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.
|
Boujou!
OKICIYAP QUILT AUCTION
BEGINS THIS WEEK
Beginning today, members of the Okiciyap group will post a series of daily diaries on behalf of namesake Okiciyap, a food pantry (and much more) at the Cheyenne River Reservation in Isabel, South Dakota. Founded by the late Georgia Little Shield (who also founded Pretty Bird Woman House), Okiciyap has long been a project of the Native American Netroots community here at Daily Kos, and the Okiciyap group has now partnered with the DK Quilt Guild in a new fundraising effort: auctioning a hand-made quilt to raise badly needed funds for pantry operations. Through Wednesday, group members will post informational diaries detailing the organization's background and needs. On Thursday, diarists will begin publishing auction posts, in which readers can bid on the quilt itself. The auction runs through April 7.
A photo of the finished quilt is in my tip jar. I'll be posting an informational diary on Wednesday. Bid early and often, with the assurance that you're helping a really good cause that is, without a doubt, saving lives.
POLITICS AND POLICY: SCOTUS HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS TODAY IN
TRIBES' CHALLENGE TO AZ VOTER SUPPRESSION EFFORTS
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona [ITCA], the latest step in one of the state's many attempts to roll back voting rights protections for people of color. In 2004, Arizona passed a ballot initiative known as Proposition 200, a direct effort to undermine the 1993 National Voter Registration Act [NVRA], also known as the "Motor Voter Law." Under the NVRA, states are required to provide for voter registration using a National Mail Voter Registration Form, which includes an affirmation of citizenship. With the passage of Proposition 200, Arizona imposed more stringent voter registration requirements, including requiring "proof of citizenship" based upon specific documentary evidence determined by the state. Tens of thousands of voter registration forms subsequently were improperly rejected in violation of federal law.
In 2006, the ITCA, a group of 20 federally recognized Arizona tribes, served as lead plaintiff in a suit brought by a large number of affected groups and individuals, seeking to overturn Proposition 200. The District Court found that Proposition 200 did not conflict with the NVRA (and held for the State on all other issues). Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the earlier decision of its own three-judge panel (which included retired Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, sitting by designation), finding that the NVRA pre-empted state voter registration requirements for federal elections [.pdf]. The 9th Circuit did, however, uphold Proposition 200's polling place identification requirements.
|
UPDATE: WAKAGANISING ODAWA APPROVE MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Last week, I noted that the tribal council of the Wakaganising Odawa (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa) in Northern Michigan had passed a marriage equality bill and tribal chair Dexter McNamara was contemplating whether to sign it. I'm delighted to report that in the intervening week Chairman McNamara has not only signed the bill, but has presided over the tribal nation's first wedding under the new law. Tribal member Tim LaCroix, 53, married non-member Gene Barfield, 60 (shown in the photo at right).
Sometimes, it's the personal connections that are most persuasive in changing hearts and minds:
While he was mulling his decision, McNamara said LaCroix called and asked him what he was going to do. They and Barfield had once worked together for the tribe.
"I started thinking about it, and that’s when I decided that, you know, we all deserve to be happy," he said, "and everybody is happy in different ways, they show their love in different ways, and I decided to sign it."
. . .
"I’ve always felt that there’s two ways to do things and look at things … you believe in equal rights or you want to discriminate," McNamara said Thursday, noting he'd received mainly positive feedback in response to the decision.
Now, Chairman McNamara appears to have decided to support the change in tribal law with the full weight of his office:
"We’ve been a role model, I think, for the federally recognized tribes of Michigan and it seems like we’re out in front - and not taking anything away from the other federally recognized tribes - but, you know, it seems like we kind of opened the door for other tribes and I think other tribes will follow," he said.
Let's hope the rest of Michigan follows, too.
|
EDUCATION: AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND TO ADMINISTER
COBELL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
On March 14, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the the American Indian College Fund [AICF] will administer the newly-established Cobell Education Scholarship Fund. The Fund, named for the late Elouise Cobell, is a part of the trust settlement that bears her name:
As part of the Cobell settlement a $1.9 billion land buy-back program was established to purchase land for tribal governments. For each purchase, a donation will be made to the scholarship fund. The Interior [Department] is authorized to set aside up to $60 million for [the] fund from these purchases. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for land purchases [of] less than $200, $10 will go to the scholarship fund; for land purchases between $200 and $500, $25 goes to the fund; and for any land purchases over $500, five percent of the purchase price is donated to the fund.
The fund sets aside 80% of the monies for use in four-year college and university programs, including those at tribal colleges, and for vocational certificates. The remaining 20% will be distributed through the American Indian Graduate Center, to encourage Indian students to pursue post-graduate education.
|
SPORTS: SPECIAL OLYMPIAN BRADY TANNER INDUCTED INTO
AMERICAN INDIAN ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
On Saturday, March 16, American Indian weightlifter Brady Tanner, 32, was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Tanner (in purple shirt at right) is an athlete in the Special Olympics; he was born with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, a genetic disease that causes physical and developmental disabilities and makes speech difficult. Unable to walk before age 3 or talk before age 6, he now spends two hours a day in the Haskell Indian Nations University gym, four days a week:
Tanner began weightlifting after another Haskell football player, Ben Baker, noticed his talent when he was with team members in the weight room. At the time, Tanner was a ball boy for the football team and his father was the head football coach.
Gary Tanner said he knew his son had a gift after his first lift. At Brady’s first weightlifting meet in Special Olympics, he won all the events he entered. From there, Gary said, Brady had to set personal goals “because he was so far above his competitors.”
Brady started competing nationally and bringing home the hardware. His career highlight came at the 2011 World Special Olympics Games when he received gold medals in overall weightlifting, dead-lift and bench-press, as well as a silver medal in squat.
At an earlier ceremony at Haskell celebrating Mr. Tanner's induction, he thanked the crowd:
"'It feels good," he said with a smile. "I am happy."
|
Chi miigwech.
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the Frybead Thingey
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
|
Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace 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
•
Click >>>HERE to see a list of all the regional Kossack groups that have organized for social and activism events. There are handy links to contact each organizer to join.
•
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
|
Saturday, March 23rd
LAKossacks Monthly Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Casey's Irish Pub
613 S Grand Ave. • Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send Dave in Northridge a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. Joe Bacon
3. jakedog42
4. SanFernandoValleyMom
|
5. Shockwave
6. susans
7. otoelbc (Mr. susans - New Kossack!)
8. Ducktape
9. equern
Maybees:
|
Latest diary: LA Kossacks: REMINDER - Meetup at Casey's NEXT Saturday, March 23
Saturday, March 23rd
Central Ohio Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: The Tap Room in the Brewery District
150 W. Sycamore St. • Columbus
ORGANIZER: Send VetGrl a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. VetGrl
2. Ohiodem1
3. Silvia Nightshade
4. Don midwest
5. thenekkidtruth
6. Spirit of Life
7. LabRat
8. Major Kong
|
9. CayceP
10. Mama Nightshade
11. here4tehbeer
Maybees:
concernedamerican
freeport beach PA
lilypew
|
Latest diary: Central Ohio Kossacks MEETUP: March 23, 6:00 at the Tap Room
Saturday, March 30th
Houston Area Kossacks Meet-up and Potluck
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Libby Shaw's house
[Address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend and get address.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. nomandates
3. Libby Shaw (host)
4. Mr. Libby Shaw (host)
5. Alan Luckey (honorary Kossack, Organizing for Action)
6. suesue
7. Mr. suesue
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, April 6!
New York Hudson Valley Kossacks
|
boran2
DATE TBD
NY Hudson Valley Kossacks' First Meet-up
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Hudson House
2 Main Street • Cold Spring, NY
ORGANIZER: Send boran2 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. boran2
2. thankgodforairamerica
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Diva waiting...
Saturday, April 6th
Colorado COmmunity Kossacks Pot Luck
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: ColoTim's home
Address given by Kosmail • Outside of Denver
ORGANIZER: Send ColoTim a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. ColoTim
2. Frankenoid
3. Ginny in CO
4. coloradocomet
|
Maybees:
victoria2dc
acpa
blue aardvark
|
Latest diary: Colorado Meetup - April 6th, 2013
DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Sunday, April 7th
Connecticut Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send Phil S 33 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Phil S 33
2.
3.
|
Maybees:
annieli
|
Latest diary: Last Chance Meet-up in Connecticut (for me)
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
|
Friday, April 19th
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Springfield Brewing Company
305 South Market Street • Springfield
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
4.
5.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Diva waiting...]
Saturday, April 20th]
Dkos Asheville's First Meet-up
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Otteray Scribe
4. eeff
5. people power granny
6. Joieau
7. LamontCranston
8. cultjake
9. GordonNC (UID 5123 & City Councilman)
10. DawnN
11. SteelerGrrl
12. SteelerDude
13. Captain Sham
|
14. Sandy on Signal
15. gulfgal98
16. gigihopes
Maybees:
polecat
Land of Enchantment
jnhobbs
alicia (plus two)
Nic Goodman
Audri
ecthompson
emmasnacker
|
Latest diary:Dkos Asheville Open Thread
From randallt: "DKos Asheville is hosting a meet up and we've managed to cast a wide net! Asheville NC is the epicenter of cool progressive in the heart of the mountains and we have folks traveling from Eastern Tennessee, the Southern Highlands and Charlotte. So don't let the distance keep you away, come to Asheville, sign up today! You know you want to."
Netroots Nation 2013 in San Jose: Plenary Session Table Reservations
June 20th - 23rd • REGISTER HERE
SFKossacks:
1. side pocket [First Lieutenant]
2. mrs. side pocket
3. kimoconnor
4. citisven
5. lineatus
6. Cali Scribe
7. Glen the Plumber
8. remembrance
9. jotter
10. Mrs. jotter
|
SFKossacks:
1. Lusty
2. mrsgoo
3. norm
4. boran2 (Honorary)
5. Lorikeet
6. FogCityJohn
7. slksfca
8. madhaus
9. boatsie
10. maggiejean
|
SFKossacks:
1. Kamakhya
2. dharmasyd
3. Ebby
4. Bustergirl
5. BeninSC (Honorary)
6. sfbaytransplant
7. Senor Unoball
8. paradox
9. slouching
10. shanikka
|
Native American Netroots:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. 4Freedom (maybe)
4. no way lack of brain
5. translatorpro
6. Kitsap River
7. Charles Curtis Stanley
8. TheFatLadySings
9. TFLS's guest
10. TFLS's guest
|
Central Valley Kossacks:
1. tgypsy
2. cooper888
3. gotmooned
4. paradise50
5. smileycreek
6. Caddis Fly
7. Kestrel
8. peregrine kate (honorary)
9. ProvokingMeaning (honorary)
10.
|
Lone Star Kossacks:
1. nomandates
2. texasmom
3. texasdad
4. doraphasia
5. krwheaton
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Cheers & Jeers:
1. Bill in Portland Maine
2. Common Sense Mainer
3. vicki
4. Sharoney
5. Spousal Unit
6. cskendrick
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Los Angeles Kossacks:
1. Shockwave
2. jakedog42
3. susans
4. murphy
5. Dave in Northridge
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
NYC and beyond:
1. sidnora
2. belinda ridgewood
3. belinda ridgewood's guest
4. Jimdotz
5. theroaringgirl
6. thankgodforairamerica
7. hayden
8.
9.
10.
|
Community Quilt Project:
1. Sara R
2. winglion?
3. loggersbrat
4. ramara (Arizona)
5. Horace Boothroyd III
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Military Community Members:
1. DaNang65
2. drnatrl
3. angelajean (Maybe)
4. exlrrp (Maybe)
5. ccasas
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Misc. registered Kossacks + regions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Hopefully we can put together whole tables for them.
Community Quilt Project NN13 Flash Mob Photo
smileycreek is organizing and asking all Community Quilt recipients to bring their quilts to NN13. We'll assemble at a pre-designated location and time for a group photo with one of the NN13 professional photographers. It will be a group hug celebrating one of the most beloved community building projects we have here at Daily Kos with Sara R and winglion at the center of it. navajo and Glen the Plumber are going to scout out and select a location in advance for all to meet with their quilts for a memorable photo opportunity. Stay tuned.
Date: TBD Time: TBD
1. paradise50
2. Dave in Northridge
3. remembrance
4. BeninSC
5. mimi
6. cskendrick
7. DaNang65
8. llbear (not attending, quilt only)
9. Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (may not attend)
|
10. Smoh (not attending, quilt only)
11. slksfca
12. belinda ridgewood
13. Ebby
14. Bustergirl
15. Kitsap River
16. Charles Curtis Stanley
17.
18.
|
June 27- June 30th
Glacier National Park Kossack EPIC Meetup!
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Glacier National Park
402 9th St W • Columbia Falls, Montana
ORGANIZER: Send arizonablue a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. BlueJessamine
2. arizonablue
3. Mr.arizonablue
4. Truman
5. Ojibwa - arriving for the weekend
6. MTmofo
7. figbash!
8. spottedbear
9. jakedog42
10. Oke
|
11. cooltraveler
12. Mr.cooltraveler
13. state of confusion
14. Lute the Norwegian
15. Josh Blue
Maybees:
Joan McCarter
slksfca
Ed in Montana
|
Latest diary: Glacier National Park Meetup - Part II w/ lodging and campground info!
Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?