NWSOFA December 2016 Newsletter

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DECEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM NWSOFA!
Coming in DECEMBER

NWSOFA

Sandy Hook Vigil

WEDNESDAY December 7

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Living Faith Cathedral Worship Center Church

Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action is partnering with a local, non-denominational, religious community, to stage an interfaith, candlelight vigil to #EndGunViolence in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the Sandy Hook School tragedy, as well as the 120,000 American victims of gun violence who have been killed since December 2012.

The vigil will be part of a nationwide tribute also in partnership with the Newtown Foundation, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown Survivor Engagement Network.

Your presence at the vigil will help give a voice to the tens of thousands of victims and survivors of gun violence and allow you to play a vital part to help #EndGunViolence across our nation.

Light refreshments will be served following the vigil.

Please
CLICK HERE AND JOIN US
to help shine a light on the dark shadow of gun violence in America

NWSOFA’s Fiscal & Economic Issues Discussion Group
Click image above for More Photos
    
TUESDAY DECEMBER 20th 
7:00 – 11:00 PM 

(post meeting discussion over pizza ’til 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 2.35 million jobs in the last 12 months. The November jobs report will come out Friday, December 2nd. In October the (U-3) unemployment rate was at 4.9%, while the U-6 rate was 9.5%. 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 through December 2016. The revised jobs report for Illinois shows job gains for 2015 of 51,400. Job gains in 2016 through October are 48,400.

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 the politics of what happened in the general election at Lou’s.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

“IN THE BOOKS”: Our recent Events
.

Click on the Above Image for Additional Photos
Monthly Meeting
was held
Tuesday, Nov 1st
 in
Arlington Heights
We welcomed A new member, Judith Ross,
and discussed Events attended in October reviewed- NWCASA Walk a Mile In Her Shoes, the Compassionate Care Network Annual fund-raiser, and Women’s Peace Walk in solidarity with multiple faith women in Israel and Palestine coming together in Jericho 10/19.
A lively discussion about “what is locker room talk” and ideas on ending the larger issue of misogyny what it represents dominated the evening. We ended early to head home to cheer on our Chicago Cubs!

NWSOFA’s Fiscal & Economic Issues Discussion Group
Click image above for More Photos
    
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15th 
7:00 – 11:00 PM 

(post meeting discussion over pizza till whenever)

 

We were back in Arlington Heights in November to discuss the Illinois and US economies and their respective fiscal situations. We will also be discussing the potential impact of tomorrow’s election results.

Economic growth continues to be pretty good on the national level with 2.4 million jobs added in the last 12 months (through October). The fiscal situation is relatively stable with overall spending levels set through FY 2017.

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 is still growing, 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 since the beginning of 2015.

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.

We had a good group and some interesting discussions .

NWSOFA Climate Issues Planning Meeting
Click Image above to see event photos.
 
Wed, NOVEMBER 17th
6:00 pm – 8:00 PM
Our Agenda:
  • Planned a showing of the movie  This Changes Everything (thoughtful, compelling and beautifully put together) at multiple venues
  • Discussed the effects that the recent  American election will have on climate issues
  • Discussed Standing Rock, the environmental implications, legal issues, possible outcomes, coordination of various environmental groups, and possible eventual continuation of the pipeline into Illinois, passing close to Springfield

Gun Violence Prevention Monthly Meeting 
Click on the Above Image for Additional Photos
 
Thursday, NOVEMBER 17th

6:30 pm – 8:00 PM

 

There was Great coffee and lively conversation and learning how to take action to honor all victims of gun violence and make our communities safer. Our 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.

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Note: This was an invitation only event…

Notice: These are public meeting(s) / event(s) 
NWSOFA is a 501(c)4,  non-partisan organization. 
All opinions are solely those of NWSOFA
NWSOFA EVENTS PLANNED FOR JANUARY

SAVE THE DATES
in JANUARY!
STANDING WITH WOMEN – TUE 3

FISCAL  – TUE 10GVP – THUR 19

MILLION WOMEN’S MARCH – SAT 21

iIn The Books our June Event 
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 ..
 
MEET THE
 
NWSOFA
CHAPTER LEADS
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Contact Information
NWSOFA Co-Leaders Sara Horan & Bill Davis
Phone: 224-241-2012
email: nws.ofa@gmail.com
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