NWSOFA March 2016 Progressive Newsletter

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March, 2016
Sara Horan _ Bill Davis Chapter Co-Leads
Sara Horan _ Bill Davis
Chapter Co-Leads
For NWSOFA March Came in like a Lion and we are NOT taking Weather,  
 OK, OK, You are most likely thinking, we are going to transition this to March Madness in the NBA, or the GOP and Dems Election Campaigns and toss a little Weather on for garnishes. NOPE.. this is all about March coming in like a Lion at NWSOFA.  It’s about the Spirit of OFA. It’s about the Energy of OFA’ers. It’s about Commitment of the Northwest Suburbs, Organizing for Action, NWSOFA..
Do you realize your Progressive Issues Organization, NWSOFA, is Built to out-last political campaigns as we fight for those ISSUES that mean so much to poor and middle class today and for the future.
 
During the last year we were part of the massive effort to get the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) passed and the signing up of over 20 million folks and getting Marriage Equality in Illinois pasted. This last Month (February) we participated and held over 12 Events on Gun Violence Prevention, Climate Change, Immigration Reform, Diversity Outreach and College Outreaches. We addressed the growing Sexual Assaults on College-age Women, and our Fiscal and Economic team studied the BLS, CBO & the Illinois Budget Impasse and made their recommendations. While all this was going on, our Leadership team invested three days learning new organizing skills, On-boarded 10 new OFA Fellows out of 40+ applications, and found time to mount an aggressive “Do Your Job” SCOTUS petitions and call banks to Congress folks who might of forgotten “it’s their Constructionist Duty to Hold Fair and Timely Hearings once the President Puts Forth a Supreme Court Nomination”. This is what we do!
About this March .. Coming in like a LION… So far we have held two events, made several presentations to Colleges, met with our strategic alliance partners and the month is hardly even started. Our seven (7) Issue teams during this month will be holding meetings, discussion local actions, holding events and holding our legislatures accountable. Fun eh! Our Issue teams are working hard on your behalf. So, Please support their efforts by attending and joining one of our seven (7) issue focused teams.
It’s Time to get Up and Off the Couch or Your Favorite Easy Chair, Stop Yelling at the TV Cable Shows and Make a Difference.
 
Sara & Bill
NWSOFA is Action..
“One Voice Can Change a Room
– Together We Can Change the World”
Monthy Newsletter for Events 
March 1st through March 31st

“Upcoming March Events”

NWSOFA’s Fiscal and Economic Issues Discussion Group to Meet
Monday March 7th
On Jobs, Deficit and Debt for the US and Illinois
Headlines for the Month
BLS Report 242,000 Jobs Created in February 
while 30,000 + Jobs were added for the December & January revision
 
Learn the facts about the economic recovery nationally and the status of ongoing appropriations challenges at both the state and national level.
 
Arlington Heights Library
500 N. Dunton   (2nd Floor Conf room “I”)
Excerpts from the Agenda:

To RSVP to Monday’s Fiscal & Economic Meeting at the Arlington Heights Library .. click Here:

NWSOFA’s Stand With Women Meeting 
 This Tuesday Night March 8th 
at the Arlington Heights Corner Bakery
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Stand With Women (SWW) 
March 8th Monthly Meeting
(we meet in a private room just to the right of the front door when you walk in)
Focusing, Supporting & Empowering Women’s Rights
Join us as we Stand With Women (SWW)
– from expanding women’s leadership and economic security to protecting health care choices:
 
We want to hear what concerns people have so that we can formulate action around the

issues that matter most to everyone.
 Discussion:

Main Discussion will be on the tital wave of sexual assaults

on college campuses

        • Why is this just now coming to light

        • 1 out of every 4 College Student occurrence

        • What we can do about it

Please join us to plan actions centered around galvanizing the female vote for upcoming elections and opening up a dialogue about abuse.

Please attend the NWSOFA Thursday Night
Gun Violence Prevention Monthly Meeting 

March 17th
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
The Meeting location is to be announced.  
When you RSVP, you will receive an acknowledgement and location for the meeting
 upon our receiving your RSVP.
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.
It’s time to get involved .. as a nation we have been to silent .. for too long.
Join Us .. Learn what you can do.
This is an invitation only event… You will need to have an RSVP Acknowledgment to enter.

To RSVP to the February GVP Meeting ..click here!

NWSOFA
Comprehensive Immigration Reform And Diversity Outreach Teams
“Water for Flint”
The Team is doing “Water for Flint Michigan” collection
to send water in large containers / bottles to the undocumented in Flint.

NWSOFA 
College Outreach Team, Will be Participating in the 
Fifth Annual Harper College Human Services Conferenceon Friday, April 1st.
Stronger Growing Attendance with our College and High School Seniors deeply involved in the Planning..
Will be Participating at the 4/1 Conference @ Harper
The ever growing College Outreach team met at Harper College to plan for the spring.  After getting in touch with the faculty adviser for the Human Resources club on campus we were able to make plans for connecting with students through participation in the Fifth Annual Harper  College Human Services Conference
For more information Click on the image above
Questions? email rrgladstone@aol.com
or call 847-991-1863

“Partner February Events”

2016-2017 FAFSA Completion Workshops at Harper College
Applying for financial aid starts with completing the 2016-2017 Free Application for Federal STUDENT AID (FAFSA). Not sure where to start? Come to a FAFSA Completion Workshop and receive hands-on assistance with the application.
Be sure to review the General Eligibility Requirements for financial aid programs.
You will need specific information on hand when completing the FAFSA. See the Information You’ll Need.PDF
Dates and Times
  • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 6 – 8 p.m., Building I, Room I225
Assistance will be available in English and Spanish.

Current Event Discussion Groups
For those that like Politics
@ Maxfield’s Restaurant in Schaumburg.. 
Second Tuesday of every Month
 Area to the Right when entering ……10 am to 12 noon
Arlington Heights Library 
(meets at the AH Senior Center)
Every Thursday 10 am to 12 noon

March & February Events in the Books!!!

NWSOFA Took to the Phones to:
 Call out Members of Congress on their Opposition to Hold Fair and Timely Hearing once the President Puts Forth a Supreme Court Nomination on March 3rd

In Three Days we made ..
500 Calls on the SCOTUS into Chicago and the Burbs
++++ 500 Call to Wisconsin Urging them to call there Senators to:
“Do THEIR JOB”
Additional information regarding Supreme Court Vacancies:
 
* The President has a constitutional obligation to put forward a nominee, a duty that he intends to fulfill;
* The Senate has a constitutional obligation to provide that nominee with a fair hearing and a timely up or down vote, which some Senators have said they plan to ignore.
* On average, it has taken 67 days for a modern Supreme Court nominee to be confirmed by the Senate after being nominated – the longest has been 125 days.
* The President still has over 300 days remaining in office. There is plenty of time for the Senate to confirm a nominee, and any suggestion otherwise is just cynical, partisan obstructionism [and shows disrespect for the President].

NWSOFA’s College Outreach Team
 Was Part of the Harper Community College Student Fair – 3/2/16
The College Outreach Team at the Harper Fair
Stronger Growing Attendance with our College and High School Seniors deeply involved in the Planning..
NWSOFA’s College Outreach Team was part Volunteer Fair on 3/2 @ Harper
The ever growing College Outreach team met at Harper College to plan for the spring.  After getting in touch with the faculty advisor for the Human Resources club on campus we were able to make plans for connecting with students through participation in the Volunteer Fair, Resource Fair, being the featured speaker at the Human Resources Club, and showing the documentary film “Ivory Tower” on campus.
Questions? email rrgladstone@aol.com
or call 847-991-1863

NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Monthly Meeting Had a Venue Change But had a great Meeting 

February 18th
Our Movement is growing …
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.

NWSOFA Climate Change Team Planning Meeting had a full house on February 16th
Climate change is real, man-made, and happening now. The stakes are too high not to act.

THE IMPACTS

Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree: Man-made climate change is a reality. In early 2014, two landmark reports spelled out the reality of the challenge we face. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National Climate Assessment both showed that, left unchecked, climate change has the potential to affect Americans everywhere-no matter where they live.

THE DETAILS

Every region of the United States is already experiencing the effects of climate change. If we don’t act to curb current global emissions, they could lead to a global temperature increase of over 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100-a scenario widely considered a global catastrophe, contributing to extreme weather, food and water shortage, and global instability.
Join the team… If you believe we can change man’s response to Climate. This is a planning meeting.  All types of subjects will be evaluated as we plan for the next 12 months.
Discussions Dealing with Climate Change demands, the Paris Accord, Climate Change Executive Orders and the Supreme Court for starters..

 

The Stand With Women Team Meet on Thursday February 11th
Stand With Women (SWW)
Focusing, Supporting & Empowering Women’s Rights
Join us as we Stand With Women (SWW)
– from expanding women’s leadership and economic security to protecting health care choices: 
We want to hear what concerns people have so that we can formulate action around the

issues that matter most to everyone.
 Discussion:
      • equal pay for equal work
      • paid leave
      • workplace discrimination
      • media portrayals of women
      • sexual assault on college campuses
Please joi us to plan actions centered around galvanizing the female vote for upcoming elections and opening up a dialogue about abuse.

Fiscal and Economic Issues Discussion Group Met
February 8th
On Jobs, Deficit and Debt for the US and Illinois 
 
We learned the facts about the economic recovery nationally and the status of ongoing appropriations challenges at both the state and national level.
Excerpts from the Agenda:
Nationally job growth continued to be strong in 2015 with 2.65 million jobs added.  However real GDP growth was only 0.7% in the preliminary 4th quarter report issued last week. Hopefully Friday’s 2/5’s BLS Report for January’s job report will continue to show strong growth and we will have better GDP growth in 2016.  We will be discussing these numbers at our meeting next Monday.
Illinois job numbers took a turn for the worse last week with the December jobs report which showed a loss of 16,000 jobs in December and revised November’s report down by 6,000 jobs.  This gives Illinois a net LOSS of 3,000 jobs in 2015 (vs. a gain of 66,800 in 2014).  We will be discussing these numbers on Monday as well.
While we won’t be discussing the presidential primary candidates at our Fiscal meeting due to the non-partisan nature of OFA, we will be discussing them and other topics at the after meeting at Lou Malnati’s starting about 9:30.  Everyone is invited to join this discussion as well.

Members of the NWSOFA Leadership Team 
Attended the:
Organizing for Action Leadership Summit 2016
Dedicated OFA Chapter and Issue Leaders from around country converged on Chicago on (2/6 – 7) to chart the course for 2016 and beyond. 76 leaders from 22 states came from as far as Alaska to participate in the two day sessions developing the next generation strategies to advance OFA’s progressive issues.
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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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In This Issue

About NWSOFA
QuickView-A49F6DCE9425D079601D1793F2D88B8AIn 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.

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NWSOFA “March Events”  In Pictures

NWSOFA Members Called from Phone Banks and Home on “Do Your Job” on SCOTUS

NWSOFA College Outreach Team Participated in the Harper Human Service Student Fair 3/2/16

NWSOFA “February Events”  In Pictures

NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Meeting February 18th

NWSOFA Climate Change Meeting in Arlington Hieghts February 16th

NWSOFA Stand with Women Meeting in Arlington Heights   February 11th

NWSOFA Fiscal and Economics Meeting in Schaumburg on February 8th

NWSOFA Attended the Presidents Springfield After Speech Session

NWSOFA Participates in OFA National Summit Meeting February 6th & 7th

76 leaders from 22 states in attendance

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A great Video created by:
Khirsti Garnett &
Ameer Muhammad
Check out Ameer and Khirsti’s video at youtube for nwsofa college

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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
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.

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

Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2015
Dan Huntsha Climate
Nikki Gundimeda Stand w/Women

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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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