Democracy for IL: Out of Hibernation

Written by: Toscha on May 29, 2008 4:17 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

“What is DFI up to these days?” you may be wondering.  “What is going on now that the Primary season is drawing to a close?  Assuming it ever draws to a close.  It can’t go on forever.  Can it?”  (Who needs Samuel Beckett when we have the Democratic Party?)  “The weather is improving -well, as much as can be hoped for in these times of climate crisis- and I’d like to get out and try to take my country back.  But I’m stuck in IL because gas is too expensive to drive out of town.  What am I to do?”

I’m glad you asked!  There are several issues and events that we at DFI would like to tell you about, including the Illinois Single Payer Coalition initiative, the launch of David Sirota’s new book “The Uprising,” and the First Annual Illinois Progressive Conference.*

 

Read more

Democracy for Illinois Welcomes You to Chicago

Written by: Toscha on Jul 25, 2007 6:31 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

Get out your calendars and PDA's everyone:  We have a lot planned for the coming week!   Those of us in Chicago are thrilled to have our city hosting the 2nd annual Yearly Kos Convention from August 2nd-5th.  Thousands of political activists and candidates will descend on our wonderful town.  There will be more to do than time to do it in.  So we've put together a little guide to next week's events sponsored by or of particular interest to us DFAers.  Before you look at the mind-boggling YKC convention schedule, make a note of the following DFA-friendly events.      And if you are not planning to attend YKC but will be in town, there are still some EXCITING events we have planned on the eve of the convention which are open to the public, no YKC registration required.  Wed. Aug. 1st

The following events are NOT part of the Yearly Kos Convention and are open to all DFAers. Yearly Kos Welcome Event:   6-8pm Local DFA link-ups Northside DFA and HanDI are co-sponsoring the Yearly Kos Welcome Event on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at 6:00 PM in Chicago.  If you plan to attend, please register with one of our DFA groups to help them cover the cost of sponsoring this event:RSVP:
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=21445or
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=21980

What: Yearly Kos Welcome Event
When: Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 6:00-8:00 PM
Where: Funky Buddha Lounge
             728 W. Grand Ave.
             Chicago IL 60610Cost: $25 The event is hosted by People for the American Way, which describes it as follows:

"If you are a blogger, progressive, see the potential and power of the Internet, staffer, volunteer, politician, concerned about the direction
of our country, tech start-up, donor, advocate, activist, believe in the American Way, and you love good drinks, good food, good people, and good times…you should be here." More information:http://www.pfawmidwest.org/site/c.hoIJLMOpGlF/b.2831785/k.D248/Welcome_Event__Yearly_Kos_2007.htm

DFA Heath Care for America Forum:  8pm       Immediately following the Welcome Party, Democracy for Illinois and DFA are holding an issue forum on the topic of healthcare.  We'll be carpooling and sharing taxis from the PFAW party, so you CAN attend both!  And again, no YKC registration is required to attend.  And it is free!  DFA and Democracy for Illinois have worked VERY hard to make this event a success, and if you're in town Wednesday night, please come and support them and the fight for healthcare justice in America.  RSVP:
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=21644  What:  Heath Care for America Forum When: Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 8:00 p.m. Where: Unite HERE! Union Hall             333. S. Ashland Ave, ChicagoCost: *** This event is free and open to the public. Speakers will include: - Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America - Dr. Claudia Fegan, Physicians for a National Health Care Plan - John Bouman, Advocacy Director of the Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law. - Other exciting speakers soon to be announced.

Each panelist will present opening remarks, and then will take questions from the audience. 

 

We will end the evening with a DIRECT ACTION ACTIVITY that will send a message directly to our leaders in congress

 Sponsored by:
Downstate Democrats for Change
Hanover Township Democrats and Independents
Loop Democracy for America
Northside Democracy for America
Oak Park Democracy for America  

Read more

Announcing Fall DFA Training in Springfield, IL!

Written by: Toscha on Jul 10, 2007 3:59 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

We are proud to announce that the DFA Training Academy is coming to Springfield, Illinois on September 29th-30th.

Whether you are an old hand or new to politics, the DFA Training Academy will prepare you to become an asset to whichever candidate you end up supporting, from the Presidential elections to Congressional and local races. 

At the DFA Training Academy, experienced campaign professionals will cover practical strategies and tactics including communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing, and building a sustainable grassroots movement. We design the program so you can go out and use the skills you learn right away.

Then, we follow up with you to make sure you have the support you need to organize your community. Whether you are running for office, volunteering or working for a candidate, or even if you have never been involved in a campaign before but would like to know how you can make a difference and give the progressive candidates who share your values and passion your full support, we encourage you to attend this training.   

Also, if your DFA group has endorsed candidates, we encourage you to tell those candidates about this training opportunity for their staff & volunteers!   Let’s get ready to win in 2008! We hope to see you in Springfield!

When: September 29th & 30th (Saturday & Sunday)
9:00am-6:00pm 

Where: International Union of Operating Engineers-Local 9653520 East CookSpringfield, IL   62703(Handicapped Accessible) 

Cost: $30 for attendees with low income or students
$60 for general attendees who pay in advance
$70 the day of the training (If you would like to attend but cannot afford the full contribution, Downstate Democrats for Change, will be coming up with $500 for DFA Training scholarships.)  

RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=19608 

If you have RSVP’d but still need to make your payment:https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/trainings/  

N.B.  If you can't make the Springfield training in September, there will be other trainings held across the country: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/training 

This training is organized by Democracy for America, Downstate Democrats for Change and Democracy for Illinois. 

Downstate Democrats for Change:http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=1353  

Democracy for Illinois:http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=42   

Announcing Fall DFA Training in Springfield, IL!

Written by: Toscha on Jun 28, 2007 2:37 PM EDT

We are proud to announce that the DFA Training Academy is coming to Springfield, Illinois on September 29th-30th.

Whether you are an old hand or new to politics, the DFA Training Academy will prepare you to become an asset to whichever candidate you end up supporting, from the Presidential elections to Congressional and local races. 

At the DFA Training Academy, experienced campaign professionals will cover practical strategies and tactics including communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing, and building a sustainable grassroots movement. We design the program so you can go out and use the skills you learn right away.

Then, we follow up with you to make sure you have the support you need to organize your community. Whether you are running for office, volunteering or working for a candidate, or even if you have never been involved in a campaign before but would like to know how you can make a difference and give the progressive candidates who share your values and passion your full support, we encourage you to attend this training.   

Also, if your DFA group has endorsed candidates, we encourage you to tell those candidates about this training opportunity for their staff & volunteers!   Let’s get ready to win in 2008! We hope to see you in Springfield!

When: September 29th & 30th (Saturday & Sunday)
9:00am-6:00pm 

Where: International Union of Operating Engineers-Local 9653520 East CookSpringfield, IL   62703(Handicapped Accessible) 

Cost: $30 for attendees with low income or students
$60 for general attendees who pay in advance
$70 the day of the training (If you would like to attend but cannot afford the full contribution, Downstate Democrats for Change, will be coming up with $500 for DFA Training scholarships.)  

RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=19608 

If you have RSVP’d but still need to make your payment:https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/trainings/  

N.B.  If you can't make the Springfield training in September, there will be other trainings held across the country: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/training 

This training is organized by Democracy for America, Downstate Democrats for Change and Democracy for Illinois. 

Downstate Democrats for Change:http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=1353  

Democracy for Illinois:http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=42   

DFA Chair Jim Dean in Chicago this Thursday!

Written by: Toscha on Feb 13, 2007 5:40 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

DFA leadership coming to Chicago.

DFA Chair Jim Dean will be in Chicago on Thursday, February 15, 2007
for a press conference at City Hall in the afternoon to announce
national DFA's endorsed candidates for the 2007 Chicago municipal
elections and at a City-Wide Living Wage Town Hall Meeting in the
evening.

If you are in the area, you are invited, encouraged to attend both!

1.  DFA Press Conference at City Hall :
12 pm (noon)
Second floor of City Hall,
121 N. LaSalle, Chicago.

DFA will be making multiple Aldermanic endorsements.

DFA also wants to give a free t-shirt to anyone who attends the press
conference.  To guarantee a shirt, email sjv60640@gmail.com by
Wednesday at 5 pm with your T-shirt size, and try to arrive for the
press conference early enough to put it on. :)

We are really honored that DFA has made the Chicago municipal
elections one their "key elections" for 2007 and that they are playing
such an active role here on the ground!


2.  Town Hall Meeting on Living Wage:
7 pm
Mandell United Methodist Church
5000 W. Congress Parkway, Chicago.

By CTA: The church is right by the Cicero stop on the CTA Blue Line.
By car: If you can give a ride or need a ride note that in your RSVP
here:  http://www.dfalink. com/event.php?id=17568

Speakers will include:

~ Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston, pastor of Mandell United Methodist
Church
~ Tim Drea of UFCW Local 881
~ Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America

The event will feature a community discussion on what a Living Wage
means for our economy.

All candidates for the upcoming Chicago municipal elections are
welcome to attend the City-Wide Living Wage Town Hall Meeting, and all
candidates who attend will be acknowledged.  The event is being
sponsored by The Greater Chicago Caucus, a group that has emerged from
the desire of many diverse communities to band together to form a
political alliance.  Their common goals are for economic justice for
everyone, a sustainable peace for our world, and creating a better
country to leave to the next generation. DFA-List candidate Christine
Cegelis is one of the founding members of the Greater Chicago Caucus.

If you are in the area, Please come to one or both of these to show
your support for DFA!  And if you lead or belong to a Chicago-area DFA
group, pass this information on to your members.

Toscha Mintert
Democracy for Illinois
DFA-Link Coordinator

Announcing 2 upcoming DFI events.

Written by: Toscha on Jan 5, 2007 2:32 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

Happy New Year and Happy New Congress!


Hopefully you have recovered from the holidays by now and have begun
wondering what to do with all your free time.  J  Well, you're in
luck.   Democracy for Illinois has 2 important events coming up and we
hope you can join us.

Read more

Attention Illinois DFAers!

Written by: Toscha on Oct 24, 2006 9:53 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

Democracy for Illinois wants to make your existence a little more guilt-free.

Midterm elections will be held in less than 14 days. Howard Dean's 50-State-Strategy, the hard work and dedication of the grassroots, and some major GOP screw-ups have turned this into an historic moment in which the Democratic Party is poised to wrest power from the Republicans who have been holding this country hostage for 6 years. Many of us are finally feeling the first sensations of relief and vindication, even hope.

But this is not the day for celebration and patting ourselves on the back. Nothing has been won yet. Many of the races we are projected to win will be decided by the last-minute get-out-the-vote effort, and many polls that have us in the lead are not outside the margin of error (or fraud). Therefore our candidates need Every. Last. Ounce. of resources we can provide them. On November 8th, Congress may belong to the Democrats, or it may remain in the hands of Republicans. Either way, you will be able to wake up guilt-free and take pride in the fact that you helped make a difference.

How???

We've created an Act Blue page for each of the Congressional candidates endorsed by DFI-affiliated Meetups. Please make a donation. Give what you can, to whomever you choose:

Donate: www.actblue.com/page/dfi...

If you cannot afford to make a financial donation, or have already made one but want to do more, the Act Blue page also contains links to sign up to volunteer for each of our DFI Congressional candidates. Vote early and devote your time to helping their last-minute GOTV efforts:

Volunteer: www.actblue.com/page/dfi...

Note that this is just a call to support our Congressional candidates. Don't forget to support your local candidates, in your town, your county, and in Springfield! Are all of your races safe? Not happy with any party? Volunteer to be a poll-worker on Election Day. We need them! Whatever you decide to do: please do something. Anything you can to make sure the people running this country and large swaths of the world into the ground can do no more damage, and that we can begin to repair our broken nation. Not in 2008. But right now in 2006.

And don't forget to join the DFA conference call Wednesday night. Senator Richard Durbin, Representative Jan Schakowsky and Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional District Tammy Duckworth will be on the call, so this is your chance to share your thoughts with them.

Sign up: www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=148...


Ok, get out there and do your fabulous grassroots thing. This election is not over yet. We can still lose it. We can still win it. Let's make sure it's the latter!

Thanks for all you do & keep up the good work. History will thank you.


Toscha Mintert
Democracy for Illinois
www.dfalink.com/illinois...

Announcements

Written by: Toscha on Oct 4, 2006 4:49 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

I. Democracy for Illinois has recently adopted its draft Bylaws and has elected a Coordinating Committee of the following people:

Moderator of DFI Liaison Committee Sandra Verthein
DFI Membership Chair Eric Davis
DFI DFA-Link Page Coordinator Toscha Mintert
Democracyforillinois.org Webmaster Jeremy McMillian
Democracyforillinois.org Editor William Maggos

The following positions remain unfilled:

Secretary of DFI Liaison Committee
DFI Treasurer

Please let us know if you are interested in seeking open positions or would like to volunteer to help in any other capacity.

If you would like to see the bylaws, they are located in the "files" section at:

www.dfalink.com/illinois....


II. Our next DFI conference call will be Wednesday, October 11th at 9:00 p.m. EVERYONE is welcome to participate in the call. Details and RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=135...


III. DFI has set up a fundraising page at Act Blue for your Federal Illinois candidates:

www.actblue.com/page/dfi...


IV. A list of local DFI affiliated groups is now available on our DFA-Link page. If you have not joined a local group, do so now. There is only one month left before Midterm Elections.

Get involved & help take back the House!

www.dfalink.com/illinois....