March 11, 2009

Upcoming Progressive Events in Montgomery County and D.C.

Upcoming progressive events in Maryland/Montgomery County

1. PWG/Progressive Neighbors House Concert Fundraiser with Magpie --
Sunday, March 15, 4:15 p.m.
2. Lobby Night in Annapolis for Accurate, Verifiable Paper-Ballot Voting
-- Monday, March 16, 5:30 p.m.
3. Building the Election Reform Movement MeetUp (DC Metro area) --
Monday, March 23, 7 p.m.
4. MoveOn PowerUp Campaign Kick-Off -- 12:30 p.m. Saturday March 28 or
Sunday 29, details TBA
5. Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, MoveOn, PDA, PWG and more. --
Wednesday April 1, 7 p.m.

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1. PWG/Progressive Neighbors House Concert Fundraiser with Magpie
Sunday, March 15, 4:15 p.m. at 706 Erie Ave. Takoma Park
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=706+Erie+Ave.+Takoma+Park.+MD
bus service available: http://www.wmata.com/
Donation is $15 with veggie potluck dish to share and $20 without. For
more information - 301-587-5559

2. Lobby Night in Annapolis for Accurate, Verifiable Paper-Ballot Voting
Monday, March 16, 5:30 p.m. The Senate Building, 11 Bladen St.,
Annapolis, MD
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11+Bladen St.+Annapolis+MD

We'll meet in the Rotunda (turn right and walk up the ramp after passing
through the metal detector), organize into teams, receive assignments,
talking points and other materials. Bring a valid ID!
Find your State Delegate(s) and Senators here: http://mdelect.net/ and
send your contact information and the names of your state elected
officials to Stan Boyd, sbb223@yahoo.com ASAP.

Transition to paper ballot voting across the state will save Maryland
money, due to extravagant costs for maintaining the less reliable and
impossible to verify touch screen machines. Our state should use a
system which will provide private and independent voting for disabled
voters alongside the paper ballot-based system. Many jurisdictions in
Maryland used to use the paper-ballot optical scan voting which was
unanimously supported by the Maryland legislature in 2007. We ask our
representatives to ensure a smooth, cost-effective transition to
reliable, transparent voting for the 2010 election cycle, as planned.

3. Building the Election Reform Movement MeetUp (DC Metro area) Sign
up/more details here: http://electionreform.meetup.com/176/
Monday, March 23, 7 p.m. Burma Restaurant 740 6th street NW Washington,
DC 20001 2nd floor walkup
(16th and H St. 2nd floor--short walk from Gallery Pl. Chinatown metro stop)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=740+6th+St.+washington+dc+20001

Guest speaker Joseph Oddo (writer/political consultant/businessman and
co-founder of the Independent Greens of Virginia) will discuss his
10-Point Platform for Election Reform and report on 2008 voting
machinery failure in VA. We will also discuss progress on paper
ballot/opti-scan voting in Maryland and the Lobby Day in Annapolis on
March 16th. More info, contact: jenkarius@gmail.com

4. SAVE THE DATES! MoveOn PowerUp Campaign Kick-Off (12:30 pm. to 2:30
p.m. March 28 or 29, details TBA)
Sign up and--in the next few days--view finalized details here:
http://pol.moveon.org/event/poweruplaunch/92499

5. Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, MoveOn, PDA, PWG and more.
Wednesday April 1, 7 p.m. Saigonese Restaurant 11232 Grandview Ave
Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line) /
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902
We're working on Coalition Building Efforts, several bills and lobby
efforts on the state and national level. We'll also discuss the upcoming
County Council Special Election, coalition efforts, and much more!

We're planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working
on meetings with legislators, etc. We'll be holding meetings and events
to make a real difference in our county, state and nation. Participating
organizations include: Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Democracy
for Montgomery County, Progressive Democrats of America, MoveOn.org and
the Progressive Working Group as well as several "MeetUp" groups. MoveOn
has an exciting, progressive agenda for the U.S. and 1000s of involved,
informed members in our area. Please join the Montgomery County MoveOn
Council by clicking on this link:
http://www.moveon.org/team/search/signup.html?team_id=4221

March 07, 2009

MAGPIE SUNDAY MARCH 15

IDES OF MARCH - "SMASHING THE EMPIRE" HOUSE CONCERT FEATURING MAGPIE

SUNDAY MARCH 15, 4:15 PM
706 Erie Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912

SONGS OF THE EARTH, HOPE, AND CHANGE

The house concert will benefit Progressive Neighbors and the Progressive
Working Group

No RSVP necessary, but first come first serve
Bring a pot luck dish (veggie only) and folding chairs if you have.
Donation: $15 (with pot luck dish to share) $20 (without)

For more information - 301-587-5559 CD'S AND DVD'S FOR SALE

March 05, 2009

Urgent: Act TODAY to Protect Verifiable Elections in Maryland!

"VerifiedVoting.org" <vevo@mail.democracyinaction.org>
Subject: Urgent: Keep Maryland on the Path to Verifiable Elections
[Please forward to all your friends, lists, groups, etc.]

We need your help to protect Maryland's path to trustworthy elections. Two
years ago, the Legislature passed a law to phase out unreliable touch
screen voting systems by 2010.

That victory is now in jeopardy. With the current budget climate, there is
talk of delaying implementation of the law. But paper ballot/optical scan
systems are cheaper to maintain and operate than touch screen voting
machines. This fact is not as widely known in Annapolis as it needs to be.

You can help to educate lawmakers. Send a letter to your legislators urging
them to continue Maryland's path toward more cost-effective and verifiable
voting systems. Go to this Web page to send a letter:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26736

[Please use your own words--legislators receiving exactly the same message
tend to discount the effort. Show some originality, mention your delegate(s)
and state senator by name if you can.]

The state's current touch screen voting systems cannot prove their
accuracy, and do not allow meaningful recount. Please take action today to
make sure that the 2010 elections in Maryland are verifiable.

Thank you for all you do.

Best regards,
The Team at Verified Voting