Change is Happening in Southern Arizona

Over 50 people gathered on Saturday, December 13th at Casa de Esperanza in Green Valley to discuss how we can continue to be involved in the new Obama administration. Over 4,000 similar meetings were held across the country that weekend.

NOTES/MINUTES OF THE MEETING:

1. Introductions and "Why We are Here"- Responses ranged from concerns about the economy and the financial meltdown to ending the Iraq War, the importance of citizen participation ("democracy requires participation"), the importance of not getting sidetracked into factions, and a curiosity about the ways in which Obama will help citizens interact with his administration.

2. Change.gov- Participants were urged to become familiar with the President-elect's new website and its interactive features, including "Join the Discussion"..more tools and networking capabilities to follow.

3. Issues- Our Priorities and where we should begin- A wide-ranging discussion of issues, with the following deemed the most important by the participants and surveys: 1) Health Care, 2) Energy and the Environment, 3) The Economy. Other issues of importance to some members of the group include Education, Reproductive rights and women's issues, Iraq and Afghanistan, Ethical reform, National Service, Presidential Powers, Immigration Reform, Direct Presidential elections, Arts and Cultural funding, the National Debt, and legal action against the current administration.

4. Issues- How can we best work on them locally?- Ideas included: 1) Partnering with other local organizations, both political and issues-oriented to affect change, 2) Contacting and persuading legislators on a regular basis, 3) Public relations through an ongoing letter writing campaign, as well as cultivating ongoing relationships with local media to sell our causes, 4) Organizing small working groups around specific issues of concern to us and to the administration (The Obama team has asked us to begin work immediately on Healthcare and we felt the Economy was another issue that necessitated immediate action. Details on both groups are listed above)

5. Community Service: Putting our Values to Work- The Obama team has asked us to get to work immediately on a local service project. We brainstormed some ideas for both the short-term and the long-term. Ideas included assisting the local Food Banks, work for the homeless and working poor through the Primavera Foundation, assisting at-risk youth through Youth on their Own, hosting a Blood Drive, assisting a local family, organizing book drives or reading events for local children, taking leadership on "Drive 60 MPH" conservation efforts, and much more. To participate in the current Obama team service effort, it was decided we would aid the local Food Banks in some, to be determined, way. Details will be announced as they become available.

6. Next Change is Happening! Meeting- January 31^st, 1:00-3:00 pm, Green Valley Library

Things to think about for the future of this group-

· What are we? What are our missions/goals? Some people have expressed a strong desire to have this group be "non-partisan", ie, not affiliated with a political party. Let's think about creating a "charter" at our next meeting that outlines who we are and what we would like to accomplish.

· How do we forge partnerships with other local groups working around some of the same issues? Could people agree to be "liaisons" to existing local groups?

· How do we get our message out there? The letter writing group will be the first step…what else? Do we need a "citizens lobbying" group to keep us in touch with legislators and representatives?

Here are our upcoming events and meetings:

• Healthcare Working Group- First meeting- Monday, December 22^nd, 1:00-3:00 pm, at the home of Diane Meyer. Group leader is Tim Dugan. RSVP at dmeyermcs@aol.com for directions and pre-reading packet.
• Economy Working Group- First meeting- Tuesday, January 6^th, 2:00-4:00 pm, Green Valley Library, contact Rick Ernst at rickernst1@cox.net or circulonapa@yahoo.com if you would like to participate. Initial discussions will concentrate on the financial bailout; see the website http://cop.senate.gov/ as a starting point
• Service Project/Day of Service- Our first effort, to be held in January, will be to aid the local food bank in Green Valley; details to be announced. A planning meeting will be held Tuesday, January 6^th at 9:00 am at Peggy Pierce's house, 1135 W. Placita Lucinda. If you would like to attend the planning meeting or volunteer with the project, please email Cene Backus at larryandcene@cox.net

· Change is Happening! next meeting- Saturday, January 31^st, 1:00-3:00 pm, Green Valley Library large meeting room