Monday, October 03, 2005
BH 5.9.30.05 Minutes
Blue Hearts Meeting
9/30/05
We had our first gathering since we broke for summer, around 40 people, and it was truly invigorating. It never ceases to amaze me how much I am fed off the energy of you all. Thanks for that.
Thanks to Anita Robb for hosting. Her hospitality is as generous as her passion for our mission. And a special thanks to Robin Carnahan. How great it is to know we have her in leadership! Long may she serve.
In welcoming everyone, I reiterated how Blue Hearts came about. Last year I would send many political emails to friends. It grew from there as people would ask me to add their friends to my list. We met the day after the election in November and it was through our camaraderie that we survived that depressing day. We vowed to meet again.
Since then, we’ve gathered four times. Each time we’ve had new people who were invited by current Blue Hearts members. Our meetings serve to help hone our mission through discussion. At this point we have focused on Buying Blue, Education, and getting our symbol out there.
I presented our new letterhead, envelopes, and business cards. All display our Blue Hearts logo, website, and PO Box #. Thanks, especially, to Claudia Bianchi in Chicago who designed our logo for us. Blue Hearts are everywhere!!!
The purpose of the letterhead and cards is to be able to communicate to businesses and service providers why we do or do not patronize their companies. Here is one example you may use to communicate your position. Feel free to tailor it to your situation. In addition, the letterhead is for writing letters to the editor on our issues.
9/30/2005
Dear CEO/Manager of Co./Store,
I was sorry to learn that you and your company's top executives support political causes to which I am opposed. Therefore, rather than support your business with my dollars, I am actively seeking businesses that support socially fair and just economic standards and environmentally sound policies. I will no longer shop in your store.
This choice is difficult for me: I have enjoyed patronizing your business often in the past. Please rethink your position and join the list of companies that support workers' rights, positive environmental standards and a fair and profitable society for all. And I will rethink my personal policy.
Until I see evidence to the contrary, I won't be shopping at your store and will be encouraging my friends to go elsewhere.
Most sincerely,
Kristin Amend
Blue Hearts
Next, I solicited volunteers for various committees. Specifically, Barb Helder is spearheading our website committee. Anyone with website development skills, please let me know and I’ll hook you up with Barb!
Yolanda Wheat spoke of our Education Committee. One of our missions as Blue Hearts is to continually educate ourselves. Hence, Yolanda is forming a committee who will agree to read a book or paper on issues up our alley. It would then report on same at our next gathering. In fact, Yolanda reported on "God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It" by Jim Wallis. She highly recommends this book! Please let me know if you’re interested in joining this committee.
In addition, Yolanda mentioned the expenses I have incurred (website, PO Box, Letterhead, Business Cards, and Bumper Stickers) and she solicited donations to offset same. Thanks to everyone who contributed! I really appreciate it.
Finally, we want to continue our goal of Buying Blue where we can. Anne Gall is overseeing this committee. It will focus on researching and presenting businesses and service providers who donate to progressive candidates, provide good benefits to their employees, advance people of color and women to higher positions, etc. (Think compassion.) Please let me know if you’d like to work on this exciting committee.
Anita introduced our speaker, Robin Carnahan, Secretary of State of MO. Robin spoke to the political history of the Democratic party in MO, the ups and downs. Bringing us to today, we are on the way up. Regardless of being categorized as a Red State, Robin suggests we are actually purple and that MO is a microcosm of the Nation. With regard to “Christian” values, Robin believes Democrats can win that argument. We have it right on the issues.
I can’t possibly replicate the impact of Robin’s words, so I won’t try. I’m sorry for those who were unable to join us. We had a lively Q&A that continued after Robin had to depart. We could have gone on for hours given the ideas and passion within the group!
And, finally, Suzanne Green Johnston reminded everyone that she is coordinating our future gatherings. A person may host at a home, a club, or a restaurant. Someone may provide space and someone else, refreshments. We are very flexible and informal. If you're interested, please let me know and I’ll pass it on to Suzanne.
I think that’s all. We’re planning our next meeting in early to mid November. I’ll keep you posted. We are considering an evening gathering for those who find it difficult to meet in the morning.
Thanks, everyone.
Kristin Amend
p.s. I'm working on our next blog. Got lots of good stuff, as usual.
9/30/05
We had our first gathering since we broke for summer, around 40 people, and it was truly invigorating. It never ceases to amaze me how much I am fed off the energy of you all. Thanks for that.
Thanks to Anita Robb for hosting. Her hospitality is as generous as her passion for our mission. And a special thanks to Robin Carnahan. How great it is to know we have her in leadership! Long may she serve.
In welcoming everyone, I reiterated how Blue Hearts came about. Last year I would send many political emails to friends. It grew from there as people would ask me to add their friends to my list. We met the day after the election in November and it was through our camaraderie that we survived that depressing day. We vowed to meet again.
Since then, we’ve gathered four times. Each time we’ve had new people who were invited by current Blue Hearts members. Our meetings serve to help hone our mission through discussion. At this point we have focused on Buying Blue, Education, and getting our symbol out there.
I presented our new letterhead, envelopes, and business cards. All display our Blue Hearts logo, website, and PO Box #. Thanks, especially, to Claudia Bianchi in Chicago who designed our logo for us. Blue Hearts are everywhere!!!
The purpose of the letterhead and cards is to be able to communicate to businesses and service providers why we do or do not patronize their companies. Here is one example you may use to communicate your position. Feel free to tailor it to your situation. In addition, the letterhead is for writing letters to the editor on our issues.
9/30/2005
Dear CEO/Manager of Co./Store,
I was sorry to learn that you and your company's top executives support political causes to which I am opposed. Therefore, rather than support your business with my dollars, I am actively seeking businesses that support socially fair and just economic standards and environmentally sound policies. I will no longer shop in your store.
This choice is difficult for me: I have enjoyed patronizing your business often in the past. Please rethink your position and join the list of companies that support workers' rights, positive environmental standards and a fair and profitable society for all. And I will rethink my personal policy.
Until I see evidence to the contrary, I won't be shopping at your store and will be encouraging my friends to go elsewhere.
Most sincerely,
Kristin Amend
Blue Hearts
Next, I solicited volunteers for various committees. Specifically, Barb Helder is spearheading our website committee. Anyone with website development skills, please let me know and I’ll hook you up with Barb!
Yolanda Wheat spoke of our Education Committee. One of our missions as Blue Hearts is to continually educate ourselves. Hence, Yolanda is forming a committee who will agree to read a book or paper on issues up our alley. It would then report on same at our next gathering. In fact, Yolanda reported on "God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It" by Jim Wallis. She highly recommends this book! Please let me know if you’re interested in joining this committee.
In addition, Yolanda mentioned the expenses I have incurred (website, PO Box, Letterhead, Business Cards, and Bumper Stickers) and she solicited donations to offset same. Thanks to everyone who contributed! I really appreciate it.
Finally, we want to continue our goal of Buying Blue where we can. Anne Gall is overseeing this committee. It will focus on researching and presenting businesses and service providers who donate to progressive candidates, provide good benefits to their employees, advance people of color and women to higher positions, etc. (Think compassion.) Please let me know if you’d like to work on this exciting committee.
Anita introduced our speaker, Robin Carnahan, Secretary of State of MO. Robin spoke to the political history of the Democratic party in MO, the ups and downs. Bringing us to today, we are on the way up. Regardless of being categorized as a Red State, Robin suggests we are actually purple and that MO is a microcosm of the Nation. With regard to “Christian” values, Robin believes Democrats can win that argument. We have it right on the issues.
I can’t possibly replicate the impact of Robin’s words, so I won’t try. I’m sorry for those who were unable to join us. We had a lively Q&A that continued after Robin had to depart. We could have gone on for hours given the ideas and passion within the group!
And, finally, Suzanne Green Johnston reminded everyone that she is coordinating our future gatherings. A person may host at a home, a club, or a restaurant. Someone may provide space and someone else, refreshments. We are very flexible and informal. If you're interested, please let me know and I’ll pass it on to Suzanne.
I think that’s all. We’re planning our next meeting in early to mid November. I’ll keep you posted. We are considering an evening gathering for those who find it difficult to meet in the morning.
Thanks, everyone.
Kristin Amend
p.s. I'm working on our next blog. Got lots of good stuff, as usual.
