JOB SECURITY INITIATIVE FOR GUARD & RESERVISTS CLEARS FIRST HURDLE
By Iowa House Dems
The House Veterans Affairs Committee today approved a new national guard and reserve job security initiative. The plan will ensure that soldiers called to active duty can return to their jobs after service at the same pay and status level.
"Men and women called to active duty deserve our support. After serving our country and being separated from their families, the least we can do is ensure an easy transition back to civilian life, which includes going back to their job at the same pay and status level," said State Representative McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, the lead sponsor of the bill.
The bill, House File 2001, was the first bill introduced this session and was approved on a unanimous vote by the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The new job security initiative would update Iowa's law to protect the jobs of Iowa National Guard members and other armed forces reservist who are called to active duty. The law will maintain the current misdemeanor penalty for employers who fail to provide soldiers their jobs back.
National guard or reserve members with questions about their job status after deployment can call Tony Smithhart with Iowa Workforce Development at 515-281-9061 or Allan Enright with the Iowa Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at 515-252-4192.
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Tuesday, January 22
JOB SECURITY INITIATIVE FOR GUARD & RESERVISTS CLEARS HOUSE
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 22 Jan 2008 08:45 AM CST
Tuesday, October 23
Controversial Rabbi Michael Lerner to Speak at Spiritual Progressives Conference Nov. 3rd in the Quad Cities
by
Caroline Vernon
on Tue 23 Oct 2007 05:23 PM CDT
Controversial Rabbi Michael Lerner to Speak at Spiritual Progressives Conference Nov. 3rd in the Quad Cities By James Lee As the Election Season closes in on the Quad Cities, people are looking at the vast challenges facing our country and questioning how individual citizens can make a difference. According to national polling, over 70% of Americans feel that our nation is on the "wrong track". Organizers of the Spiritual Progressives Conference feel the answers to many of our concerns and worries are rooted in our values, faith and spirituality. Quad Cities Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) in conjunction with Churches United of the Quad Cities, Democracy for America–Quad Cities, Davenport Unitarian Church, Edwards Congregational-UCC, First Congregational-UCC, Network for Spiritual Progressives, and a host of other supporters are sponsoring a Spiritual Progressives Conference on November 3, 2007. The theme of the conference is: Living our Faith: Integrating Values and Politics in the Heartland. PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE It is our hope that the conference will help the public better understand how to more effectively integrate progressive values with political action that can create positive change in our nation. Conference organizers assert that progressives have been the social innovators who have initiated changes in our society that have given us more freedom, liberty, and equality. Progressives believe in continually improving our society in order to assist as many people as possible to achieve a better life for themselves, their families and the community as a whole. During this time of national drift when confusion seems widespread over what America represents and truly believes, progressive people must amplify their voices in the public conversation on what we value as a nation. We reject the tactic of using religion and spiritual traditions to be a divisive force in our nation; pitting one group of Americans against another group. We believe that ethics and morality cannot be claimed as the property of a single religion or political group, but must be understood in the context of furthering the well being of all humanity, present and future. The conference will cover three main areas:
1) Promoting a conversation on Progressive Values, Faith & and Spirituality The key-note speaker, Rabbi Michael Lerner, will examine the question of how our values are translated into political action. Rabbi Lerner is an internationally renowned social theorist, theologian, editor of Tikkun magazine, and author of The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right. He has a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley and is the founder of the Network for Spiritual Progressives. Faith, values, and spirituality play an important role in responding to the many challenges we face in our country today. The primary focus of this conference will be to explore how our values, faith, and spirituality can direct political action and transform our nation and our world. In so doing, this conference will be addressing the most serious issues facing our communities such as affordable, quality health care, the war, and global warming to name a few. Conference workshops include topics such as "Challenging the Misuse of God and Religion by the Religious Right", "Global Consciousness and Ecological Sanity", "Our Common Values" and "Grounding Justice Work in Spiritual Practice". To learn more about other workshops which will be presented at this conference,
click here. To download the flyer to print (double-sided to conserve paper) go to our home page: www.qcprogressiveaction.org. The Conference commences at 9:30am with a spiritual reflection on the state of our world. Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak at 10:15am. Workshops will continue throughout the day. At 2:30pm Rabbi Lerner will be part of a panel discussion with local leaders on the state of values and spirituality in our nation. Lunch will be served and the conference will come to a close at 3:30pm. This event is open to the public; seating is limited. To Register, contact PACG at 563-676-7580 or go to our website for more information: www.qcprogressiveaction.org. Interfaith Service The conference begins with an Interfaith Service led by Rabbi Lerner on Friday evening, November 2nd, 7pm at the Unitarian Church, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. Spiritual Progressives Conference On Saturday morning, November 3rd, the Spiritual Progressive Conference will be held at the First Congregational Church-UCC, 2201 Seventh Avenue, Moline, IL 61265. Registration starts at 9:30AM. Book Signing with Rabbi Lerner Saturday evening, November 3rd, 5:30pm at Borders Bookstore, 4000 E 53rd St in Davenport. Tuesday, July 24
AFSC's Peace and Justice Program
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 24 Jul 2007 08:00 AM CDT
AFSC's Peace and Justice Program
Check out AFSC's new peace and justice calendar for Central Iowa. To receive notice of upcoming events, subscribe today! The Iowa Program currently focuses on -- Immigrant Rights: Our focus is on advancing the human, economic and civil rights of immigrants. AFSC's immigration consultant helps hundreds of immigrants each year fill out their immigration paperwork. Click here for a list of immigration lawyers and non-profit agencies in Iowa and Nebraska. Peace Building:
John Tuzcu will be heading up AFSC's Cost of War project this summer by taking our display to county fairs, town squares, markets, public events and wherever else we can get it around the state of Iowa. The visibility of this project deeply depends upon our allies and partners across the state. The display includes five poles with two 10-foot-long banners on each that exhibit the cost of a single day of the Iraq War and how the money used for guns and bombs could cover some of our basic necessities here at home if we were to choose life and pull out of Iraq TODAY: ONE DAY OF THE IRAQ WAR = $720 Million
We're looking for allies around the state to help us identify locations and events where we might present this display. If your group is interested in organizing a peace event in your town and would be interested in using the banners, please contact me to make arrangments. Send thoughts, suggestions and plans on how to get this exhibit into your town so all Iowans will realize that not only does the war rage on in Iraq but that another war is ravaging us here at home. Best,John Tuzcu Sunday, June 10
Call to Remove Gonzales
by
Sam Garchik
on Sun 10 Jun 2007 04:08 PM CDT
Call to Remove Gonzales
By DFA Call your Senators right now, then let us know how it went. The campaign to remove Attorney General Alberto Gonzales heats up this week and you can help... right now! The Senate could hold a no-confidence vote as early as today. The resolution is non-binding and symbolic, but it will put Senators on record and send a strong message to President Bush. Make sure your Senators know you want them to support the no-confidence vote: Senator Chuck Grassley (202) 224-3744 Senator Tom Harkin (202) 224-3254 This vote puts us one step closer to removing Alberto Gonzales and restoring integrity to the U.S. Department of Justice. But George Bush is still blocking the way. This morning the President continued to stand by his man, saying: "They can have their votes of no-confidence but it's not going to make the determination about who serves in my government." Call your Senators today. Tell them they have the power to challenge President Bush and remove Alberto Gonzales. After you call, sign the Impeach Gonzales petition that will be delivered to your representative in the next few days: http://www.ImpeachGonzales.org Together, we will hold the Bush Administration accountable and restore integrity to the Justice Department. Thank you for everything you do, Charles Chamberlain Field Director Saturday, June 9
Joe Bolkcom at YouTube!
by
Sam Garchik
on Sat 09 Jun 2007 10:36 AM CDT
Joe Bolkcom at YouTube!
By Sam Garchik Please excuse Blog for Iowa for being late on this one. Joe Bolkcom received an award from the Progressive States National Gala and made C-Span last April. Joe also spoke about car loans and predatory lending, and you can find that here. Check it out ... Thursday, June 7
The Progressive Iowa Network Organizing Summit
by
Caroline Vernon
on Thu 07 Jun 2007 01:20 PM CDT
The Progressive Iowa Network
Organizing Summit Saturday, June 9, 2007 Iowa City Public Library Agenda: 1. Welcome 2. Introductions 3. Why a Progressive Network is important for Iowa 4. Democracy for America – Support for Iowa’s Progressive Network 5. 2007 Iowa Legislative Review (Legislators) 6. Overview of Top Progressive Legislative Priorities (Progressive Activists) 7. Envisioning Progressive Power in Iowa (Ed Fallon & Denise O'Brien) 8. Break 9. Top Progressive Legislative Issues - Workshops VOICE (Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections) CAFO/Farm Bill Health Care Media Reform Fair Share 10. Lunch 11. Workshop Reports 12. Progressive Iowa Network – Next Steps 13. Democracy for Iowa – Administrative overview 14. Adjournment Please note: If you are interested in discussing potential state-wide initiatives that will pressure our Congress to end the war in Iraq, please come to this event. Peace groups can strategize during the workshop hour (#9) and also report back to the larger group after lunch. This will be an excellent opportunity for all of us to be united for peace. We will start gathering at 9am - coffee and bagels / breakfast treats. The summit will begin promptly at 9:30am. Please let us know if you intend to come: Please RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event Monday, June 4
Establishing our Progressive Iowa Network (PIN) - Update
by
Caroline Vernon
on Mon 04 Jun 2007 09:30 AM CDT
Establishing our Progressive Iowa Network (PIN) - Update
By Caroline Vernon This Saturday, June 9th, progressive leaders, legislators and activists from various organizations across Iowa will come together for the first DFA-Iowa Networking Summit. We will be gathering at the Iowa City Public Library from 9am to 3pm (the last hour will be devoted to DFA-IA administrative business). Some of our great leaders who will be in attendance include Charlie Chamberlain from Democracy for America, Ed Fallon, Denise O’Brien, and Senator Joe Bolkcom, just to name a few… Once again, the purpose of this gathering is to establish a Progressive Iowa Network which will serve to better unite progressives across the state in order to support each others efforts around important issues, particularly if we hope to be more effective moving into the next legislative session. Besides providing an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow progressives, one direct benefit of an Iowa Network would be the enhanced ability to articulate our progressive world view by creating a state-wide echo chamber that will carry our unified message to all Iowans. As previously indicated, we have identified 5 issues in Iowa that require urgent action: 1. VOICE (Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections) 2. CAFO regulations / Farm Bill 3. Fair Share 4. Healthcare 5. Media Also, due to the recent vote on the Iraq supplemental bill, it is our hope that peace activists from across Iowa will take advantage of this opportunity to come together to discuss potential state wide initiatives that will effectively pressure those in Congress who voted for the bill. In addition to addressing the above issues, we are tracking organizations by their particular area(s) of focus. This list has also evolved since my last blog: 1. Policy / Research 2. Lobbying 3. Media & Blogs 4. Grassroots Organizing These 4 areas have been added: 5. Direct Action 6. Education 7. Funding (to identify potential sources of funding) 8. Political Campaigns (organizations who can be involved with campaigns) We are working on compiling a comprehensive list of all participating organizations, including contact information, primary areas of focus and primary issues of concern. If you or your organization will be attending the summit, we ask that you submit your information using the example below (4 stars = primary focus) Example: Organization: Progressive Action for the Common Good Address: 3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport, IA 52807 Contact Information: (name/position/phone/email): Caroline Vernon, Organizer, 563-676-7580, carolina1961@gmail.com. James Lee, Executive Director, 563-650-3922, jlee6367@yahoo.com Areas of Focus Rating Issues Rating Policy/Research VOICE **** Lobbying ** CAFO/Farm Bill *** Media/Blogs Media ** Grassroots Organizing **** Fair Share ** Direct Action *** Healthcare *** Education ** Funding * Other: _Peace _ **** Poltical Campaigns Please send the above information to carolina1961@gmail.com by Thursday, June 7th so we can be sure to include your information in the hand-out. It is important to note that we encourage ALL progressive organizations to attend this meeting and become part of the network even if we may not be focusing on your specific issues at this time. The goal of the network is to create a framework designed to support all progressive initiatives. We need everyone’s participation in order to succeed. If you have any questions, please call Caroline Vernon at 563-676-7580. Hope to see you Saturday! |
Iowa Sites Child & Family Policy Center - Iowa Genetic Engineering Action Network Iowa Citizen Action Network - ICAN Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Public Interest Research Group Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa QCAD (Quad-Citians Affirming Diversity - GLBT) Iowa Blogs The Deprogrammer (Quad Cities) Iowa True Blue (Gordon Fischer's Blog) Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Political FalloutFight Iowa Rapid Response Network - Iowa
Iowans for Better Local TV
Air America
The Counterpoint
National FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media Matters for America
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