MCPA, DFMC, PDA, PWG, MoveOn, Meetup Meeting
The time is now to get organized and make a difference.
Please RSVP to mikehersh@mikehersh.com so we know you'll be there.
Who are all these organizations and what do they do? See below.
No April Fools: We're meeting Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 7 PM
Saigonese Restaurant 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring,+MD+20902
Short walk from the Wheaton Metro / Red Line. Parking in the public lot
across the street.
Building on recent successful meetings and looking toward the end of the
Maryland General Assembly 2009 session, we'll continue work with our
standing committees:
1. outreach to green business,
2. recruitment (to help us increase membership),
3. media (letters to the editor, call-in to radio shows, etc.),
4. issue advocacy with elected officials, and
5. event planning/hosting.
Upcoming this month, we'll sponsor one or two legislative updates to
learn how our State Senators and Delegates represented our concerns in
Annapolis.
In May, we'll work with other organizations to cosponsor healthcare
reform events locally and in the Baltimore Area.
In June, we hope to hold our 6th annual Progressive Picnic to meet with
elected officials and organize ongoing efforts.
If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts
Please join the Montgomery County MoveOn core council:
http://www.moveon.org/team/search/signup.html?team_id=4221
Who are all these organizations and what do they do?
1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a flexible,
result-oriented coalition. MCPA includes more than 1,000 local
activists, mainly in and around Montgomery County Maryland. The
organization began in 2003 when Democracy for America Meetup members
reached out to other Meetup groups and other groups. In 2004, 100s of
Montgomery County for Kerry members and local Progressive Democrats of
America members joined the MCPA. MCPA adopted a mission statement,
organized special events, and has held meetings nearly each month since
2003. MCPA members worked to elect progressive leaders, led issue
advocacy efforts in Rockville, Annapolis, and on Capitol Hill, and
cooperated with other organizations and coalitions to make progressive
in our communities, state, and nationally. Moving into the rest of 2009
and building toward 2010, MCPA plans to solidify our organization, raise
funds, and continue our public education and outreach efforts. MCPA is
currently seeking new steering committee members and coalition partners.
2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's
presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists
to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC
is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization
which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized
events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several
candidates. DFMC is currently at a crossroads with most steering
committee members stepping back, and the remaining members seeking a new
approach--perhaps joining efforts with another organization or coalition
such as MCPA.
3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004
Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from
the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA
adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside
the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements.
PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections;
environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social
justice; and peace.
4. PWG: The Progressive Working Group is a coalition promoting progress
and reform, economic fairness and equality, protecting the environment,
and more. PWG endorsed 14 issues for the 2009 General Assembly session.
PWG currently includes: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland,
Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now,
Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action,
PeaceAction Montgomery, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County,
Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America (Maryland),
Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, and Upcounty Action. Other
progressive organizations are welcome to join PWG.
Note: While MoveOn has determined not to join with other organizations
in any official capacity, many local MoveOn members are participating in
actions organized and cosponsored by MCPA.
Thanks for reading down this far, and hope to see you at the meeting
Wednesday and future events,
Mike Hersh
Chairperson, MCPA
Steering Committee, PWG & DFMC
Maryland State Coordinator, PDA
Montgomery County Council Coordinator, MoveOn
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