Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts

Success!

Ok, so this post is way overdue, but it's high time to point out a recent success for CSfC's Immigration Reform campaign.

Our first time taking our message to the streets yesterday [Nov 14th] was an enormous success! The Watertown Public Library location and the rain, which forced us indoors, provided the perfect combination to attract interested voters.

RESULTS: Drumroll, please...
  • 128 total signatures!!
  • 104 signatures from Watertown !!!
GENERAL IMPRESSIONS:
Overall response was quite positive. Those who signed the petition took a few minutes with us to understand the issue. Many who were less aware of the legislation learned about it and then signed. Some took materials on their way in and then came back later to sign the petition.

It wasn't a slam-dunk, though -- some people engaged us about their opposition to the bill or simply walked away when they heard what we were petitioning for.

Here's what one of our volunteer activists has to say after their morning shift:
The morning session was great! Susan and I established our table near the back door--thank you Richard!--and were soon joined by Jim from PHENOM and Watertown resident. More than a handful of Watertown residents signed the petition and we got a few people from Newton and Arlington too.

One immediate triumph was a part-time staff person at the library who is an immigrant and connected to a Boston College faith community and Brighton neighborhood group who wants to help us organize.

Keep it up team.

Cambridge City Council Canditates Forum on Environmental Issues: Tuesday, October 13th

Over the past few months, Cambridge-Somerville for Change has put together a team focusing solely on Energy and Climate issues. Our goals are to help push for a strong national bill to reduce global warming pollution and to engage with community efforts to reduce energy use and increase clean sources of energy, locally and globally.

As part of this effort, we are co-sponsoring a Cambridge City Council Candidates Forum on environmental and energy issues. This is the only public forum for the candidates to debate and discuss their views on environmental issues in the city and we hope that you will consider attending. It is important for city government to represent the concerns of the citizens and this forum will be a good way to find out where your city councillors stand on these issues.

The event, led by Green Decade Cambridge, will take place next Tuesday, October 13th at 6:30 at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center (806 Massachusetts Avenue, near Central Square). There will be three separate panels, each running about 45 minutes for candidates to discuss their views. More about the event can be found here.

And even if you can't attend, please consider coming to one of our future planning meetings. We will be discussing ways to ensure Congress enacts a strong bill to curb global warming pollution and promote energy efficiency. Just send a quick note to energy@cambridgesomervilleforchange.com if you'd like to learn more.

Health Care Rally Tuesday Oct 6 at Noon

Health Care for America Now!, MoveOn.org, Jobs with Justice, MassVote and Mass-Care are sponsoring an "Insurance Company Crime Scene" Rally to take place at the MA Association of Health Plans, 40 Court Street, near Government Center on Tuesday Oct 6 at noon.

It's a crime that 64% of all bankruptcies are caused by medical debt. It's a crime that every 12 minutes someone dies because an insurance company denies them care. It's a crime that insurance companies are keeping premiums and out of pocket costs high so that care is unaffordable even for those who have insurance.

At the rally we'll ask insurance companies to sign a 4-point pledge:
  1. Not to stand between a doctor and patient when it comes to deciding what care that patient needs.
  2. Provide Equitable coverage to all resident w/o regard to pre-existing conditions, ethnicity, citizenship status, or geography and end all caps on payments for necessary medical care.
  3. Terminate any policy or incentive that rewards employees financially or otherwise for denying care and rejecting claims.
  4. Not to use any resources - including funds, employees and facilities - to oppose health reform proposals that increase patient access to care, add fair regulation of the insurance industry, or support a public health insurance option available on day one.
There will also be a National Day of Action on Oct 20. Details on this event will be announced later this week.

Health Care Can't Wait Rally Personal Account

Gratifying and Inspiring!

Those are the two words that come to mind when I remember the “Health Care Can’t Wait Labor Day Rally & March” on Boston Common. I arrived at 9:45am. The only people there were the volunteers, and it seemed as if half of those were Cambridge-Somerville for Change members. Once the rally began, the energy level quickly rose. The rank and file union members that told their health insurance stories made the real issues sink in. It was gratifying, hearing from all but one of our US congressional representatives who voiced their strong support for health insurance reform, including a strong public option.

At the end of the rally, we marched down the middle of Boylston St to Copley Square. Passers-by stopped to watch. It was obvious why we were there: they read the many signs people carried and they heard our chants: “What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now! Public Option! Public Option!”

Finally we reached Copley Square and marched all the way around the square to Trinity Church. We filled Copley Square with thousands of people publicly demonstrating their support for health care reform including a public option.

That’s why I found this Labor Day to be the most inspiring day since November 4, 2008!

Health Care Can't Wait Rally relocated to Boston Common

The rally has been relocated to the Boston Common (near the gazebo) to accommodate the growing crowd. The rally still kicks off at 11AM on Labor Day Monday September 7.

We are now expecting several members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation. Sign up today to show them your support for real health care reform.


Thanks to HCAN and SEIU, free buses directly to the rally are now available from Framingham, Worcester and UMass Amherst.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE BUSES, and make sure those who are interested sign up SOON at the MyBO links above.



View Larger Map

Health Care Rally in NH

A personal account from a member who attended a rally in Portsmouth NH, outside of the school where President Obama held a town hall meeting:

It was a day of extremes of every sort. We were to be in Portsmouth as early as 6:30 AM but most people arrived around 8. I had half a dozen people from the Boston rally point. I think there were about the same from each of the other three rally points. The number of non-locals (including elsewhere in NH) from "our side" filled at least a bus. We got to the high school about 8:30 AM in the middle of a fierce thunderstorm so everyone got drenched. Luckily by 10 the sun came out and by about noon we were dry again.

When we walked down the street to the High School we had to pick a side of the street to stand on -- those for health care reform and those opposing. That created a tense atmosphere of rivalry. And the opposition were a truly scary lot. One man with a bullhorn and a nasty streak also carried a gun; it is legal to carry an unconcealed weapon in New Hampshire. This was not really about health care. It was real hatred for everything Obama stands for. There were many signs about socialism and pictures of Obama with a Hitler mustache. Really dumb things like "don't let the government mess with my Medicare". They were very hostile.

All the volunteers Boston volunteers somehow got tickets for the town hall meeting, thanks to John Bowes and a couple of NH OFA staff (John graciously gave up his chance to attend). There were 1800 people in the gym. It was a real old-fashioned town meeting! As reported on TV, the crowd inside was totally partisan. The meeting started promptly at 1:00. The president was introduced by a young woman with a poignant story about how she was uninsurable and unemployable because of a pre-existing condition. The president received a huge standing ovation. He made a short speech and then answered questions.

The press of course focused on the negative...or the sensational. There was only one man who said he was a Republican and asked a question about why Obama changed his opinion on universal health care from the time he was a senator. Obama used the question to explain "single payer" and why he doesn't support it. Later the man was interviewed on national TV and admitted that he believes health care needs reform.

In general, the president answered every question in a way to get a new point across. It was a brilliant strategy for getting to the important points but a fairly transparent way of using the questions to make his points.

I believe for those in the room the speech really helped clarify some finer points and dispel some myths such as "death panels" that will pull the plug on grandma (myth). I don't think anything could change the minds of those protesting outside. They have been underground since the election but they are back in force.

Massachusetts Statewide Organizing Forum


Please join us for a Statewide Organizing Forum on Saturday, May 16! Register now!

The Grassroots Organizing Forum is a critical networking opportunity for volunteers, organizers and activists to discuss issues that matter most to our country. You’ll hear from Mitch Stewart, National Director of Organizing for America, and have an opportunity to give input into OFA’s direction. We’ll discuss campaigns in the three areas at the core of President Obama’s agenda: Energy, Health Care, and Education - and what you can do to help win them. And we’ll learn to leverage the political clout that comes from organizing around issue-based campaigns.

When: Saturday May 16, 2009, 9am-3pm
Where: SEIU Hall, 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston (JFK Red Line stop; unlimited free parking)


Admission to the forum is FREE and lunch will be provided. The event is sponsored by Organizing for America-Massachusetts (OFAMA).

Join organizers, volunteers, and leadership from OFA national headquarters
to discuss President Obama’s agenda and what it means for organizers here in MA.
  • Learn how to influence national & statewide public policy
  • Give input into OFA’s direction
  • Hear from experts on President Obama’s 3 key agenda issues: Energy, Health Care, Education
  • Leave with a plan of action to organize folks in your community
If you have questions, or are interested in volunteering for the event, please email ofama2009@gmail.com.

If you're new to Cambridge-Somerville for change and want to sign up to be a part of our grassroots community, please fill out our Volunteer Sign-Up form to the right of the page. Let us know if you're interested in one of our Action Teams -- Health Care, Energy/Environment, and Education -- by clicking on the corresponding box under "Activities Interest."

We're looking forward to seeing you on May 16! Register here: www.tinyurl.com/MeetOFAMA

Dusting Off Our Clipboards

President Obama has asked us to get back to our campaign-organizing days and go out in our neighborhoods this weekend to help him get support for his agenda on Education , Health Care, and Energy.

Check out President Obama’s message about the budget and what we can do to make sure it passes:



Porter Square, 10am-noon
Porter Square, noon-2

Davis Square, 10am-noon

Davis Square, noon-2

Harvard Square, 10-noon
Harvard Square, noon-2


Central Square, 10-noon
Central Square, noon-2

We're going to have an exciting weekend and we can't wait to see you there.

Planting Seeds

Over the weekend we've started planning up for the first major Organizing for America drive to build grassroots support for the three big initiatives. Look for an email about next Saturday's activities from OFA today.

Help Build the Democratic Party Platform: March 4, 2009

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform Hearing
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.


The 2009 Massachusetts Democratic Convention is just around the corner. This year's convention is a historic opportunity to focus Massachusetts Democrats on who we are and what we stand for.

The 2009 Platform will be crafted similarly to the 2008 National Convention. You are invited to share your ideas regarding the Democratic Party Platform at the local meeting hosted by the Cambridge Democratic City Committee and the Somerville Democratic City Committee. All testimony received by deadline will be posted on the MassDems website for all to access and comment on. The goal is to make the drafting of the platform as inclusive and transparent as possible.

Your voice is needed! Please join us in having a say in our party platform for 2009.

The Platform Drafting Committee is working on:

1) A summary of our values and principles;
2) A summary of positions on priority issues; and
3) An online, comprehensive list of all testimony and feedback given during the hearings.

Testimony given at this event will be recorded and transcribed for web publication. Platform hearing participants must indicate their party affiliation. Anonymous testimony will be accepted, but will be regarded as such. To read the current Party Platform, go to www.massdems.org/about/platform.cfm.

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform Hearing

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.


George Dilboy Hall VFW Post
Davis Square
371 Summer St.
Somerville, Ma 02144

If you have any question please contact the event organizer: State Committeeman Mushtaque A. Mirza at 617-876-4267.

Cambridge-Somerville for Change Inauguration Bash

Celebrate the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States: Barack Obama


Where: The Precinct, 70 Union Square, Somerville
When: Tuesday, January 20, 2009, doors open at 5:30pm
  • Watch the festivities on large screen TVs
  • Celebrate with friends & neighbors
  • Greet those you may have worked beside during the campaign
  • Food & beverage available for purchase
  • Creative black& white or Red, White, &Blue attire encouraged!
  • Stick around for The Family Jewels in the back room @ 8:30pm ($10 cover to benefit the Mark Sandman Music Project) or just keep hanging with us in the front

Help folks struggling in our community this winter: Please bring canned food donations for the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, located in Cambridge's Area IV, to be collected at the event. http://www.margaretfullerhouse.org/

* Kids welcome
* Wheelchair-accessible
* Need a carpool? Please email Robin by Sun. 1/18 at rfinnegan@comcast.net and we'll do our best!

You can also find this event on USAService.org.

Save the Date

Unable to be in D.C. on January 20th? Still want to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama? Cambridge-Somerville for Change is planning a community inauguration party for the evening of January 20, time and location to be announced. Re-watch the inauguration speech and celebrate with us. Look for more information in January 2009. If you are interested in being involved in planning this event, please email info@cambridgesomervilleforchange.com. Happy New Year's!

About

Cambridge-Somerville for Change is an all-volunteer community group dedicated to harnessing the grassroots energy and spirit of change inspired by the Obama campaign. Our organizing work includes electoral and issue-based campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Our members have chosen to work on promoting economic fairness, comprehensive health care reform, creating policies that conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide for fair and adequate access to public transportation, and promoting in-state tuition for immigrant youth.

This is an organization built by and for you, the community, and we look forward to your participation and feedback. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about getting involved, please email
info@ cambridgesomervilleforchange.com
or call us at
(617) 302-7324.

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