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.

Progressigve Coalition of Central Iowa now Taking Member Applications

By Vern Naffier, Chair, Board of Directors, Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa

In the interest of promoting progressive values in government and legislative policies and building a network of progressive organizations and individuals, the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa and its sister coalitions have been formed and are in process of being incorporated.  I invite your interest in this new undertaking and refer you to the attachments for more information and membership application forms. Please also log on to our new website at <www.iowaprogressives.org>;

Dear Friend,

We are pleased to announce that the newly formed Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa (P.C.C.I.) and its subsidiary, Progressive Advocates of Central Iowa (P.A.C.I.), are in process of being incorporated as non-profit 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 corporations respectively. In the very near future a Political Action Committee sector of the coalition will be established as a 527 corporation under the title Progressive Advocates of Central Iowa–PAC  (P.A.C.I.-PAC). All three coalitions legally come under the direction of a single board and operate with separate and totally isolated financial accounts.

      As pointed out in previous literature and publicity, these coalitions serve the purpose of building stronger networking relationships among a variety of progressive organizations and individuals in Central Iowa.  Through joint and cooperative educational activities, advocacy, and lobbying efforts, the objective of the coalitions is to help facilitate healthy and fortuitous changes in governmental policies at the county, state and federal levels. The ultimate goal is to build a stronger America and a better world by promoting progressive values in government and society.

      We invite you to log onto our web site for more information about the coalitions and to submit announcements of events planned by your organization to the Coalition's Community Events Calendar. We also hope that you will apply for membership in any or all of the coalition sectors by filling out the appropriate, enclosed membership application forms and returning them to the address shown on the forms.  There will be a ninety day charter membership period commencing with the current date during which organizations and individuals may acquire a dues free membership for the first full year.  Thereafter, a very nominal fee will be charged on a sliding scale basis depending on organization size and budget considerations.

      Please read the explanations of the different tax statuses – 501(c)3, 501(c)4 and 527 – associated with the various sectors of the Coalition at the bottom of the application forms. If your organization is incorporated with a 501 tax status, it will not be able to join the PAC sector of the coalition; it may, however, legally join either or both of the other two sectors – P.C.C.I. and P.A.C.I. – both of which are non-partisan and may engage in educational activities and advocacy.  A PAC may be involved in partisan support or opposition.

      On behalf of the Board of Directors I earnestly invite your participation and membership and look forward to hearing from you.  Should you have any questions, please contact me at <joycevernhn@juno.com> or (515) 964-1353.

Sincerely,

Vernon H. Naffier

Chairman, Board of Directors

Board Members: Vice-Chairperson Phyllis Stevens, Secretary Bruce Stone, Treasurer Tony Hansen, at large members Leslie Irvin, Diane Krell, Ione Shadduck, George Krumrey, Barbara Boatwright, Kim Jones, Chet Guinn

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PCCI – (Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa) holds a 501(c) 3 tax status with H election that allows it as a non-profit, non-partisan organization to undertake educational and social consciousness-raising activities and to engage in limited lobbying. A 501(c) 3 entity may solicit tax-deductible donations and grants.

PACI – (Progressive Advocacy of Central Iowa) holds a 501(c) 4 tax status with H Election. As such PACI is a social welfare organization that may engage in limited lobbying and in some political activities in support of or opposition to political candidates  as long as this does not constitute the primary function of the organization. A 501(c)4 may not solicit grants.

PACI-PAC – (Progressive Advocacy of Central Iowa Political Action Committee) has a 527 tax status. As such this sector of the Coalition is not a non-partisan, tax-exempt organization and may engage in full-time partisan politics.