In support of President Obama's call for major national health care revision, Riverside for Change will join with Duval County for Change on June 27, 2009 to help bring this major issue to light. Duval County for Change will be hosting a National Health Care Day of Service at the University of North Florida at 1:00 pm. The event will feature a wellness and prevention medicine panel discussion and a screening of the documentary film, Money Talks, which is about the drug industry. The event will take place at the School of Health, Building 39, Room 1009.
To RSVP for the event or to get more information, contact: yeswecanduval@peacemail.com or register to attend at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcvbz
The decision for Riverside for Change to join forces with Duval for Change came about during our June 6th health care house party when 25 Riverside neighbors came together to discuss the current health care crisis. We felt that a greater impact would be made if we brought as many voices as possible together during this single day of service. Everyone is encouraged to come out to UNF and help expand our range of influence in order to bring about substantial change in health care policies.
In addition to this single day of service, there are at least two other health care oriented events/organizations that we are currently working on:
(reprinted with permission)
JOIN ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA AND DUVAL COUNTY FOR CHANGE IN OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PASS HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTONDuval County For Change is asking every concerned citizen, health care professional, health care advocate, union leaders, union members, AARP, Planned Parenthood, NOW, JCCI, and all advocates striving for health care reform to build a "Health Care Team" in our community as requested by President Obama through Organizing for America. Join us at our next meeting, Saturday May 2, 1-3 pm at the Deerwood Branch Public Library on Deerwood Park Blvd. John Bivona, Florida director of Organizing for America, will be speaking about OFA's plan for Health Care Teams to be built around the country in a collective duty to achieve health care reform legislation.In order to realize the change that we all fought so hard for during the election, we must continue to reach out to our neighbors and leaders to involve them in this movement. Collecting pledges, and stories, building a team, and identifying what services, and groups right here in northeast Florida will benefit from health care reform legislation, will allow us to demonstrate the urgent need for leadership and support in Washington for the true need of health care reform.Our legislators can't ignore personal stories, professional support, a strong coalition of partners speaking in favor of the need for health care reform, and providing specific local services, and groups who will benefit from national health care reform. This effort will demonstrate the need of making this national policy a "local policy." It is our duty as Americans to work together and achieve health care for all and for future generations. Please contact 238-9744 for further details. Also visit www.my.barackobama.com for further information about this movement. (copied/pasted with permission)
Good morning!
An item of interest appeared in today's Florida Times Union that I wanted to share with you. Columnist Ron Littlepage mentioned an organization in his article this morning that you might want to consider supporting. It is Florida Hometown Democracy. http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/
This group is working to put comprehensive land use planning decisions in the hands of voters. Instead of leaving it up to city council, it would be put on the ballot for citizens to determine whether changes would best serve their communities. Here is an excerpt from their website:
What does the Florida Hometown Democracy Petition say?
This amendment, if adopted, will give you, the Florida voter, the right to decide whether your city or county Comprehensive Land Use plan should be changed. Currently, city councils and county commissions make those decisions.
Why is this amendment needed?
Currently, it is just too easy for wealthy developers to obtain comprehensive plan amendments - all they have to do is persuade a majority of a city or county commission to grant a change. Because comprehensive plan amendments determine the destiny of a community for generations to come, it is vital that changes to a comprehensive plan truly reflect the concerns of the voters. This will be accomplished through the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment.
****I wonder if this referendum could have spared Mayport Village all their recent turmoil with Jaxport. Residents of San Marco opposed to the proposed changes on Hendricks Avenue would surely like to vote on that issue.
We hear much talk of change these days.
Sometimes that talk is dire and steeped in anxiety; sometimes that talk is hopeful and filled with excitement.
What we don't hear much about is the growing field of knowledge and practice about how human beings can be with each other in all varieties of change.
People from all over the globe, as well as within our own country, are learning that simple processes (sometimes referred to as human technologies) can help us facilitate complex and large-scale change.
I would like to share some of that emerging wisdom with you on March 21st.
We will begin to gather at 12:30. The interactive program will run from 1:00- 2:30, followed by social networking and a potluck riverside and poolside.
I will provide some light refreshments and invite guests to bring what they can. If you are part of an organization, you also are welcome to bring materials to display alongside your snack/dish contribution.
We welcome friends and newcomers.
Meeting Address: The Commander Apartments, Lobby, 3946 St. Johns Ave., Jacksonville, 32205
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Time: 12:30 meet & greet; 1:00 - 2:30 program; 2:30 - 4:00 mixer
For questions, you may email me at: holly@ourellipses.com
www.ourellipses.com
Good morning everybody,
Our group received a request for assistance with mortgage payments and/or electric bills this week. While we don't have any monetary funds at this time, I would like to open up a virtual discussion about how we could solve these issues locally. If you know of existing groups or programs in place to solve these issues, please post them here. If you have ideas about how we ourselves could be of service, please post those as well.
To get you started thinking, I will post some of the ideas folks have come up with so far:
I had one thought, which was that Chris and I could unplug things and turn down the heat, lose the cable tv, etc. and then "adopt" a family to help with their electric bill. Riverside for Change families could decide to participate on a household basis, and maybe single folks could partner up to "adopt" a family. We'd be helping the environment and our neighbors.
Holly put forward that The Jacksonville Urban League has housing counseling programs, for buying homes and for finding subsidized housing. http://www.jaxul.org/
Anybody else have ideas?
Casie SimpsonRiverside for Change
Hey everybody,
Max Wood and the Young Democrats have alerted me of the need to contact city council and urge them to vote "no" on the $750,000,000, 35-year no-bid contract to give Trail Ridge over to Waste Management. All you need to do is e-mail cityc@coj.net. Let them know, briefly, that you'd like the Trail Ridge bid to be open, competitive, transparent, and fair. Ask them to vote "no" on the mayor's contract proposal. The e-mail can be as short as a couple of sentences. You can even copy my letter below and change it as you see fit!
Bringing this contract down would establish a mighty precedent: Jacksonville residents will not tolerate any more no-bid contracts.
Example:
Dear City Council Members, As one of your constituents, I urge you to vote "no" on the no-bid Waste Management contract for Trail Ridge. In these tough economic times, it seems both unethical and irresponsible to approve a $750,000,000 contract without opening the bid to other vendors. Jacksonville residents deserve a competitive, transparent, and fair bidding process for all contracts — especially one of such magnitude. Thank you, Casie
Congratulations to all who wish our President well. The Stimulus package is ready for his signature. And WE the people are the winners. When is the last time you can remember a President working so hard on your behalf, and getting results so fast? Hard to believe, but once again, President Obama has been true to his word. This honesty and integrity will take some getting used to, but I for one am happy to lay my cynicism down.
Thinking about our last meeting, i've been tying together Holly's request to gather the stories of local residents with the "miracle of Obama" phenomena at the Fort Meyers town hall meeting last Tuesday. Two of the audience members made personal requests -- one to start a career as a radio announcer and one to be able to move her family from residing in their car and move into a home of their own. Both got their wishes fulfilled within 24 hours. It would seem that our President inspires us to do what we should all be doing every day: put a personal face on those in need and help them as best we can. I think this is what Holly was trying to say at our meeting, and I think it is a great idea.
Looking forward to our next meeting, but would like to suggest that we schedule another service project in the meantime. Perhaps another day at Second Harvest? What do you think, Riverside for Changers?
As we move forward in growing the Riverside for Change community, we would like to get feedback from all members of the community. Please take a few minutes to respond to a brief (10 question) survey that will help shape the future direction of our organization. Please follow the link below to complete your response by Friday, February 20th: Riverside for Change Feedback Survey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zySEtlrLi8Vrp7B30K1Q0A_3d_3d)
Republicans are united.
They say they are standing up for their principles.
They say they are the Party of small government and fiscal responsibility.
Looking back on the past 8 years,
with the increases in the size of government and the federal deficit,
I would have to say they are the Party of Hypocrisy,
or maybe Amnesia.
And what does 'small government' mean?
As Grover Norquist said: "government small enough to drown in a bathtub"
or in New Orleans, as the case may be.
They mean the only thing for which citizens should be taxed is the cost of Defense.
No Public Schools
No Health Care or medical research
No Social Security
No Environmental Protection Agency
No Interstate Highways
No National Parks or Monuments
They believe all of these should be left up to the States to decide
whether they are necessary and how to fund them
In other words, every State with its own policies,
loosely confederated to maintain a common National Defense.
United only in War
Republicans are united against the United States of America
One way they can stand by their principle to shrink the size of government
would be to resign their positions
Now
Today
Hi, everyone. I'm not sure that this is the right way to interact with the group blog, but if it is - I felt so much better after meeting with all of you today. Nothing like sharing to dissipate frustration and to stir up creative juices and energy. And hope.
I'm sure we all know someone in the neighborhood who's seething with frustration right now over the posturing, bickering, and creaky thinking going on in our Congress. Ask them to the next meeting!
I'm going to copy the text of my letter here. Feedback welcome.
If anyone needs addresses, fax numbers, etc, I can post them also.
We represent a grassroots organization in Jacksonville, Florida called Riverside for Change. We first came together during the 2008 presidential elections in support of Barack Obama and have remained together in answer to his overall call for grassroots organizations as a way to renew America.
We feel without question that the single most important issue before the American people and our leaders in Washington today is the economy. As such, we stand in strong support of President Obama’s Economic Stimulus Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. We urge you to pass this plan no later than President’s Day, February 16, 2009 so that we can put Americans back to work and set our country once again toward the path of prosperity.
Sincerely,
Riverside for Change
Thirty members of our Riverside for Change community came out in frigid early morning temperatures on Saturday, January 17th to partner with Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida in answer to President Obama's Call to Service. They were supported in their mission by Second Harvest volunteer coordinator, Reverend Larry Riley (That's him in the bottom picture, on the far right, sharing a quick break and a smile with Jon, Chris and Rhianna).
Comments to Market Places “Obama's stimulus plan seeks tax cuts” (http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/01/05/pm_obama_stimulus/)Apparently, Instead of creating newer jobs, Green and Infrastructure, we’re now talking about giving huge Tax reductions on paycheck withholdings. i.e. giving letting you keep more money from your paycheck. This is great. But I have some problems with this.First off, is this a reduction from total paid over there year, or will I have to make it up in April?Secondly we're going to give "Working Class" people more money back on their Paycheck. So about $1 more per hour, 40 hours, $40 bucks. Great, so instead of buying the dirty ass cigarettes and the cheap ass beer (or whatever ails them), they can buy what they want. If they're not smart enough to hold onto that 40 bucks to provide some cushioning from their zeroed out bank account; while hoping that they don't get the pink slip next week. This “stimulus” isn’t really going to help the people struggling. They need better opportunities.Provide Jobs, Jobs equal Money, Money equals spending, Spending equals better economy. Obamanomics 101, why are we straying and toting party lines. If we wanted tax cuts and Same-Old solutions, we would have voted for the other guy. We voted Bold, now make it so!
Steve shared this article with me "Obama Isn't the Only One Being Inaugurated on Jan. 20th" (printed by The Huffington Post), and with our upcoming service event it seems so fitting that I would like to pass it along.
If you're intrigued at all by the idea of swearing into the service of our country with Barack, I urge you to sign up and participate in the Riverside & Second Harvest partner for Change event on the 17th. A great way to kick off your commitment to the community in 2009!
Since two of our team members (thanks Juli & Steve) have shared the article "A Craigslist for Service" with me (printed by The Huffington Post) I will pass it along. There are several relevant and thought-provoking ideas that connect with Saturday's discussion.
