'Issue teams,' Santa's Village project the topics at V4CF General Meeting Oct. 13

We hope you'll join us at the next Volunteers for Change-Fresno general meeting, scheduled 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the large meeting 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.

Our meeting will include:

• A discussion about setting up V4CF 'issue teams,' groups of volunteers who will take the lead on researching issues important to us, and will build bridges to other like-minded groups to coordinate our efforts in support of our mission;
  
  
• More details on our efforts to support the Fresno 'Santa's Village' project in December. Donations for Santa's Village will also be accepted at the meeting; help by donating new or slightly used toys (especially stuffed animals), clothing for children under 18, mittens and gloves, warm hats, jackets, and shoes;
  
  
• A demonstration of how easy it can be to use the V4CF Action Blog to make calls to our Congressional representatives;
  
  
• A quick and voluntary "pass o'the hat" to fund some V4CF basics, like paper and printer ink; and
  
  
• The debut of our long-awaited V4CF T-Shirts, which will be available in several sizes for $15 each. Get yours at our Tuesday meeting... correct change will be appreciated, but not required.
  

Expect intelligent conversation, enlightening commentary, and high T-shirt fashion at our meeting! We hope to see you there!

President Obama's weekly address: Cooler heads prevailing on healthcare reform

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

In his weekly address, President Obama goes through the leading conservative and Republican figures who have come out one after another urging passage of health insurance reform. After a summer of intense debate, cooler heads begin to prevail to make progress for the American people.

If the viewscreen below is not visible, President Obama's weekly address can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS5T-Nkti7o

Sen. Feinstein declares her support for public option

Those 'Smile and Dial' phone calls seem to be working. Sen. Diane Feinstein, until recently a holdout on the issue, declared her support yesterday for a strong public option in healthcare reform. Here's the announcement, from her official website:

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with 29 Democratic Senate colleagues, has signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging the inclusion of a public option in any health reform legislation that will be considered on the Senate floor. An additional 14 Senators at least have expressed support for the public option through a resolution, letter, or by voting for a strong public option during committee markups.

The Senators’ letter states that “absent a competitive and continuous public insurance option – health reform legislation will not produce nationwide access and ongoing cost containment.”

It continues: “The number one goal of health reform must be to look out for the best interests of the American people – patients and taxpayers alike – not the profit margins of insurance companies.”

The full text of the announcement is available on Sen. Feinstein's official website. In the meantime, let's call her offices one more time, to thank her for her support! Those numbers again:

Senator Diane Feinstein
Local: (559) 485-7430
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3841

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow talks about President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize recognition

While it may not be an official Volunteers For Change-Fresno communication, Rachel Maddow's analysis may go a long way toward rebutting the Limbaughs, Becks and Tea Partiers of the world on the issue of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. Enjoy!

If the viewscreen below is not visible, Rachel Maddow's analysis is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMJuEOaF84o.

President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Wow! From the news wires:

President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

President Obama's efforts to promote a "global response to global challenges" cemented their decision.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/09/world/main5373311.shtml

'Until it's passed': Picket to continue outside Rep. Costa's office

The healthcare-reform 'finish line' in getting closer by the minute, and with activity in Washington D.C. approaching a fever pitch, the time for our final push supporting meaningful reform is at hand.

Remember the 'sustained picket' outside Rep. Jim Costa's Fresno office? By all accounts it's been a great success in calling attention to the issue. So much so that the coalition of groups involved have announced the picket will continue, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. every Friday outside Rep. Costa's Fresno office at 855 M Street in downtown Fresno, until healthcare reform is enacted.

V4CF members are invited and encouraged to participate. Got a spare lunch hour or two? Come on down, join the picket, and help to turn the tide! Signs will be provided; all you need to bring are quarters (for metered parking), sunscreen or a big hat, a sweater or sweatshirt given our cooler weather lately, and your voice supporting meaningful healthcare reform.

Those who support President Obama's plan for meaningful healthcare reform are also asked to... wait for it... KEEP MAKING THOSE CALLS. Calling Rep. Costa's office to express your support is especially important right now, but there's no reason to take the pressure off of our other Congressional representatives. Smile and dial... those numbers remain:

Representatives:

Jim Costa - the person to call! -District 20
Local: (559) 495-1620
Washington, D.C.: (202) 225-3341

George Radanovich - District 19
Local: (559) 449-2490
Washington, D.C.: (202) 225-4540

Devin Nunes – District 21
Local: (559) 323-5235
Washington D.C.: (202) 225-2523

Senators:

Diane Feinstein
Local: (559) 485-7430
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3841

Barbara Boxer
Local: (559) 497-5109
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3553

For more information or to register your participation, contact Nancy Griesser via e-mail.

A New York Times op-ed: Getting healthcare reform right

From V4CF member Bob Merrill comes this, an op-ed appearing Oct. 5 in the New York Times. The piece comes from Cappy McGarr, chairman of the Texas Insurance Purchasing Alliance from 1993 to 1995:

The Senate Finance Committee has for the moment rejected the idea of creating a public health insurance plan. It’s difficult to see how Americans will be able to find good, affordable health insurance without one. But if we are to go forward without a public option, it is more important than ever to make sure that we get another part of health reform right: the exchanges, where it is envisioned that small businesses and people without employer-sponsored insurance could shop for policies of their own.

The full op-ed piece is available at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/opinion/06mcgarr.html on the New York Times website.

A big thanks to Bob Merrill for sending this along!