President Obama's weekly address: Necessary reform vs. absurd attacks

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

In his weekly address, President Obama calls health insurance reform critical to our nation's long-term economic strength, and dispels the outlandish rumors being promoted by those who are defending the status quo.



If the viewscreen above is not visible, President Obama's weekly address is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGdbKEr29I0.

Donations still needed for the Aug. 15 'Back To School Health Fair'

The West Fresno Health Care Coalition is still taking donations for the Back To School Health Fair being held August 15th at the Hinton Community Center. Backpacks, school supplies, and monetary donations for the purchase of school supplies are still being accepted.

If you would like to make a donation please contact Kris Arden at 559-978-1736 or kkarden@yahoo.com by August 12th.

Help Fresno's school kids start the school year off right!

Eight more volunteers needed for the 'Back To School Health Fair' Aug. 15

Volunteers For Change-Fresno still needs at least 8 volunteers to help with the "Back To School Health Fair" being hosted by the West Fresno Health Care Coalition. This event targets children grades K - 12 and their families. Various vendors will provide health screening (diabetes, high blood pressure screening for adults and dental & vision screening for the children) and health-related information. Children will receive backpacks filled with school supplies for the new school year. Free breakfast & lunch will also be provided to volunteers. To see the flyer produced by the West Fresno Health Care Coalition regarding the event, please click on the following link:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3790649115_1008606f4d_b_d.jpg

Volunteers For Change-Fresno plans to play a key role in the event by supplying the West Fresno Health Care Coalition with 15 volunteers. Additionally, we plan to host a booth at the event where we will conduct voter registration and run health related children's activities.

Hosted by the West Fresno Health Care Coalition, the Back to School Health Fair is scheduled 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Hinton Community Center, 2385 S. Fairview Ave. in southwest Fresno.

Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hinton+Center,+Fresno,+CA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=28.943777,63.105469&ie=UTF8&ll=36.717094,-119.803655&spn=0.007138,0.015407&z=16&iwloc=A

Help local children start the school year off right!

To sign-up for the event, go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcr97.
For more information, contact Kris Arden at kkarden@yahoo.com or (559) 978-1736.

Volunteers needed: August activities continue with two phonebanking opportunities

As part of our August fusillade of activities supporting meaningful healthcare reform, Volunteers For Change-Fresno is looking for volunteers to make some enthusiastic and supportive calls during two phonebanking sessions, scheduled:

• 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9; and
• 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12.

V4CF member Patience Milrod will host each session at her law office, 844 N. Van Ness Ave. in central Fresno. V4CF member Connie Peterson is also coordinating these sessions.

Participating volunteers should bring their cell phones, chargers, gifts of gab and enthusiasm! Scripts, training, good company, food and fun will be provided. Space is limited, but should the room fill up, volunteers can make these calls from the comfort of their own homes, too.

Visit either of the following links to sign up for the Aug. 9 session or the Aug. 12 session.

Stay tuned to the V4CF Action Blog throughout August! Let's win this battle!

Breaking News: Tomorrow's healthcare town hall meeting CANCELED

This just in: The healthcare town hall meeting with Rep. Jim Costa, originally scheduled tomorrow at UCSF Fresno, has been canceled. From the desk of the Associate Dean:

CANCELED: HEALTH CARE REFORM INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Unfortunately, due to multiple scheduling conflicts from our panel members, we have been forced to cancel tomorrow’s informational meeting on health care reform.

The intent of the informational meeting was to share the many views of health care practitioners from around the Valley on the health care reform legislation that is being discussed in Congress, with our invited guests and panel members.

This informational meeting will be rescheduled for a future date convenient for all of our invited guests.

Joan L. Voris, MD, Associate Dean
UCSF Fresno
155 N. Fresno St.
Fresno, CA 93701
Website: www.fresno.ucsf.edu

We'll watch for a reschedule date and keep our members posted.

What we're up against: Who are these mobs?

This comes to us from our friends and action partners at Organizing For America. Sure, it's partisan, but like our recap of the Fresno Tea Party a few months back, it is a good reminder of the tactics being used against President Obama's healthcare-reform efforts.



If the viewscreen above is not visible, you can view the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtTBkxvBq88.

Want to join us in winning this fight? Scroll down and choose your action!

Join us in canvassing to support healthcare reform Saturday in Fresno

With the August Congressional Recess under way, now is the time for big action. In conjunction with Health Access and Organizing For America, Volunteers For Change-Fresno needs 30 volunteers to hit the streets Saturday, Aug. 8, and canvass selected neighborhoods in support of healthcare reform.

In canvassing, our purpose will be fivefold:

• To reach Congressional constituents in each district;
  
  
• To help those constituents get past fears and falsehoods about the current healthcare reform proposals;
  
  
• To ask those constituents to sign a petition, for delivery to Congressional Representatives;
  
  
• To ask the people we visit to make calls to their representatives in support of healthcare reform; and
  
  
• To join us at events supporting healthcare reform.

We need you. Six Volunteers For Change signed up for canvassing during our Aug. 4 meeting, but we need more. We're looking for 30 volunteers. Training and support will be provided.

To participate, send an e-mail message to event coordinator Patience Milrod at pm097@csufresno.edu, Nancy Griesser at nancyg@csufresno.edu, or to Volunteers For Change at v4cfresno@yahoo.com.

Then, plan to meet your fellow canvassers at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Fresno ACORN office, 1300 E. Shaw Ave, Suite 125. We hope to see you there!