Young Democrats of Atlanta

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Wednesday, August 31, 2005

More announcements

Another truckload from Kimberly's Email Firehose of Fun:

TO: YDA Leaders
FR: Chris Gallaway, YDA President
RE: Hurricane Relief Efforts

As you know, Biloxi, Mississippi, the host site of our upcoming Fall National Conference has been one of the areas worst hit by Hurricane Katrina. I spoke with State President Robert Hooks this afternoon and know that he and many Young Democrats made it to safety.

Our thoughts are with those individuals in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida who are dealing with this situation, especially those who have lost loved ones.

I encourage all Young Democrats to help support the relief and recovery efforts by giving to a charity of your choice that is supporting this effort.

These are just three of the many charities that need your support:
The United Way - http://national.unitedway.org/
America's Second Harvest - http://www.secondharvest.org/
AmeriCares - http://www.americares.org/
Our support now for this relief effort, as well as our commitment to bringing hundreds of Young Democrats from across the country to this area will be the kind of support necessary for this region to fully recover.

I hope that you will join me in supporting this effort on behalf of those affected by this disaster.

=====================================
The mobile GLOW bus to issue Georgia Identification Cards will be in Downtown Atlanta near Turner Field today through Friday from 9-4:30pm. They will be issuing only Georgia Identification Cards for $20.00 for 5 years or $35.00 for ten years CASH ONLY or for FREE if the citizen cannot pay. Citizens will be required to be able to step up two steps to enter the bus
for the issuance. (It is not a bad climb, there are arm rails on each side.)

The location is the future site of a new DDS permanent facility (at Fulton Street and Capital Avenue - next to Turner Field - very near I-20.) It is a vacant lot that is being used for ballgame parking now.

The GLOW bus will be parked there and issuing IDs today through Friday and will be traveling to other locations soon. There is plenty of free parking. The list of documents that citizens must bring is listed on the DDS website: http://www.dds.ga.gov under Georgia Identification Card or Georgia Identification Card for Voting Purposes.

A birth certificate and proof of GA residency is required.

=====================================

MIKE JACOBS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

I need people to come help phone bank for Mike Jacobs for the next month starting September 6th. Please let me know if you can help or if anyone you know (or your friends, members, etc.) can help.

Billy Joyner
President
Young Democrats of Georgia
bjoyner@uga.edu
404.314.7472

=====================================

SEPTEMBER 24- NATIONAL ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION
mark you calendars! There will be a huge national anti-war demonstration in DC and a southeast regional rally in Birmingham, AL. Visit http://www.georgiapeace.org for details.

=====================================

posted by Aerodad at 8/31/2005 03:31:00 PM 0 comments

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Announcements

1. Internship at Office of Councilman H. Lamar Willis
A student will be afforded the rare opportunity to witness city government in action. This opportunity to apply his/her academic studies in a hands-on environment will better prepare the student for a government-related career. 1. General administrative office tasks; 2. Conducting research for new and continuing municipal legislation; 3. Attending hearings or community meetings; 4. Assisting with the entry of archival material into database and files, and 5. Conducting community outreach and constituent service; 6. Administrative support for all Council staff.

More info & apply here

2. The Black Church Forum: "Shining A Light For All Women's Freedom"
Thursday August 25th, 6:30pm
The Black Church, Sex, Sexuality and Reproductive Health
Featured Speakers*:
Reverend Tim McDonald, of the First Iconium Baptist Church and Board Member
of the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice
Rev. Antonio Jones - Pastor, Unity Fellowship of Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Alberta Bosell - Minister, International New Thought Ministries
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Samuel - Pastor, Victory Church, Stone Mountain
Rev. Roslyn Satchel, JD â Executive Director, National Center for Human
Rights Education
*as of press time

First Iconium Baptist Church
542 Moreland Avenue SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30316
BUFFET DINNER PROVIDED BY COLLARD GREEN CAFÃ

To RSVP or for more information contact Jara at faith@georgiansforchoice.org or 404-532-0022
www.georgiansforchoice.org

3. YD Cobb Canoe Trip Saturday August 27
We will be meeting at the Smyrna Community Center at 9am to carpool together. If you are able to drive others please send me an email. We will be traveling to Helen, GA to canoe 5 miles down the Chattahoochee River and it should take about
3 hours. There are some class 1 and 2 rapids and we will be on 4 man rafts.
Wildwood Outfitters is the company we will be using and they are located 14 miles outside of Helen. They have a website if you would like some additional information. www.wildwoodoutfitters.com
After canoeing we will be eating a late lunch in Helen so bring a few extra bucks with you.
To RSVP please respond to this emails. Friends and Family are welcome to join us. The cost is $30 per person.
Jennifer Jernigan, President, Young Democrats of Cobb Co.
jennjernigan@yahoo.com

posted by Aerodad at 8/25/2005 10:23:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, August 22, 2005

Working on the Sabbath for You

Greetings Young Dems,

Just wanted to keep you posted on what your officers have been up to in the aftermath of our successful fundraiser/membership drive. For those of you that didn't make the last meeting, the short story is that we netted close to $1800 in ticket sales and donations, and we have a brand spanking new bank account to put it in (one that brings more financial convenience to the organization). So what are we going to do with it?

Well that's what your diligent Executive Board spent this Sunday figuring out. Sure, you've heard us talk about "Take back the State with 48," voter education and registration drives, literature drops and canvassing, etc. But what exactly does it all mean? What can you, a member, DO?

I can't tell you that JUST yet. But the Most Excellent Strategic Plan is now nearly as solid as the Iraqi Constitution, thanks to the 4 hour strategic planning session your officers underwent the other day. Yes, rather than spending a lovely August Sunday in the park trying to resist spontaneous human combustion without the assistance of intravenous fluids, the Exec Board met with a professional organizational management consultant to come up with our very own roadmap. (Fear not, we didn't blow our fundraiser spoils on a training session for officers only -- Travis spent her afternoon with us earning only our heartfelt thanks and a hot "Turn Left" t-shirt.) It was a productive session all around, and our next executive meeting will turn much of our new high-level strategic vision into detailed timelines and milestones. Be sure to turn up at our next general meeting at Manuel's on September 7th to hear what we've come up with.

Oh, and to see pictures of my new puppy.

posted by Aerodad at 8/22/2005 10:45:00 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Cindy solidarity

If you're interested in having your own little Sheehan-inspired anti-war vigil without flying out to BFE Texas to be harrassed by crazed rightwingnuts with shotguns and pickup trucks who hate prayer and crosses, consider these:

TOMORROW NIGHT (Wed. 8/17) 7:30PM
Stand With Cindy Candlelight Vigils

DECATUR: Intersection of Decatur Rd./Medlock Rd./Scott Blvd. at the corner of Suburban Plaza and Medlock Plaza

MARIETTA: On the Marietta Square in front of the Courthouse

Go to http://www.moveon.org to look for more near you.

UPDATE: NORTH FULTON DEMOCRATS: Corner of Abernathy and Roswell Rd.

posted by Aerodad at 8/16/2005 01:40:00 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 12, 2005

Take down Sen. Man-on-Dog?

From the Stonewall Democrats,

I'm writing to you because young, LGBT Democrats, the LGBT Community as a whole, the Democratic Party, and I need your help!

I am asking you to make a symbolic contribution today of $20.06 to help National Stonewall Democrats as we work to organize, train and mobilize LGBT and ally Young Democrats, and to help us defeat anti-LGBT, right-wing Republicans in 2006.

Before you do anything, please continue reading to learn why I am asking for your contribution of $20.06 today.

I am proud to announce that several of Stonewall's youngest Board Members, including myself, along with a handful of others from across the country, are in the process of organizing Stonewall Young Democrats. A partnership between Stonewall and the Young Democrats of America, the Stonewall Young Democrats initiative will serve to organize, train and empower young, progressive LGBT and ally Democrats, and link them to one another in a nationwide, grassroots network.

Unapologetically comparing homosexuality to incest, bestiality, polygamy, and adultery, U.S. Senator Rick Santorum is proud of his 0% score from the HRC, and of his crusade to protect the traditional family and defeat the "gay agenda." He is the third highest ranking Republican and the right-wing's greatest advocate in Congress. You're likely to find his name on every piece of anti-LGBT legislation before the Senate. The problem for Rick is that he represents a slightly blue, mainstream, working class state. He's way out-of-touch with his constituents and their values. He's up for re-election in 2006, he's vulnerable, and he's NSD's number one target.

As a Board Member of National Stonewall Democrats - American's only nationwide, grassroots organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people - I am responsible for raising a minimum of $2,500 each year to assist the organization in building the grassroots infrastructure necessary to elect LGBT-friendly Democrats.

The right-wing is already at work. That's why we must act now. You have the opportunity to help us train and empower the next generation of LGBT and ally Democratic leaders. You have the opportunity to help defeat Santorum and elect LGBT-friendly Democrats. You have the opportunity to help create the change we seek and make a real difference in the struggle for equality. I am asking for your commitment to this endeavor today with a symbolic contribution of $20.06, or whatever amount you are comfortable giving.

To contribute online right now, please visit: http://www.stonewalldemocrats.org/contribute
OR
Mail a check to:
National Stonewall Democrats
1325 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005

Once you have contributed online or mailed-in your check, please send me an e-mail so that I may personally thank you for your contribution. Thank you for your commitment to making a real difference in the struggle for equality!

Sincerely,
Kyle Bailey, Board Member National Stonewall Democrats
newdem@hotmail.com

posted by Aerodad at 8/12/2005 11:56:00 AM 0 comments

Whistleblower draws fire

A woman with three master's degrees and 20 years prior experience in contracting starts raising questions about Halliburton, and her career starts getting shoehorned into an early grave.

Bunnatine "Bunny" Greenhouse is the Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting ("PARC" in the alphabet soup of military acronyms) in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lest the title fool, she is responsible for awarding billions upon billions in taxpayers' money to private companies hired to resurrect war-torn Iraq and to feed, clothe, shelter and do the laundry of American troops stationed there.

She has rained a mighty storm upon herself for standing up, before members of Congress and live on C-SPAN to proclaim things are just not right in this staggeringly profitable business.

She has asked many questions: Why is Halliburton — a giant Texas firm that holds more than 50 percent of all rebuilding efforts in Iraq — getting billions in contracts without competitive bidding? Do the durations of those contracts make sense? Have there been violations of federal laws regulating how the government can spend its money?

Full story here.

posted by Aerodad at 8/12/2005 11:43:00 AM 0 comments

Thursday, August 11, 2005

On your marks

So just to stoke the flames of 2008 speculation, here's a list of potential candidates; who would you like to see?
Sen. George Allen (R-VA)
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
Gov. George Pataki (R-NY)
Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

vs.

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE)
Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC)
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA)

Personally, I like anyone who keeps appearing on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Joe Biden against "Man on Dog" Santorum? Rock on! What's your call?

posted by Aerodad at 8/11/2005 11:28:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

More Roberts: Win a trip to DC

From NARAL:

Think about the fate of the Supreme Court being decided by the U.S. Senate during next month's confirmation hearings. Now imagine watching the U.S. Senate hearings and debate in person! Gather the most petition signatures in our National Stop Roberts Petition Drive and you'll get an all-expenses paid trip to DC to witness the hearings in person. Click here to start:
http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/national_petition_reg/73w383225ed5x7?

The goal of this week's National Stop Roberts Petition Drive is to deliver as many signed petitions as possible to the Senate during John Roberts' confirmation hearings. If you send in the most signed petitions by Monday, August 15 you could receive:

:: A free trip to Washington, DC
:: A chance to meet with NARAL Pro-Choice America President
Nancy Keenan

Every single petition signature gathered and new pro-choice supporter identified makes a difference. Even if you don't join
us in DC, we still need your help. With Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance, we must make sure that pro-choice Americans' concerns over John Roberts' anti-choice record are heard and that the Senate doesn't allow Roberts to hide his position on choice.

Click here to start collecting petitions today:
http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/national_petition_reg/73w383225ed5x7?

posted by Aerodad at 8/10/2005 11:16:00 PM 0 comments

Paulding County Dems BBQ Saturday

PARTY WITH THE PAULDING COUNTY DEMOCRATS

Saturday, August 13, 11am

Fun, food, and like-minded Democrats are coming together for a fun Saturday. Please feel free to bring a dish and join us. If you are coming from Atlanta the directions are:
1. Take I-20 W / GA-402 W. ~12 miles from downtown
2. Take the GA-6 / Thornton Rd. EXIT 44 toward Austell (turn right onto GA-6) - 14mi
3. Stay straight to go onto Atlanta Hwy / GA-6 BR W. Continue to follow GA-6 BR W 4.9mi
4. Turn right onto GA-61 / N Confederate Ave. 3.7mi
5. Turn left onto S. High Shoals Rd. 2.4mi
6. Bear left onto Locklear Rd. 0.2mi
7. End at 253 Old Locklear Rd, Dallas, GA 30132

posted by Aerodad at 8/10/2005 12:46:00 PM 0 comments

Brunch with Gwinnett Dems & John Sugg

The Gwinnett Democrats will host a breakfast fellowship. Senior Editor of Creative Loafing, John Sugg, will discuss the state of Georgia politics and the path the Democrats should take. Breakfast is $6, coffee is $1.

Sat., Aug. 13, 8:30 a.m.
Atlanta Bread Company Norcross
5456 Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Norcross

posted by Aerodad at 8/10/2005 12:19:00 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Release Roberts documents

From People for the American Way

All 8 Democratic senators on the Judiciary Committee have requested documents concerning key cases litigated by the Solicitor General's office during Judge John Roberts' tenure as political deputy to then-Solicitor General Ken Starr. Late Friday afternoon the White House refused these senators' request.

There is no basis for this denial. Such documents have been released in previous Supreme Court confirmation proceedings,
including the Supreme Court confirmations of Robert Bork and William Rehnquist.

This action by the White House is an affront to our constitutional system of checks and balances and the senators' co-equal role in the appointment of lifetime judges.

The information about nominee Roberts' record that has already come out is very troubling. Given what we already know (listed in this email), one can only wonder what the White House is hiding.

That is why I am urging you to call your senators to tell them to stand up to the White House and fulfill their constitutional
duty - a duty which obligates them to make informed decisions about Supreme Court nominees:

Sen. C. Chambliss
Phone: (202) 224-3521 or (770) 763-9090
Sen. John Isakson
Phone: (202) 224-3643 or (404) 347-2202

Over 100,000 messages have been sent by you to the Senate asking them to demand full cooperation - and I thank you for letting them know how you feel. But the White House's action on Friday calls us to further action.

Call now. If you can't right now, please try to do it within the next 24 hours. We need to tell senators: "Get the documents you need to do your job!"

posted by Aerodad at 8/09/2005 03:11:00 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 05, 2005

We don't need no stinking rights?

Saw this in the AJC:

Yet racial and partisan tensions over [renewal of the Voting Rights Act] erupted Wednesday in a Fulton County Commission meeting when Commissioner Emma Darnell introduced a resolution in favor of reauthorization [urging Congress to renew the expiring provisions]. The four black Democrats on the County Commission voted for it; the three white Republicans, including Chairwoman Karen Handel, voted against.

(Additions mine.)

Two of the three Republicans represent the two northernmost districts, from Roswell through Sandy Springs and nipping a bit of Buckhead. The third is "at large," representing the whole county, but she, too, conveniently lives in Roswell.

Why don't you ask your commissioners why they have a problem with the Voting Rights Act?

Lynne Riley of District 3
Tom Lowe (yes, the construction mogul) of District 4
Karen Handel, representing [sic] all of Fulton County

Give 'em hell tomorrow, kids.

posted by Aerodad at 8/05/2005 11:08:00 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Tabling Volunteers Needed

From feministcenter.org,

Hi, my name is Gillian Silver, I am an intern at the Feminist Women's Health Center and I am working on a new project, called the Tabling Committee, that I would like to invite you all to be a part of. We are often requested to be at various events around town and are always on the lookout for more ways to spread the word about our fabulous programs and services.
Unfortunately, we do jot always have the PEOPLE POWER to make it happen. I am currently putting together a list of events where we can have an information table and a few volunteers staffing it to talk to people about the Feminist Women's Health Center and the health & policy issues that affect us.
It doesn't matter if you are able to commit to just a few hours or many, sign up and I will plug you in to events that work with *your* schedule. Tabling opportunities include street fairs, school volunteer events, health fairs, conferences, and more. For more information, or to sign up, contact Dawn at (404) 248-5452 or email nextwave@feministcenter.org and she will forward
your info to me.

posted by Aerodad at 8/02/2005 07:00:00 PM 0 comments

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