The good news: The national Democracy for America (DFA) is considering holding a regional training session in the Lansing area.
According to their training FAQ: "We offer a comprehensive campaign training, meaning that we cover a wide range of campaign related topics. There is heavy emphasis on Field (voter contact, targeting, volunteer recruitment), Communications (crafting a message, working with the media) and Finance (fundraising tactics and strategies). We also offer more specialized sessions on topics such as online organizing, event planning, precinct organizing and more. We try to tailor our training topics to the needs of the activists and candidates on the ground."
Learn more at: www.democracyforamerica.com/training/curriculum
However, in order to make the training cost effective they will need at least 100 people at the training. Are you interested? If so, please let us know at midmichigandfa@yahoo.com or leave a comment below!
No dates, locations, or costs have been established yet. This will depend on our feedback from you!
Cross-posted at MichiganLiberal.com.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Watch SiCKO with Mid-Michigan DFA
Mid-Michigan Democracy for America (DFA) will be joining the national effort in screening Michael Moore's movie, SiCKO. Please plan to attend our SiCKO House Party on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:00 PM. Members and non-members of Mid-Michigan DFA are welcome.
You can RSVP at:
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25161
What: SiCKO House Party
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:00 PM
Where:
Home of Penelope Tsernoglou
1223 Chartwell Carriage Way North
East Lansing MI 48823
We will have food and drinks on hand. Please bring a dish to pass if you like. We also working on confirming the attendance of our special guest Adrian Campbell from Howell, Michigan, who is featured in the movie. We willparticipate in the conference call with Michael Moore.
If you have not seen the movie, you will not be disappointed. It's probably Michael Moore's best movie.
It should be fun and interesting!
For more information please send email inquiries to midmichigandfa@yahoo.com.
You can RSVP at:
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25161
What: SiCKO House Party
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:00 PM
Where:
Home of Penelope Tsernoglou
1223 Chartwell Carriage Way North
East Lansing MI 48823
We will have food and drinks on hand. Please bring a dish to pass if you like. We also working on confirming the attendance of our special guest Adrian Campbell from Howell, Michigan, who is featured in the movie. We willparticipate in the conference call with Michael Moore.
If you have not seen the movie, you will not be disappointed. It's probably Michael Moore's best movie.
It should be fun and interesting!
For more information please send email inquiries to midmichigandfa@yahoo.com.
Republicans Believe...
To be a Republican you need to believe:
1. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's Daddy made war on him , a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
3. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Viet Nam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
4. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.
5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational drug corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.
6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
7. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
8. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.
9. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMO's and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.
10. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
11. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
12. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet .
13. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.
14. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
15. Supporting "Executive Privilege" for every Republican ever born, who will be born or who might be born (in perpetuity.)
16. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80's is irrelevant.
17. Support for hunters who shoot their friends and blame them for wearing orange vests similar to those worn by the quail.
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
Thank you to everyone who forwarded this list to the Mid-Michigan DFA via the Internet. It is worth sharing. (The original source is not known.) -- RTR
1. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's Daddy made war on him , a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
3. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Viet Nam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
4. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.
5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational drug corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.
6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
7. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
8. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.
9. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMO's and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.
10. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
11. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
12. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet .
13. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.
14. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
15. Supporting "Executive Privilege" for every Republican ever born, who will be born or who might be born (in perpetuity.)
16. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80's is irrelevant.
17. Support for hunters who shoot their friends and blame them for wearing orange vests similar to those worn by the quail.
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
Thank you to everyone who forwarded this list to the Mid-Michigan DFA via the Internet. It is worth sharing. (The original source is not known.) -- RTR
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Seats Still Available on the Peace Bus
There will be a “National Mobilization to End the War in Iraq” this Saturday, October 27th. There will be 11 major demonstrations across the nation. The Midwest region’s demonstration will take place in Chicago.
The Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (GLNAWI) is organizing two busloads of people to go to Chicago for the day. There are seats still available on the bus. Anyone in mid-Michigan who is interested in joining this peace effort should contact Judith at GLNAWI. Please look for my report from Chicago on this blog site this weekend.
-- Tom Rico
THE DETAILS
Date: October 27, 2007
Cost: $40. Some scholarships available.
Contact: Judith (517) 351-5222 to reserve a seat or to donate toward a scholarship
Website: http://www.glnawi.org.
Departure: Frandor Shopping Center in Lansing, Saturday, October 27 at 8:00 am. Arrive at 7:00 am to check in. Return same day after midnight.
See Chicago details: http://www.oct27chicago.org/
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. ...Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."--Frederick Douglass
The Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (GLNAWI) is organizing two busloads of people to go to Chicago for the day. There are seats still available on the bus. Anyone in mid-Michigan who is interested in joining this peace effort should contact Judith at GLNAWI. Please look for my report from Chicago on this blog site this weekend.
-- Tom Rico
THE DETAILS
Date: October 27, 2007
Cost: $40. Some scholarships available.
Contact: Judith (517) 351-5222 to reserve a seat or to donate toward a scholarship
Website: http://www.glnawi.org.
Departure: Frandor Shopping Center in Lansing, Saturday, October 27 at 8:00 am. Arrive at 7:00 am to check in. Return same day after midnight.
See Chicago details: http://www.oct27chicago.org/
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. ...Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."--Frederick Douglass
I Was Just Thinkin'...
George W. Bush may be the first president whose presidential library will be a bookmobile.
- TR
- TR
Monday, October 22, 2007
Mid-Michigan DFA: The Quick Update
Mid-Michigan Democracy for America (DFA) is now the second largest DFA chapter in Michigan with 114 progressive activists registered online, and we are still growing.
The fall season has been a whirlwind of activity for Mid-Michigan DFA as we had two rounds of local candidate endorsements, an annual social gathering, and co-sponsored three different local events, including the VOA benefit concert in Lansing. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself here. Let me get you caught up on the full scope of our activities over the last 12 months or so:
The monthly meeting is held the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the SEIU office at 1026 E. Michigan Avenue in Lansing. (And, no, we do not use the Roberts Rules of Order for our meetings.) We rotate the pizza and pop duties at each meeting, so you can eat and talk progressive politics. Please put Mid-Michigan DFA on your calendar and plan to join us.
Our primary web site for membership is www.dfalink.com/midmichigan. Please register with the site and you will receive regular event notices, etc. Our DFA link web site has a variety of information about our past events. It has our monthly meeting notes posted, as well as a copy of our bylaws, and other tidbits.
Here are some things Mid-Michigan DFA has accomplished recently:
We had a volunteer night at Planned Parenthood. We recently had MMDFA volunteers at the Michigan Equality rally in Lansing. We helped with the Prop A phone bank last fall. We supported and donated to the newly-created Hispanic Caucus of the Democratic Party. We actively assisted with the collection of petition signatures for a ballot proposal to increase Michigan's minimum wage, an effort that spurred the legislature to act on the issue.
We've created a Federal PAC from scratch. We created a State PAC from scratch. We held a bowling night this year to raise money for the state PAC -- and everyone was invited and we had a decent turnout, including a county commissioner. See photos of the bowling event here: http://www.flickr.com/gp/14931550@N07/6Dr235. The federal PAC last year published a series of ads in the Livingston Argus against Mike Rogers. We recently had a state PAC fundraiser which introduced the endorsed local candidates. See pictures here http://www.flickr.com/gp/14931550@N07/4To0BK. More fundraising for the PACs is on the way.
MMDFA t-shirts and hats were sold to our members. (I recently randomly saw someone wearing one of our T-shirts at local festival.) We held a successful rummage sale for our general fund.
We just launched this blog, which will be one-to-watch as we going forward with it.
Mid-Michigan DFA recently endorsed progressive candidates for the Lansing City Council, East Lansing City Council, Lansing School Board, and Lansing Community College Board of Trustees. See pictures of the deliberations here: http://www.flickr.com/gp/14931550@N07/ZE45B3.
A casual/social membership meeting was held with Rep. Barb Byrum (who got tied up in the big budget mess that whole weekend).
This fall Mid-Michigan DFA co-sponsored the benefit concert for Volunteers of America homeless shelter and supported Michigan Equality/Soulforce's screening of the movie "For the Bible Tells Me So." We also co-sponsored the Peace Education Center’s theater production of “My Name is Rachel Corrie.”
I hope you can join our efforts with Mid-Michigan DFA. The email address for the group is midmichigandfa@yahoo.com. Please feel free to contact us by email if you have questions.
-- Tom Rico
reporting for MMDFA
The fall season has been a whirlwind of activity for Mid-Michigan DFA as we had two rounds of local candidate endorsements, an annual social gathering, and co-sponsored three different local events, including the VOA benefit concert in Lansing. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself here. Let me get you caught up on the full scope of our activities over the last 12 months or so:
The monthly meeting is held the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the SEIU office at 1026 E. Michigan Avenue in Lansing. (And, no, we do not use the Roberts Rules of Order for our meetings.) We rotate the pizza and pop duties at each meeting, so you can eat and talk progressive politics. Please put Mid-Michigan DFA on your calendar and plan to join us.
Our primary web site for membership is www.dfalink.com/midmichigan. Please register with the site and you will receive regular event notices, etc. Our DFA link web site has a variety of information about our past events. It has our monthly meeting notes posted, as well as a copy of our bylaws, and other tidbits.
Here are some things Mid-Michigan DFA has accomplished recently:
We had a volunteer night at Planned Parenthood. We recently had MMDFA volunteers at the Michigan Equality rally in Lansing. We helped with the Prop A phone bank last fall. We supported and donated to the newly-created Hispanic Caucus of the Democratic Party. We actively assisted with the collection of petition signatures for a ballot proposal to increase Michigan's minimum wage, an effort that spurred the legislature to act on the issue.
We've created a Federal PAC from scratch. We created a State PAC from scratch. We held a bowling night this year to raise money for the state PAC -- and everyone was invited and we had a decent turnout, including a county commissioner. See photos of the bowling event here: http://www.flickr.com/gp/14931550@N07/6Dr235. The federal PAC last year published a series of ads in the Livingston Argus against Mike Rogers. We recently had a state PAC fundraiser which introduced the endorsed local candidates. See pictures here http://www.flickr.com/gp/14931550@N07/4To0BK. More fundraising for the PACs is on the way.
MMDFA t-shirts and hats were sold to our members. (I recently randomly saw someone wearing one of our T-shirts at local festival.) We held a successful rummage sale for our general fund.
We just launched this blog, which will be one-to-watch as we going forward with it.
Mid-Michigan DFA recently endorsed progressive candidates for the Lansing City Council, East Lansing City Council, Lansing School Board, and Lansing Community College Board of Trustees. See pictures of the deliberations here: http://www.flickr.com/gp/14931550@N07/ZE45B3.
A casual/social membership meeting was held with Rep. Barb Byrum (who got tied up in the big budget mess that whole weekend).
This fall Mid-Michigan DFA co-sponsored the benefit concert for Volunteers of America homeless shelter and supported Michigan Equality/Soulforce's screening of the movie "For the Bible Tells Me So." We also co-sponsored the Peace Education Center’s theater production of “My Name is Rachel Corrie.”
I hope you can join our efforts with Mid-Michigan DFA. The email address for the group is midmichigandfa@yahoo.com. Please feel free to contact us by email if you have questions.
-- Tom Rico
reporting for MMDFA
Saturday, September 29, 2007
MI House Liveblogging 9-29-07
It's 3:42 pm and my wife Charlotte and I are sitting in the gallery of the Michigan House of Representatives. We came here straight from MMDFA's meet and greet at Gone Wired Cafe.
As laid-off state employees, we decided to drive over and check out what our tax-dollar-funded lawmakers are up to.
Right now: They're up to nothing.
The Senate is at recess until 4:30 pm, and although technically the House is in session only a couple dozen of the reps. are on the floor. The only member present from Eaton, Ingham, or Jackson counties is Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing). I would presume that the House and Senate's respective majorities are caucusing right now.
I'll keep you posted.
As laid-off state employees, we decided to drive over and check out what our tax-dollar-funded lawmakers are up to.
Right now: They're up to nothing.
The Senate is at recess until 4:30 pm, and although technically the House is in session only a couple dozen of the reps. are on the floor. The only member present from Eaton, Ingham, or Jackson counties is Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing). I would presume that the House and Senate's respective majorities are caucusing right now.
I'll keep you posted.
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