Healthcare Vigil

Healthcare Vigil in Peterborough A vigil for healthcare reform will take place on Wednesday, September 2 on the lawn of the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist church from 4:30 to 6 p.m.The vigil one of many taking place across the nation on the same day, and is intended to raise awareness of those who live in fear, pain or debt under our current health care system. The intent of the vigil is to put a human face on the urgent need for health care reform. We will stand with the thousands who lose their health care every day, and the millions who struggle with the unbearable cost of health care. Rep. Jill Shaffer and others will speak on healthcare reform initiatives in NH. Others are invited to share stories and express why health care reform is so urgent. Everyone is encouraged to attend.The event is sponsored by the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church’s Social Justice Committee in partnership with MoveOn.org.

Important Healthcare Forum in Salem New Hampshire

2) Senator Gregg holds a Forum on Healthcare in Salem, NHSenator Gregg will hold a Healthcare Forum in Salem, NH, at the Salem Senior Center at 9am on Thursday, August 20th. Senator Gregg sits on one of the key committee's working on national healthcare reform, The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the US Senate. Senator Gregg continues to oppose important legislation before the United States Senate that would offer an affordable health insurance option to New Hampshire individuals and families. Over 140,000 people in New Hampshire do not have access to affordable healthcare. We need to call on Senator Gregg to visit with (and listen to) the hard working small business owners, healthcare workers, the self-employed and families in our state that suffer every day from a private health insurance industry that rations care, puts CEO's between patients and their doctors and denies care to millions of Americans every day!Join us tomorrow morning in Salem, as we call on Senator Gregg to support a strong Public Health Insurance Option so that families and individuals in New Hampshire can afford to go to the doctor! Carpool leaves 15 Eagle Court, Keene, NH, at 5:30am.
Please call Senator Gregg (603-225-7115) at his Concord Office to let him know:1) The average family plan in NH is $14,000, this is unaffordable2) We need healthcare reform this year that includes a comprehensive benefits package (dental care, vision, mental health, with a focus on prevention)3) That you support a strong Public Option this year!

Canvassing for Healthcare

Harriet Charland will be hosting a Canvass from her home on Saturday August 22 at 10:00 a.m. 239-6830 for anyone interested in getting declarations of support that way. (68 Kapper Drive, Winchester)


We can absolutely do this Health Insurance Reform issue, if we each make it happen in small ways we are comfortable with.Lets work for the President.

Healthcare Reform Visibility

Don't forget the Thursday late afternoon visibility and clip boarding at the Keene town common area, for Healthcare Reform, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.I think Cheshire county local OFA is only short a few declarations of support for the President, to meet their goal for August and people can clipboard during the visibility to help get the needed declarations before the end of the month

Ongoing Phone Bank for Healthcare Reform

Phone Bank:Organizing for America, Obama's grassroots organization with local roots is starting a Phone bank for Healthcare Reform, Tuesday evenings 6:00 p.m. at Greg Martins office, 103 Roxbury St, Ste 200c, Keene, NH. Please call to sign up with: Harriet Charland 239-6521 or Susan Read-Smith 256-3139 so we can have a count of who's coming.Lets get into campaign mode and win this Healthcare Reform issue. We can do it.

CHeshire Democrats Book Club

Hello Everyone, After a summer hiatus, we are regrouping for a September meeting. We will be reading The Wordy Shipmates, by Sarah Vowell. It's an amusing look at the Puritans and how they still influence us today. We are going to meet on Wednesday, September 23, 6:30 PM at the Food Court at Colony Mill Marketplace. I hope you are all having a good summer and I look forward to seeing you in September. Linda Cates From Publishers WeeklyEssayist and public radio regular Vowell revisits America's Puritan roots in this witty exploration of the ways in which our country's present predicaments are inextricably tied to its past. In a style less colloquial than her previous books, Vowell traces the 1630 journey of several key English colonists and members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Foremost among these men was John Winthrop, who would become governor of Massachusetts. While the Puritans who had earlier sailed to Plymouth on the Mayflower were separatists, Winthrop's followers remained loyal to England, spurred on by Puritan Reverend John Cotton's proclamation that they were God's chosen people. Vowell underscores that the seemingly minute differences between the Plymouth Puritans and the Massachusetts Puritans were as meaningful as the current Sunni/Shia Muslim rift. Gracefully interspersing her history lesson with personal anecdotes, Vowell offers reflections that are both amusing and tender .

Phone Bank for Healthcare

Phone bank for Healthcare Reform, Tuesday Aug 18th at 6 pm at Greg Martins office, 103 Roxbury St Ste 200c, Keene.call 239-6830 or 239-6521 so we can have a count of who's coming.

Thanks so much in advance!

Keene Municipal Training

KEENE MUNICIPAL TRAINING: YOU can run for office!
Join Working Families Win and progressive leaders and activists in your community to learn about opportunities to run for local and state office this year and next. We will discuss issues that matter to the people of NH and the skills needed to run a successful campaign.
What: America Votes Coalition Campaign trainingWhen: Monday, August 17 Time: 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
This training is designed to meet the needs of those who are running* or considering a run for local office, future activists, and prospective volunteer coordinators or campaign managers.
This FREE training will include briefings on hot-button local and state issues; considerations for those running for office; and critical skills for running a successful campaign -- including online communications, fundraising, field planning, and volunteer management.
Working Families Win is excited to invite you to attend this training. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact:
Jaime Contois, Working Families Win, 504-2906 orMelissa Bernardin, America Votes at 225-1932
Or simply fill out the signup form below and submit to:
Jaime Contois, Working Families Win, Jaime@wfwin.org, 504-2906
*[Please note: individuals who have already filed as a candidate for office in 2009 or later may not attend this training. In Keene the filing period to run for office in the November 2009 municipal election is from August 24 - Sept. 7th. For other cities please contact your city clerk for the municipal candidate filing period.]-----Sign up form:
America Votes Coalition Campaign trainingMonday, August 17 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.Keene
Instructions: Please fill out the information below, which will be used to contact you for training confirmation purposes, including directions to the training. Email completed form to [staff person name, org, phone, email]. Deadline to sign up is 8/14.
Sign me up! Here is my signup information:
Name (first, last):Address (where you are a registered voter), City, Zip:Phone number (where you are best reached):Email address:Inviting Organization:Questions/comments (optional):---

Working Families in Healthcare demonstrations

How to WIN healthcare reform in 2009: Keep pressure on NH elected officials!We know that healthcare reform did not pass before the House and senate left Washington for the summer as we all had hoped, but that does not mean it is time to give up! The conservative opponents to healthcare reform will be mobilizing and acting during the month of August, and we need to make sure we are just as visible as they are.
Working Families Win has scheduled weekly demonstrations in Keene, NH to keep the public's focus on healthcare reform while our elected officials are back at home. We need your help to make these demonstrations successful (and to catch the attention of those we put into office).
Where: Central Square Keene, NH
When: Thursdays in August (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th) from 5-6:30pm
Why: To make sure our elected officials know that we want healthcare reform this year!
Tell everyone you know to come out and join us Thursdays in Central Square. We will have signs to hold, just bring yourself, your friends, and your stories on why healthcare reform is important to you.
Can't make it?
Make sure to take action on your own by writing a letter to your local newspaper, calling your Congressman or Senator, or writing them a letter.Don't live in Keene?Join us in spirit by starting a demonstration in your own town! Contact Cynthia at crslsynth@gmail.com for information on how to get started.