We just picked up one hour of time.. Let’s use it effectively,
We rolled the clocks back one full hour a few days ago (Halloween Night) and just gained one whole hour of time. While celebrating your good fortune, think “what are you going to to do with that 60 minutes.. that one (1) hour or found time?”.
Don’t take the easy way out and opt out for one more hour of sleep. No, let’s do something spectacular and really spend that hour well. Here’s a few idea’s for that found 60 minutes: 1) Save the world by altering the devastating effects of Climate Change, 2) Ensure Equality for all, 3) Stop the senseless gun violence in the US, 3) Provide Healthcare for all as a right of all our Citizens, 4) Make sure the women in our lives: wives, daughters and grand daughters are paid the same for equal work, 5) Break some Glass Ceilings, 6) Help students and new voters understand the political process and 7) Make Comprehensive Immigration Reform a reality.
Doubt you can do that all in 60 minutes! Maybe your right, but in 60 minutes you can make make a difference. You can make 60 phone calls to people like you and get them involved. in 60 minutes you can call all the state and national legislatures in your area and go “on the record” for your you expect them to do achieve those 7 above goals, in 60 minutes you can write a letter to the editor or several state and local papers, in 60 minutes you can attend one our our 8 Issue teams and learn what can be done to change the world we live in, in 60 minutes you can create action and add your voices to the progressive issues that are so important to the future for the US and it’s citizens.
As you read down past all the events what WILL happen in November, take a look at what Did Happen and was accomplished as a Chapter by NWSOFA in October. It’s awesome! Every team, team Lead and Co-Lead has surrounded themselves with highly dedicated team-mates. The results are captured in the photograph’s, the Tweets and the “Energy”. It’s fun to be part of ACTION on behalf of the progressive movement.
It’s Time to Get up, off the Couch or the Easy Chair and Stop yelling at the TV (Faux news) and Make a Difference.
This year, NWSOFA has added two (2) new initiatives: 1) Outreaches to the youth at the college and university level and 2) Outreach to the minorities in the Northwest Suburbs, 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.
Join the NWSOFA Team as we continue to move our social issues forward this Fall…
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!
“Upcoming November Events”
NWSOFA: 24 HOURS OF REALITY CLIMATE CHANGE BROADCAST
Coming to a Venue Close to you
Would you like to come to Arlington Heights Library to watch 24 Hours of Reality and Live Earth with us?
Join Us .. The World is Watching
Friday November 13, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
The Arlington Heights Library, 500 N Dunton Ave, Arlington Hts, IL
We’ll be watching the broadcast, speaking about action in Paris, and talking about the exciting developments in clean energy and other areas that are bringing the world to a turning point on climate change.
What makes this such a special event is that right now we will be having a special viewing of the documentary as world leaders are about to head to Paris to create a global climate agreement.
So 24 Hours of Reality is bringing millions of people together all around the world to send a clear message to our leaders and make sure they take action. EVENT DETAILS: When: Friday November 13, 5 ;00 – 8:00 Where: The Arlington Heights Library, 500 N Dunton Ave, Arlington Hts, IL 60004 Hope to see you there!
Congress raised the debt ceiling at the end of October so that threat is behind us. They also determined total spending for FY’s 2016 and 2017, but have not yet passed the appropriations bills. Therefore, there is still a small threat of a partial shutdown on December 12th, but it is much less likely. We will be discussing this legislation at our 11/16 meeting, as well as updating jobs data through October. The October numbers will come out Friday, November 6th.
After the library we will head over to Eddie’s on NW Highway to continue our discussion
Deep Dives into the BLS Jobs reports, the US Budget and Illinois Jobs and stalled Budget..
Natelie Warren Keeps the October Meeting on Target
Thursday Night
November 19, 2015
The Corner Bakery Café
Northpoint Shopping Center
470 East Rand Road
Arlington Heights, IL60004
(in the private meeting room to the left when you enter the Cafe)
The GVP Issues Team has been working for the past two years to keep the 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 (some exceptions) on the third 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.
Over the course of the violent summer and now fall, something has changed about the way we are responding. Instead of reacting with head shaking and despair, people at our meetings and across the country seem to be strengthening their resolve to bring about change.
Agenda for the Upcoming November 19th Meeting:
Updates on our support efforts for State Licensing of Gun Dealers including several upcoming meetings with elected officials and faith groups
Discussion of the groups meetings with Mayors in the Suburbs and Persons of Faith
Discussion of Badger Gun store court case in Milwaukee WI
Partnering with MOMS Demand Action for a party making cards for survivors of gun violence
Working on college gun violence prevention with the NWSOFA College Outreach Team
So our volunteers on the ground reach targeted communities where health insurance education and ACA education are low.
General Information on the ACA OPEN ENROLLMENT
NWSOFA’s goals for the 3rd ACA enrollment period. This ACA enrollment period will be November 1, 2015 — January 31, 2016, with 3 important deadlines:
December 15th: deadline for coverage to begin January 1, 2016
January 1st: deadline for coverage to begin February 1, 2016
January 31st: deadline for coverage to begin March 1, 2016
OFA will have three key roles during this enrollment period:
Gather stories touting the success and benefits of the ACA
Collaborate with national and local partners in the health care service and enrollment space.*
Utilizing chapters and volunteers on the ground to reach target communities where health insurance education and ACA education are low.
*Note: Neither OFA nor volunteers on behalf of OFA should be participating in the actual enrollment of people. This is the same as in the previous enrollment periods.
We are screening a film, the Empowerment Project, and hosting a panel of local, successful women to engage and inspire women and men alike to feel like their gender does not limit their options and potential success.
Bring your family for a fun Friday movie night!
“NWSOFA & OFA stands with women-from expanding women’s leadership and economic security to protecting health care choices.”
We had some Deep Dives into the BLS Jobs reports, the US Budget and Illinois Jobs and stalled Budget.
The discussion were centered around everything that is (NOT) going on with our state budget negotiations for the fiscal year that began July 1st, and short term resolution / progress on the federal appropriations for the fiscal year beginning October 1st.
As always, we had a detailed update on the September US jobs sent out October 2nd, Friday from the Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS) and the August IL numbers published late last month. As most of you probably saw, the second quarter GDP growth was revised up to a 3.7% annual rate. When we have new participants we do some deep dives into the BLS report on the unemployment 5.1% rate and the U-6 10% rate and the number of people that represents.
NWSOFA Diversity Outreach and Immigration Reform Team Hosted a DACA / DAPA Training Event two weekends ago..
Combined with the OFA Greater Chicago Immigration Reform Team and the
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Last November, President Obama took executive action to provide administrative relief to millions of immigrants by expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and creating a new Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program for certain immigrants.
Both programs would offer immigrants the opportunity to get protection from deportation and authorization to work if they pass background checks and meet other criteria. In response, ICIRR rolled out the Illinois is Ready campaign, a collaboration with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Durbin, Congressman Gutierrez, and a broad network of community-serving allies to push accurate information regarding DACA and DAPA into the community and to ensure immigrant serving organizations have the training and resources to assist immigrants with the application process.
All attendees reported how much there is to know… and how important it is that we understand and assist those that need this information.
“The War within the US – 45 Campus Shooting – 235 Mass Shooting YTD 2015”
Natelie Warren Keep the Meeting on Target
Summary: October 15th 2015 NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Planning Meeting
Yet again our GVP team began a monthly meeting grappling with another example of senseless gun violence, the tragic shootings at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.
But over the course of the violent summer and now fall, something has changed about the way we are responding. Instead of reacting with head shaking and despair, people at our meetings and across the country seem to be strengthening their resolve to bring about change.
After sharing information and ideas about the Oregon incident, we moved on to current action plans and new ideas and information as follows:
Updates on our support efforts for State Licensing of Gun Dealers including several upcoming meetings with elected officials and faith groups
Sharing the ATF list of all Federally Licensed Gun Dealers in the Northwest suburbs
Discussion of Badger Gun store court case in Milwaukee WI
Partnering with MOMS Demand Action for a party making cards for survivors of gun violence
Working on college gun violence prevention with the NWSOFA College Outreach Team
Huge NWSOFA Global Day of Action with NWS Coalition on Climate Change
October 14th we came together with the
Northwest Suburbs Climate Change Coalition
A spirited emotional crowd of environmental activists gathered Wednesday evening in Arlington Heights during a People’s Climate Movement rally and march. They called on Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner to curb carbon pollution and grow clean energy jobs in the state.
The evening was punctuated by sing-alongs to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” and the Beatles “All You Need is Love.” Officials said the event recognized a national day of action across the country as the United States prepares for December’s Paris climate talks.
“Usually, the reaction from all levels of governments and the private sector is that we can’t do anything because it costs too much, but the cost of not doing anything will cause even greater harm to our environment, our health and our children’s health,” said Arlington Heights Trustee Robin LaBedz.
Several Hundred of local residents cheered her on during a candlelight vigil after a mile-long march down Arlington Heights Road, en route to the village’s North School Park.
One member of the crowd shouted out a call for village officials to reduce garbage pickup from twice to once a week – a proposal the Village Board is expected to discuss in the coming weeks. A large scroll was signed by those that attended the candle lite vigil at North Park School. That Scroll will be sent to Governor Rauner.
Otherwise, the event remained upbeat and peaceful, attracting an intergenerational crowd, including families with young children, as well as senior citizens.
Earlier in the evening, the capacity crowd at a pre-march rally filled Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where Pastor Rhonda Pruitt spoke about the importance of faith-based organizations urging members to take action to improve the environment.
From the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley to New York University, the University of Tennessee at Martin to Williams College, these students leaned on one another to share their experience organizing and exchange ideas. The Campus Organizing Summit was part of OFA’s 2015 issue summits series, which throughout this year has provided organizers with opportunities to expand their networks, solve organizing challenges, and learn new skills
Right in the center of the photo NWSOFA College Outreach Lead, Kym Garnet 6 from the left or 7 from the right … front row
Was held this last October – w/ 22 folks in attendance.. Congradulations!
NWSOFA GVP Issue Team will join MOM’s Demand Action at an all day card decorating and brunch at a private residence in Arlington Heights on Saturday.
We started at 10 and continued until all if the 50 cards are decorated. The cards are sent out by Moms Demand Action and Everytown, and go to families who have lost loved ones to gun violence we done.Getting women to come together in our Northwest suburban homes from different Gun Violence Prevention groups, different churches, and from other Chicago areas was the goal and we rocked it. We provided all the materials and the cards are easy to decorate.
Mental Health Crisis? Police CIT Saves Lives
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
6:30-9:00 pm
Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough Street, Barrington IL.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Barrington Area is excited to host Patricia Doyle, President/Founder of Vision For Change who will speak on Police Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) strategies and how
families and thecommunity can work with the police before, during and after a mental health crisis call.
Pat has trained over 2,000 first responders. During her tenure as the Education Director at NAMI DuPage she and her team created education programs that resulted in local, state and national recognition.
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.
Thanks for stopping and hope you’ll stay and 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
NWSOFA is pleased to be participating in the Harper College Student
Involvement Volunteer Fair.
We’ll have a display showing a video promoting all our teams, and publicity for our chapter.
We hope to welcome some new members. Stop by and say hello.
Thursday, Nov.5
10:00-2:00
Avante building.
Park on the south side of Z building
NWSOFA “October Events” In Pictures
NWSOFA Receives the
Jim Hightower “Community Organizing Award”
from the Greater Palatine Area Democrats (GPAD)
Matt Flam of GPAD Presents the Award to Members of NWSOFA: Bill Davis, Renee Gladstone, Patrick Watson & Harold Whyte
NWSOFA Fiscal & Economics Discussion Group Meet on October 19th
NWSOFA DO/CIR
DACA / DAPA Training Event 10/17
NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Team
GVP Meeting 10/15/15
NWSOFA & Sierra Club et al.. AH Rally with Candle Light March 10/15/15
Do you have a few dollars to spare to support our Progressive movement @NWSOFA Supplies, Newsletters, Databases, etc?
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.
Just Click on the Photo to link the NWSOFA e-magazines daily & archived articles
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.
