V4CF volunteers participate in Fresno 'Recovery Express Rally'

Four members from Volunteers For Change-Fresno joined dozens of other demonstrators at the Fresno "Recovery Express Rally" in front of St. John's Cathedral on Friday, March 6. The rally was planned by PICO (People Improving Communities through Organizing) National Network and a local group, Faith in Community, to greet a bus en route to Washington D.C. carrying passengers who are facing foreclosure.

With similar rallies in cities across America, the Recovery Express is designed to publicize the housing crisis and to ask our leaders for help. Challenging weather conditions in the Rockies prevented the bus from coming to Fresno as scheduled so members of five Fresno families had to travel north to Antioch to join the caravan. However, the local demonstration raised awareness of the desperate situation faced by so many. TV cameras recorded heartfelt speeches by clergy, local officials, elected representatives, and affected homeowners.

The Fresno Bee (3/7) in reporting the event noted that 12,500 homes were foreclosed in the Valley in 2008, more than twice the number affected in 2007.

Volunteer opportunities offered at March meeting

More than 25 members braved serious rain to attend the regular Volunteers For Change-Fresno meeting, held last night at the Woodward Park Library in northeast Fresno. After participating in a series of fun communication-building exercises, the group discussed service project opportunities and ways V4CF can support President Obama's initiatives in education, energy independence and healthcare.

Our end-of-meeting announcements included information about several volunteer opportunities. Click any of the following links to download more information:

• March 6: The Recovery Express Rally is scheduled in Fresno.
  

• March 7-8: Camp Courage will be training activists in Fresno.
  

• March 10: Hands On Central California is seeking volunteers to staff the WE Connect event, an initiative designed to connect low-income families with opportuities. Volunteers must sign up ahead of time. For more information, download page one and page two.
  

• March 27-29: Democracy For America is offering training for grassroots activists at its Campaign Academy.
  

• April 25: Members are invited to participate in the Generation Green Youth Serve Earth Day events.

Interested in serving your community? Want to be more active in supporting President Obama's initiatives? Consider joining us at Volunteers For Change-Fresno. Look in our right column for more information.

UPDATE: We'd received feedback that some site visitors are having trouble downloading the fliers through the links above. On March 6, I re-did the files and the links, and I'm hoping that will eliminate any trouble. If problems continue, please leave us a note in Comments... thanks!

President Obama: Passing the budget for change

From our friends at the Daily Kos:

CREDO and renewable energy

From our member Connie Peterson comes this:

I thought you might be interested in this CREDO Action e-activism campaign to encourage the power companies to invest in renewables instead of dirty coal. You can check out what is at stake and send your own message directly to the relevant decision makers using the link below.

• CREDO Action Campaign

Thanks! Your involvement matters!

Green energy opportunities within the economic stimulus package

From our friends at the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization:

The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization proudly presents: "Clean Energy Opportunities through the Economic Stimulus Bill"

The stimulus bill contains billions of dollars in funding to support clean energy development in our country. Come hear about these resources and how we can pursue them.

Thursday February 26, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Downtown Fresno
Mt. Whitney Room, 2nd Floor
1055 Van Ness Avenue (Southeast Corner Van Ness and Fresno)
Parking in underground garage off of Van Ness; take ticket into hotel to be validated

• How much
• What for
• When
• How to get them
• How to leverage them
• Partners
  

Also learn how the SJVCEO can help you receive ongoing Training, Consultation, and Support for Clean Energy Policies and Projects.

This meeting is free of charge but advance registration is appreciated. Please register online at http://www.sjvcleanenergy.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=2 or call (877) 748-0841.

San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization
4747 N First Street Fresno, CA 93720 United States
info@sjvcleanenergy.org
http://www.sjvcleanenergy.org

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