Sara Horan and Bill Davis – NWSOFA Chapter Co-Leads
Tis the Holiday Season .. Be of Good Cheer..
‘Tis the time of the year to celebrate our various holidays with songs ringing in our heads to “Be of Good Cheer”.. How powerful and yet how strange given the political changes occurring in the US over the last 12 months. Every day our smiles and positive “can do” attitudes get rocked by the news or tweets of the day and by the end of the day we are hearing of latest indictments of the current administration. Egah .. sometimes it’ just too much..
And yet “Be of Good Cheer”. While the the clouds seem darkest .. WE, OFA and NWSOFA, have gotten stronger with a renewed purpose .. WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. With every one of the Issues we so ardently believe in under attack .. here and across the national we have answered, organized, protested, lifted our Voices and have been HEARD!.. It’s it’s not just OFA .. it’s a chorus of Voices from a multitude of progressive and liberal groups that we work with daily, weekly, monthly as partners. Together we are on the frontlines of the battle.. in the streets, around and in the offices of the local, state and national Legislatures. We (together) are not weak as long as our Voices are strong and our commitment to our issues resolute.
We all can remember a time where we thought having 20 folks show up to be heard (whether they liked it or not) on a critical vote on one of our issues .. now 200 to 300 show up.. the Voices can not be stilled.. and the message can not be ignored. So “Be of Good Cheer” .. organize, participate, get off the easy chair .. stop yelling at FOX news .. and be HEARD!..
One Voice can Change a Room , Together Our Voices can Change the Country..
WE sometimes FORGET how Powerful a Force we are… and that CREATING social change is a PROCESS not a Destination….
As we celebrate the Holidays we are reminded of the actions we had for 2017 .. Building Alliances, Creating even stronger actions for our social issues.. including: the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) team getting state and local legislation passed, defending ACA against all odds, organizing Climate Change Actions, Standing with Women in their quest to be treated as equals, demanding that the US recognizes the rights of Immigrants and Refugees, together fighting for social justice, recognizing, respecting and insuring that diversity is what America is founded on, all the while learning and understanding the fiscal and economic policies that help the middle class and poor.
While we continue to work harder to win the hearts and minds of those that voted for: Marriage Equality, ACA Healthcare reform, Climate Change, Minimum Wage, Gun Violence Prevention, Equal Pay for Equal Work for Women, and Comprehensive Immigration Reform, we are adding new initiatives on Voters Rights and redistricting.
Join us in 2018 and we continue to create social change. Be of Good Cheer, working together we can and will create progressive change.
Sara & Bill
Join the NWSOFA Team as we protect the gains we made over the last 8 years and move our
Progressive social issues forward in 2017 … Sara & Bill
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Coming in DECEMBER
AT A GLANCE
OUR UPCOMING EVENTS FOR DECEMBER:
Click on image above to link to calendar
Time to Sign up for HEALTH INSURANCE NOV 1 – DEC 15
Join us to celebrate one another, our and the accomplishments of women across this great nation, and the holidays of love, hope, faith and joy.
Wear your favorite holiday clothes.
Bring your favorite holiday gift to share it’s story as we go around the circle and share snippets about the very special and unique human being called “ME.”
We will have punch and a few holiday healthy nibblers.
The Wishing Well of Life will be ready to receive your loving wishes for yourself, your family and friends, your county, your state, your country and your world.
Come celebrate with us, the Respect, Empower, Include, and Organize that we have found together in 2017.
Can’t wait to give you a Holiday Hug- they are the best ones you know.
We know it’s a busy time of the year, so the program will be limited to one hour.
7:30 – 8:00 PM – Desserts and Mingle (optional)
8:00 – 9:00 PM – Program
THUNDERCLAP
NWSOFA Partner Event:
Upcoming Redistricting Online Training with OFA and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee!
If you missed our Redistricting Online Training Watch Party on November 20th, you are in luck!
OFA National and NDRC will be presenting a follow-up webinar.
Although Eric Holder will not be on this training, the information needed to understand this effort will be complete and informative.
We hope you can join this webinar from the comfort of your own home.
In January, the NWSOFA Social Justice Outreach Team will be hosting follow-up meeting. Look for the information in our upcoming newsletter.
Thursday December 7th 7:00 PM
The fight against gerrymandering is critical for the future of our democracy THE most important turning point for the future of our democracy will take place in 2021: when states redraw their
Congressional and state legislative lines. We must be ready. That’s why OFA and NDRC are committed to a grassroots effort to engage communities and elected officials on the issue of fair districts.
Join Jack Shapiro, our Director of Policy and Campaigns and
Discover how:
1. Gerrymandering is the biggest rigged system in the nation.
2. OFA fits into NDRC’s strategy and
3. What our grassroots fight will look like in your community.
GVP and Sikh Religious Society Interfaith Vigil ~ 5th National Vigil to #EndGunViolence
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Sikh Religious Society
1280 Winnekta Street
Palatine, IL 60067
Join us and the Sikh Religious Society, a local, non-profit religious community, as we stage an interfaith, candlelight vigil in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook School tragedy.
This vigil is part of the nationwide tribute also in partnership with Newtown Foundation, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown Survivor Engagement Network and the Women’s March.
Join us and give a voice to the 150,000 American victims of gun violence who have been killed since December 2012.
Play your vital part in helping to #EndGunViolence.
A langar (light vegetarian meal) will be served around 8:00 pm following the vigil. Coffee, tea and cookies will also be served.
Please remember to remove your shoes in the coatroom after you enter the Sikh Gurdwara and consider wearing socks. Women and girls are asked to wear a head covering of some kind, such as a scarf, and men are also asked to wear a head covering, such as a bandana. If you happen to forget to wear a head covering, one will be provided for you. Also, please remember to leave any smoking material in your car before entering the Sikh Gurdwara.
“Hope is not blind optimism. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it.” President Barack Obama
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2015
Click on the above Image to see each lead and the issues they work on .._
