*May Meeting Reminder*

Please join us for the Monthly Meeting of Volunteers for Change, Fresno!

Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 7pm (meetings end promptly at 8:30pm)

UC Center, 550 E. Shaw, Fresno (across from Fashion Fair)

Our guest speakers are going to be:

*Liz Shields, Chair of Voter Services for the Fresno League of Women Voters, will discuss the propositions on the June ballot. 

She will also describe the League's work registering voters and hosting candidate forums.

*Debbie Harkness, candidate for the Board of Supervisors, District 2

Debbie has a website:  www.harkness.4supervisor.com  

*Susan Good, candidate for City Council, District 4
Susan has a website: http://www.good4council.com/

Light refreshments will be available, and we welcome your
announcements during the "Around the Table" part of the agenda (bring
hand outs if available)
-
**Please note that our meetings are held on the second MONDAY of each
month.

*We also have another great volunteer opportunity! At our April meeting, Radley Reep of Friends of Lost Lake Park invited us to join other groups in assisting with the maintenance of the park, which is on the San Joaquin River near the Friant dam.  Four V4CF members helped paint the campground kiosk and removed litter and invasive thistle last Saturday.

The Next Volunteer Event begins Sat., May 12, 2012 at 7:00 am.  Meet at the campground kiosk at the north end of the park. Tools and gloves will be provided.  You may want to bring a hat, snacks and water.  There is no need to sign up.  Just mark the date on your calendar, and come out to the park as early as you can Saturday morning.  If you are interested but have questions, please feel free to contact Ruth at ruth37@gmail.com or 559-297-8582.

Next Meeting-- Mon., March 12, 2012

Join us for our March meeting to learn about genetically modified food and Cuba. We will feature two speakers:

*Judy Nelson will explain a ballot initiative that would require labeling on genetically modified food. Judy is the Central Valley coordinator
for the statewide organization sponsoring the initiative.

* Sekani Radellant,
a pre-med student, will speak and show pictures from his trip to Cuba last July
as part of a national group taking medical supplies.

V4CF meetings are held at the UC Center, 550 E. Shaw, across from Fashion Fair and next to the Men's Wearhouse. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm.

Next Meeting--Mon., Feb. 13, 2012

Join us for an informative update on the situation of Fresno's homeless. Our speaker will be Mike Rhodes, editor of the Community Alliance and advocate for the homeless. We'll also hear from the local Obama campaign.

V4CF meetings are held at the UC Center, 550 E. Shaw, across from Fashion Fair and next to the Men's Wearhouse. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm.

Next Meeting--Monday, January 9, 2012

Monday, January 9 • 7 p.m.
V4CF monthly meeting at the UC Center, 550 E. Shaw. Speaker will be advocate for Single Payer healthcare extraordinaire, Rose Roach. If you have not heard and seen her excellent presentation on WHY AND HOW SINGLE PAYER IN CA, this is one meeting you will not want to miss! This is the vital bookend presentation to the Health Care Justice tour many enjoyed last month. Rose hails from Stockton with an important, well presented, articulate and passionate message on this subject.

Next Meeting--Monday, December 12, 2011

Volunteers for Change-Fresno will hold its annual holiday potluck on Monday, December 12th. Bring a main dish, side dish, salad, or dessert and enjoy the company of V4CF members. Contact Connie Peterson at c.peterson8784@sbcglobal.net or Nancy Griesser at nancyg@mail.fresnostate.edu for location information.

Stop Hidden Influence of Big Money with AB 1148, the California DISCLOSE Act

V4CF member Connie Peterson has become the Coordinator for the Fresno County Working Group to help pass AB 1148.

First Meeting:
Tuesday, October 25 from 6:30-8 PM

Round Table Pizza at 775 W. Herndon (NE corner at Willow).

Special Guest Trent Lange, President of California Clean Money Campaign will share the latest developments and help with local outreach plans for endorsements, petitions, and letting the public know about this important legislation.

AB 1148 must be out of the state Assembly by the end of January. It is vital to show a huge amount of grassroots support to get it through, and now is the time to build enough local support to make sure this happens.

For more information go to CAclean.org or email:

Fresno-info@CAclean.org.

Next Meeting--Mon., Oct. 10, 2011

At our October 10 meeting, Michael D. Evans, Chair of the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee, will share the many positions open on boards and commissions that some of us may be interested in filling. We'll also enjoy a recap of the very successful progressive forum featuring Jim Hightower that V4CP co-sponsored on Oct. 1st and learn which "next steps" are being proposed. Remember to bring information and handouts about upcoming actions and opportunities to share during "Around the Table."

Join us at 7 pm at the University of California Center, 550 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, across from Fashion Fair Shopping Center, next to the Men's Wearhouse.

As Jim Hightower suggests for a new bumper sticker: "Don't be a Bystander. Be a Stander-Upper!" See you at the Oct. meeting!