Greetings from wet and cold Washington, DC. It's Opening Day here and the excitement is in the air... and I'm hoping that excitement will carry over to this diary, because I have a very special announcement to make today.
Those who know me well know that I often credit Netroots for the Troops for changing my life. Long story short, the main reason I attended Netroots Nation 2009 in Pittsburgh was so that I could help pack boxes for Netroots for the Troops. After typing my fingers off for months, it just killed me that NN would be so close and yet so far. So I scrimped and sponged and there I was in Pittsburgh.
It was there that I met Stranded Wind, my business partner and fellow troublemaker. And that brought me down the long path that has led to all of the fun I'm having now.
Flash forward to Netroots Nation 2010 in Las Vegas. I was waiting for my dinner companions and looked up and lo and behold, there was Rep. Raul Grijalva. Being from Tucson originally I walked over and introduced myself and thus started the 2nd half of my journey to this cafeteria in the basement of the Longworth building.
So what's so special about Netroots for the Troops that made me go to Pittsburgh in the first place? The simple answer is that there's nothing that isn't special about Netroots for the Troops. Start with the fact that it's a completely grassroots effort, add in the smiles and needed small things it brings to our troops, and finish with the bond it creates among those working for the effort- from Tex Dem down to occasion NFTT diarists like myself- every thing NFTT does is special.
Today I am happy to share that it is also special to our elected officals.
Netroots for the Troops is happy to inform you that Representative Raul Grijalva (AZ-07) has joined Netroots for the Troops as an honorary board member.
Here's the press release we sent out earlier this week:
Netroots For The TroopsTM welcomes Rep. Raul Grijalva to Board of Directors
Netroots For The TroopsTM, a 501(c)3 which raises funds to put together care packages to send our troops stationed overseas, is proud to announce that Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Raul Grijalva has joined the Board of Directors.
“I am happy to be a part of Netroots for the Troops. It is important that we remind our soldiers stationed around the world that they are not forgotten, and that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they make,” said Grijalva.
Tony Gattis, Executive Director of Netroots For The Troops said “We’re really excited to have Rep. Grijalva join our efforts. We know it will mean a lot to the recipients of our packages to know our Representatives in DC appreciate the work they are doing.”
Netroots for the Troops(TM) is a project of Netroots For The Troops, Inc. a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide care packages to US troops stationed overseas. Founded in 2008 by a group of Progressive bloggers, NFTT raises money to purchase necessities various items, from work gloves and luxuries like candy and music cds to sand scarves and fresh coffee. Each year the effort has grown: 130 packages sent in 2008, over 300 packages sent in both 2009 and 2010. The goal for 2011 is to send 600 packages and to raise enough money to be able to help provide assistance to returning veterans when they separate from the service but have to wait for any benefits they may have accrued to begin to kick in.
To make a donation to Netroots For The Troops(TM) go to http://www.netrootsforthetroops.com and look for the donate button. All donations are tax deductible as defined by the IRS for a 501(c)3 non profit organization.
Our goal for Netroots For The TroopsTM 2011 is $100,000.00 (cash or in-kind donations).
NFTT's primary function is the purchasing and assembling of Care Packages at Netroots Nation to be mailed to American Military serving in war zones. However, the needs of our military families and veterans at home are also a NFTT priority. As llbear et al. have shown, far too often veterans and their families end up caught between a need and red tape. As we raise funds this year remember that your donation will be helping on multiple levels. Our deployed sons and daughter will know they have not been forgotten. Military families will know that they are not alone. Veterans at home will receive needed help.
We realize that you would like to donate something tangible to go inside the packages that will be mailed to the troops. Unfortunately, accepting in-kind donations from individuals is not practical in terms of storage and handling of the items. We will only be accepting corporate donations or cash from YOU to purchase items for the care packages this year.
Here’s how YOU can help:
1. Please contact TexDem if you know someone who might be helpful in securing the corporate in-kind donations. Just leave him a message through the dkos message system. To help you think of companies who could donate products, see below for a list of potential items. Put your thinking caps on and let us hear from you. It takes time to get through the corporate processes so we need to hear from you ASAP!
2. We are accepting cash from individuals and -beg- ask that you DONATE HERE to contribute to this worthy cause. Your donation will enable us to purchase the things that we are unable to obtain through corporate donations, and will help to pay the costs of shipping them to our troops.
3. Sign up for a diary! Don’t worry---we’ve made it easy for you. We’ve got a template set up, and all you need to do is add a small introduction. You can tell us why you are donating or share a story of someone you know who has served or is serving. You can post some favorite pootie and woozel photos. Or how about some gardening photos? We love them! Recipes? We're ready to cook. A list of the top ten guitarists of all time? We'll listen. An homage to your favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer? (Terry Pratchett is one of mine.) We'll be reading. We want you to have fun while raising money for our troops and their families. Just drop Onomastic/Ono a message through the dkos message system to get the template and on the schedule.
4. Do you know a service member who would like to receive a care package? Email a request to: info@netrootsforthetroops.com before May 31, 2011. Please include all of the following information. Unfortunately we will not be able to process any incomplete requests:
Rank:
Last name:
First name:
APO Address Line 1:
APO Address Line 2:
APO Address Zip:
If you know of a Military Unit that would like to receive care packages please include Unit and contact information by May 15, 2011.
5. Write letters to be included in the packages! If you need some ideas, rbutters wrote an excellent diary with tips on how to write letters to troops and why it’s so important to them.
6. Help us assemble the packages in Minneapolis. It's fun! More information will be forthcoming for those of you who are going to be in Minneapolis and would like to help there.
7. Please consider joining the NFTT FaceBook Group. Invite your FaceBook and non-FaceBook friends.
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The goal for 2011 is 600 Care Packages assembled in Minneapolis, that equates to approximately $100,000.00. Again this was decided upon after seeing we could assemble 300 in 45 minutes in Pittsburgh. Those boxes had a retail value of approximately $210.00. The items we'll be sending will be comparable to what was sent last year. However, that list is subject to modification based on suggestions, request and needs. Btw, check out the NFTT website.
The following list contains some of the things we have included in packages. Please let us know if you know someone who might be helpful in securing these corporate in-kind donations. (Please DO NOT send these items yourself! We have no way to accept them. Instead, your cash donation is the very best way to help make this happen on the ground in Minneapolis.)
- Baby wipes
- Mechanix gloves
- LED flashlights
- Gel shoe insoles
- Goop Cleaning Gel
- Powdered energy drinks
- Gel energy food packets
- DVDs and CDs
- Letters to the soldiers
- More suggestions coming soon
The NFTT diaries are a way for the Daily Kos community to support the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families. We send them packages of items they might not otherwise receive through the normal military process but that they find useful. This is a non-political diary. While we understand there are differing views on the wars and the warriors, the site gives plenty of opportunity to express those views elsewhere. Furthermore, we would hope that users do not engage with those that attempt to hijack or otherwise disrupt these diaries.
We appreciate your understanding and support. Thanks!
Netroots For The TroopsTM is a project of Netroots for the Troops, Inc., a Virginia non-profit corporation. Netroots For The TroopsTM raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones, and to provide assistance to military families in the United States. Netroots For The Troops, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.