Sara Horan and Bill Davis – NWSOFA Chapter Co-Leads
Turn Your Anger Into Action:
Here’s the GOOD NEWS and the BAD NEWS
The bad news-Less than 2 weeks into the new administration and we have major executive decisions and congressional actions that are threatening to take our country backwards on issues that impact all Americans.
The good news- We the People do not want this and we are not going to sit quietly by. Literally millions of us our making our voices heard. The Women’s March and spontaneous rallies and events on all the issues are happening now. We at NWSOFA have our teams in full action mode. We are combining and helping to coordinate actions with other groups to have the greatest impact. Our power is in numbers. Our strength is in prioritizing actions that are targeted to make a difference where it counts.
This week’s #1 Priority is protecting ACA/Obamacare. This impacts millions of Americans and is a life saving program. We need everyone who can to come to a massive statewide phone bank targeting members of congress to protect Obamacare. These will run Mon., Wed and Sat from 3-7. Please see details and sign up below. Your help is crucial, bring your family and friends.
The Stand with Women Team is coordinating weekly actions with the Women’s March you can do. See details below.
The IL. legislation may be voting on a bill to allow easing regulations on silencers for guns this week. See what you can do with the Gun Violence Prevention team.
The EPA and Climate Change prevention are gravely threatened. See what the Climate Change, Sierra Club and other CC groups did this week at Rep. Roskam’s office. More actions and details with the Climate Change Team.
Sat. the Muslim Ban and immigration issues became headlines. The Immigration team is working on actions to take. Watch for details.
If you have been looking for a place to channel your anger and / or frustrations, and didn’t know where to go or what to do, join us. Our OFA Family is a respite in the chaos but we don’t sit and complain. We put our efforts into actions that protect our American values. Bring your special talents and networks and join any or all of our teams.
It’s Time to Get up, off the Couch or the Easy Chair and Stop yelling at the TV and Make a Difference.
Year of the Resistance
Join the NWSOFA Team as we protect the gains we made
over the last 8 years and move our
Progressive social issues forward in 2017 … Sara & Bill
Sign up now—->
Coming in FEBRUARY
AT A GLANCE
IT’S GOING TO BE AN ACTIVE MONTH: SEE BELOW OUR UPCOMING
Click on image above to link to calendar
EVENTS
MONTHLY VOLUNTEER CALL — FEB 6
STAND WITH WOMEN — FEB 7
FILM SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY “13th” — FEB 11
CLIMATE CHANGE MONTHLY MEETING — FEB 14
COLLEGE OUTREACH ISSUE TEAM — FEB 15
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLANNING MEETING — FEB 16
CLIMATE CHANGE MOVIE EVENT — FEB 17
FISCAL AND ECONOMICS MEETING FEB 21
PROTECT THE ACA PHONE BANK – EVERY MON, WED, SAT – FEB 1,4,6,8,11,13,15,18,20,22,25 & 27
MONTHLONG AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PHONE BANK
Save the ACA .. Days of ACTION
Click on the above video to see the sights and sounds of citizens taking ACTION
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
EVERY MON, WED AND SAT IN FEBRUARY
1310 W. NW HIGHWAY in ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL
Turn your anger into ACTION!
Join us throughout the month of February to SAVE THE ACA!
Note: You will need to bring a cell phone and a laptop to participate in the phone banks.
NOW it is time to turn our political expression to activism to save health care for everyone.
Even if you only have an hour or two to spare, we need your help!
The American people need to send a message to Congressman Roskam. Help us call his constituents!
On the first Monday of each month, this call is open to all volunteers and will serve as a place to get updates from OFA on our issues. Please join the call if you are interested in getting more information about the work we are doing to join the call.
(Private Meeting Room is on the left when you enter)
Are you concerned about women’s issues: reproductive freedom, economic equality, ending violence against women- to name of few?
Join us for a lively non-partisan discussion and help us enact our plan for 2016-2017 annual action events calendar to proudly and boldly Stand With Women!
(Private Meeting Room is on the left when entering)
If you are interested in making a difference:
JOIN US as we discuss direction of climate initiatives and events since our last meeting in November.
HELP US plan for the showing of This Changes Everything (the documentary based on Naomi Klein’s book of the same name ….now at some local libraries) later in January and and February.
MOVE THE EARTH WITH US as we review major events and changes which affect climate, including the Standing Rock efforts and results. We will be discussing various action possibilities, especially with other climate issue organizations.
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.
Our Agenda:
Current News related to gun violence prevention
Review of the Women’s March
Summary of GVP Legislation being introduced in the Illinois Legislature
Planning for GVP Actions and Events
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. We hold 90 minute planning meetings typically (with some exceptions) on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in working to reduce gun violence in America, we invite you to join us at our next meeting. 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!
JOIN the North West Suburbs Organizing for Action for a viewing of the documentary movie This Changes Everything (the documentary based on Naomi Klein’s book of the same name ….)
MOVE THE EARTH WITH US: This is the first of several movie events we will be hosting as we continue to educate ourselves on Climate Change and take actions to protect our world.
After the movie we will discuss the movie and a variety action possibilities that we can take to save the planet, especially with other climate issue organizations.
NWSOFA’s Fiscal & Economic Issues Discussion Group
Click image above for More Photos
MONDAY FEBRUARY 21st
7:00 – 10:00 PM
(post meeting discussion over pizza ’til whenever)
Schaumburg Township Library (Schaumburg, IL)
Schaumburg, IL 60193
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 2.25 million jobs in the last 12 months (through November). In November the (U-3) unemployment rate was at 4.6%, while the U-6 rate was 9.3%. 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.
We’re looking forward to a good group and some interesting discussions.
Planned for 2017 actions. Discussion of UN report on “missing rights” of American Women. Discussion of countries around the world actions that led to improved equal rights for women. Details of Million Women March, January 21, 2017- Chicago branch to coincide with Washington DC and other USA cities.
OFA is joining with partners across the country to defend Obamacare and the millions who have benefited from its coverage and provisions from the dangerous and irresponsible gambit of repeal. We want to make our voices heard in January and February and will be discussing the plan moving forward..
To See NWSOFA ACTION click on video
NWSOFA’s Fiscal & Economic Issues Discussion Group
Click image above for More Photos
MONDAY JANUARY 9th
7:00 – 9:30 PM
(post meeting discussion over pizza ’til whenever)
We we were back in Arlington Heights in January to discuss the Illinois and US economies and their respective fiscal situations.
Our agenda:
1. R. Kent Kirkwood is looking to start an issue group focusing on wealth and income inequality and will be making a 30 minute presentation on these issues at our meeting. I look forward to hearing Kent’s ideas.
2. A new member, David Doney, will present some slides diving into the employment data by race, age, gender, education, etc. This should provide some additional insights regarding the employment data we see from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Nationally job growth continues to be strong with 2.25 million jobs added in the last 12 months (through November). November job growth was reported as 178,000 jobs added. Incomes are also up this year. The fiscal situation is relatively stable with overall spending levels set through FY 2017 and a continuing resolution funding spending into April.
Real GDP growth in the 3rd quarter has been revised up to 3.5% (from 2.9% initially). 1st quarter GDP growth was 0.8%. 2nd quarter GDP growth was 1.4%. We will be discussing these numbers at our meeting next Tuesday.
On the other hand, Illinois is not doing as well. We operated without a budget in FY 2016 (ended June 30th) and have been operating with only a partial budget since the beginning of the fiscal year in July. That partial budget is only through December 31st, so we will again be operating without a budget beginning on January 1st.
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.2014 and 2015 Illinois job numbers have been significantly revised by the BLS, with 2014 job growth now reported at +88,000 and 2015 job growth now reported at 51,400. Job growth for the first eleven months of 2016 was reported at 51,300.
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. We encourage these political discussions outside of official OFA events.
We had a good group and some interesting discussions.
(Arlington Heights, IL) to Partner with The Sierra Club on
“Postcards for Roskam”
Making a difference:We discussed direction of climate initiatives and events since our last meeting in November.
Scheduled the showing of This Changes Everything (the documentary based on Naomi Klein’s book of the same name ….now at some local libraries) later in January and and February.
We review major events and changes which affect climate, including the Standing Rock efforts and results. We will be discussing various action possibilities, especially with other climate issue organizations.
Then We Rallied with Great Speakers @ Representative Roskams West Chicago Offices:
NWSOFA
Gun Violence Prevention Planning Meeting
Click on the above image for larger individual photos
Was Held
THURSDAY January 19
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
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.
We held our January planning meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Discussions we held on issues of Gun Violence Prevention, on the upcoming Illinois Silencer law. Lots of new folks attended. If you are interested in working to reduce gun violence in America, we invite you to join us at our next meeting.
To help shine a light on the dark shadow of gun violence in America
Immigration March and Rally for Resistance, Unity and Respect for All!
ICIRR members and allies marched on January 14th for a mobilization of immigrant and labor communities to resist the anti-immigrant attacks and harmful policies of the incoming administration.
Mobilizations will be held across the country to build community, celebrate immigrant heritage and defiantly pledge to protect immigrants, Muslims and refugees from hateful attacks and policies expected to come under the upcoming administration.
This event is part of a series national mobilizations taking place across the country on January 14th in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Charlotte, Philadelphia and over 20 other cities.
Hope is not blind optimism. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it.
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2015
Click on the above Image to see each lead and the issues they work on …
