Subject: Put down the Pringles! ProgressNow 2011 Update
From: Denise Cardinal <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 08:00:19 -0600 (CST)

::: ProgressNow - Building the online progressive movement state by state ::: 

February, 2011

When I took the job at ProgressNow and ProgressNow Education to be the Executive Director, I already knew our state partners were shining examples of progressive success. But the past month has seriously impressed me - and I'm sure you'll be impressed as well. While many of us have felt like spending these gray post-election days curled up on the couch, eating carbs and pretending it was 2009, the ProgressNow affiliates got back up and back in the ring without missing a beat. Our states have been hammering the right, standing up to smear campaigns and teaching new and experienced activists and allies skills for surviving and thriving in the 21st century. Trust me, after reading this you'll be convinced to drop the Pringles and get back to the gym to train for the next fight.

Here's a synopsis of some of their work - and feel free to call me or email me with any questions, comments or ideas for how we can help you or your organization build for progressive success.

Best,

Denise Cardinal
Executive Director
ProgressNow and ProgressNow Education

What we did!

Beck and Limbaugh came after us in PENNSYLVANIA. Over in FLORIDA, they stole
the story from Ralph Reed and Dick Morris. The Washington Post
published a story about a NEBRASKA state effort. Think budget problems
in a swing state like WASHINGTON might matter? How many people got
smarter because of FLORIDA? And in WISCONSIN they even got to SUE the
bad guys. Read on for more ProgressNow accomplishments:

ProgressNow Colorado
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=vrDr_srNZ8NfAAqCzuZGuQ..

Newly elected Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler has a history
as an attorney representing some of the most politically controversial
right wing attack groups and candidates in Colorado. Learning of plans
by Gessler to "moonlight" part time for his old law firm while serving
as Secretary of State, ProgressNow Colorado led the demand by citizens
across the state for Gessler to abandon this plan, fraught with
conflicts of interest and the possibility of harm to fair elections in
state. The petition effort, joined by thousands of Colorado residents,
dominated press coverage of the controversy.

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=aFRAEZ8d_TCGRp7UDSoSCA..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=xuBrvHX0WDbq0M6Z_7cV-Q..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=pF_0iH1pCl1UyD2wH34Ziw..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=q1cjqif3BI29QNYtA3ISUg..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=P0w0kiOp3YGfvCHzv-r3yA..

Progress Florida
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=LfdalVlKFZGrWJ_zTV2hkQ..

Damn, that was quick. St. Petersburg Times education reporter Ron
Matus, upon hearing that Progress Florida's Stop Scott's Private
Voucher Scheme petition had surpassed 10,000 signatures.

ProgressFlorida launched the Save Our Schools campaign with a petition
drive and Facebook page, targeting Gov. Rick Scott and his recently
proposed universal private school voucher scheme. Numerous
organizations including Public Education Matters, Floridians Against
Rick Scott, Florida New Majority, and others forwarded our alert to
their own networks helping us educate more than 130,000 Floridians
about Gov. Scott's attack on public education. We also took the story
away from rightwing foot soldiers, including Dick Morris and Ralph
Reed, by highlighting their radical agenda for Florida's schools.
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=GRFt8-WpbsR13mU2ShQq0Q..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=jEq0BcVlqXoWPi4kr61Csw..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=20mpRKfgwDLHqlPaDbi3Mw..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=MuU2dWsDAAUwGwIxGMe94w..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=o39YAojZf17fDqJwV2dW8g..

ProgressMichigan
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=eeFFm-kGIPZ71y5H0n-nsA..

From throwing a media spotlight on Michigan's Fred Upton and his
attack on Clean Air Act enforcement as the new U.S. House Energy
Chair, to organizing labor and progressive reaction to Republican
Governor Rick Snyder's State of the State address, Progress Michigan
worked behind the scenes developing aggressive January earned media
and online advocacy effort for its partners, serving a vital role in a
state where we need to keep fighting strong on our side.

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=cpwnk_0T-J0R8zFNgU_K5A..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=RTVKPJc133-n2RuaERtcpg..

Bold Nebraska
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=X8rbI3FC5FBg4Vt9m94STg..

Bold Nebraska was featured in the Washington Post for it's fantastic
organizing work to stop the TransCanada tar sands pipeline. Because of
Bold Nebrask's work, three bills have been introduced to regulate the
project - a stark contrast when just months ago every state
senator and the Governor told the press they had "no role" in ensuring
pipeline regulation and safety. Almost half of Nebraska's state
legislature (both R and D) sent a joint letter to Sec. Clintonurging
her to do more studies before deciding on the permit to allow the
pipeline to be built.

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=AbIPDq-ftxCYk7TDabOM2w..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=dmXYHW4BXYiwbqtV40Oumg..

Granite State Progress
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=FtQ3MtXdUKhm3INx49zcCA..

Granite State Progress has been hard at work to launch Camp Courage,
two weekends of an intensive training on how to talk to our
legislators, friends, family and community members about the
importance of equality through our own stories and experiences. Based
on the model developed by the Courage Campaign, these trainings across
New Hampshireempowered individuals to have "Courageous Conversations"
about their personal reasons for supporting marriage equality. Working
in local teams, we established ways to strengthen equality in our
community and at the State House, one person at a time.
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=l_IwLL3a1u8-HfUoK79PkA..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=6SsbVymyIar5SARSKiDiKQ..

ProgressNow Nevada
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=xOd2ZcG3j-LP9f97FvTtGg..

ProgressNow Nevada has worked to organize and mobilize the Nevada
Values Coalition with hundreds of thousands of members and social
service clients seeking balanced solutions to the state's budget
crisis. The coalition has garnered significant coverage in statewide
press. ProgressNow Nevada Action highlighted freshman U.S.
Representative Joe Heck's vote to repeal health insurance reform and
showcase the hypocrisy of the congressman's own insurance coverage =96
while too many Nevadans go without.
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=GZOyJL5bUA0QD2NIWorZPg..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=4STiH0Dosbc3dErdGDX3yg..

ProgressOhio
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=WcEiaOAVxuukTtBYlypyrg..

ProgressOhio's list of work in January includes connecting and
assisting dozens of progressive allies in the state - including
the Ohio AFL-CIO, Summit County Progressives, the Legislative
Progressive Caucus, PIRG and the Buckeye Forest council. Like so many
states, Ohio's budget has taken center stage and ProgressOhio is at
the center of the fight. Taking on the role of communications for the
One Ohio Now budget coalition group led to hundreds of participants at
the kickoff event and great news coverage as the legislature got to
work.

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=UGgzTApz_q9WaAIVW8_yuw..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=TV_aeDisDVEOYxjTsUgMBg..

Keystone Progress
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=1jKlV9qoAlft3hZJxMdGaw..

Keystone Progress organized the second Pennsylvania Progressive Summit
in Pittsburgh. It was attended by over 400 people, including more than
20 current and former elected officials. The Summit included 72
workshops with keynote speaker Rev. Jesse Jackson, who inspired and
motivated the crowd. The event has since been attacked by right wing
media, including Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh who targeted Rev.
Jackson's remarks, and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review who editorialized
against PA State Education Association's sponsorship of the Summit.
(We know we're doing something right when Beck and Limbaugh come after
us!)
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=runPMa5IEo6qOBsXfgICeg..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=DCC7S2W54Jaw6YGiwhRHUg..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=5q36wl6l63jLKj8DvcD0sA..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=-xabr9KxQ1jGGU9CVrNIaA..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=qhPNQl5NhAwNkmA95UA03Q..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=ar4PO5uxK7ULyZQPQQg3eQ..

Fuse Washington
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=K_mPYjhRdw-SdeL_Enr7VQ..

Fuse Washington is the coalition lead for budget work framing the
solutions in terms that favor our side. Our work makes sure everyone
knows what they stand for on the other side: tax loopholes for
corporations, cutting health care coverage for families and growing
class sizes for your kids. News coverage is reflecting this frame,
changing the debate in a big way.

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=AXfURGT2IIgV0NxZlpgDLw..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=QVZgXU0sI-P7e6IGBbOCVQ..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=1tUTJ4SDqctzD5M6yV_heg..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=A9uaHp3dOIFgEoTtQo0pXA..

One Wisconsin Now
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=I0-usL7UBntHH7R67bN9fw..

One Wisconsin Now began 2011 hosting "Rock the Pantry," a progressive
rally and music event attended by over 350 to counter the inaugural
events of the new conservative governor and legislative majorities in
Wisconsin. One Wisconsin Now's successful fundraiser for Wisconsin
food pantries contrasted with Gov. Scott Walker's partisan campaign
and Republican Party fundraiser in the media, including television,
radio and print.One Wisconsin Now was at the heart of a national news
story when right wing Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth
told a school that teaching age appropriate sexual education
coursework was a form of "sexual assault of children." After filing a
lawsuit against Southworth when he failed to fulfill an open records
request about email communications between himself and
ultra-conservative extremist organizations, he settled the case in
January, turned over the records and paid One Wisconsin Now's full
legal fees and statutory damages.

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=ZSs_N6l5pN4haZagxp7Law..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=WtMAXNbiQW4hhD1YfI0njQ..
http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=c87xYY6xD_ZpwqEog_4i6A..

http://www.pnstate.org/site/R?i=AbPSAT0VuSLCQMZtAc-j-w..

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