September was a very inspiring month for NWSOFA. Traci Wile and Bobby Brady-Sharp from our national OFA headquarters provided the “What’s Next” training for our issue leaders. We all recognize our progressive issues’ advocacy will continue in 2017 and many are lifetime endeavors. They helped us analyze how to prioritize our actions to have the most impact. We all agreed we want OFA to continue to be a national organization. The direction we go is up to us. All the OFA chapters across the country are submitting ideas on that direction and the results should be available soon.
On Oct 2nd Sue Friedman and Renna Diamond, our Stand with Women Leads, coordinated a partnership event with NW CASA to “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes”. Check out the great pictures of the men walking in red high heels to raise awareness and donations for combating sexual assault on college campuses.
As a 501 c(4) NWSOFA does not get involved in electoral campaigns. We encourage everyone to VOTE and take the time to research each candidates’ positions on our progressive issues. Your vote is critical in determining the direction of our country We also encourage you to take actions to support your candidates.
Plans are in the works for some great events after the election. Watch for details on the Gun Violence Prevention team’s national Sandy Hook vigil; the Climate Change team’s showing of “This Changes Everything” and just for fun our annual Holiday Party.
Talk is cheap, let your actions help make the difference you want,
Sara & Bill
NWSOFA EVENTS PLANNED FOR OCTOBER
NWSOFA’s Fiscal & Economic Issues Discussion Group
Click image above for More Photos
MONDAY October 17th
7:00 – 11:00 PM
(post meeting discussion over pizza till whenever)
Come get the facts about the economic recovery nationally and the status of ongoing appropriations challenges at both the state and national level.
We have added about 2.4 million jobs in the last 12 months.
The September jobs report will come out Friday, October 7th.
In August the (U-3) unemployment rate was at 4.9%, while the U-6 rate was 9.7%. While down from a high of 17.1% during the downturn, this rate is still higher than the 8.4% in the fall of 2007 before the Great Recession of December 2007 to June 2009.
Illinois is now operating with partial (six month) appropriations.
The revised jobs report for Illinois shows job gains for 2015 of 51,400.
Job gains in 2016 through August are 34,500.
Bring your articles and other topics. Come join us for some exciting discussions.
Then come join us for continued discussions at Lou Malnati’s after 9:30 pm. While OFA may not be political, we can discuss what is happening in the general election at Lou’s.
When you RSVP, you will receive an acknowledgement and location for the meeting upon our receiving your RSVP.
If you are interested in great coffee and lively conversation and want to learn how you can take action now – to honor all victims of gun violence and make our communities safer – then come to our monthly Gun Violence Prevention Planning Meeting. The GVP Issues Team has been working for over 3 years to keep conversation going about gun violence prevention and to take action to change our laws with the goal of creating safer communities for everyone in our state and our nation. SINCE SEATING IS LIMITED, REGISTRATION IN ADVANCE IN REQUESTED. Come and join us in building safe communities here in the northwest suburbs and all across America!.
It’s time to get involved .. as a nation we have been to silent .. for too long.
Join Us .. Learn what you can do.
Note: This is an invitation only event… You will need to have an RSVP Acknowledgment to enter.
The Sierra Club Northwest Cook County Group cordially invites you to attend a panel discussion by several local Sierra Club endorsed candidates.
Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.
Place: Emmett’s, 110 N Brockway St, Palatine, IL 60067 (MAP)
The theme of the panel will be what’s at stake for the environment in this year’s election. Barbara Hill, Sierra Club IL Political Chair, will moderate. You will be able to submit questions to the candidates.
You are also invited to join a separate event after the panel discussion; at 8:00 pm a Presidential debate-watching party is being held at the same location. Please plan to enjoy a full evening of lively political discussion with like minded friends and neighbors.
We discussedthe Hunting Ground,Guest Jim Huenink from NW CASA joined us to talk about local volunteer opportunities to help sexual assault victimsthe “news of this week” review How to encourage congress to pass the Campus Accountability and Safety ActJoining NW CASA’s annual fund raiser “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” where guys wear heels for a walk
Click image above for Photos
NWSOFA’s Fiscal & Economic Issues Discussion Group
We were back in Arlington Heights in September to discuss the Illinois and US economies and their respective fiscal situations.
Economic growth continues to be pretty good on the national level with 2.4 million jobs added in the last 12 months (through July). The fiscal situation is relatively stable with overall spending levels set through FY 2017. We will update job growth through August so we can discuss at the meeting.
On the other hand, Illinois is not doing as well. We operated without a budget in FY 2016 and have been operating with only a partial budget since the beginning of the fiscal year in July .
This situation does not look like it will be resolved soon. Please bring your ideas for how we can help move this impasse to resolution.
The good news is that Illinois’ economy appears to be growing again, with 51,400 jobs added in 2015 (vs. 88,000 in 2014). Illinois now has more jobs than before the Great Recession. However, the number of jobs added has slowed down in the last 12 months.
While we won’t be arguing for particular presidential candidates, we can discuss the potential fiscal and economic impact of their various policy proposals. I will be updating my links to articles and get them out to everyone before the meeting. I encourage others to bring articles reviewing the candidates policy positions to the meeting as well.
We had the library until about 9:30 pm. After the “official” meeting we headed over to Eddie’s on NW Highway to continue informal discussions. There the discussions can be more political re particular candidates. We encourage these political discussions outside of official OFA events.
Gun Violence Prevention Monthly Meeting
Click on the Above Image for Additonal Photos
Thursday, September 15th
6:30 pm – 8:30 PM
Lively discussions at the monthly planning meeting.
Topics covered:
Recent news related to gun violence prevention,
Legislative update,
Participation in a local community festival handing out GVP information,
Guns and child safety report, and
October screening of Under the Gun.
Click above for more photos
Walk a Mile In Her Shoes
Date: Wednesday, October 2
Time: 10:00 AM – NOON
Place: CENTENNIAL PARK IN EVANSTON, IL
NWSOFA Stand With Women joined NW CASA in their annual fundraiser- Walk a Mile In Her Shoes.
Renna and Sue raised over $100 selling raffle tickets for 4 tickets to the Ledge at Willis Tower.
Hundreds of people turned out, including the mayor of Evanston and many police officers, to support this wonderful cause to acknowledge victims of sexual violence. A clothesline display of t-shirts decorated by high school sexual assault victims reminded us of the reality of the pain and destruction caused by these violent acts.
Although there was plenty of fun and laughter watching the strong men wear the red heels symbolizing feeling a bit of the pain a sexual assault victim lives with the rest of their life.
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NWSOFA is Action..
“One Voice Can Change a Room
– Together We Can Change the World”
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2015
Click on the abo ve Image to see each lead and the issues they work on ..
