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| The Peace Alliance Newsletter March 2008 |
CONTENTS
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Democracy is an evolving culture that requires empowered citizens to shape, nurture and inform its direction. We can note our proud history of ending slavery, giving women the right to vote, civil rights legislation and the idea of a Department of Peace---an idea that is as old as our country’s founding. All point to our dreams and desires for a world in which everyone has the capacity to survive and thrive. Legal and governmental structures that support the evolution of democracy (when we shape them and stay engaged) have been used to serve these dreams. Since the "awakening" to this evolution and the resulting engagement of so many citizens in the last several years, we have taken this idea of a Department of Peace and given it the strength and vision of a constituency for peace. We are growing a new world. In the next 45 days, we all have two major opportunities to nourish our movement. Two national actions, Invest in Peace (our annual Peace Partner drive) and Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie, have assisted in providing us with the financial and political capital to be serious players in building our constituency. This is vital in furthering the evolution of democracy that began over 200 years ago. I talk to people around the country all the time who do fundraisers or public speaking for the Department of Peace. And in their deep desire to contribute, they always want to have raised more money, to have had more people attend an event or to be doing more than they are doing. Here is my response and I quote Martin Luther King Jr.:
Each of our actions matter---some of us may talk to a crowd of hundreds and some of us may talk to our friends; some of us may donate $1000 and some of us may donate $10; some of us may have the gift of articulation and some of us may have the gift of the pen---no matter what each of us is doing, it is getting us closer to this vision we all share and it all matters! And so I invite each of you, if you are not already a Peace Partner, become one today, for as little at $15 a month or as much as you want. If 100 people believe their $15 matters, we can fund three Student Peace Alliance student organizers a month. No serious movement has achieved results without the involvement of youth and our youth are counting on us to help recreate this world they will be handed. Your giving matters. Sign up for Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie. There may be someone in your district waiting for you to join them for a visit to your Congressperson or you may be in a district that is well-organized and is counting on you to help grow the numbers to show your Member of Congress that this constituency for peace is indeed growing. It is this deep connection and mutuality and the certainty that our actions matter that will allow us to continue to empower civic activism to build a culture of peace. In deep appreciation and admiration for all you do, Kathy Kidd Invest in Peace
Invest In Peace is the fundraising campaign that builds the very foundation of The Peace Alliance. This year we are asking every Peace Partner, Guarantee Fund member and Visionary Circle member to "clone" themselves. Bring a friend into The Peace Alliance, and enroll them in joining you in being a member of one of these "stewardship programs." Use our "Tell A Friend" tool. If you are not a Peace Partner, please consider becoming one. Recurring donations of as little as $15.00 a month mean the world to nonprofit organizations like ours that depend on the generosity of their supporters to maintain staff and meet ongoing monthly budget requirements. Learn more about why it is so important. Need more information? Check out all the "Ways to Give." --------------------------------------- As many of you know, our year-end fundraising did not meet all of our obligations which meant that we started behind this year. But that’s all changed! Last month's amazing Matching Challenge Grant allowed us to catch up on past debt obligations. We are so very grateful to our major donor who offered the $25,000 challenge and to of our supporters who stepped up and helped meet it. Your generosity got us "even” and we’re ready now to keep building for the future. Thank you, so much! Now we need enough monthly donors to help us meet our current monthly budget and look toward providing the additional staff and tools you are requesting. Become a Peace Partner and Invest in Peace today. PSA and I Stand For Peace Launch Our PSA and the "I Stand for Peace" campaign launched this Monday, and I am very happy to report that we are up to 44 stations that will air the PSA. New York (1) and Washington (3) have joined the growing list of states where it will run - way to go! If you have the time and inclination, please continue trying to place the PSA. We are very close to our goal, and it is directly due to the fantastic leadership of our State Coordinators and the tireless efforts of our grassroots volunteers. Thank you! Please be sure to watch the PSA on YouTube and if you are a YouTube member, please click the 5th star to rate our video up. It helps to draw attention to it from other YouTube viewers. The faster that happens, the better. Azim Khamisa, featured in our PSA, was the guest on last Sunday's BlogTalk Radio program dedicated to the Department of Peace and peacebuilding and hosted by Rosie Olson. You can still listen to it here.Peace and best wishes, Patty Kuderer Peace of the Pie Peace of the Pie is our annual Mother's Day Lobbying Action where we deliver pies to our members of Congress and educate them about what a small piece of the budget pie the Department of Peace would require, while the gains would be immeasurable. We also want to deliver pies to all of the Congressional offices in Washington, DC. This action requires a bit of organization so we need to start now:
Learn more on our Peace of the Pie webpage. SPA Position Openings The Student Peace Alliance needs some help with two positions. National Technology Coordinator As the internet and other forms of technology continue to progress as excellent organizing tools, the role of a technology coordinator becomes vital to the sustainability of Student Peace Alliance. A strong online presence is necessary to raising awareness of Student Peace Alliance and the Department of Peace campaign and providing support to the grassroots. The role of the Student Peace Alliance National Technology Coordinator includes:
National High School Organizer Over the last year the number of Student Peace Alliance high school chapters has grown from 9 to over 40, largely due to the superb efforts of our current National High School Organizer. High school students are a vital, and vibrant, part of Student Peace Alliance and the Department of Peace campaign. The National High School Organizer serves the important role of not only outreach and support, but of advocacy on the National Coordinating Committee for the needs of high school students across the country. The role of the Student Peace Alliance National High School Organizer includes:
For more information or to apply, visit the SPA website.
--------------------------------------- On March 3, 2008, the City Council of Albany, CA unanimously endorsed House Resolution 808, calling for establishment of a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence and voted to urge California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to introduce companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. Nancy Merritt brings us the story.
--------------------------------------- Opportunities to share the logic behind a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence and raise money may exist in unexpected places and times in your own neighborhoods. New Hampshire Coordinator Jan Grossman illustrates the good that happens when good generous people and good causes come together. --------------------------------------- NY-21 Team Leader David Hoag weaves us a short story about grassroots activism flavored with perseverance, Rep. Mike McNulty and Peace of The Pie. --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Yesterday's email basket found a note from Kaaren Hardy with this heartwarming story behind a donation:
Thank you Kaaren and Denver's Women in Black. We'll keep trying to "Pay it Forward." --------------------------------------- If you are new to our campaign, you can read past stories in our Grassroots Reporting section of the website. Monthly Grassroots
Conference Calls
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~~~ Regional Conferences
We will have 3 more conferences in April.
Your state coordinators and regional leaders are working hard to make these networking opportunities valuable learning experiences for all participants. These conferences are great opportunities to connect with other grassroots activists in your area, learn how to build a relationship with your member of congress and speak about the Bill. You'll find they really help to recharge your "activist batteries" as well. You can click here to learn more. ~~~ New Tools You can now get our Talking Points in Spanish. It is available on our Campaign Flyers & Materials page with all of the other downloadable handouts. ~~~ Support Continues to Grow! For a list of the 69 Congressional co-sponsors of HR 808, click here. 34 cities, counties, and tribal councils have endorsed the Department of Peace and Nonviolence. See who they are and find out how you can do likewise in your city, here. For a list of organizations endorsing the Department of Peace campaign, and a form to sign yours up, click here. ~~~ Quote of the Month
If you have a favorite quotable from a notable about peace or evocative of what peace means, we will be happy to consider it for this space. Please email us at Quotable Quotes. ~~~ Campaign Opportunities As the campaign season inches towards the elections in November, candidates from President to Mayor will continue reaching out to voters through townhall type meetings and other events. Please take advantage of these opportunities where questions are allowed to ask the candidates if they will support a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. This is especially important with our presidential and congressional candidates. Be the change! ~~~ Get Active in your Community! ~~~ Supporting The Peace Alliance Visit
Our Store Shopforpeace.net ~ Do you Shop Online? If you shop online for books, music, electronics, appliances or any other products, consider using our affiliate link with Amazon.com or the iGive participant stores. Amazon.com For every purchase you make using this link, we get a percentage of the sale. If you already shop regularly online, this is a simple way to help fund the work of The Peace Alliance! Click here.
Join iGive.com to support The Peace Alliance. Their online mall features over 685 trusted online retailers like Lands' End, Staples, NORDSTROM, JC Penney, eBay, Expedia.com, Barnes & Noble, QVC, & PETsMART to name just a few! A percentage of EACH purchase is donated back to The Peace Alliance, plus a bonus $5 donation if you shop within 45 days. The more stores you visit, the more chances to win a $1,000 donation during the Surfathon! No purchase required. Please Join iGive and do your shopping for peace. ~~~ Hosting a Peace Empowered Event? Don't forget you can list it using our Distributed Events Tool. You can always see all listed events (if any) or Search for events on this page. And don't forget, you can also create your own fundraising campaigns! ~~~ Update Your Profile |
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