September meeting report, campaign op, and

Written by: Dina Johnson on Sep 6, 2006 3:38 PM EDT

Linked to groups: West Seattle DFA

Hi Everyone,
FIRST, an important volunteer opportunity:

Volunteer for Darcy Burner Campaign
Saturday, September 9, 10:30 am-1PM
240 Auburn way S, Suite 1A, Auburn, WA 98002
Contact McDermott staffer Kirk Shirley 206-903-0148 (office) 206-795-6979 (cell) or kirk@mcdermottforcongress.com

I plan to be there, to help Darcy Burner oust Dave Reichert. On Nov. 7th, we celebrate! A variety of actions is suggested: doorbelling, phoning or office work. Kirk, McDermott's campaign manager, is a friendly and efficient young man (good-lookin' too) who is helping organize boots for Darcy.

By the way, Karl Rove will be in town to campaign for Reichart--that should motivate you...

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SECOND, "IRAQ FOR SALE"--don't forget to RSVP HERE. With 15 attendees we get a free DVD from DFA headquarters:
www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=120...
We will screen the Greenwald movie about war profiteering at the October meeting.

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SEPTEMBER REPORT
We had a lively meeting last night.

Marcee has been very active with Washington Public Campaigns. She explained the concept and progress at length---this has been accomplished in Maine and Arizona. I have joined WPC, and I'm one of those who will be re-designing the website in the upcoming week or two. We hope to get DFW to endorse the "clean elections" movement.
www.washclean.org/...

Cheryl is knowledgeable in Middle Eastern culture and is active in the peace and justice movement, especially anti-recruitment in schools. We discussed current events related to that, and she reported what she saw at the Veterans for Peace convention at UW last month.
http://www.vfp92.org/
We're both members of West Seattle Neighbors for Peace & Justice:
groups.snowcoalition.org/westsea...

I reported on my participation in a recent action promoting Net Neutrality, a demonstration at the Federal building delivering petitions to Patty Murray via her staffer. Photos:
citizen-artiste.org/demos/netneu...

We weren't allowed to have signs on their property--that's why it doesn't look like much of a demonstration. I stayed on the sidewalk mostly, with my sign. I heard some very effective speechifying relating net neutrality to small business, research, community, and grassroots activism.

I reported my participation in a pro-labor protest in front of a McGavick-Chao fundraiser. citizen-artiste.org/mcg-protest....

I also reported on my successful theatrical benefit for Jim McDermott, though there WERE some...unplanned moments. Buff had attended, and he reported that he was highly entertained. Pictures here:
citizen-artiste.org/1uncaged/pix...
Citizen Artiste will donate $1500 to Jim, plus a video of the highlights of the show. Hope he gets a few chuckles from it...

Fred, who seems to be a realist tending towards the cynical, raised some interesting and tough questions about WHAT will change if and when Democrats get a majority in congress. Here is a diary by David Sirota and discussion on that very subject, "It ain't over even if Dems win". He says:"Let's just cut through the nonsense and the rhetoric and be brutally honest for a moment: Other than a few key exceptions among specific candidates (Brown, Tester, Lamont, etc.), Democrats right now are running a business as usual campaign...."
www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/5/...

I noted many upcoming events worth attending, including:

Thursday Sept 7th, 7:30pm Bob Watada, father of Lt. Ehran Watada, war protestor speaks: Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave NW

Thursday Sept 7th, 7:30pm David Korten, Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave "The Great Turning".

Thursday Sept. 7pm "Clean Elections". Short film followed by Washington Public Campaigns speaker and Hong Tran, Candidate for U.S. Senate, 14700 8th Ave. SW, Burien

Mon. September 11, 5:00pm "WITHOUT END", Westlake Plaza, 4th & Pine, Downtown Seattle. Sponsored by Theatersquad~ Visual art, spoken word, music, movement and meditation, observing the fifth anniversary of attacks on the WTC towers and the 100th anniversary of the first nonviolence campaign launched by Gandhi in South Africa, Sept 11, 1906. Free admission; rain or shine. theatersquad@aol.com

Thurs. Sept. 14th, Jim Hightower at Town Hall:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/...

Right here in West Seattle:
Thursday, September 21, 6PM, David Rovics Concert and Benefit for Military Out of Our Schools Coalition Community of Christ Church in Highland Park, 8611 11th SW. Hear songs from David Rovics' new CD, "Halliburton Boardroom Massacre", and learn about the MOOS Coalition working against military recruitment in Western Washington schools.

Thanks to all who participated, including my ever-supportive husband, Blair.

Your Host,
Dina Johnson

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Location: West Seattle, WA 98106