Synopsis and afterthoughts of the DFR-Meeting 9/6/2006

Written by: Anja C on Sep 10, 2006 1:41 PM EDT

Synopsis and afterthoughts of the DFR-Meeting 9/6/2006:

We did spend some time discussing the reasons why many of our progressive friends
1. do not come to the meetings, or if they do come,
2. why they do not sign up ahead of time on the web site.

Let start with #2: We know many of you think it is not important to sign up on the web site ahead of time, because of course we never send anyone away for not having signed up. If you find out at the last moment that you still want to come, by all means, come and join us. We'll be happy to see you! However, there are several good reasons to sign up if it is at all possible for you to do so. Since the costs of duplicating materials to be provided at the meetings are carried by a few organizers, it would be nice for them to know how many copies to make. Of course we all, being good environmentalists, hate to make more copies than will be needed, if they will just be tossed after of the meeting. The other issue to think about is that by not signing up you discourage other people from coming to the meetings. When members look at the web site and it looks like only two or three people have signed up, or worse yet, Denise is even having a meeting by herself, they won't feel like coming either: "If nobody is coming, why would I go?" So, let's all be good citizens and sign up at the web site right away when you get your announcement about the meeting, or as soon as you know you will come.

That brings us to #1: This is a very crucial time, being the last few months before the midterm elections. If we ever can have an impact on the way elections go, this is the time! You did not like the way the last Presidential elections went. That may be the reason you signed up with DFA and our group, DFR. You felt defeated. But now is the time to fight back! Even though it is "only" a midterm election, this time we have a chance to make things better, to make things turn around, to change the balance of some legislative bodies, to elect a Governor with his heart in the right place and a Secretary of State who will fight hard for fair and verifiable elections. But it does not just happen by itself…. This is the time where we need to knock on doors, write letters, make phone calls, talk to neighbors, friends, people you work for or people who work for you. By coming to the meetings you contribute to the planning, help with ideas and provide woman/man power. The more bodies we have the bigger the force we can present. Let's put in an all-out effort to do what we can, together! Let's hope that we can feel good about ourselves on the morning after the elections.

A lot of time at the meeting was spent planning and preparing for the public forum on the Iraq War, which DGR is organizing for Wednesday, October 11, 2006, 7:00 PM. at the UCR Life Sciences Building 1500.
"NO EXIT: FINDING A WAY OUT OF THE WAR ON IRAQ" will feature, among others Pacifica Radio host Ian Masters. Look at our website for more details as they become available. We are hoping for a great turn-out. Bring your family and friends and do the publicity for us. Sign ups on the website will be appreciated.

And if at all possible, come to the DGR meeting the previous week on October 4th, to see how you can help out with this big event so it will be a group effort. Don't forget to sign up for this meeting :)

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Location: Riverside, CA 92501