Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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I was rather young, as it turns out, when I first became involved in politics. The year was 1970 and I was in 7th grade. I was born and raised in Denver. In 7th grade my social studies teacher, who also was an avid outdoors guy, taught us about current events, which was primarily the thrust of the class. At that time our streams and rivers were filling up with bubbles created by laundry detergents that were also killing fish and plants. He took us on a field trip to the confluence of the Cherry Creek and South Platte River in downtown Denver so we could witness first hand the humongous billowing "mountain" of soap bubbles created there. I was appalled.
He got our class to spend weekends outside grocery stores getting people to sign petitions to then allow a vote to end phosphates being allowed in our laundry detergent (back in 1970, the levels of phosphates, enzymes and other nasty stuff in detergents was very high because there were no regulations controlling what was in detergents). I spent each weekend for three months gathering those petitions. We got enough signatures so that the state of Colorado then held a hearing to determine if it would be put to a vote by it's citizens (it wasn't like California where citizens can themselves get a petition on the ballot by simply getting enough signatures from registered voters). Our side had our "expert scientists" to state our case. Well, funny thing...those "expert scientists" turned out to be plants from Proctor and Gamble. They totally lied against our cause by stating there was absolutely no environmental damage caused to streams and rivers from detergents.
We did NOT get that on the ballot in the next election. True life lesson learned by me!!! Just a few years later, President Richard Nixon created the EPA largely after the horror of the Cuyohoga River catching fire in Cleveland, Ohio.
The next thing I got politically involved with was the Winter Olympics coming to Colorado in 1976. Back then, there was no corporate sponsorship. That became a phenomenon really for the first time for the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984. For the 1976 Winter Olympics, the citizens of Colorado would have to come up with an average of $1300 each to pay for all that needed building. This time I was involved again in getting signatures. But this time we succeeded in blocking it. The Olympic Committee was so outraged (since Colorado had won the right to have those Winter Olympics) they stated they'd NEVER EVER allow Colorado to be considered for the Winter Olympics forever.
The next thing I got politically involved with was working on Jerry Brown's bid for President in 1976. My friend Brian and I started up his entire campaign for Boulder County Colorado (I was attending the University of Colorado then). Once we got it going...in swooped the "socialites of the local Democratic Party." They just basically shoved us out of the way, once we did the initial work of setting up offices...all on our own, in the largest towns in Boulder County. Again, another lesson learned!
I've been involved in politics, one way or another, ever since.
When did you first become involved in political action or activism?
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I'm listening.
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Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the Fold
COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES:
Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meat-space community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
~
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
:: New Regions Organizing! ::
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks
Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks
Organizers:
Clytemnestra (Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island)
Common Sense Mainer (Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks
Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India
Organizer: chandu
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ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005, More than 80 members
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011, More than 54 members
• New York City Founded by Eddie C, More than 58 members
• Baja Arizona Kossacks Founded by buddabelly, Formed: Feb. 13. 2011, 90 members
• Nashville KosKats Founded by ZenTrainer, Formed: Jan 30, 2012, 28 members
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011, 67 members
:: Current Diaries in Planning Mode ::
•
Baltimore area kossack meetup suggestion by
sreeizzle2012
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:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
ATTENTION!
IMPORTANT BUMP TO THE TOP!
SteelerGrrl has a Charlotte DNC roll call diary up for anyone going to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC starting September 2nd.
Send SteelerGrrl a kosmail to connect.
KOSSACKS REPRESENT!
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Saturday, September 8th
Hawk Talk and Banding Demonstration by lineatus in the Marin Headlands!
TIME: Noon for Hawk Talk, 1:00 PM for banding talk with one of the recently banded birds and release it to continue its migration. After that watch the migration from the platform for a while if it's nice, and then head down for a walk around the valley for a few hours. TIME YET TO BE DETERMINED: Meet at the Presidio Yacht Club at Fort Baker in Sausalito for food and drink.
LOCATION: Hawk Hill, map, part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. More about the Docent Programs and What to Wear.
HOST: lineatus
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. navajo
3. side pocket
4. kimoconnor
5. Sally Cat
6. Mr. Cat
7. Dharmasyd (Maybe)
8. Ebby
9. Bustergirl (Maybe)
10. dsb
11. Glen the Plumber
12. remembrance
13. The Little One
14. boatsie
15. GGRO Intern Kate Howard (grandaughter of Kossack martyc35)
16. Kate Howard's guest
17., 18., 19. & 20. Mindful Nature, plus girlfriend and two kids
21. AoT
22. Mrs. side pocket
23. Elaine, a side pockets's guest
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Sunday, September 9th
United Democrats of Southern Solano County
30th Annual BBQ Picnic
TIME: 11:00 - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Hanns Park
at Skyline Blvd. & Redwood Parkway in Vallejo
Guest speakers start at 1 p.m. (Most all the local Democratic candidates are showing up ... City and County)
Donation $10.00.
The club is providing hot dogs, hamburgers, vegetarian burgers, salad, dessert, and nonalcoholic drinks.
Special .... Join the club for $12 and get a free ticket to the picnic. One can buy tickets or join club at the event.
Our club website: united-democrats.com
Send linkage a Kosmail to for more information.
RSVP LIST:
1. linkage
2. BayAreaKen
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Sunday, September 9th
Colorado Kossack Meetup!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Colotim's House in SW Denver (Kosmail for address/directions)
HOST: ColoTim
RSVPs So Far:
1. Colotim - Smoked pork ribs, plus extras
2. & 3. Merry Light & whoknu - appetizers, dip & crackers/chip
4. Frankenoid - Homemade ice cream
5. Chirons apprentice
6. Ginny in CO
Maybes:
Leftcandid
ColoradAnne
Latest diary about this event: Colorado Kossack Meetup #2
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Saturday, September 15th
Central Valley Kossacks Lunch!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Ket Mo Ree Thai Restaurant & Bar
238 G St.
Davis, CA
530-759-2255
HOST: tgypsy
RSVPs So Far:
1. tgypsy
2. cooper888
3. gotmooned (Mr cooper888)
4. SallyCat
5. Mr. Cat
6. mrsgoo
7. Kestrel - tentative (Maybe)
Latest diary about this event: Central Valley Kossacks: Let's Meet Up
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DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Saturday, September 15th
New England Kossak Meet Up!
TIME: Noon - 3pm
LOCATION: Bangkok Cafe
369 Central Street
Foxborough, MA 02035
508-543-THAI (8424)
map
HOST: Clytemnestra
Affirmative RSVPs thus far:
1. Clytemnestra
2. Rick DeVille (husband of SadieSue)
3. SadieSue (they will be coming from Western Mass willing to carpool)
4. GreyHawk
5. Hawkwife
6. thankgodforairamerica (coming from central, CT willing to carpool)
7. 8. 9. Moody Loner, mommyp00ka, and the Little
10. jarbyus
11. bjedward
12. msdobie
13. dlcmassage
Maybes:
litho
brillig
northerntier (will be coming from central VT, willing to carpool. )
The Poet Deploreate (will be coming from the North Shore, willing to carpool.)
Phil S 33
Samantha Clemens (progressive radio talk show host)
rougegorge
annieli
TrueBlueMajority
Thestral
GreenMountainBoy02
commonmass
Latest diary about this event, including activities to do in the area.
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Saturday, October 13th
Cheers & Jeers Meet-Up
TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
775 Lafayette Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
HOSTS: Common Sense Mainer and Bill in Portland Maine
Send Common Sense Mainer an email at cuckolds04103@gmail.com to RSVP. (He prefers his email listed.)
EVERYONE is welcome!
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Friday, October 19th
SFKossack Red Carpet Rollout for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Yank Sing
Rincon Center
101 Spear St.
San Francisco
Send navajo a Kosmail to RSVP.
RSVP LIST:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. navajo
3. Lorikeet
4. Steveningen
5. jpmassar
6. kimoconnor
7. norm (Maybe)
8. MrNavajo
9. remembrance
10. Glen the Plumber
11. Dharmasyd
12. boatsie
13. side pocket
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Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
This diary is an example of what SFKossacks do year-round to build our community.
Personal bonds are strengthened and more are feeling comfortable
creating events on their own.
SFKossacks has been organizing since 2005.
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Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?