Healthcare reform 'battle tactics' the topic of next V4CF meeting, scheduled Aug. 4

Tactics and actions in our continuing battle for healthcare reform will be the topic of our next Volunteers For Change-Fresno general meeting. The evening's agenda includes:

• A presentation about specific ways to support meaningful healthcare reform, including an update on the current status of reform initiatives, and the importance of securing the support of our fellow citizens;
  
  
• A review of coming volunteer opportunities, including our plans for the Back to School Health Fair scheduled Aug. 15;
  
  
• A quick pass of the hat, to fund printing and signmaking materials for our group; and more.

Our meeting is scheduled 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, in the large community room at the Fig Garden Library, 3071 W. Bullard Ave., in Fresno. The library is on the southwest corner of Bullard and Marks, in the shopping center.

We hope to see you there!

Daily Kos publishes guide to effective citizen action

From our member Ruth Afifi comes this, an item published on the Daily Kos website during the last week. Although the writer includes at least one clear bias in their article, the method the writer describes in the article is both sound and effective. From the Daily Kos:

It is absolutely true that (the healthcare reform) battle is between the insurance companies with their TV ads and their lobbyists, and the people. The problem is that the people don't always show up in these fights. To some extent, the Internet has been a detriment in the battle, as many are satisfied merely to ... occasionally send an e-mail out about the public option.

But, to win this battle, here is what you need to do:

1. Write a letter to your elected representative, making sure to mention the public option. Send it to the Washington office.
   
   
2. Get as many people as you know who live in your district to write similar, but not identical letters.
   
   
3. When you get a response from their office, check to see if the response actually mentions the public option. If your letter does not, check your friend's letters that they get back from your representatives. When and if your representative starts sending out canned responses that specifically mention the public option, then you know that they are getting enough such letters that a staffer has been assigned to this specific issue.
   
   
4. When their canned response shows the congressional office is reacting to the issue, call your representative' local office, and ask them for a meeting about healthcare. Tell them that you are going to bring a group of voters (10 would be nice, but even 5 will do). Tell them you will fax them a letter with the names of the potential attendees and their addresses. It would be nice to meet with the actual congressperson, but a meeting with the Chief of Staff is actually more effective.
   
   
5. Fax and mail over the letter to the local office, to the attention of their chief of staff, and follow up with phone calls.
   
   
6. Have the meeting, and specifically request that the congressperson do a specific action, whether it be co-sponsor a specific bill, or make a specific vote.
   
   
7. Follow up with as many letters from constituents as possible making the identical specific request.

If [we] would do the above, we would be 100 times more effective.... The above technique actually works, and is measurable.

For more information, see the full article on the Daily Kos website.

Sign a CREDO Action petition: Tell the Gang of Six to stop blocking

From our friends at CREDO Action: A petition calling out six Senators for their failure to support key provisions of healthcare reform:

Have you heard about the six senators who are out to kill healthcare reform?

Of course, that's not how they'd phrase it. Sens. Baucus, Bingaman, Conrad, Enzi, Grassley and Snowe say they're striving for "bi-partisan compromise." But what they're actually doing is working to make sure healthcare reform won't include a public option or mandatory employer-based insurance - two key policies needed for effective reform.

Sign this petition today to tell Sens. Baucus, Bingaman, Conrad, Enzi, Grassley and Snowe: Give back every dime you've ever received from health insurance companies and big pharma.

Please consider taking a moment to sign the online petition, available on the CREDO Action website.

Next V4CF meeting scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 4

Save the date: Our next Volunteers For Change-Fresno general meeting is scheduled 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, in the large community room at the Fig Garden Library, 3071 W. Bullard Ave., in Fresno. The library is on the southwest corner of Bullard and Marks, in the shopping center.

We're been burning up the Inboxes with political and volunteer actions in July, and August may be just as busy. Stay tuned for the official agenda!

KaBOOM 'Build Day' happening Thursday, July 30

Back in April, a number of Volunteers For Change volunteered for a KaBoom project, helping to build an entire playground for the children of Lemoore in one day. Now and as promised, KaBoom is sponsoring another 'Build Day' -- and this one's happening in Fresno.

KaBoom and Hands On Central California are inviting all V4CF members to participate in its next 'Build Day,' scheduled 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, in Mariposa Meadows, 1011 West Atchison, in Fresno.

Once again, the plan will be to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art playground in one day, the playground's design based on drawings made by children in the neighborhood. Volunteers in and around Fresno, of every stripe and interest, will provide the labor. Breakfast and lunch will be served to the volunteers.

Event sponsors KaBoom and Hands On Central California need 150 people to complete this task. Want to help build a community? Up for it? You must sign up at the Hands On website to participate. Tell 'em Volunteers For Change-Fresno sent you!