Introductions. Newcomers were welcomed as all attendees introduced themselves.
January 7th Meetup. Elaine recommended that DFA focus on the environment at the next Meetup by showing a film and/or developing or promoting the signing of a Green Pledge. Peter Boving suggested showing the film “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Peter saw it and heard a follow-up discussion at a recent meeting.
He also suggested inviting the President and Vice President of the Electric Vehicle Association to a Hundred Fold Farm open house in the spring (and perhaps bring an electric car to the meeting). Lou Hammann volunteered to get the film (which runs about 90 minutes) from Gettysburg College and deliver it to Peter. Wendy Mizenko volunteered to check on the audio-visual equipment at Valentine Hall so it could be shown there. Lou said there would not be a full open house at Hundred Fold Farm in April, but perhaps they could just open the farm for a DFA environmental meeting, since Bill McKibben will be visiting. Wendy said it could also be held at the Seminary.
Wendy and Pat Hammann had discussed what we all might be able to do on a daily basis to help the environment even in small ways. She mentioned a brochure produced by the Alliance to Save Energy which includes tips on ways to save energy. Wendy wants to encourage the Seminary to have a program with speakers on this subject, a distribution of these types of flyers, etc. Then we could take the program to Walmart, the YWCA, and other businesses so that people could be “awakened” to these practices and begin to change behavior.
The consensus was to show the film at the January 7th Meetup. Perhaps a short discussion could follow the film, and DFA could provide a recommended Green Pledge for attendees to sign. Or else, the audience could develop its own pledge at the meeting.
Other Business. Report on Single Payer Health Conference. Elaine spoke to Jerry Policoff about whether the time is right for DFA to make a citizen lobbying visit to our State legislators Rep. Dan Moul, Rep. Will Tallman, and Senator Rich Alloway to urge support of the single payer health care bills before the legislature. Jerry said neither he nor Chuck Pennacchio (Executive Director of Health Care for All PA) thought this would be the right time for a lobbying visit. Lou Hammann announced that on January 19th ACTV will produce a program on the single payer health care issue with the participation of Chuck Pennacchio, Dr. Dwight Michael, and Lou and Pat Hammann. ACTV, which has a potential audience of about 58,000 will air the program four times. DFA will be given a DVD copy of the production that it can show as it sees fit and reproduce copies for distribution as well. The production would cost $200. Lou made a request that DFA commit to paying this cost.
***Clodius Willis moved, Lou Hammann seconded, that DFA contribute the $200 needed for the production of the film on the proposed Pennsylvania single payer health care plan. Motion passed unanimously.
Lou Hammann then reported on the December 6th planning meeting he and Pat attended in Harrisburg in this regard. He said the planning committee has set aside 6 months for promoting the plan and getting out the vote. The money is there for the economic feasibility study, but it will take some maneuvering to get it out. Lou said right now we have no less than 50 officials from both houses of the legislature supporting the bills. There will be a strategy meeting to discuss the funding of the study. By March or April the get out the vote effort should begin.
The discussion shifted to what is happening on the national scene regarding health care. Joe Carter mentioned the need to have more, as well as, younger, people involved in DFA, noting that the Obama organization’s outreach program could help us in this regard. On the www.change.com website, Joe found a video of Tom Daschle urging people to hold neighborhood discussion meetings on health care. The website asks those interested in hosting such meetings to fill out a form indicating a commitment to host a meeting. Respondents will receive information and materials to assist in organizing such meetings. Joe said he will fill out the form and get more information before deciding whether to commit to hosting a meeting. Wendy suggested we send a copy of the ACTV DVD to Tom Daschle. Elaine mentioned an earlier request from the Obama people to hold neighborhood meetings on December 13th on the subject “Where do we go from here?” She said that Alan Olson held such a meeting with his Southwest Adams campaign team, and Denise Weldon-Siviy also held a meeting in Gettysburg. Elaine said that we need to keep lines of communication open regarding these activities, but we also need to be sure there isn’t duplication of effort. Joe said these websites are getting a lot of hits, people seem to be very interested in being a part of the process. Alan said his meeting attracted about 15 people, half of whom were not on his campaign team (people found the announcement of the meeting on the website). They will continue to meet and have already come up with service activities they wish to pursue. Wendy said even if all these people don’t wish to join DFA, we should tap into these other networks as sources for spreading our message, as, for example, when we need to disseminate information about the health care plan, etc.
Martin Luther King Celebration. Sue Williams, a member of the inaugural ball planning committee, asked if DFA could promote the January 17th Martin Luther King celebration program to be held at 7 pm at the Gettysburg High School auditorium. Clodius and Maxine Willis also mentioned the January 19th service project planned for the actual MLK birthday observance day. Choosing from a list of items needed by a variety of Gettysburg community organizations, people are asked to bring such donations to one of several drop-off points in town. Volunteers can also work at the drop-off areas sorting and organizing the donated items for delivery to the community organizations. Clodius said this is in line with the Obama organization’s request for citizens to carry out service projects.
Standing Committees. Elaine noted that DFA needs to revive its newsletter as the prime source of communication among its members, active and non-active. She reiterated the need for a Communications Committee. She spoke to Will Lane about possibly chairing such a committee, but Will is reluctant to take this on due to a heavy work schedule. Elaine also spoke to Jeanne Neylon about possibly chairing the Citizen Lobbying Committee, but Jeanne declined. Maggie Abbott has agreed to chair the Candidate Development Committee. The February Meetup will be devoted to this issue, and Roger Lund will address DFA on the need for candidate development. Elaine welcomed any suggestions from the Steering Committee. Bob Knight was mentioned as a good prospect for the Communications Committee. The need for a professional looking informational brochure about DFA was reiterated (would be helpful to have it available at the Inaugural Ball), and should be the first order of business for this committee.
Gettysburg Inaugural Ball. Peter Boving, who volunteered to chair this event, distributed information on what the planning committee came up with for the celebration. It will be held from 7-10 pm on January 20th at the Mott heated barn; the Willys band will play; Denise Weldon-Siviy, with the help of volunteers, will prepare veggie trays and some hot food items.
In addition to the band, there is an area where a video recording of the inaugural ceremonies will be shown, as well as a photo display of election night at Scozzaro’s and other DFA activities. Peter has a collection of DFA event photos; Elaine volunteered to locate some more, noting that Evelyn Steen has a good collection as well.
Ginny Ciliotta will accept reservations and the pre-paid checks. Volunteers will be at the door with a check-off list. The barn can safely hold 200 people. The committee thinks the ticket price will cover the costs with no need for monies to be advanced by DFA. A donation receptacle will be provided at the event, as well as DFA information and a sign-up form to be on the DFA mailing list. The committee recommended that the ticket price be $10 though some thought it should be at least $12. The consensus of the Steering Committee was to set the pre-paid ticket price at $10 and $12 for tickets purchased at the door.
*** Peter Boving moved, Clodius Willis seconded, that DFA sponsor the Gettysburg “Inaugural Ball” on January 20th. Motion passed unanimously.
In response to requests for volunteers to help with the event, the following persons volunteered:
Promotion: Bob Knight will be asked to take care of a press release. Elaine will send the invitation to the DFA email list. Other groups will also send the invitation to their progressively inclined contact lists. It will be put on the Obama website as well. Elaine will coordinate sending a post card invitation to 200 or so DFA members who do not have email (Lou has access to the printing of a postcard). Posters will be made available for distribution.
Decorating: Wendy Mizenko & Judy Pyle – center pieces, etc. (Maxine Willis to contact Judy). Will need number of tables.
Chairs and tables: Barn has some chairs and tables. Lou Hammann will obtain additional ones from Gettysburg College (Lou returns from California on 1/4 or 1/5). Bill Jones has offered his pickup truck for transportation of chairs, etc.
Ticket Check-off at door: Ginny Ciliotta, Joe Carter, and Clodius Willis.
Logistics (for setup of tables and chairs and dismantling, cleanup etc.): Peter Boving will chair; Clodius Willis, Ginny Ciliotta.
A request for additional volunteers will be made at the January 7th Meetup.
Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Virginia Ciliotta, Recording Secretary