Jan 27 March on DC

United for Peace and Justice is organizing a march in DC on January 27, 2007. The next day they will hold training sessions and on Monday January 29, 2007 they will all go lobby the US Congress.

As can easily be seen by how our new Democratic majority is acting lately, they DO NEED SOME HELP. THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM ALL OF US.

Here is info from those CONFERENCE CALLS.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007 Call

Jan 27th March has been endorsed by over 200 organizations.

Contact Susan by phone (212-868-5545) or email susan@unitedforpeace.org with any questions you have specifically about being a local coordinator.

TECHNICAL DETAILS ABOUT BEING A LOCAL COORDINATOR

* If registered on UFPJ, must log into the system to find out if anyone has emailed you – they request that you email them back. They will not send you an email to let you know that someone signed on. There will be an email about how to update and edit.

* If signed on as a host, and someone clicks ‘email host’ that will go to you directly.

* How important is it to RSVP on website – it is really just a way to connect with the event organizer, so someone already in touch, no need to register on the website.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LOCAL COORDINATOR

- means getting info to people who contact via website, respond to rsvp

- beyond that, it is up to you

- list transportation information on the website

- housing board and directory of affordable accommodations

- local media work – will send out sample press release – contact them for specific questions

SUNDAY will be training all day at a high school outside the district. It will be close to Metro and have lots of parking. The afternoon will be focused on lobby day. They want every state to have a coordinator for the whole state for lobby day.

STATE COORDINATOR: North Carolina:
Jon Paul McClellan, contact: jmcclellan@nc.rr.com

IDEA: Have everyone on the bus write a letter. In DC, give it to the person who will be doing representatives and senators. They can make copies to go around.

IDEA: Make representations from the state of North Carolina of the cost of the war – like a representation of those who were killed, or the costs of war to the state.

IDEA: Roll of butcher paper with names and messages from anti-war protestors in the region. But, please make sure your legislature knows about this – may be hard to get past security at the congressional office buildings.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL FOR MEMBER GROUPS TO DISCUSS ORGANIZING FOR JAN. 27 - 29

Thursday, January 4, 2007 Call

This call will be an opportunity for member groups to ask questions and

discuss organizing for January 27-29. We will open with a brief update on

plans, logistics, etc. then go into Q & A.

Move-on.org will (reportedly) join in calling people to DC, and over 26 states are represented already. Bay Area is organizing another event also.

Faith based groups are also working on an event for that Saturday.

UFPJ will be sending out media advisories and tips.

UFPJ is negotiating about route of parade. Buses will be directed to a designated metro stop to unload, and then people will use Metro to come into DC for the parade. Housing board and ride board are up on the web. Housing is tight, however.

Sunday will be a full day of organizing and training at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. It is convenient to metro and has parking. Various groups will run organizing meetings on this date. Afternoon will be for state groups to get to together to organize and strategize for legislatives meetings. For Monday, please schedule meetings with Representatives in the morning, and Senators in the afternoon. Please register on UFPJ website if you plan on lobbying and be sure to come on Sunday afternoon for training. UFPJ is not sure right now exactly what bills or legislature they will be working on, that is subject to what happens between now and then.

March – assembly at 11 AM and start march at noon (probably). They are still in negotiations with DC authorities. UFPJ does not have money for a rally at this time.

PERSONAL LETTERS FROM CONSTITUENTS BEST – for visitors to give to the legislators they visit.

MEDIA – include information on local groups, how many, any unusual information and send to press@unitedforpeace.org

To the local North Carolina folks who are going:

I will be here in Asheville while you are in DC, but if you could call and give me updates while you are in DC, maybe we could get that on WPVM or I could send it out as Media Advisories. I will be going to work on getting Asheville Friends Meeting to write letters (and Peace Coalition) so you can take them. I have listed above the name of the person who is the coordinator for NC (and his email) and if they think that the number of people visiting Burr and Dole is getting too large (Dole’s office has 19 visitors in September 2005) and you don’t go on the “official” visit – I do hope you go and stop in anyway.

When I went to DC, I walked into EVERY US Senator’s office and gave them a piece of paper (that had a picture of an Iraqi victim glued to it) put in a sheet protector (I can easily get you 100 or 200 or 300 of them for free) and handed to the person in the office and told them what I thought (which depended somewhat on who the Senator of that office was). It takes a few hours, but it really is something to do that, and I think if a few million did it, they might wake up. As a matter of fact, I would be willing to make up 100 of them again from me, if you will be going to the offices and handing off your own letters. Maybe you could all do letters (making 100 copies is not hard) and then each of you visit 25 offices and hand them all of our letters. I am thinking of ‘generic’ letters, not letter addressed to each Senator. Beyond Burr and Dole, I think that would get massively confusing.

Anyway, let me know. Dancewater