Progressive Dane - In The News Blog
Progressive Dane's Garden Party Friday, June 19th - 05/31
Summer Garden Party Fundraiser—We Need Your Support
Friday, June 19th
The 2009 Progressive Dane Fundraiser will be held Friday June 19th at the home of Betty Zeps, 1922 Adams Street, Madison, Wisconsin
This is our major summer fundraiser and we need your support to continue rebuilding politics in Dane County from the grassroots and stregthen Progressive Dane for the future.
The suggested sponsorships are $25-$100.
Come relax with friends and talk summer politics over drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts.
You can help Progressive Dane meet our fundraising goals. It’s easy to do:
Print this pdf and send a check made out to Progressive Dane for your sponsorship amount.
Click on the Join/Donate Button to the right and donate online.
Send an e-mail to office@prodane.org to indicate that you want to support the Garden Party.
Volunteer to bring food or help with set-up by e-mailing office@prodane.org or calling 608-358-2940.
Attend the Progressive Dane Garden Party!!!
Moving Our Progressive Agenda Forward - 05/27
Progressive Dane's General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
2nd floor of Madison's Downtown Public Library
TJ Mertz, Chairing
Guest Speaker - Jacque Pokorney, Prioritizing our Priorities
There are many issues we can be concentrating on. PD Policy Committee has come up with a large list. A small sampling includes Urban Agriculture/Food Sovereignty, Regional Transit Authority (RTA), 4-year old Kindergarten, Race/Immigration, Paid Sick Leave, and Public Financing of Elections.
Where is your energy? What are the one or two big PD issues you can help move forward now?
And as always staff, alders, supervisors, and/or school board members will brief us on activities and other important issues needing support and action.
Individuals who are not members of Progressive Dane are encouraged to attend.
Anyone with questions or special needs should contact the Progressive Dane office at 358-2940 or office@prodane.org.
Posted by prodane on May 27, 2009 PermalinkProgressive Dane Tabling at WORT - 05/16
I just wanted to take this time to send a big thanks for all the new memberships, membership renewals, and Garden Party donations that have been coming in over the past few weeks. A special thanks to all continuing sustainers, our automatic monthly contributors, with a call out to those sustainers who have increased their monthly contribution this year!
Progressive Dane will be tabling at WORT Block Party in the 600 block of West Doty in Madison from 11am to 7pm tomorrow, Sunday, May 17th. Take some time to stop by, say hi, and let me know what more you would like to see happen in Madison and Dane County. We'll have a couple of petitions for you to sign, an interest survery, information on things to get involved in, and a box for you to drop off your membership form and Garden Party donation if you haven't already mailed it in or clicked on the donation button of to the right on this page.
And, if you have some time, consider sitting at the table for a bit to help answer questions others might have about Progressive Dane.
Thanks and I hope to see a bunch of you tomorrow!
Dace
Workers Rights, Immigrant Rights - 04/21
Progressive Dane's General Membership Meeting will be held Wednesday, April 22, 2009, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second floor of Madison's Downtown Public Library.
Kyle Szarzynski, Chairing
Guest Speaker - Alex Gillis on the May Day Rally
At last months meeting we voted to endorse the Rally, but didn't have much time to talk about the event or issues. On Wednesday, April 22nd, we will have a conversation about the issues being raised at the May Day Rally. To view those issues go to www.maydayinmadison.org.
The continuing discussion of Progressive Dane 2009 Priorities and Plan of Action will focus on transportation.
And as always staff, alders, supervisors, and/or school board members will brief us on activities and other important issues needing support and action.
Posted by prodane on April 21, 2009 PermalinkVote Today, Tuesday, April 7th - 04/07
As in any election, your vote matters! This spring is no exception. Those who would ask you to make our little corner of the world into a place where we all just go along to get along must have some serious group think death wish.
Broad based discussion and dialogue better inform any conversation. It is important to hear and value all voices before moving forward on any issue. It is also important to examine all the information available and wait for studies to be concluded before making any decision.
In the recent past, we’ve heard in essence, “Trust me, I know what is best for you,” but that is not how this little corner of the world became the great place that it is for many. It is not going to be how it becomes a great place for everyone.
We need strong voices to stand up to those who tell us to be quiet and sit down. We need progressive voices to lead us into a new way of being on this earth. We need everyone to participate in the conversations that will make a difference in how well people are able to live their lives in Madison and Dane County.
Click on the Endorsed Candidates link to learn more about several of the candidates running for office. More information can be found at http://www.danenet.org/lwvdc/answers.html.
Vote today, Tuesday, April 7th, then join or renew your membership in Progressive Dane, and get involved to make Dane County a place where everyone succeeds.
Join or Renew in Progressive Dane - 03/29
I invite you to renew or become a member of Progressive Dane. As a political party, our focus is on electing progressive candidates to office, shaping public policy, and engaging citizens to action.
In addition to assisting local campaigns in getting the word out to voters, Progressive Dane outreach efforts include educational sessions and forums which are open to the public and held throughout the year. These include City, County, and Budget 101s and issue oriented forums.
Progressive Dane members have voting rights at general membership meetings. Members can serve on several issue related task forces or organizational committees to shape public policy and advise electeds in Dane County. Many Progressive Dane members also actively participate within the community on issues that matter to them most and are encouraged to share with the membership and appropriate task force those needs and concerns.
Progressive Dane distributes a monthly newsletter and has communication listservs to keep its members informed. Members are also encouraged to subscribe to the PDDiscuss listserv to engage in general discussion, share events and announcements, and post calls to action.
Take some time to review our City and County Platforms as well as other information here on our website, then click on the Donate/Join PD button and make a commitment to yourself, your community, and to Progressive Dane.
Thanks! and I hope to see you soon at a Progressive Dane General Membership Meeting, usually held the 4th Wednesday of every month at Madison’s Public Library downtown.
Please feel free to contact me directly at office@prodane.org or 608-358-2940 to let me know how you would like to become more involved or if you have any questions.
Flyers to help stop the bus fare hike! - 02/20
Hi, Progressive Dane members and friends --
Linked are 2 flyers that you can download, print, and help us distribute. One is black and white, 2-sided, and there are 3 on an 8.5x11 sheet; it's intended for distribution, for instance by putting it into doors in your neighborhood (not in mailboxes). The other is color, 1-sided, and is intended for posting.
The message is the same, with talking points about why bus fares in Madison should not be increased again, and action points on how to keep that from happening.
We need to change 3 votes on the City Council to stop the adult cash bus fare from going up to $2. If enough of us generate pressure on our Alders, we can do it.
If you'd like to join a leafletting party, we're meeting at Electric Earth, 546 West Washington, near Bedford, at 11am this Saturday. Other leafletting opportunities will be available.
If you distribute on your own, let us know where, so we can have an idea which Alders are getting pressure, and where we might want to turn up the heat. Contact your PD co-chairs: Jacque Pokorney at juju_jacque@yahoo.com and Norm Littlejohn at normlittlejohn@hotmail.com; or Aaron Crandall, chair of PD's Transportation Task Force, at aaron.crandall@yahoo.com.
We have less than a week to make sure Madison Alders hear from their constituents!
Have you called or e-mailed your own Alder yet? Even if they're already on the right side of this issue, they need to hear from us. The Mayor needs an earful, too, whether he wants it or not!
E-mail the Mayor at mayor@cityofmadison.com.
E-mail your Alder at district#@cityofmadison.com -- use your district #.
E-mail the whole Council at allalders@cityofmadison.com.
Call the City Council at 266 4071.
Let's get out there and make some democracy!
Thanks -- Norm
Posted by prodane on February 20, 2009 PermalinkProgressive Dane Spring Election Endorsements: - 02/14
Primary, Tuesday, February 17th
Election, Tuesday, April 7th
---Madison City Council---
Alder Brenda Konkel (District 2): 5-way primary!
Alder Mike Verveer (District 4)
Alder Marsha Rummel (District 6)
Katrina Flores (District 8): 4-way primary!
Alder Satya Rhodes-Conway (District 12)
---Madison School Board---
Arlene Silveira (Seat 1): Contested race.
---Town of Cross Plains Supervisor---
Arnold Harris (Seat 4): Contested race.
---Wisconsin State Superintendent of Schools---
Todd Price – 5 way primary!
Priorities and Actions for 2009 - 01/27
Progressive Dane's General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, January 28, 2008
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Madison's Downtown Public Library
Aaron Crandall, Chairing
Treasurers Report - Mary Anglim
School Board Report - Arlene Silveira
Additional Election Committee Recommendations - Lukas Diaz
1. To endorse Arnold Harris for Town of Cross Plains (Seat 4)
2. To endorse Todd Price for State Superintendent of Schools
3. To endorse Katrina Flores in District 8
4. Various donation and purchase recommendations
Discussion regarding the recent activities surrounding the bus fare increase and the Transit and Parking Commission and how that impacts good government and process
2009 Priorities and Plan of Action - Jacque Pokorney
Support the TPC, Support Good Government - 01/10
January 10, 2009
Jacque Pokorney, 843-9616 or juju_jacque@yahoo.com
Norm Littlejohn
Co-chairs of Progressive Dane
As supporters of good and open government, Progressive Dane asks the Mayor and Common Council to stand in support of democracy and support the initial decision of the Transit and Parking Commission regarding the bus fare discussion.
Continue reading "Support the TPC, Support Good Government"Posted by prodane on January 10, 2009 Permalink