, November 15th. Its success is essential to our continuing as the voice of the Massachusetts taxpayer.

Over the thirty-five years of its existence, CLT has been financially on the brink many times. (Barbara remembers it considered laying her off in 1979 until she pointed out that her boss at the time couldn't type. She also recalls working without pay during part of the 1980 Prop 2½ campaign.) Somehow, with the help of its loyal activists, and some generous assistance from a very few "John Hancock" contributors, we've muddled through.

But right now we are hurting financially more than ever before, partly because most of those few "larger" contributors have passed on or have moved to a better state. Because of the generous response to our September mailing from some members, we figure we can stay afloat until after the annual brunch (more details below) on November 15. The next day -- November 16th -- CLT will shut down.

Your check -- made out to CLT -- MUST be received by us no later than November 8th to ensure your reservation. All per-person reservations arriving after November 8th: $75.00

OR CALL (781) 344-2797

You can make your reservation(s) by mailing your check made out to CLT, with your notation of how many in your party, to:

CLT
PO Box 1147
Marblehead, MA 01945-5147

There's also credit card payments available through PayPal -- with your notation during the transaction that it's for the brunch and how many are in your party. Without a notation, we won't know to have your reservation at the door. You will not be seated, as we won't be able to arrange for your meal(s).

This is not a major fundraising event -- at $60 per person, CLT barely breaks even. (In the past, "John Hancock" supporters and those who could not attend but sent a contribution RSVP, made it financially worthwhile.) It is generally a celebration where members get together once a year to socialize and strategize. This year it may become a memoriam of CLT's accomplishments over the past 35 years, and a farewell.

Best of luck to Barbara Anderson in her effort to keep her organization alive.

UPDATE: More from the Boston Herald, WBUR, Red Mass Group, Holly Robichaud, Michael Graham and the Boston Globe.

SECOND UPDATE: Please be sure to join us Wednesday night for The Notes on Blog Talk Radio at 8:00pm EST. Plus, more from Holly Robichaud, the Herald and the Globe.

THIRD UPDATE: From the Harvard Crimson, Joan Vennochi, the Globe and Herald.