NWSOFA May 2015 Monthly Progressive Newsletter

NWSOFA May 2015 Monthly Progressive Newsletter
Sara Horan & Bill Davis
NWSOFA Chapter Co-Leads
May Brings a Spring in our Steps as we Visit The President in DC and OFA HQ COI in Chicago,   
At NWSOFA the best way to describe our NWSOFA Team is BUSY, as we headed out to Washington for the OFA Summit featuring the President of the United States, Barack Obama and last week attended the OFA Chicago HQ for a COI event featuring the NWSOFA an Chicago North Chapters.  Those two Events defined what we love to do – ORGANIZE.  Our Chapter Leads were “Spot On” and Enthusiastic as they presented their issue advocacy.
We will try to cover all the excitement that surrounds the NWSOFA Progressive Community as we present the May Events and cover this past April Events. Our results are measured by what we do and say every day, week, and month. We are the voice & energy of many that can move public opinion and shape politician’s opinion.
Stop arguing with the radio or TV and add your voices to NWSOFA 
As Jim Messina, OFA Chairman of the Board stated recently, “OFA is not a political campaign. We’re a built-to-last movement that’s not going anywhere. When the polls close and elections end, we’re the ones still here, fighting for the principles we believe in.” “We are and will continue to be the sum of millions of grassroots voices calling for change.”
For this Spring, OFA has announced two (2) new initiatives: 1) Outreaches to the youth at the college and university level and 2) Outreach to the minorities in our areas, while continuing to work harder to win the hearts and minds of those that voted for: Marriage Equality, ACA Healthcare reform, Climate Change, Minimum Wage, Gun Violence Prevention, Equal Pay for Equal Work for Women, and Comprehensive Immigration Reform. If you like to work on a team for these two new important initiatives or on any or all issues please let us know.
 We hope you become likewise engaged in the NWSOFA and it’s many evolving Issues teams.
NWSOFA Logo
 Join the NWSOFA Team 
as we continue to move our social issues 
forward this Spring … Sara & Bill  

NWSOFA is Action.. 
In 2013 We Found our Voices
In 2014 We Amplified our Voices
In 2015 We are Adding More Voices to our Community for Social Change
 
We Sometimes FORGET how Powerful a Force We are 
and that Creating Social Change is a PROCESS not a Destination!!

NWSOFA May Events and Meetings

University & College Outreach

 Team Meeting
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Feeling the call to work with the young adults at college and University levels to engage them in Progressive Issue Engagement.. 
Kym Garnett
Renee Gladstone
NWSOFA announces
“The University & College Outreach Team Leads”
Kym Garnett
Renee Gladstone, 
University & College Outreach Team Co-Leads
Join us at Harper College for a team planning meeting. Everyone is welcome. Working on progressive issues that students are passionate about, bring your creativity and ideas. We will be meeting in the cafeteria.

 

Our next meeting will be on May 6, at 7:00 pm, in the cafeteria at Harper College.
Unfortunately, no hot food will be available since the food service closes at 5:00, but a Subway in another building will be open.

 

The cafeteria is in the lower level of Building A.  You can park for Building A either on the north if you enter from Euclid, or the south if you enter from Algonquin Road, (highway 62). We’ll have some signs pointing to our table.

 

If you have any information to bring about student clubs, faculty advisers, or other contacts at local colleges, please bring it.
Please contact Renee at rrgladstone@aol.com or Kim at kim.garnett18@gmail.com

April 13th Meeting – Packed Hou
NWSOFA Fiscal & Economic Discussion Group 
Meeting
Wednesday Night 
May 13
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
7:00 – 9:00 PM
2nd Floor Hendrickson South Meeting Room,500 N. Dunton Street
Join us for some
Deep Dives and Have Some Great Discussions
Into the Facts about

the Economic Recovery and Illinois

 Proposed Budget..
Want the Facts…
Then Attend the Monthly Fiscal and Economic Issues Discussion Group Meeting and be amazed at what you discover.
We will have our standard update of the economy, both jobs and GDP. We will also continue our discussions of the economic recovery and policy issues that affect the recovery. The discussion will be based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics May, 2015 report on the April Jobs Report.
Key Points from March 6th report on February Jobs:
    • Over three (3) million jobs added in the last 12 months
    • 295,000 jobs added in February 2015;
    • January revised to 239,000 jobs added
    • Unemployment rate nationally at 5.5% in February
    • Down 1.2% in the last 12 month
Attend the NWSOFA Fiscal & Economic Discussions (held monthly) and be the most informed on your block or your discussion group!
A Couple of Comments from Two Attendees @ Mays Meeting:
“There are millions who are lethargic and indolent, sitting on the sidelines, attending an occasional meeting,  watching things happen.  As I’ve always said, there are 3 kinds of people-those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those that wonder what happened.  These last 2 categories are the ones we need to stimulate.” “Great Meeting”, Jim
“Karl, You did a great job presenting the information. I learned a lot. Thank you!  When is your next meeting/event?”, Ken

Join Us for the 4C’s 
Coffee,

Conversation,
Cookies &
Calls
Thursday May 14th
@ The Corner Bakery 6:30-8:30 
Rand & Palatine
 
Calling Progressives just like You
NWSOFAer’s get together to relax, drink coffee, discuss current topics, enjoy cookies and make some important calls to other Progressives in the suburbs notifying them of our meetings and updates on social issues policies.
We call these the 4C’s and we need your help.  Volunteer for an hour or two doing what we do best “organizing”!

NWSOFA GVP Team @ April’s Meeting
Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action
 
Gun Violence Prevention
Meeting 
Thursday, May 28th
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Corner Bakery Cafe, Norhpoint Shopping Center, 470 E. Rand Rd., Arlington Heights
Discussion & Actions:
Topics to be covered at the May’s GVP Planning meeting include the following:
  • Planning a program for later this year focusing on the prevention of pediatric injuries involving guns.
  • Status of Gun Safety Bills in the Illinois House
  • Forming a stronger partnership with Mom’s Demand Action and Mayors Against Illegal Guns , Everytown for Gun Safety

NWSOFA Updates on Issue Teams & Happenings

 

If The ACA Were Repealed, Just What Would Replace It?
Blog by:  Timothy Jost
For five years Republicans have been clamoring for repeal of the Affordable Care Act. With Republicans gaining control of both houses of Congress in 2014, it is now conceivable that they could actually get repeal legislation–or repeal and replace legislation–to the President’s desk… But what changes would they seek, and what effect would those changes have? What proposals have the Republicans offered for replacing the law, and how would those proposals affect progress that has been made so far in achieving the goals of the ACA?

Immigration Reform
(CIR)
in the News
Would you like to get involved with other like minded Progressives and join our Comprehensive Immigration Reform Team …..   then:
Please Call Tuly, Sara or Bill 
@ 224-241-2012
Did You Know?
Fewer immigrants are being caught crossing U.S.-Mexico border

The number of immigrants caught crossing the Southwest border continues to fall sharply, Obama administration officials said Friday, a decline due in large part to the end of the surge in people coming from Central America.

Border agents caught about 152,000 people crossing during the last six months, 28% less than the same period a year earlier...Click below to read more...

 

Stand With Women
 Gains Momentum
Here’s How Top Female Executives End Up Getting Paid Less Than Men

A new study examines the root of the pay gap 

between men and women at the top of the corporate ladder

Even top female workers can’t catch a break when it comes to pay inequality.

A researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and colleagues in academia are out with a new paper on gender differences in compensation for executives. They analyzed pay for chairs/chief executive officers, vice chairs, presidents, chief financial officers and chief operating officers, and here’s what they found:

Female executives get less incentive pay compared to their male counterparts

Some 93 percent of the difference in total pay between male and female executives is rooted in incentive pay, particularly the value of stock options and grants, the researchers found.

 

Upcoming May Events & Issue Information From our Friends & Partners

Illinois Budget Cuts/Increased Revenues events in the works.

 

Illinois Budget Cuts and Additional Revenues

  • May 12-Community Renewal Society (CRS) Rally in Springfield
  • May 16-Community Renewal Society (CRS) Event in Arlington Heights-See draft of a flyer on the Right
  • – See Flyer

To View Information on the Budget as a Moral Document Meeting 

“In the Books” May Events 

First Meeting of the Minority Outreach May 7th
  NWSOFA Minority Outreach Names Leadership and Holds Inaugural Meeting – May 7th
New Initiative for 2015 Announced by OFA
You Can Make a Difference in Under-Served Communities
NWSOFA announces the University & College Outreach Team Leads;
Antualia (Tuly) Rodriguez, 

Minority Outreach Team Co-Lead
Kym Garnett, Minority Outreach Team Co-Lead
Organizing for Action has a strong commitment to providing easy points of entry for everyday Americans who want to have their voices heard and make a difference in their communities.
PURPOSE: To ensure that Organizing for Action is providing training, leadership development, team building, and issue advocacy opportunities to communities and people who do not have ready access to the internet, reliable transportation, etc. We will focus specifically in communities of color and   historically underserved areas, which tend to have less financial means. The Fulfilling the Promise program will ensure that our organization and the progressive community at large is comprised of a diverse group of talented organizers who are representative of all of the communities that make up our country.

Or If This Outreach resonates with you, Please Call Kym or Tuly @ 224-241-2012

A Terrific Night of  
Presentations at OFA’s National Headquarter Offices
by OFA’s COI
“Community Organizing Institute”
Last Week… April 28 

Celebrating How 

Organizing Works at the Local Level

The OFA COI hosted a reception to recognize the work of our OFA chapters in the Chicago area,  followed by a panel discussion on what
Chicago area OFA Chapters are doing in six issue areas:
1) Fiscal & Economic Issues
2) Digital Organizing
3) Climate Change Campaign
4) Gun Violence Prevention (GPV)
5) College Outreach
6)Minority Outreach

Huge Success .. Climate Action 411
“Climate Action 411 – Inspiring Hope through Action” happened on 4/11
7 Speakers, all Top of the Field, plus engaged Politicians reported and encouraged the attendees to take action to protect our planet.

 More Photos on the side bar.

About NWSOFA
QuickView-A49F6DCE9425D079601D1793F2D88B8A In January 2013 we started as a gathering of friends and neighbors from the NW Suburbs who wanted to continue to have impact on the progressive issues we voted for in 2012.This grassroots, bottom up movement spread across the country and sparked the creation of Organizing for Action, OFA National which now has  Chapters all over the country. This is a non-partisan, volunteer organization that focuses on progressive issues we are committed to taking Action on to make a difference locally, statewide and nationally.
NWSOFA’s 1st Issue Team was  right after the tragedy at Sandy Hook. The Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) team felt we needed accurate information and facts, events to teach others and actions we could take to make a difference on pushing for common sense gun violence prevention. That has been our basic format as new issues arose and team developed. We now have the GVP, ACA/Obamacare, Climate Change,Fiscal Issues and Stand with Women Issue Teams.Check out their individual pages to see all the events they have scheduled and to join the teams you want to make a difference with. Other teams are developing such as for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
OFA National coordinates “Days of Action” that Chapters across the country will all do on the same day. Each team also has local events and may work with affiliate organizations i.e. Sierra Club, Al Gore Reality Project, etc. to combine like-minded groups on a local, state or national event.
In this type of organization there are numerous ways you can be involved with the teams and in other roles.We were looking for ways to get our events out and now have  a Twitter Master, Kathy,and Press Lead, Kym.
Two new initiatives were introduced in January 2015 from OFA. The first one is to get more young people involved in progressives issues. We prioritized working with colleges to  reach out to them. One of the major benefits of joining us is learning to be a community organizer. These skills can be beneficial for a lifetime. The second initiative is working with under served populations that traditionally have not a voice on issues that are crucial for them. If either of these sound like something you would be interested in helping to develop, please let us know.
Maybe you have a special skill we haven’t even thought about give us a call we’re always open to new ideas and teams.
Thanks for stopping and hope you’ll stay and join us.

   NWSOFA
To leave a message or Sign up for an Issue Team .. Just click the Sign Up button and fill out the NWSOFA Comment log.
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Notice: This is a public meeting / event(s) 
 NWSOFA is a 501(c)4,  non-partisan organization. 
All opinions are solely those of NWSOFA
In This Issue

 About NWSOFA 
QuickView-A49F6DCE9425D079601D1793F2D88B8A
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!

Follow NWSOFA on Social Media 
Click to Follow us on Twitter

Follow us @NWSOFA’s Website

Click to Link to WebSite

Follow us Facebook

Click to Link to Facebook

Join Us for Coffee, Conversation, Cookies and Call @ the 4C’s

Join Us for the 4C’s 
Coffee,

Conversation,
Cookies &

Calls
Thursday May 14th
@ The Corner Bakery 6:30-8:30 
Rand & Palatine
Calling Progressives just like You

NWSOFAer’s get together to relax, drink coffee, discuss current topics, enjoy cookies and make some important calls to other Progressives in the suburbs notifying them of our meetings
We call these the 4C’s and we need your help.  Volunteer for an hour or two doing what we do best “organizing”!

May Events .. NWSOFA in Photos

NWSOFA Minority Outreach May 7th


Downtown OFA HQ COI Event 4/6


April Events .. NWSOFA in Photos

OFA Washington Summit with President Obama 4/ 23


Gun Violence Prevention Leadership Meeting
4/16

Fiscal & Economics Meeting
4/13

 

Climate Action 411
April 11th

Coalition to Restore Democracy April 8th Rep Alan Grayson Event


College Outreach .. 4/1 First Organization Meeting

Many NWSOFAers Attended the Palatine “Legislative Update”, April 2nd

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 2015

Just Click on the Photo to link the NWSOFA e-magazines daily & archived articles 

Contact Information
NWSOFA Co-Leaders Sara Horan & Bill Davis    
Phone: 224-241-2012 
email: nws.ofa@gmail.com
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