Renewable energy as a California priority

From member Connie Peterson comes this:

I thought you might be interested in this alert from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Please send a letter today to your state legislators. It will help ensure a strong renewable energy bill for CA. If you go to the URL below you can check out the details and send your own message.

To take action on this issue, click on the link below:

• Union of Concerned Scientists: Action Alert

From the President: A lifeline for homeowners?

The news wires are reporting this evening that President Obama will extend a lifeline to homeowners in danger of foreclosure. Here's the story, as reported by Yahoo News:

• Obama throws $75 billion lifeline to homeowners

Fulton Mall Farmers Market coming soon?

Member Connie Peterson passed this note along from Elliott Balch, Downtown Revitalization Manager for the City of Fresno:

Recently you and over 1,400 others took a short survey about the upcoming Fulton Mall farmers' market. Thank you! This is great support so far.

You are receiving this email because you're one of the dozens who responded with particular interest in helping make this market happen.

The organizing committee is convening a marketing and outreach meeting on Wednesday, February 25, at 4pm at the Holiday Inn ground-floor restaurant area. This will be a working meeting where we determine how to pursue the best strategies to build a customer base to support this market. By dividing up the work, I'm confident we can do some amazing things. If you can join us, please reply to let me know.

Two other quick notes: (1) You'll also be able to stick around on the 25th for the grand opening of the Holiday Inn Sky Room at 6pm. (2) If you're interested in farmers' market issues in general, please see the attached flyer for a workshop coming up on Monday, February 23. Feel free to share this with others you know.

Thanks for your interest and support!

Elliott Balch
Downtown Revitalization Manager
Dept. of Downtown & Community Revitalization
City of FresnoFresno, CA 93721
2600 Fresno Street, Room 2156
Main: (559) 621-8350
Direct: (559) 621-8366
www.fresno.gov

NAMI asking for help from V4CF

This came from our friend Mary Lou Brauti-Minkler, of NAMI Fresno's Child & Adolescent Committee, asking for action on behalf of Proposition 63. Here's her message:

NAMI California Members and Friends:

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (Dist. 38 – CA) is requesting help in getting California representatives from every district to sign on to a letter she intends to send to Governor Schwarzenegger opposing his proposal to redirect Prop. 63 funds.

Time is short; however, we are asking that you contact your representative asking that they sign on to the letter (see attached for details) and the importance of doing so. If they agree, they can contact Congresswoman Napolitano’s legislative aide Elizabeth Ziegler at Elizabeth.ziegler@mail.house.gov

The DEADLINE TO SIGN ON is close of business tomorrow, Thursday, February 12.

Contact information for all representatives can be found at: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#ca (Click on “Contact Us”, upper left corner.)

So far only Rep. Farr has signed on but Reps. Woolsey, Radanovich, McNerney, Matsui, Tauscher and Baca have expressed interest.

Thanks for all you do and we apologize for this short notice.

President Obama's take on the economic crisis

From YouTube, here are some of President Obama's thoughts about the continuing economic crisis.

'Mountain of Food' event Jan. 10-18

From our member Gladys Deniz:

I just wanted to clarify the 'Mountain of Food' event. It is my understanding that groups/individuals are collecting canned food items during the week of Jan 10th - 18th.

All of the collected food will then be brought to St. John's Cathedral at 9am on Jan 19th where there will be Community Food Bank trucks to collect the food.

Then at 10am there will be a march from St. John's to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium where there will be speakers and performances.

Volunteers For Change-Fresno debuts 'Action Blog'

Welcome to the Volunteers For Change-Fresno "Action Blog"!

We of Volunteers For Change-Fresno (or V4CF) are a new and non-partisan group of volunteers.

We have come together to do our part in implementing the changes America demanded when we elected Barack Obama as our President.

We will accomplish this goal by taking action in four broad areas:

• To support the Obama Administration's national initiatives;
• To organize to have an impact upon regional and local issues;
• To volunteer for community service organizations; and
• To conduct visible service projects.

Please follow our Action Blog to see how you can be involved. Be the Change!