Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn St.
Iowa City, IA 52240

Please RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=20502

Establishing our Progressive Iowa Network (PIN) – Mark the Date!

On Saturday, June 9th, progressive leaders, activists and legislators from across the state will converge on Iowa City for our first 2007 Democracy for Iowa Organizing Summit.  We are still working out the details on the venue (forthcoming) but we will be meeting from 9am to 3pm (the last hour will be reserved for DFA-IA members to discuss administrative business so it will not be necessary for everyone to stay for that segment).

The purpose of this gathering is to establish the Progressive Iowa Network (PIN). This network will serve to better unite progressive organizations, legislators, and leaders across the state so we can support each other’s efforts around progressive issues in Iowa.

Currently, we have an unprecedented opportunity to get progressive legislation passed in our state. However, in order to achieve legislative victories on the issues that we care about, we must establish an effective framework that allows us to better organize our efforts, clarify our message, mobilize our base, educate the public and influence our state officials.

We have identified the following 5 issues as requiring urgent action:

1. VOICE (Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections)
2. CAFO regulations / Farm Bill
3. Fair Share
4. Healthcare
5. Media

Please note: we want ALL progressive organizations to attend this meeting and become part of this network even if we may not be focusing on your specific issues at this time.

The Summit Agenda will cover the following:

I. Why is PIN important?

The first part of this summit will discuss why PIN is important. Groups/Individuals will be asked to introduce themselves and identify their main areas and issues of focus:

• Policy/Research
• Lobbying
• Media/Public Relations (including bloggers)
• Grassroots Organizing

This will NOT be an informational meeting about the issues, but rather a strategy session on how we can support each other moving forward.

II. Update & Evaluation of the recent Iowa Legislative Session

• What went well?
• What would we do differently?

III. Break-Out Sessions by Issue

• Strategize with other progressives around the state that are working on the same issue.
• What kind of help do you need from other organizations/leaders who may not be directly involved in your issue.

Lunch

IV. Report back to larger group identifying specific needs

• What do you need from PIN?

We will not have time to hear specific plans but rather will want to hear your list of needs on how other organizations/leaders can help you make progress around your issue.

V. Where does PIN go from here?

We will discuss logistics, network structure and set a date and time for our next meeting(s).

VI. DFA-Iowa Administrative Planning Session (for DFA-IA members)

This last segment will be for DFA-IA members to discuss by-laws, how we can better support Blog for Iowa, and other administrative details.

Outreach around this summit has been underway for awhile -- many progressive organizations/individuals in Iowa have already been notified. However, if you have not yet heard from us directly, please email Caroline Vernon ASAP: carolina1961@gmail.com. We need every progressive organization, leader and legislator in Iowa to participate in order to achieve maximum effectiveness as a network.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE:  Workshop "tracks" will focus on three topics:  Criminal Justice, Youth & Young Adults, and "The ACLU and You."  A Q&A session will end each workshop.  Early, pre-paid registration rates (by Thursday, May 3) for the conference are:  $5=Students; $10=ACLU members; and $15=General Public.  Check-in and same-day registration begins at Noon, with the conference scheduled to run from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
 
Among the panelists and speakers participating are: Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Deputy Director of the American Library Association ("Free Speech & the Internet"); Mark Kende, Director of the Drake University Constitutional Law Resource Center ("Government Tools in the War on Terror"); Mark Smith, First Assistant Public Defender of Iowa, & Bob Rigg, Criminal Defense Program Director at the Drake Law School Clinic ("Iowan's Criminal Justice System:  Does it provide justice?"); and B. John Burns, Assistant Federal Public Defender ("Know Your Rights:  Law Enforcement Stops").  Other sessions will cover the use of automated traffic cameras, the rights of minors, and how the so-called "War on Terror" has impacted the right to dissent here in Iowa.  [Note to Attorneys:  CLE credits have been applied for.]

ABOUT THE ANNUAL DINNER AND FEATURED SPEAKER:  Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. in the River Room of the IMU.  The featured speaker will be Bruce Schneier, an internationally-renowned security technologist and author. The title of his presentation: "Counterterrorism in America:  Security Theater Against Movie-Plot Threats. 

Through the Patriot Acts and President Bush's "War on Terror," many civil liberties have been sacrificed in the name of security.  Schneier will present a practical approach to security - both on a personal and nationwide scale - and will explain, debunk and draw lessons from security stories which make the news.  He will discuss the non-security motivations for much of our nation's security and explain how future technological developments will leave us less safe, not more.  As Schneier states, "The security vs. privacy dichotomy is a false one; the true trade-off is liberty vs. control."

Advanced dinner reservations at $35/person are required by Thursday, May 3.  If available, "at-the-door" dinners will be $40/person.  Students can apply for a "scholarship" dinner by emailing iowaclu@aclu-ia.org and submitting a $20 payment (via check or credit card) to hold the reservation, which will be refunded at the time of the dinner.

For more information on the ACLU-IA Conference and Annual Dinner or to register, please go to www.aclu-ia.org and click on "Conference & Annual Dinner" or call 515/243-3576  x13.