"Notes from the field"

With so much going on right now we felt it was a good idea to keep everybody in the loop by sending out a new bi-weekly newsletter with all the latest happenings in PDA field. We hope to see as many of you as possible for our regional meeting in Cleveland in August 22nd! Details will be coming your way very soon!

Feel free to provide us with feedback! Hope you enjoy!

State Coordinators

We would like to welcome the following state coordinators to our team:

Chris Lowe (Oregon)
Sharron Williams (Alabama)
Margot Kidder (Montana)
Jason Carney (Wyoming)

We also want to take a moment to thank the following State Coordinators who have moved on:

Moses Ross (Oregon)
Judith Shattuck (Washington)
William Crain (Montana)
Ben Mazzara (Alabama)

New Chapters and Chapter leaders

Welcome aboard!

Linda Sternhill-Davis (WA-09)
Cheryl Crist (WA-03)
Diana McGuinness (WA-02)
Lois Hamiliton will be taking over from Jon Williams in Santa Barbara, CA
Craig Lindley will be taking over from Doug Ambort in Monterray, CA
Walter Ebmeyer (Delaware & Montgomery Counties, PA)

To apply to be a PDA chapter click here http://pdamerica.org/orgs/chapter-form-exist.php

Congressional District Point Person Report (Mervis Reissig and Anna Givens)

To apply to be a CDPP. Click here http://pdamerica.org/orgs/cdpp-form.php

Two of us have volunteered to continue working with the Congressional District Point Person program for PDA. As CD Point People ourselves and longtime volunteers for PDA, we know how important it is to have someone you can talk to when questions arise. Anna Givens (PD Sonoma County, CA) will work with the Midwest and East; Mervis Reissig (Natl CD Point Person Coordinator, CA) will continue to work with the South and the West.

Read the full report here http://blog.pdamerica.org/2009/08/cdpp-report-for-august-2009/

Online Advocacy (Lorin Klugman) LEADERSHIP ONLY

Read Lorin's full report which has news on the PDA intranet, online workshop videos, a fall student membership and more!

To access Lorin's report you must create PDA Intranet login:

· Go to http://pdamerica.org/pdacms/user

· Select "Create New Account", complete the dialog using the email stored in our Contact Management System.

· The system will send you an email message notifying you that your account application is being processed.

· If we find your record (by email) in the Contact Management System your account is approved. An email message with login instructions is sent to you.

. Once you have your login instructions and have logged onto the system - please select "List Leadership Forum Topics"

· If we are unable to find your record in the Contact Management System (or your record is not marked as a PDA Leader), we will send you a rejection notice.

· Folks can contact lorin@pdamerica.org for help.

Healthcare IOT report (Roberta McNair, IOT Coordinator)

May and June were chock full of PDA actions, including call-in days, demonstrations, rallies, marches, forums on healthcare, and over 40 May 30 Day of Action-related events around the country. May’s conference call had guest Katie Robbins from Healthcare-NOW!, with over a hundred people registered. June’s conference call broke all records, when more than 150 people called in to hear Dr. Michael Rachlis, a Canadian currently leading the fight to keep Canada’s public Medicare system public, and Larry Rousseau, Public Service Alliance of Canada union executive and friend of PDA. They discussed the realities and advantages of the Canadian single-payer system, and they debunked many myths promulgated by the right.

Read the full report here http://pdamerica.org/iot/iotpage.php?page=Healthcare%20for%20All

Economic and Social Justice IOT report (Michael Carano, IOT Coordinator)

In June, the ESJ IOT had on a noted activist Greg Coleridge from
American Friends and from the Program on Corporations, Law and
Democracy (POCLAD) speak about corporate personhood. I believe many members were unaware just how important this issue is and how it lies at the heart of our nation's many problems, due to corporate control of our democracy. We need to make it the center of how we address issues, from immigration, to health care, to elections, to green space, to money in politics, etc., etc. Great call, good discussion.

Read the full report here http://pdamerica.org/iot/iotpage.php?page=Economic%20and%20Social%20Justice

Stop Global Warming IOT report (Dave Massen, IOT Coordinator)

The Stop Global Warming/Environmental Issues Team continues to focus on energy and climate legislation in Congress and on mountaintop removal coal mining.

Read the full report here http://pdamerica.org/iot/iotpage.php?page=Stop%20Global%20Warming/Environmental%20Issues

Accountability and Justice IOT report (Susan Harman, IOT Coordinator)

We continue to have an active listserve, and our monthly conference calls attract about 20 people. Next week, 8/12, Scott Horton, constitutional lawyer and Harper’s author, will be our Guest Star. Please join us!

Read the full report here http://pdamerica.org/iot/iotpage.php?page=Accountability%20and%20Justice

End War and Occupations/Redirect Funding IOT report

In May, the greatest urgency was to garner support for the McGovern bill, which clearly asks for an exit strategy for Afghanistan before the Congress will grant more funding. An action alert went out to call representatives and urge them to sign on to McGovern’s bill. The occupation of Iraq is still central to PDA’s priorities, but with escalation in Afghanistan, PDA’s energies are going to prevent a similar quagmire and waste of resources. Other issues and legislation addressed include Iraqi refugees, diplomacy instead of military action, Iraqi sovereignty, and interference in Iran. The US campaign to end the occupation in Israel/Palestine is ongoing. The upcoming Pittsburgh Peace conference presented by the National Assembly dovetails with PDA’s concerns and offers an opportunity to connect with peace-movement leaders to further our effectiveness. This IOT’s pages and for the Israel/Palestine Working Group promise to provide the information and resources needed to take effective action on these issues.

Read the full report here http://pdamerica.org/iot/iotpage.php?page=End+War+%26+Occupations,+Redirect+Funding

For feedback on what you have just read please contact conor@pdamerica.org

In Solidarity,

Everybody at PDA National and Field!

we wouldn't have so much trouble fighting corporate interests in congress.

hope a lot more progressive dems run next year!