President Obama's weekly address: Making tough choices, keeping promises

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

With the process of going through the budget line by line in full swing, the President uses his Weekly Address to give some examples, big and small, of how the Administration is working to cut costs and eliminate waste. The President also announces two new key appointments, Jeffrey Zients as Chief Performance Officer and Aneesh Chopra as Chief Technology Officer, who will be invaluable in streamlining the way government functions through efficiency and innovation.



If you the viewscreen above does not appear, view the address here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NPQpiSqAAs

What we're up against: Images from Fresno's 'Tea Party'

I saw this on Huffington Post this morning and thought I'd pass it along. It's comprised of a few photos taken at yesterday's 'Tea Party' tax protest, held in the Save Mart Center's parking lot.

These shots, as well as the others contained within the Huffington Post's full article, really capture some of the beliefs and feelings we're up against right here in our hometown. What's worse is that the local Tea Party's organizers claim more than 7,500 people attended, making the Fresno rally one of the largest in the country. And I'm guessing most folks weren't there just to gawk.

I'm hoping this will serve as a reminder of why Volunteers For Change-Fresno came into existence. Yes, we want to answer President Obama's call to service, but I think we also need to be visible in supporting President Obama's agenda, to bring about that change we demanded, and to show folks bearing beliefs and attitudes like those displayed yesterday -- slowly perhaps, but surely and courageously -- just how wrong they are.

Here's an excerpt of the Huffington Post's article:

Professional photographer Mathieu Young sent us these pictures from Fresno, CA., which had one of the largest Tea Party protests in the country. According to organizers, over 7,500 people were in attendance.

The full text, which includes a report from Fresno about halfway through, can be found here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/10-most-offensive-tea-par_n_187554.html

The Huffington Post has also made available all photos it received from yesterday's Tea Parties. To view them, visit HuffPo's page on Flickr.

V4CF to celebrate 'Cuatro de Mayo' at our next scheduled meeting

Volunteers For Change-Fresno members invites all members and interested folk to our next group meeting, scheduled 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, 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.

Have an item for our agenda? Send it via e-mail to Wendy Negri.

(And what's 'Cuatro de Mayo'? The day before Cinco de Mayo, of course!) We hope to see everyone there!

Interested in single-payer health care? Consider a visit to Sacramento tomorrow

While it remains to be seen whether single-payer health care will be a part of President Obama's healthcare-reform initiative, many Californians remain interested in the idea. If you're among them, an opportunity forwarded from V4CF member James Williams may be up your alley:

California's landmark single payer bill (we call it California OneCare) launches its legislative journey next Wednesday in Sacramento.

SB 810 (formerly SB 840), authored by State Senator Mark Leno (SF), will be heard by the Senate Health Committee at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in Room 4203 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

This is the first step in the process of getting SB 810 through the Senate and then the Assembly. And a huge turnout of supporters is vital.

We want to pack the hearing room to show strong public support. If you can attend, we recommend you get to Room 4203 well before 1:30 p.m.

This campaign won't be easy. There are many new Senators and Assembly Members who must be educated about single payer. There are other health care reform bills that are being considered but there is only one true reform bill that will bring full care, for all, for less.

PLUS, here are two more actions you can take to help us pass this legislation.

Action #1:
Contact organizations to send SB 810 endorsements on their letterhead stationary.

Organizations that supported Senator Sheila Kuehl's SB 840 need to send a new letter of support for SB 810.

Mail support letter to:

Senator Mark Leno
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Or fax your support letter to: (916) 445-4722

A sample organizational endorsement letter is also posted at www.healthcareforall.org under "act now-organizing".

Action #2:
Send your own individual letter of support for SB 810 to your State Senator and to Senator Elaine Alquist, chair of the Senate Health Committee.

1. Identify your own State Senator online by visiting http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

2. Mail support letter to:

Senator Elaine Alquist
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Or fax support letter to: (916) 324-0283

A sample individual endorsement letter is also posted at www.healthcareforall.org under "act now-organizing"

Thank you for your continued support. WE WILL WIN.

Dan Hodges
Chair, Health Care for All--California

OneCareNow.org Campaign for SB 810 is a Project of Health Care for All--California

President's weekly address: Global cooperation needed on world's problems

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

In his weekly address, President Obama discusses the multitude of problems and opportunities before the world through the prism of Passover and Easter.

"These are two very different holidays with their own very different traditions. But it seems fitting that we mark them both during the same week. For in a larger sense, they are both moments of reflection and renewal. They are both occasions to think more deeply about the obligations we have to ourselves and the obligations we have to one another, no matter who we are, where we come from, or what faith we practice."

If you cannot see the video screen above, the video is available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/11/Weekly-Address-Passover-and-Easter/.

April's second 'Call to Action': Help us build a playground for Lemoore in one day

Our second Call to Action opportunity this month offers Volunteers for Change-Fresno members the opportunity to help build a playground in Lemoore, start to finish, in a single day.

Sponsored by Hands On Central California, Kaboom!, California Volunteers, the City of Lemoore and other organizations, this effort is designed to honor the life and values of Cesar Chavez by having our groups join forces to build a new, state-of-the-art playground for children living there.

The event is scheduled 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the build site in Lemoore. Volunteers will receive on-site training, an event T-shirt, and morning and afternoon meals. Be advised the time and date for this opportunity are nearly identical to those of the Generation Green Earth Day event, so interested volunteers will need to choose which of the events they want to join.

V4CF member Tim Savage has volunteered to act as our 'Call to Action' coordinator on this activity. To participate, contact him via e-mail as soon as possible. Tim will provide our list of participating volunteers to the event's director, and will assist those participants in arranging carpooling to the event early that day.

V4CF invited to participate in Earth Day restoration 'Call to Action'

Fresh from our successes with last month's community garden project, Rally in the Valley and Call your Representatives activities, Volunteers for Change-Fresno members discussed four possible Calls to Action for April. And with each of the possible Actions receiving wide initial interest from the meeting's attendees, we decided this month not to limit ourselves.

So, if you're interested in Call to Action opportunities, April may be a busy month for you.

The first Call to Action opportunity is called the Generation Green Earth Day event, scheduled April 25. In this event, V4CF members will collaborate with Hands On Central California and several other community organizations in conducting an environmental restoration project, getting down and dirty in replanting native species, removing non-native plants, removing debris and enhancing the habitat.

Cathy Caples, executive director of Hands On Central California, invites all V4CF members to join in this effort. Cathy said participants need not bring any special tools or equipment; just a healthy work ethic and a sense of respect and admiration for our environment to this Earth Day effort.

The kickoff is scheduled 9 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at the San Joaquin River Parkway River Center, 11605 Old Friant Road in Fresno. To participate, download the flier, then call Hands On at (559) 237-3101 to register. Please be sure to identify yourself as a Volunteers for Change member when you call.

We're also looking for someone to shoot video and take photos at the Generation Green Earth Day event. If you're willing and able, please let us know.