V4CF's meeting scheduled Tues., April 7

Just a reminder:

Our next Volunteers for Change-Fresno group meeting is scheduled 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 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 brief presentation by Hands On of Central California, a local group whose mission is similar to our own, to discuss potential Earth Day events;
  
  
• A primer on California’s budget propositions, coming up for the public’s vote in May;
  
  
• A talk-and-take action chat about options for our next Volunteers for Change-Fresno 'Call to Action'; and
  
  
• A quick and voluntary "pass o'the hat" to fund some V4CF basics, like paper and printer ink.

Expect an invigorating, inspiring and intelligent meeting! We hope to see you there!

President Obama to France: 'America is changing'

From our member Ruth Afifi comes this, a video of President Obama's speech and town-hall meeting in Strasbourg, France. Ruth describes the speech as "very good, and different from others Obama has given."

Get comfortable -- the video is nearly an hour long, but well worth the time investment.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

President Obama's weekly address: A reminder about dedication to service

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

In his weekly address, President Obama addresses the people of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota as they face down disastrous flooding. He speaks of what the government is doing, but also stresses that times of crisis like this are reminders of the need and opportunity Americans have to keep their dedication to service.

OFA offering two new tools to assist with 'Pledge Project' calls

Calling your Senators and Representatives this week in support of President Obama's budget?

If so, California's Organizing For America coordinator Mary Jane Stevenson has made two new tools available to Volunteers For Change-Fresno members, both designed to assist with our calling efforts.

The first tool helps volunteers to call supporters and ask them to call their congressional representatives. It's available at http://my.barackobama.com/page/contact/splash/budgetaction

The second tool offers a quick and easy way to find your representative's telephone number (for those whose numbers aren't listed below), and includes a sample script for those who want some guidance in what to say. It's available at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/callcongress/budget/

Here's an excerpt from Mary Jane's invitation:

After winning a two-year campaign for the opportunity for change, we are now embarking on a four (and hopefully eight)-year campaign to accomplish that change. Please join me in these beginning stages of that campaign – as so many of you already have with your continued commitment to the pledge project. And now, as we help our President get a budget passed – a budget that is the essential blueprint for his agenda.

Almost 50,000 calls were made yesterday across the country, in one day! Every single district got called, and the average per office was more than 100 calls. Let's keep it going!

We're with you, Mary Jane! Keep making those calls, everyone, and don't forget to record your results at http://my.barackobama.com/callreport

The folks to call are:

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18)
CALL: (202) 225-6131 or (209) 383-4455

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA-19)
CALL: (202) 225-4540 or (559) 449-2490

Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-20)
CALL: (202) 225-3341 or (559) 495-1620

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA-21)
CALL: (202) 225-2523 or (559) 323-5235

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
CALL: (202) 224-3841 or (559) 485-7430

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
CALL: (202) 224-3553 or (559) 497-5109

First Lady Michelle Obama to speak at UC Merced's graduation in May

Wow! Breaking news from the Fresno Bee:

First lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement speech to UC Merced’s first full senior graduating class in May, her office announced today.

The Office of the First Lady said UC Merced students waged a successful letter-writing campaign to her, her office, friends and family to secure her address on May 16. Her office said it will supply details later.

http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/1290710.html

We Get Press: V4CF's garden action covered March 24 in the Fresno Bee

The Fresno Bee covered Volunteers For Change-Fresno's community garden "Call to Action" as part of a broader article in its Tuesday, March 24, edition. From the article:

Volunteers toted rakes, hoes and other tools to the West Fresno Health Care Coalition’s existing community garden at Tulare and A streets.

As the only community garden in West Fresno, this project aims to teach young people about self-sufficiency, nutrition, health and community service.

Connie Peterson, a member of Volunteers for Change-Fresno, brought a group of about 35 to work at that garden on Saturday. She’d proposed the project to Volunteers for Change-Fresno, a nonpartisan group of Barack Obama supporters.

“I personally feel that a garden is a small personal change that anyone in our area can make,” she writes in an e-mail.

Want to read more? Here's the full article.

Call your Senators and Representatives; tell 'em you support Pres. Obama's budget

Did you sign on to Organizing for America's (OFA) "Pledge Project"? If so, the time has come to take action on that pledge.

OFA is asking all Volunteers For Change-Fresno members and anyone who signed the pledge to take the next step:

Call your Senators and Congressmen right away, and state your support for President Obama's budget.

Our representatives need to know that we support:

• Renewable energy to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil;
  
• Making healthcare more affordable for every American by cutting costs; and
  
• Improving education so our children are prepared for the jobs of the 21st Century.

OFA is also asking our members and everyone calling to follow up by clicking the links provided below. So, it's three calls and one click to help bring about the change we demanded when we elected President Obama.

Here's the note from OFA:

Members of Congress will begin debating President Obama's budget this week, with a vote likely set for next week.

What you do now will decide what kind of debate they have -- one that's dominated by special interests and partisan voices intent on keeping the status quo, or one that reflects the priorities of citizens like you.

Last week, thousands canvassed their communities to talk with neighbors about the need for a new direction. Now, it's time to take that message to Washington.

Can you pick up the phone and let Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer, and your district's Representative know where you stand on President Obama's budget?

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18)
CALL: (202) 225-6131 or (209) 383-4455

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA-19)
CALL: (202) 225-4540 or (559) 449-2490

Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-20)
CALL: (202) 225-3341 or (559) 495-1620

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA-21)
CALL: (202) 225-2523 or (559) 323-5235

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
CALL: (202) 224-3841 or (559) 485-7430

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
CALL: (202) 224-3553 or (559) 497-5109

After your call, please record your feedback at http://my.barackobama.com/callreport

We can't afford to ignore the long-term threats to our prosperity. Now is the time to build the foundation for a recovery that lasts.