Recently I wrote a diary to highlight a trend I saw of women speaking out; the response to that was beyond my expectations, both in the comments made and the further writings I've seen since.
And we are growing new branches.
Here's a list to celebrate:
SwedishJewfish, Avila, 2thanks, Damnit Janet, euclid11, Laura Clawson, weck
Militarytracy, ginmar, Barbara Morrill, whatGodmade, shortgirl, dear occupant, Vetgirl
jdmorg, gagme, Lorikeet, rachetracks, mamabigdog, legalchic, Denise Oliver Velez
kaliope, Kitsap River, Greyhound, Statusquomustgo, thomask, shesaid, joanneleon
Jessalyn Radack, nyceve, zaka1, maybeeso in michigan, itsbenj, Sharon Coleman
broths, Yasuragi, Sandy on Signal, mnemosyne, noweasels, nonnie9999, virginia dare
Lorinda Pike, bluejerseymom, Clytemnestra, JayRaye, greblos, Kaily Jo Gray, boatsie
LaFeminista, slinkerwink, mahakali overdrive, thomask, mijita, Pam from Calif, JAM11
Joan McCarter, floridagal, , Mother Mags, Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN, Cali Scribe, Chinton
notdarkyet, Pluto, a2nite, jayden, triciawyse, WheninRome, rserven, TexMex, earicicle
Onomastic, nomandates, a gilas girl, cedwyn, mollyd, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse
Xavier Onassis EMTP, lgmcp
"Cause I heard it all before, when I was down there on the floor,
No one's every gonna keep me down again!
Yes, I am wise, but it's with a ball of pain, yes, I've paid the price,
but look how much I've gained.
If I have to, I can do anything!"
Many new names were mentioned, some I knew and some I didn't.
However, Sara R and Winglion are well-known and beloved by many for the lovely and comforting quilts they make. The quilt keeps a body warm; the kind, thoughtful, inspiring messages lift the heart.
peregrine kate also gives comfort and information in the Monday Night Cancer Club. Being able to share experiences is helpful, and learning of new treatments can be lifesaving. As with KelleyRN2's KosAbility, this is a great series.
The New American Revolution has begun in Wisconsin, and Puddytat has been tenaciously signing petitions, attending protests, going after signatures one by one by one ... to 1,000,000. With her fellow members of the Cheddar Rebellion, they have been chronicling How to Take Back Our State in a fact-filled yet entertaining style. This will be a textbook for too many of the rest of us, I fear.
From the physical to the intellectual - Susan from 29 does the Monday Murder Mystery, which brings forth a variety of books from around the world. There are hundreds and thousands of books published every year, and it's helpful to get a taste. She is happy to let others write for this series, though.
Moving out into the world, beach babe in fl writes passionately about the environment. Her recent post, 'China is Imploding' was scary. Her next one, which relates on how China is realizing the pollution needs to be controlled, was very informative. Perhaps the Chinese will discover new ways we can clean up our air, water, etc.
Vetwife is a many-faceted diamond. While a warrior for veterans' health care, she also has a kind and practical heart that provides meals and essentials for veterans, through her United Veterans of America organization.
Speaking of warriors, Aji brings forth a passion for improving conditions wherever needed. She has written posts on Pakistan, Haiti, as well as recounting the deplorable conditions on reservations here in America. And just yesterday, working with JoanMar, she coordinated getting an apartment deposit to blueoregon.
There are many, many deserving women I did not write about, but feel to toot their horns in the comments.
And now, more about those new branches!!!
Angie in Wa is taking steps into starting a group for donating funds to worthy causes. She's calling it DKoss Cares at the moment. Possibly modeled on Act Blue, it could have donation buttons for RAINN (or
Roxine's new project, see her Tree Climber post from Thursday); Community Quilts;
navajo's reservation heating project;
Vetwife's baby; Okiciyap; ShelterBox and others.
And, this is the exciting part, a way to collect and hold funds for those regularly occurring emergency disasters. Angie's initial thoughts:
I'd like to see us try and build up enough to help at least three individuals a month who are in true, immediate need of basic resources, like food or gas for work for a couple weeks, or the tags on their car (so they can continue to get to the shitty job they still have). Stuff like that, fairly low dollar, but huge in terms of impact to the person in need.
The big dollar issues (like the recent drive for a couple thousand, to prevent a foreclosure), those I believe should name the Kossack, and have a diary - or, depending on the scope of the problem, a series of diaries just for them.
So while there will still probably be a need for a good old-fashioned Kossack barn raising, some smaller limited needs could be funded through this.
I think this will be great, as in what to get a progressive who already has all they need. A birthday, anniversary or memorial present that doesn't need dusting.
Angie in Wa is also working on a campaign for a candidate for the U.S. House, so she's managing her time tightly. While Markos will have to sign off on this, she is following leads for a legal eagle to form a 501 (c) to start the process.
As she said, this is still in the conceptual stages, so any input will be welcome. IMO,
This is how we change the world.