Seems like a long time since I've blogged. Forgive me for letting things slide.
The July Conference Call will be Saturday, July 26 at 1 p.m. This will be a joint Domestic and Global call recounting some of the adventures of the International Conference. Please let me know if you'd like to attend. I can see if the Library at Christ Church is open for us to gather.
The Diversity Task Force is going to have a brochure and four fact sheets for the International Conference. The brochure details some of the work of the task force and has a sign-up sheet for more information. The fact sheets are similar to the HR 3014 Healthcare Disparities Bill action sheet in that they detail ethnic statistics in four different areas. I will bring copies to the RESULTS meeting on July 21.
We have the go-ahead to start work on our Pilot City project for the Diversity Task Force. I hope to have a meeting with my Native American contact before I go to the conference. We have identified six minority communities in the Cedar Rapids area, as we discussed at our June meeting -- African American, Hindu American, Hispanic, Muslim, Jewish and Native American. I have contacts in each of these communities who can help me set up outreach meetings. What we learn we will share with the rest of the RESULTS community across the country.
Jos and I are going to be lobbying together at the conference. We have appointments with Senators Harkin and Grassley and Congressmen Loebsack and Boswell. Meredith Dodson suggested today that we also make an appointment with Congressman Latham. Jos is going to lobby on Domestic issues such as healthcare for all and child tax credits. I am going to lobby on Global issues. I have a phone appointment with Jenn Mauer for next Tuesday to talk about what global issues would be best for each of these members of Congress.
On the Saturday night of the conference, there is what they call the Parade of Groups. Each state name is called and groups in that state are introduced. Everyone brings something representative of their state. Polly and John Ely once brought an ear of corn. Since there's no corn this year, I'm going to take a bottle of flood mud.
I'm also going to take copies of our op-eds and letters to the editor to hand out to members of Congress and others who might be interested.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Polly Ely Memorial June 7
I knew Polly through RESULTS, the citizens grassroots organization that lobbies Congress to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty.
John and Polly were the RESULTS group in Cedar Rapids for many years. Then, a group of seven of us got together in 2006, and Polly joined us in 2007 after John died. I think she enjoyed working within a group rather than being the group!
We would meet in her home to listen to the monthly conference calls and Polly’s energy began to be apparent to me. She had previously been interested in the global side of legislation, especially Microcredit. But when she started listening to the domestic conference calls, she got excited about that legislation as well.
Around the first of the year we were doing our annual planning and one of the things I was looking for, as group leader, was help in establishing relationships with Congressional aides in Washington. I asked for a volunteer to work with Senator Grassley’s office, and Polly didn’t hesitate. She said, “John was in the Legislature with Grassley. I’ll call Chuck’s office.”
Then, when I asked for a volunteer for Senator Harkin’s office, she volunteered for that as well. When there was a bill in the Senate that needed a phone call from RESULTS in Cedar Rapids, all I would have to do was to call Polly. We would go over what the phone call should cover and I would ask her to let me know when she had made the call. I figured in a few days I’d get a call back from her. But only 10 minutes later, Polly would call me back. She had made calls to both Senate offices and she filled me in on the content of the calls.
In February our group met with Congressman Loebsack and Polly was excited to talk about Microcredit. When the Congressman came in, he asked Polly’s permission to give her a hug. I couldn’t have asked for a more well-connected RESULTS group member.
Polly was an inspiration to all of us in RESULTS. Her energy and enthusiasm for RESULTS is a model we can all aspire to.
The last conversation I had with Polly was when she was staying on Cottage Grove. She talked about how much she missed John and looked forward to being with him. We talked about the RESULTS International Conference coming up this July, and she said how great it would be if she were still alive for the conference. She and John will both be looking over the international conference and will continue to inspire us to work to end poverty and hunger.
John and Polly were the RESULTS group in Cedar Rapids for many years. Then, a group of seven of us got together in 2006, and Polly joined us in 2007 after John died. I think she enjoyed working within a group rather than being the group!
We would meet in her home to listen to the monthly conference calls and Polly’s energy began to be apparent to me. She had previously been interested in the global side of legislation, especially Microcredit. But when she started listening to the domestic conference calls, she got excited about that legislation as well.
Around the first of the year we were doing our annual planning and one of the things I was looking for, as group leader, was help in establishing relationships with Congressional aides in Washington. I asked for a volunteer to work with Senator Grassley’s office, and Polly didn’t hesitate. She said, “John was in the Legislature with Grassley. I’ll call Chuck’s office.”
Then, when I asked for a volunteer for Senator Harkin’s office, she volunteered for that as well. When there was a bill in the Senate that needed a phone call from RESULTS in Cedar Rapids, all I would have to do was to call Polly. We would go over what the phone call should cover and I would ask her to let me know when she had made the call. I figured in a few days I’d get a call back from her. But only 10 minutes later, Polly would call me back. She had made calls to both Senate offices and she filled me in on the content of the calls.
In February our group met with Congressman Loebsack and Polly was excited to talk about Microcredit. When the Congressman came in, he asked Polly’s permission to give her a hug. I couldn’t have asked for a more well-connected RESULTS group member.
Polly was an inspiration to all of us in RESULTS. Her energy and enthusiasm for RESULTS is a model we can all aspire to.
The last conversation I had with Polly was when she was staying on Cottage Grove. She talked about how much she missed John and looked forward to being with him. We talked about the RESULTS International Conference coming up this July, and she said how great it would be if she were still alive for the conference. She and John will both be looking over the international conference and will continue to inspire us to work to end poverty and hunger.
LTE June 4
Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Forming New Department Could Help End Poverty
I would like to thank the Gazette for recent coverage of the global food crisis. Experts estimate the rise in food prices may drive 100 million people deeper into poverty. The problem is not a lack of food, but a lack of political will to ensure people do not go hungry.
Immediate relief is necessary, but will not address the underlying causes of global food instability. While the U.S. publicly states a commitment to helping poor countries, our policies frequently conflict with the achievement of those goals. For example, we deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of food aid every year, but mandate that the food must be purchased from subsidized U.S. agribusiness and shipped on U.S. vessels. For every dollar we spend on food aid, 65 cents is spent on shipping and other processing costs.
Foreign aid must be clearly focused on bettering the lives of poor people. Programs should be held accountable for demonstrating clear, measurable results in health, education and economic opportunity in the lives of the poorest — those living on less than a dollar a day.
As a RESULTS (advocacy organization committed to ending hunger and poverty) volunteer, I support a cabinet-level Department of Global Development which could help create the opportunity for such reforms. With the support of Congress, it should be a priority for the next administration to work efficiently and effectively toward the end of poverty.
Diane John-Smith
Marion, IA 52302
Forming New Department Could Help End Poverty
I would like to thank the Gazette for recent coverage of the global food crisis. Experts estimate the rise in food prices may drive 100 million people deeper into poverty. The problem is not a lack of food, but a lack of political will to ensure people do not go hungry.
Immediate relief is necessary, but will not address the underlying causes of global food instability. While the U.S. publicly states a commitment to helping poor countries, our policies frequently conflict with the achievement of those goals. For example, we deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of food aid every year, but mandate that the food must be purchased from subsidized U.S. agribusiness and shipped on U.S. vessels. For every dollar we spend on food aid, 65 cents is spent on shipping and other processing costs.
Foreign aid must be clearly focused on bettering the lives of poor people. Programs should be held accountable for demonstrating clear, measurable results in health, education and economic opportunity in the lives of the poorest — those living on less than a dollar a day.
As a RESULTS (advocacy organization committed to ending hunger and poverty) volunteer, I support a cabinet-level Department of Global Development which could help create the opportunity for such reforms. With the support of Congress, it should be a priority for the next administration to work efficiently and effectively toward the end of poverty.
Diane John-Smith
Marion, IA 52302
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
