The PCDO Organizing for America committee is up and running.  For more information or to be added to the committee email list contact Margaret Griffin, chair.  Watch here for time and date of the next meeting.

 

 

SUMMARY OF OUR FIRST MEETING

After welcoming and introducing volunteers who had expressed an interest in the formation of the OFA ad hoc committee, the committee chair identified the overall mission of the group.  The OFA committee is envisioned as an action-oriented arm of the PCDO.  It will take initiatives being worked on at the national level and involve our members and fellow citizens in two ways; a) by arranging policy forums and spawning advocacy/encouraging legislative lobbying at all levels of government, and b) by promoting community service and hands-on efforts to illustrate these initiatives “on the ground.”

Four areas were identified as being crucial to building an effective PCDO/OFA team.

1. Creating a toolshed of resources for committee and members.
2. Developing partnership networks in Central New Jersey with other advocacy groups and institutions (Sierra Club, Trenton city schools, Clean Air, etc.)
3. Building an action alert system
4. Partnering with other OFA groups so as to avoid duplicating effort and to piggy-back effectively by joining forces when possible.

 

Much discussion followed regarding members’ areas of interest, and the importance of identifying the skills and experience each can bring in arranging policy forums and choosing effective community service projects.

 

The group then brainstormed about what the PCDO/OFA’s first initiative should be. It was decided by show of hands that we should pursue two simultaneously.  The two which are unfolding fast on the Administration’s agenda are Economic Recovery and Health Care. Education was identified as the third initiative to undertake and, as with all of them, it is not too early to begin planning. Several members volunteered to help spear-head these sub-committees.

 

In order to get formal resolutions passed on these initiatives by the PCDO at the next general meeting, we will first need to introduce the resolutions at the upcoming executive  board meeting on March 7.  David Cohen, Jon Durbin, and Margaret Griffin will be meeting shortly to launch these resolutions and to get our team-building “tools” up and ready.