What are you doing this weekend? (please share with progressives)

Annual Grassroots Leadership Conference, Washington DC Conference: $75.00 / Inauguration Celebration: $45.00 per person. Register online: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/mtglistproc.asp?formid=meet&caleventid=14123 Saturday, January 17, 2009 through Sunday, January 18, 2009 11 AM - 5 PM     University of the District of Columbia 4200 Connecticut Ave, Washington, DC  20008 Just above Van Ness/UDC station (Red line) As the nation prepares for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, please join the Progressive Democrats of America national team for our Annual Grassroots Leadership Conference at the University of the District of Columbia, January 17 and 18, 2009. Saturday, January 17 10:00 a.m.: REGISTRATION 10:45 a.m.: OPENING COMMENTS by Tim Carpenter, PDA National Director 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: WORKSHOP Led by PDA Operations Coordinator Kimberly Buchan, this workshop will offer a brief overview of FEC regulations to be considered when planning fundraisers and an overview of how chapters can become State PACs and the benefits of doing so. We will also review the current financial status of PDA that will prepare the leadership as they develop fundraising plans later on in the conference. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: PDA CD NATIONAL ORGANIZING LUNCHEON. Click here Join us for Chinese! We welcome State Coordinators, current Congressional District Point Persons, and PDA members interested in learning more about, and helping with, our CD efforts. For more information and to register, click here. 1:40 - 3:10 p.m.: WORKSHOP--Room 201 We'll talk tech--website review, websites for chapters, state action alerts, followed by Q & A. 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.: BOOK SIGNING Meet PDA Advisory Board member CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE, Chair of the Black Congressional Caucus! Purchase a copy of Rep. Lee's new book, "Renegade for Peace and Justice," and get it signed! 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.: PRE-CELEBRATION RECEPTION for New PDAers 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.: INAUGURATION CELEBRATION Mix and mingle! Join us for music, food, drinks, and fun! Music by Dan Reed Featured Speakers: REP. JOHN CONYERS, PDA Advisory Board member, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, HR 676 Sponsor REP. JIM MCGOVERN, PDA Advisory Board member REP. RAUL GRIJALVA, CPC Co-Chair and PDA Advisory Board member REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ, HR 676 Co-Sponsor REP. ERIC MASSA, Winning PDA-endorsed candidate in New York's 29th Congressional District JOHN NICHOLS, Washington Correspondent, The Nation DONNA SMITH, PDA Co-chair Heathcare NOT Warfare campaign, featured in Michael Moore's "SICKO" MICHAEL LIGHTY, California Nurses Association (CNA) KATIE ROBBINS, Heathcare NOW! ANDY SHALLAL, Busboys and Poets Proprietor, PDA Advisory Board Member, and host of the First-Ever Inaugural Peace Ball RET. COLONEL ANNE WRIGHT, Peace Activist TIM CARPENTER, The Nation Magazine's 2007 Progressive of the Year and PDA's National Director Sunday, January 18 PDA 2009 STRATEGY DAY 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: REGISTRATION & coffee and bagels 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: TIME-LINE FOR 2009 by Laura Bonham 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: ISSUE ORGANIZING TEAMS/FOCUS GROUPS Moderated by Tim Carpenter and Laura Bonham. Getting involved, integration with chapters and congressional district organizing in 2009 and beyond. Q & A 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: PANEL - "Healthcare NOT Warfare" campaign 2009 Moderated by Tim Carpenter. Q & A follows the panel. Panelists: DONNA SMITH, PDA Co-chair Heathcare NOT Warfare campaign, MICHAEL LIGHTY, California Nurses Association (CNA) KATIE ROBBINS, Heathcare NOW! CHUCK PENNACCHIO, Healthcare for All Pennsylvania, PDA PA Leadership Team 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: DISCUSSION "STATE ORGANIZING" Moderated by Tim Carpenter and Laura Bonham. What works--what doesn't, developing leadership teams, building the time-line in 2009 and goals. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: LUNCH Pizza is served. Opportunity for one-on-one discussion among grassroots leaders. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ORGANIZING Moderated by Mervis Reissig. Introduction of the Congressional District National Organizing Committee: Laurel Bault, Michael Gilbreath, Anna Givens, Jeffrey Rich, George Six, Bruce Taub. Discussion of new Congressional district organizing strategy in 2009. 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: SUSTAINING PDA Moderated by Sarah Stott. A team of PDA activists are working to strengthen the Change makes Change program--learn about this program and the importance of Change makes Change. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: HOW CAN PDA IMPROVE IN 2009? Moderated by Tim Carpenter A freewheeling discussion of ways to improve our effectiveness and performance in 2009. 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.: PANEL - Inside and Outside: Building the PDA Community Moderated by Tim Carpenter Panelists: JOHN NICHOLS, Washington Correspondent, The Nation LAURA BONHAM, PDA Communications Coordinator BILL FLETCHER, JR., Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum STEVE COBBLE, PDA Board Member/Political Director, fellow with the Institute for Policy Studies GLENN MILLER, Chief of Staff to Rep. Raul Grijlava 4:45 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. CLOSING COMMENTS from Tim Carpenter AGENDA SUBJECT TO CHANGE