Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, PWG and more.

Agenda: Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions

Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902

Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)

Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

We're focusing efforts on making progress in our county and state on Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other organizations.

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance google group:
http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

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Who are all these organizations and what do they do?

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a flexible, result-oriented coalition. MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around Montgomery County Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held meetings nearly each month since 2003. MCPA members worked to elect progressive leaders, led issue advocacy efforts in Rockville, Annapolis, and on Capitol Hill, and cooperated with other organizations and coalitions to make progress in our communities, state, and nationally. Moving into the rest of 2009 and building toward 2010, MCPA plans to solidify our organization, raise funds, and continue our public education and outreach efforts. MCPA is currently seeking new steering committee members and coalition partners.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee members. Please contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com if you're interested. You can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements. PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections; environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social justice; and peace. You can sign up for PDA here:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037

4. PWG: The Progressive Working Group is a coalition promoting progress and reform, economic fairness and equality, protecting the environment, and more. PWG endorsed 14 issues for the 2009 General Assembly session. PWG currently includes: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland, Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action, PeaceAction Montgomery, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America (Maryland), Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, and Upcounty Action. Other progressive organizations are welcome to join PWG. Please contact Wally Malakoff malakoff@starpower.net for more information.

Note: While MoveOn has determined not to join with these other organizations in an official capacity, many local MoveOn members are participating in actions organized and cosponsored by MCPA and vice versa.

Thanks for reading down this far, and hope to see you at the meeting and future events,

Mike Hersh
Chairperson, MCPA
Steering Committee, PWG & DFMC
Maryland State Coordinator, PDA
Montgomery County Council, MoveOn