NWSOFA January 2015 Monthly Progressive Newsletter
Sara Horan & Bill Davis NWSOFA Chapter Co-Leads
Happy New Year in 2015,
It’s a New Year, 2015, and at NWSOFA, we’re continuing to focus on those Social Issues that are so important to the families of America. We have accomplished so much in Illinois and across the nation, but at times it feels to little or too slow. Sara reminded me recently, that over the past several years we had contributed greatly to the efforts to pass the ACA, Pass Marriage Equality in Illinois, See Tremendous Action on the Climate and Immigration front through the Presidents Executive Order … and Witness one of the largest comebacks in history as the Healthcare Exchanges initially failed to perform and then a month later we saw the huge record numbers of folks signing up for the ACA and the Expanded Medicaid Enrollment and that re-enrollment for 2015 has arrived, the numbers keep surpassing our expectations.
WE sometimes FORGET how Powerful a Force we are… and that CREATING social change is a PROCESS not a Destination.
Let us pass on some New Year thoughts for OFA from the POTUS, Barack Obama:
“It’s a new year, a time to take a deep breath and reflect. So let me ask: What inspires you to keep fighting for change with OFA? Each one of the millions of people who are part of this movement has a different answer to that question. We accomplished big things because we came together to fight for them. That’s as true next year as ever.
The Congress that starts its work next week has an agenda. While I look forward to working toward solutions wherever we can, I know that for some, they see this as an opportunity to start to roll back the progress we’ve made.
There are fights we know are ahead of us, and some we can’t predict.
That’s why organizing is so important. By building this movement at the grassroots level, we’re prepared for whatever comes our way.
So if you know what you’re willing to fight for, tell OFA”
As Jim Messina, OFA Chairman of the Board, put it in a New Year email: “OFA is not a political campaign. We’re a built-to-last movement that’s not going anywhere. When the polls close and elections end, we’re the ones still here, fighting for the principles we believe in. We are and will continue to be the sum of millions of grassroots voices calling for change.”
For 2015 OFA has announced two (2) new initiatives on 1) Outreaches to the youth at the college and university level and 2) Outreach to the minorities in our areas, while continuing 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. If you like to work on a team for these two new important initiatives please let us know.
Join us in 2015 and we continue to create social change… Sara & Bill
NWSOFA is Action.. In 2013 We Found our Voices.. In 2015 We Amplified our Voices ..
In 2015 We are Adding More Voices to our Community for Social Change.
WE sometimes FORGET how Powerful a Force we are…
and that CREATING social change is a PROCESS not a Destination….
January Events & Issue Information
Get Covered America and Northwest Suburban OFA
Affordable Care Act Phone Bank
December 4th Enroll America ACA Update Even
Tuesday Night January 6th
2015
@ Panera Bread
(Arlington Heights, IL)
5 W Rand Rd Arlington Heights, IL
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join local volunteers at a phone bank to help build support for the Affordable Care Act in your community. Hosted by Get Covered America and Northwest Suburban OFA.
Join NWSOFA and Get Covered America while they partner together to reach out to their community to help Americans get connected to affordable healthcare options in their area.
Just Released Jobs Numbers 11 million new jobs created since President Obama took Office
Discussion Group looking at the US and Illinois Jobs, GDP & Debt
Want the Facts about the Economic Recovery?
Then Attend the Monthly Fiscal and Economic Issues Discussion Group Meeting and be amazed at what you discover.
We will have our standard update of the economy, both jobs and GDP. We will also continue our discussions of the economic recovery and policy issues that affect the recovery. The discussion will be based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics December report which will be released the first week in January.
Some similar type reviews of economic highlights we discussed last month based on the November report:
Jobs Recovery – 2.7 million jobs added in last 12 months; more Americans working than before the recession.
321,000 jobs added in November; September and October employment revised up by 40,000 jobs
Unemployment rate: nationally at 5.8% in November, down 1.3% in the past year and continues to trend down from its high of 10%.
GDP growth: Revised to 5.0 % in the 3rd quarter and 4.6% in 2nd quarter, up from minus 2.1% in 1st quarter. It appears that the negative 1st quarter result was just an anomaly, primarily due to the harsh winter in much of the country.
Budget Deficits – Historical and Projected: 2.8% of GDP in FY 2014, down from a high of 9.8%
Attend the January Discussion and be the most informed on your block or your discussion group!
As always this is a discussion group .. bring your articles and your wits to talk about all sides of the issues.
Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action Gun Violence Prevention
Month Planning Meeting
GVP Team and the Chapter Team Meet-UP
December Meeting Planning Group
January 15th
Uno Pizzeria & Grill (Schaumburg, IL)
1160 Plaza Dr.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
6:30-7:00pm
Followed Immediately by the
NWSOFA Meet UP January Meeting
If you are interested in honoring all victims of gun violence through your individual and collective actions with fellow citizens to make our communities safe, then please plan to attend our monthly Gun Violence Prevention Issues Group Planning Meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month .
Learn how you can get involved in changing the conversation surrounding gun violence prevention efforts, changing the hearts of fellow citizens and changing the laws to create safer communities everywhere in the U.S.
Join us for a fun evening of pizza and sharing with old friends and welcoming new ones.
It will be a time to share the highlights of 2014 and see where we’re going in 2015.
Our issues are the glue that binds us. So it’s always inspirational to work with like minded folks who are making a difference.
Our issue teams are gearing up so come and add your ideas and talents to move these forward, ACA/ Healthcare, Gun Violence Prevention, Climate Change, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Fiscal and Economic Issues and Stand with Women.
Our main message in Illinois will be creating jobs, growing the economy, and letting Illinois lead the Midwest into the clean energy future. We will likely engage with state legislators who will ultimately approve the state plan and be champions in demanding a strong Clean Power Plan for Illinois. This strategy may evolve as Gov. Rauner’s position becomes more clear.
During our national OFA Climate Change training in early December our Chicago area attendees from Chicago, the Northwest Suburbs, and Lake County decided to work as a team to meet this challenge.
We would like to partner with other climate change organizations, as well as with the NWSOFA Fiscal team. A strategy session will be scheduled in early 2015.
Joe states that he has been a climate change activist for over 2 years and find the following five videos to be insightful.
Total of 24 minutes
“Climate 101” with Bill Nye (4 minutes 33 seconds)
There is hope – See the attached article about the Pope’s position on ClimateChange
Notice:
This is a public meeting / events.
NWSOFA is a 501(c)4,
non-partisan
organization.
All opinions are solely those of NWSOFA
About NWSOFA
NWSOFA is a whole, diverse wonderful family of people who want to do more than talk about the social issues. We explore and dig deep on the facts and decide what actions we can take that can have an impact locally and nationally. NWSOFA members not only “talk the talk”, but we “walk the walk”.
All our teams have numerous events that will enlighten and inspire you and yes, challenge you to make the effort to make a difference.
NWSOFA is a whole, diverse wonderful family of people who want to do more than talk about the social issues. We explore and dig deep on the facts and decide what actions we can take that can have an impact locally and nationally. NWSOFA members not only “talk the talk”, but we “walk the walk”.
All our teams have numerous events that will enlighten and inspire you and yes, challenge you to make the effort to make a difference.
We invite you to join us!
Follow NWSOFA on Social Media
Click to Follow us on Twitter
Follow us @NWSOFA’s Website
Click to Link to WebSite
Follow us Facebook
Click to Link to Facebook
NWSOFA’s December in Photos:
GVP Members Attended the December 11th Downtown Remembrance of Sandyhook
It was quite an inspirational night with various gvp groups particularly victim’s family support groups. The violin player added a very solemn feeling as the names of close to 500 victims were read.
Everyone was very emotional especially for the family that just lost their daughter in Oct.
The final touch was when everyone,50-75?, took candles and flowers and walked across Michigan Ave and Lake Shore Dr. to Buckingham Fountain where they released 26 white balloons in memory of the Newtown victims.
The police stopped the traffic for us as we proceeded from Roosevelt University.
So glad we went.
Thanks, Sara Horan NWSOFA Chapter Co-Lead
NWSOFA
Fiscal & Economic December Meeting in Photos
NWSOFA
Enroll America ACA Update Event
NWSOFA
Wishes you a very Happy Holiday Season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year for 2015
It’s time to Act .. It Is Time To Get Involved
Over the years the American Citizens have lost their voices, believing that we can not make a difference. We have been beat down by the constant droning noise of the conservative right. This onslaught has made us like sheep .. afraid to express our views. Not anymore! OFA gives us back our voices and by working together we are making change one issue at a time. Together we can and will make a difference.
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2013 !!
Just Click on the Photo to link the NWSOFA e-magazines daily & archived articles
SOTU Watch Party @ Durty Nellies
