NWSOFA September 2014 Monthly Progressive Newsletter
Fiscal Issues Jobs Discussion
NWSOFA Picnic .. Fun
Downtown OFA HQ ACA Celebration
August Chapter Meeting
“Roe at Risk” Downtown HQ Event .. Panelist
Action August was Awesome!!
Downtown, In the Burbs and Picnics
Sara Horan & Bill Davis
Chapter Co-Leads
September, Football, Issues on Top and Elections .. It’s Here!!!
Action August is now officially over and what a month it was! From Action on every one of our issues: Climate Change, Minimum Wage , Gun Violence Prevention, Women’s Equality, Marriage Equality, HealthCare and Comprehensive Immigration Reform, to several huge celebrations in downtown Chicago at the OFA National Headquarters to celebrate the success of the ACA and President Obama’s birthday. NWSOFA was there in ACTION .. we were counted .. and we made our voices heard.!
NWSOFA’s September is pivotal as we combine two huge issue events with full chapter meetings. Those meetings with the Fiscal Team will include a MTA National Speaker on “Money and Politics” by David Cobb and latter in the Month learn how to keep our communities safe from our Gun Violence Prevention issue team’s Guest Speaker. During September we will renew our push on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and will restart our efforts on ACA as the new signup period for the Healthcare Exchanges approach.
During this last month we were sad to say goodbye to our OFA Director, Erik Carlson, to the campaign trail, but were delighted to get introduced to Stephanie Monahon, Deputy Regional Manager for the Northeast and Midwest States. NWSOFA will report and get guidance from Stephanie during the remainder of the year.
NWSOFA Leadership announced some changes in our upcoming formatting, recognizing that many of our member are taking off their OFA hats and privately supporting the candidates of their choice during the election campaigns. So we are combining issue events and chapter events and greatly reducing our call center days until after the elections. Each issue team will keep the focus on moving their issues front and center of our local and national politicians.
We invite your to participate at one or more of our many events as we continue to shape our Country’s future,
Sara & Bill
NWSOFA is Action.. In 2013 We Found Our Voice .. In 2014 We are Amplifying & Focusing Our Voices for Change. September 1st, 2014
September Events
OFA Presents A Workshop on Cross-Sector Collaboration
Click on Image to RSVP by Email
Working with Other Associations
For Chapter Members, Issue based Leads & Collaborative / Partner Associations
Wednesday
September 3rd, 2014
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location:
Community Organizing Institute, OFA HQ (Chicago, IL)
224 N. DesPlaines Street
Unit #500 (5th Floor)
Chicago, IL 60661
Volunteers and Friends
We have been invited to an event at the OFA HQ .. by the Community Organizing Institute that we believe would be valuable for our issue leads and active issue members to attend.
Community Organizing Institute OFA Headquarters
We all know that developing collaborative relationships with other organizations strengthens our efforts .. both jointly and individually. So here is a workshop on just this issue … designed for not only OFA members but also our partners.
Let’s head downtown on September 3rd… (did I hear “road trip”)… on the train … Probably using the same schedule as we had for the President’s Birthday / ACA event.
Please invite your team members … and your partners… I’m thinking: Sierra, MTA, Enroll, MDA, etc, etc….. possibly some that your just thinking about… would be a good way to get them introduced to OFA and build the foundation for active “after election” programs.
Please feel free to RSVP to COI@barackobama.com, or just reply to me so I know to put your name on the list!
One Special Night ..Two Organizations NWSOFA and MTA (Move to Amend)
Back to Back Meetings and Presentations
NWSOFA “Linking the Social Issues”
then MTA Presents a Special Presentation of “Money and Politics” by David Cobb
David Cobb, Speaker for MTA
Friday
September 12th, 2014
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Arlington Heights Library
500 N. Dunton
2nd Floor, Hendrickson South Rm.
Arlington Heights, Il 60004
Please join us for a special Night
Two Associations – Two Meetings
We Invite you to Attend and Enjoy both:
“Linking the Social Issues” by NWSOFA
“Money and Politics” by MTA
NWSOFA will hold it’s September Chapter Meeting (one of two). Our Issue teams will show how all issues are inter-related .. linked to Improving our Country for feature generations.
You are invited by the local Chapter of MTA to attend the MTA meeting with National Speaker, David Cobb, who is National Projects Director of Democracy Unlimited. He is a lawyer and political activist. David has sued corporate polluters, lobbied elected officials, run for political office himself, and has been arrested for non-violent civil disobedience. He truly believes we must use ALL the tools in the toolbox to effect the systemic social change we so desperately need.
David was born in San Leon, Texas and worked as a laborer before going to college. He graduated from the University of Houston Law School in 1993 and maintained a successful private law practice in Houston for several years before devoting himself to full time activism to achieve real democracy in the United States.
In 2002 David ran for Attorney General of Texas, pledging to use the office to revoke the charters of corporations that repeatedly violate health, safety and environmental laws. He did not win the office, but the Green Party of Texas grew dramatically during his campaign from four local chapters to twenty-six. In 2004, he ran for President of the United States on the Green Party ticket and successfully campaigned for the Ohio recount.
CIR Planning Team.. What an Event they Produced on 6/28
Comprehensive
Immigration Reform
Announcement of Special Executive Actions
2nd half of the Month
TBA
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Location
TBD
Join the Immigration Reform CIR Dream Team as Gather to Understand and Support the Presidents Upcoming Executive Orders on:
CIR
Gun Violence Prevention
July’s Planning/ Action Meeting.. New Folks .. New Ideas
Planning Meeting Thursday
September 18th, 2014
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Coffee Planet
1450 Golf Rd,.
Rolling Meadows,
IL 60008
Honor all victims of gun violence and make our communities safe
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 at the Coffee Planet, 1450 Golf Rd., Rolling Meadows, 60008.
We hold a short (30 – 45 minutes) Planning Meeting on the 3rd Thursday of every month and afterwards many of us stay to help out with the NWSOFA Phone Banking.
Come and join us in building safe communities here in the northwest suburbs and all across America!
Stephanie Monahon is the New OFA Deputy Regional Manager for the Northeast and Midwest States
That’s approximately 1/3 of the country and includes Our NWSOFA (Northwest Suburban Chicago Chapter)
Eric Carlson who we previously reported to, has resigned to enter the campaigns .. although we were sad to lose Erik, we are delighted to have Stephanie to advise and work with NWSOFA on the upcoming issues and Days of Action (DOA’s)
A little about Stephanie
Stephanie is the new Deputy Regional Manager for the Northeast and Midwest States. She began her organizing career as an Obama Organizing Fellow in the summer for 2008. After the fellowship, she was hired as a field organizer in Easton, PA. Later she joined the reelection campaign in July of 2011 and had the opportunity to reactivate our network of volunteers and prepare for additional staff to join the team in 2012.
After the 2012 election,Stephanie worked on the Inaugural Committee’s National Day of Service where I helped manage logistics for the event on the National Mall.
Joining OFA, Organizing for Action, in April of 2013 she has found her passion in issue organizing. Stephanie shares with us that she has two amazing children ages 8 and 9. Best of all Stephanie got into organizing because she wants to ensure that she leaves this country better than she found it… for her kids and future generations. Steph says that “Every day I am grateful for the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people that are making a positive impact in our community and our country.”
Welcome to the Midwest, Illinois and the Greater Chicago Metro market, Stephanie.
Watch Austan Goolsbee
former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, put the Economy advances into perspective
Click on Image above to link to the You Tube Video
Our economy is making real strides forward, but there’s so much more Congress should do
to give all Americans
a fair shot.
Watch Austan Goolsbee,
former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers,
put it all into perspective
and make your voice heard.
NWSOFA August’s Events “In the News”
Look Here for your link for Special Reports on August’s Events
Had it All.. Sun, Rain, Boat Races, Great Food, and Surprise Guests!
Paddle Boat Races .. and just relaxing
Sara, NWSOFA Co-Lead testing the lake out
Matt Flamm and Rep. Elaine Nekritz
Other Happenings “Around the Town”
Hello Chicagoland Environmentalists! My name is Jordan Parker, and I’m a Climate Leader and Mentor for the Climate Reality Project. I’m also the IL State Coordinator for the Great March for Climate Action, the longest climate march in history. This Saturday, September 6th, the marchers will be walking through Chicago – all the way from LA – continuing on to DC.
We need you, the leaders of this movement, to come to Daley Plaza at 2pm.
We are calling this segment of the greater march the Chicago Climate March. The Chicago Climate March begins in Oak Park at 8am, and follows a 12-mile route through Garfield Park, Grant Park and Millennium Park. You can bike or walk this route, and join anywhere along the 12-mile stretch. The march will culminate in a rally at Daley Plaza at 2pm.
Move to Amend, Greater Chicago North meeting is next
Tuesday, September 9 at
7 pm at the Deerfield Library, (downstairs meeting room.)
920 Waukegan Raod, Deerfield.
We will report on the Kirk Rally and the events taken place in Senator Kirk’s Office. We will tell you about the upcoming Barstorming Event and others. And, of course, we will talk about the Udall Amendment vote which will take place on the 8th.
TPP and TTIP and the activities of the coalition will also be on the agenda.
COACH A SCHOLAR. BE A HERO: One Million Degrees Scholars are low-income, highly motivated individuals pursuing their associate’s degrees. They have persisted through challenging situations and are striving to reach their full potential and become positive forces in their families and communities.
One Million Degrees at Harper college
link to the program website, it’s the same for all city colleges and Harper:
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!
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NWSOFA
ACTION AUGUST
We Were Very, Very Busy,
Action August in Photographs
NWSOFA CIR DOA Comprehensive Immigration Reform Day of Action
Affordable Healthcare DOA
Downtown @ HQ
Attending the NWSOFA Fiscal Meetings
NWSOFA Climate Change
EPA Petitions
Photos from SWW Downtown Event “Roe at Risk” NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Team Event
Fiscal Team Screening and Discussion of Piketty
“Inequality in America”
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
Attending the
