Upcoming Meetings April, May, June

General Meetings: 7PM the third Thursday each month starting April 21st - locations to be announced.

MeetUps: 7 PM Tuesday April 5th at the Dusit Thai restaurant 2404 University Blvd. W. Wheaton, MD Directions. 7 PM Tuesday May 10th and 7 PM Tuesday June 7th Wheaton Library - 11701 Georgia Ave. - Wheaton, MD in Room #2 on the lowest floor. Directions / information.

Montgomery County residents are highly motivated, well informed, and politically savvy. We know how to get things done and make a positive difference. We promote fair election and campaign practices for meaningful participation in our democracy. We demand equal opportunity and civil rights, high quality education and health care, clean and safe neighborhoods, and secure retirement for all. We support progressive media to counter the right-wing corporate bias. We research and formulate policy, and organize events, fundraisers, and campaigns to advance our ideals.

Sign up here to get involved with the discussion and to get email updates. Watch this space for more events. Tell like-minded people about us so we can grow and increase our impact.

Rally for Affordable, Quality Health Care March 21st

Join Health Care Voters Contacting Elected Officials in Annapolis

The 2005 Maryland legislative session is upon us and Maryland for Health Care will keep you up-to-date on the latest health care legislation. Thousands of Health Care Voters across the state are ready to contact their elected officials. Are you one of them? It is important that elected officials hear from constituents in their district. A quick phone call, letter, email or office visit can mean a world of difference in trying to pass important legislation. YOU make the difference.

Rally for Affordable, Quality Health Care.

Sign-up to get a ride from Silver Spring or Rockville and to receive information about our lobby days and training by contacting Ezekiel at 443-224-0606 or at Ezekiel@imahealthcarevoter.org.

Free transportation from: Carver Educational Center (850 Hungerford Drive) in Rockville, MD at 5:00 pm and Blair High School (51 University BLVD East) in Silver Spring, MD at 5:30 pm - We are providing FREE transportation but seats are filling up fast so we need to know those who are interested so that we can make sure you have a seat on the bus.

Join Maryland for Health Care, Health Care Voters, SEIU members, community allies, small business owners, health care professionals and others as we hold Maryland's largest ever health care rally!

Monday March 21st @ 7:00 pm
Lawyers Mall
Annapolis, Maryland

Featured speakers are Anna Burger, Secretary- Treasurer of SEIU, County Executive Doug Duncan, Fred Mason, President of State Federation AFL-CIO, Jim Lowthers, President of UFCW Local 400, Spoken Word Poetry and more.

We are providing FREE transportation but seats are filling up fast so we need to know those who are interested so that we can make sure you have a seat on the bus. So far, there are four buses leaving from:

Baltimore: 605 N. Eutaw Street at 5:00 PM.
Park and Ride where I-70 and 695 meet near Security BLVD at 5:00 pm

Outside of Baltimore: (see above)

For bus information, carpooling and more, Please contact Ezekiel Jackson at 443 244 0606 or Ezekiel@imahealthcarevoter.org.

Maryland for Health Care Unveils Fair Share Health Care

At a January 26th press conference, Maryland for Health Care unveiled Fair Share Health Care along with our coalition partners. Speakers included Barry Scher of Giant Food, Baltimore Mayor O’Malley, Montgomery County Executive Duncan, Senator Lawlah, Senator Middleton, and Delegate Healey, who all voiced their support for the measure. Maryland for Health Care Voters turned out to show their support and Health Care Voter Penny Troutner (Baltimore City) spoke about how her small business is affected by large businesses "not paying their fair share of health care."

Fair Share Health Care (SB790) would require large businesses with over 10,000 employees to contribute at least 8% of their payroll towards health care coverage or pay the difference into a state fund. Currently, businesses who are doing the right thing by providing health care coverage to their employees are subsidizing those businesses that don’t through their high insurance costs. Maryland taxpayers foot the largest portion of the bill by paying for government health care assistance programs for the employees of these larger businesses.

If you would like further information about how you can help support Fair Share Health Care, contact Kim Nelson at kim@imahealthcarevoter.org or 410-736-1719. Maryland for Health Care especially needs our business owners who are Health Care Voters to speak-up on this issue. We would be happy to have a detailed discussion with you about this important piece of legislation.

MC for Kerry Becomes the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

At a general meeting on March 10, members of Montgomery County for Kerry voted to dissolve the organization and create a new one, the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance (MCPA).

The following mission statement was adopted: "Our mission is to promote progressive values, policies, and candidates for elected office in Montgomery County, throughout Maryland, and nationally."

The following were elected as members of the temporary steering committee: Mary Belle Feltenstein, Robert M. Colton, Mike Hersh, Art Fabel, Naomi Bloch, Tom Colbert, and Ben Vaughn. Thanks to outgoing steering committee members including Debbie Coburn, Hal Ginsberg, Ned Preston and others whose leadership and dedication cannot be replaced.

The next general meeting will be at 7:30 on Thursday, April 21, 2005, at a location to be announced.

"Unified Group Theory"

I see this group as an effort to bridge gaps between the National, State and County Democratic Party and local Democratic Clubs and Precincts and the Green Party; organizations like Democracy for America (DFA), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), MoveOn.org, TrueVote Maryland, John Edward's One America group, NOW, the Sierra Clubs, Democrats.com and so many other great groups; various MeetUp and Yahoo Groups and countless other organizations.

I strongly believe we must make sure our voting process is transparent and fair, otherwise we can run perfect campaigns and candidates and still "lose" to crooked machines, unfair processes, etc. Second, I think we should all have health care, and third we must protect and promote other basic human needs - equality and respect for all people, freedom, good public education, a safe and clean environment, etc.

Other than that, I want to bring together like-minded people and groups into a powerful coalition which will get things done. Help good people win election. Pass legislation to achieve goals listed above. Also, work outside of government to build community and promote cooperation to address critical concerns, improve schools and standards of living, clean up public spaces, help those in need, demand better media and better corporate conduct, and address other needs and values.

We have a lot of work to do, but we're off to a great start. So far, we've brought together many MeetUps into one combined MeetUp. We've cooperated with DFA and PDA, and reached out to State and Montgomery County Democratic Party officials and candidates. We are setting up working groups focused on issues including verifiable voting and protecting freedom of thought/separation of church and state at our local schools vs. right wing groups intent on teaching our kids junk science and otherwise endangering them.

Upcoming Meetings April, May, June

Next meeting: 7 PM Tuesday April 5th at the Dusit Thai restaurant 2404 University Blvd. W. Wheaton, MD - 301-949-4140 - Mapquest link to Dusit Thai

Informal Meeting to discuss plans for action on items including: Verifiable Voting, right wing fundamentalists' efforts to intimidate local schools to distort education, Bush/Cheney attacks on Social Security, the new Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and other local and national groups, events and issues. After this meeting, we'll be back at the Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave. Room #2 on the lowest floor:

7 PM Tuesday May 10th at the Library
7 PM Tuesday June 7th at the Library

Mapquest link. Directions to the Wheaton Library:

By Bus: Ride-on Bus #9 #33
Metrobus Any Y bus except Y5

By Metro (Red Line): Take the metro to Wheaton stop. Walk 6 blocks north on Georgia Ave. Library is on the right at the corner of Arcola Ave. and Georgia. This is a 5-12 minute walk, or take bus (see above).

By Car From:

North (Aspen Hill area)
Take Aspen Hill Road east through the intersection at Connecticut to Georgia Avenue. Turn right onto Georgia and continue south through the intersection with Randolph Road. Turn left at the second traffic light onto Arcola Avenue, and left into the Wheaton library parking lot.

North (Gaithersburg area)
Take Route 270 south to Montrose Road (Exit 4, East). Follow Montrose (which becomes Randolph) to Georgia Avenue. Turn right on Georgia and left at the second traffic light onto Arcola. Parking lot is first left.

South (Bethesda / Chevy Chase / Kensington areas)
Take 410 (EW Hwy), Jones Bridge Rd, etc. to Conn. Ave. Take Conn. Ave. North to University Ave. until Georgia Avenue. Turn right on Georgia, right at the traffic light at Arcola and then left into the library parking lot.

South (College Park area)
Take University Boulevard, through Langley Park and Four Corners to Arcola Avenue, just past Sherwood High School. Turn right on Arcola and proceed past Kemp Mill to Wheaton Library parking lot on right, just before Georgia Avenue.

East (White Oak area)
Drive north on New Hampshire Avenue, turn left at Randolph Road and stay on Randolph until Georgia Avenue. Turn left on Georgia, left at the second traffic light at Arcola and then left into the library parking lot.

West (Rockville area)
Take Route 28 to Veirs Mill Road. South on Veirs Mill to Randolph Road, left on Randolph to the intersection of Randolph and Georgia. Right on Georgia Avenue. Turn left at the second traffic light at Arcola and left into the parking lot.

Virginia (from I-495)
Take I-495 across the American Legion Bridge at Cabin John. Exit north onto Georgia Avenue from the Wheaton exit (#31) crossing the intersections of Georgia and Forest Glen, Dennis Avenue, Plyers Mill Road, and University Boulevard. At the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Arcola, just past Good Counsel High School on the right, turn right at the traffic light, and left into the library parking lot.

East (Prince George's County)
Take I-495 EAST. Exit north onto Georgia Avenue from the Wheaton exit (#31) crossing the intersections of Georgia and Forest Glen, Dennis Avenue, Plyers Mill Road, and University Boulevard. At the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Arcola, just past Good Counsel High School on the right, turn right at the traffic light, and left into the library parking lot.

Join the discussion group

Montgomery County Progressive Alliance MeetUps

The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance works to ensure and advance equal and civil rights, clean and safe communities, high quality health care and education, secure retirement, freedom, fairness and opportunity for all.

We focus on local, state and national campaigns and issues to make a positive difference. We promote fair election and campaign practices, and meaningful participation in our democracy. We support and promote progressive media to counter the right-wing corporate bias in public discourse and reporting. We research and formulate policy, support causes and candidates, and organize events, fundraisers, and campaigns to advance our ideals.

National Democrats see Montgomery County Maryland as "safe." They consider our area a source of money and little else. True, we're safely Blue, but we're too valuable to take for granted. Montgomery County residents are highly motivated, well informed, and politically savvy. We know how to get things done.

Howard Dean built his operation as interactive from the grass-roots up. He succeeded beyond all expectations. This group will emulate that model as we pressure local and national politicians and media by organizing and leading protests, lobbying and public education efforts.

Our MeetUps generally meet the first or second Tuesday each month at the Wheaton Library in room #2 on the lowest floor to discuss and plan our efforts. Watch this space and sign up for email updates and discussion. Tell like-minded people about us so we can grow and increase our impact.