NWSOFA June 2017 Progressive Newsletter

Click to see JUNE Calendar

NEWSLETTER

Sara Horan and Bill Davis – NWSOFA Chapter Co-Leads
KEEP GOING!
 

Last month Organizing for Action held a National Summit here in Chicago.

Leaders from all over the country came together to reaffirm their commitment to mobilizing, organizing and recruiting to build the kind of world we believe in for now and the future. Members of this amazing group of diverse volunteers are from blue states, red states and purple states. They are every color of the Rainbow. And a beautiful, smart and talented rainbow it is. Each has different challenges and priorities nationally, statewide and locally. The Executive Director of OFA, Katie Hogan, laid out goals for the next 20 years. She challenged us to analyze how we could sustain and grow our community of organizers. Her message: It’s accomplished one person at a time. It’s accomplished with volunteers willing to step up and join with others so our voices are heard loud and clear. It was a very inspiring message!

Soooo, do you feel a bit overwhelmed with requests to come to a rally, call your member of congress, sign a witness slip on legislation or join a committee? We understand. We and our progressive partners are making a lot of “Asks” of you. The thing is: The political landscape is changing so fast right now that it is crucial that we make our voices heard. For example, many Americans are just now understanding how important it is to save the Affordable Care Act. A whopping 23 million of our fellow citizens could lose even the most basic coverage. These Americans, the most vulnerable among us, would be hit the hardest, just so a few could make millions. This is but one issue that needs immediate action. Our NWSOFA Family is and has been working on ACA and many other issues for years and

We will not stop now!

All our progressive issues teams are going full steam ahead and we’d love to have you join us! Please check out what we’ve been doing and great events coming up in June. If you’re not sure, save the date of June 28th. We’re having a “Taste of NWSOFA”. You can meet all the Issue Leads and find out what they have prioritized. Come and meet our OFA Family at the Palatine Library 7:00-9:00 pm.

Hope to see you there!
It’s Time to Get up, off the Couch or the Easy Chair and Stop yelling at the TV and Make a Difference.
 

OFA NATIONAL SUMMIT 2017
 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 JUNE
AT A GLANCE

OUR UPCOMING EVENTS FOR JUNE: 
Click on image above to link to calendar
 
  • Chicago Wear Orange Party for Peace JUNE 3 12 – 1PM
  • Adopt A District IL 6th Town Hall JUNE 3 5 – 6:30 PM
  • SWW Partner Event: Women’s Studies Committee, College of DuPage – How to Get Politically Involved JUNE 4 @ 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  •  OFA Monthly Volunteer Call – National Call JUNE 5 @ 7:00 –
    8:00 PM
  • Stand With Women March Action Planning Meeting JUNE 6 @ 6:00 – 8:00 PM
  •  Fiscal and Economic Issue Team Monthly Meeting
    JUNE 12 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
  • Climate Change Monthly Team Meeting JUNE 13 @ 6:30 –
    7:30 PM
  • Gun Violence Prevention Planning Meeting JUNE 15 @ 6:30 – 8:00 PM
  • Taste of NWSOFA June 28, 2017 7:00 PM
ADOPT A DISTRICT TOWN HALL

NWSOFA and
COALITION for a BETTER ILLINOIS 6th —
EVENT
 
Saturday, JUNE 3rd     
5:00 – 6:30 PM

@ Fremd High School Auditorium    
The Sixth District finally gets its own town hall!

Peter Roskam won’t meet with his constituents (except the ones who agree with him), so our special guest, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, is “adopting” our district.

Congresswoman Schakowsky will answer your questions about the ACA and its “replacement,” the Trump budget, and anything else you want to know about what’s really happening in Washington. Let’s have a big turnout to show the national Democratic groups that we are committed to electing a Member of Congress who will represent the people of the Sixth District, not just the rich and powerful.

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Everyone is encouraged to attend, whether you live in the Illinois 6th or not.

Whether you want to learn about what’s going on in Washington, express your opinion about a national or local issue, find out how to get involved, or just ask our adopted Member of Congress a question, this is your opportunity!

PARTY FOR PEACE-WEAR ORANGE-GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Chicago Wear Orange Party for Peace

Saturday, June 3, 2017
12:00 – 1:00 PM

5200 S Hyde Park Blvd
Chicago, IL 60615
Join OFA, Chicago Moms Demand Action, Everytown Survivor Network and Chicago community organizations for a family friendly Party for Peace in Harold Washington Playlot Park! We will have lunch and fun for kids as we mark the 3rd National Gun Violence Prevention Day and recommit to honoring all survivors and saving lives..
 

SWW PARTNER EVENT: MOBILIZING WOMEN

OFA MONTHLY VOLUNTEER CALL

Call Registration
click photo to register
OFA MONTHLY
VOLUNTEER CALL
 
Monday, JUNE 5th     
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM 
 
  • OFA Monthly Volunteer Call – Click on this
  • 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.
Join us- All Volunteers Welcome!
SWW MEETING

Click on the Above Image for Additional Photos
Tuesday, JUNE 6th    
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

@ The Des Plaines Public Library   
Are you concerned about women’s issues? 

        • Reproductive freedom,
        • Economic equality,
        • Ending violence against women
        • Planning for the Women’s March Action
What Women Mean to the Nation’s Fight to Protect Families and Children:
        • Healthcare Rights for Families and Children
        • Immigration Rights .. for Families being torn apart by the current administration
        • Racism and Bigotry towards Families and Children
        • Marching.. Using our Voices to Protect
Join us for a lively discussion as we learn about the Women’s and Gender Equity Studies at Oakton Community College by Kathleen Carot, Program Director. Come and share activities of other like groups that we can partner with. Help us plan events that will bring us together in solidarity to ensure women’s and human rights are moving forward!
PROTECT OUR CARE ILLINOIS

Keith Moens ACA Co-Lead
NWSOFA Healthcare Reform
Save the ACA Issue team Announcement
Keith Moens have been named as the new NWSOFA ACA Issue Co-Lead
Keith will be working with Abrar Quader, NWSOFA  ACA Co-lead, in resisting the ACA repeal.
Keiths personal Message to the over 5,000 members of NWSOFA.
The Trump budget and the C.B.O. reaffirm the GOP’s intent of repealing the ACA. Worse yet Trump and Ryan actually believe that Trumpcare is an improvement over the ACA. Apart from inflicting hardship on millions of families it is primarily a tax cut for the 1%.
Even though Trump and Ryan are aligned, the Senate is another issue. The Senate is secretly crafting a bill that will be voted on in the near future. We must continue to keep pressure on the Senate in this quiet period as they huddle to craft a replacement.
The following Republican Senators are moderate and must be contacted daily to not repeal the ACA and include a positive ACA health care story:
1.) Susan Collins        (ME)       (202) 224-2523
2.) Lisa Murkowski     (AK)        (202) 224-6665
3.) Shelley Moore       (WV)       (202) 224-6472
4.) Lamar Alexandar   (TN)        (202) 224-4944
5.) Rob Portman        (OH)        (202) 224-3353
Keith’s ASK of you!!   “Please recruit or forward this e-mail to five additional people each to make daily calls as well. Then when the GOP finally introduce their replacement bill we will be ready with an exponential phone tree to bury the above Senators, and others, with phone messages, e-mails and letters about positive ACA stories.”
Right now we are in a waiting period to see what the GOP Senators propose. But we can not relax as the GOP vote can come at any time.
The only way to stop this senseless destruction of healthcare is quite literally through us.
Comments are always welcome. Thank you all in advance.
Sincerely, Keith Moens (847) 255 6050

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has finally released their report on TrumpCare, the bill that passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives on May 4. Yeah. You read that right. The U.S. House passed TrumpCare before they knew what it cost or how it would affect health insurance.

And now we know why. The facts are clear. The American Health Care Act is dangerous and destructive.

The CBO tells us that the bill will strip 23 million people of their health insurance. We already knew that the bill completely guts protections for people with pre-existing conditions and makes devastating cuts to Medicaid. All while providing massive tax cuts to the wealthy and giant corporations.

But the fight is not over. The Senate now has to pass a bill, and it will then likely have to go to back to the House for a final vote.

WE CAN STILL STOP THIS!

Here are three things you can
DO NOW to make your voice heard:
  1. CALL GOV. RAUNER at 312-814-2121 and demand that he publicly oppose the American Health Care Act, which will cost Illinois billions of dollars in Medicaid funding and thousands of jobs.
  2. CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS at 1-866-877-3303 and demand that they publicly oppose the American Health Care Act.
  3. FORWARD THIS immediately to 10 friends and family members in Illinois, especially if they live outside of Chicago. You can also share these steps on social media using #ilsaveaca
We have asked a lot of you, but it is only because you are making a difference. Your Member of Congress is crucial in this fight and they need to hear from you again!

You can learn more about the next steps for the American Health Care Act and what you can do by listening to the latest POCIL podcast HERE!
FISCAL AND ECONOMICS DISCUSSION

NWSOFA Fiscal & Economic Team Presents: 
The Illinois State Budget
The How, What & Why of the State Budget
Special Guest Speaker
Rep. Michelle Mussman
IL House District #56
Click above image for more photos

MONDAY JUNE 12th
7:00 – 9:30 PM 
Second Floor .. Adult Classroom
The NWSOFA Fiscal and Economic Issues meeting will focus on Illinois state budget issues this Month.
Illinois Representative Michelle Mussman will Lead a Segment on State Budget Issues
Rep. Mussman will brief us on the ongoing budget negotiations for the upcoming fiscal year. She will use her unique style to guide us through the Budget Process.  The Incredibly hard work that goes into getting to a Budget Bill.. the Ups and Downs, the Who, What and Why presented in a candid, honest approach.. Refreshing eh!
Regular Features of the Fiscal & Economic Issue team will Include:
  • Come get the facts about the economic recovery and the status of ongoing appropriations challenges at both the state and national level.
  • To help us better understand what is happening in Illinois, we are honored that IL Representative Michelle Mussman will join us and lead the segment on State Budget Issues.
  • Illinois’s current fiscal year (FY) ends June 30th and the FY 2018 budget is basically due May 31st.  We will have an update on the budget at our June 12th meeting, either what is in the budget or the status of efforts to enact a budget before the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
  • Illinois is now operating without appropriations since December 2016. The revised jobs report for Illinois shows job gains for 2015 of 81,000. Job gains in 2016 were reported at 18,900.  Through April 2017 Illinois has added 8.000 jobs (24,000 annual rate).  It appears the lack of a balanced budget is having a negative effect on job growth in Illinois.
  • Nationally we have added about 2.2 million jobs in the last 12 months (through April). April reported 211,000 jobs added. In April the (U-3) unemployment rate was at 4.4%, while the U-6 rate was 8.6%. While down from a high of 17.1% during the downturn, this U-6 rate is still higher than the 8.4% in the fall of 2007 before the Great Recession of December 2007 to June 2009.
  • The May jobs report comes out Friday, June 2nd, so we will have that data to discuss at our meeting. 1st quarter real GDP growth was reported at +1,2% (first revision).
Bring your Questions for Rep. Mussman and for Karl Faulstich and Dave Donley our Fiscal Co-Leads. 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 is happening now at Lou’s.
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Climate Change Meeting

 

NWSOFA

Climate Change Meeting 

TUESDAY JUNE 13th
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

If you are interested in making a difference:
JOIN US
as we talk about updates on the future plans for OFA
        • Causes supported by NWSOFA
        • Climate update
Looking forward to the summer–
        • learn about solar,
        • how it can be funded,
        • available programs out there,
        • accessibility and
        • Planning a visit to a solar energy site this summer.
MOVE THE EARTH WITH US!
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MEETING

NWSOFA

Gun Violence Prevention Planning 

Meeting 
THURSDAY JUNE 15th
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Meeting is at the GPAD Offices
1310 West Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, 60004
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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
  • Summary of GVP Legislation being introduced in the Illinois Legislature
  • Planning for GVP Actions and Events
The GVP Issues Team has been working for the past two 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!

Please

click above for photo link
to help shine a light on the dark shadow of gun violence in America
TASTE OF NWSOFA

NWSOFA Chapter Event

You’re invited to a “Taste of NWSOFA”  

All NWSOFA Issue Teams Will Present a Sampling of Their Work
WEDNESDAY JUNE 28th
7:00 – 9:00 PM

Palatine Public Library

All our progressive issues are under attack, and we are not going to stop fighting for what is right.
Please join us to find out what our issue teams have been doing and are planning to make a difference.
Our OFA Family is the place you can find a home to work with like-minded people. Come and sample what we are doing to save the ACA, Climate Change, Women’s Rights, Immigrants’ Rights, Gun Violence Prevention, Social Justice, Economic and Budget Issues, Diversity Outreach, and College Outreach.
Our goal is to Mobilize and Organize with many coalition partners so together we are making our voices heard. We’d love to have you, your family and friends join us.
IN THE BOOKS: RECENT EVENTS

“IN THE BOOKS”: Our recent Events
(click event to view the pictures)

Notice: These are public meeting(s) / event(s) 
NWSOFA is a 501(c)4,  non-partisan organization. 
All opinions are solely those of NWSOFA
Click for Larger Image
NWSOFA
 is
Action..
 
“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.” President Barack Obama
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2015
Click on the above Image to see each lead and the issues they work on .._
MEET THE
NWSOFA
All Volunteer
CHAPTER LEADS
Contact Information
NWSOFA Co-Leaders Sara Horan & Bill Davis
Phone: 224-241-2012
email: nws.ofa@gmail.com
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