JMO4Rep Update - Information for Nov. 4 Election

Friends, Allies, and Contituents,

I know you're probably feeling campaign fatigue, but just like having a baby, some processes shouldn't be rushed. Many of our friends and neighbors wait until the last minute to decide how they are going to vote. The materials that I reference below may help them. Share as you may find appropriate.

Vote for Change: Barack Obama for President
If you missed the 27 minute message broadcast last night, here's a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtREqAmLsoA

And if you haven't seen Ron Howard's very cute video featuring the 2008 versions of Opie and Andy Taylor and Richie Cunningham and the Fonz, see it here:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc65ed650d/
ron-howards-call-to-action-from-ron-howard-and-henry-winkler

Never underestimate your potential to influence how your family, friends, and co-workers vote. Have you considered sending a personal endorsement for Obama to your address list? Let them know why you think he is the best choice and invite them to be in dialogue with you.

Also, see my commentary endorsing Obama/Biden at:
http://thevitalvoice.com/node/1697

I also hope you'll watch this the Brave New Films video about the ACORN voter registration controversy and John McCain's attack on ACORN at:
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2749/t/3925/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=488

Time to Recover from Blunt Trauma

The state is in a mess. Unemployment is up. Tuition costs are up. The number of uninsured Missourians is up. I believe the Democratic team of statewide candidates (Nixon, Zweifel, et al) can move Missouri forward on all these issues.

The key to victory? High turnout in the Democratic strongholds such as the St. Louis Region. On Saturday, Sunday, and again on Election Day, we need volunteers to take door-hangers to the homes of infrequent voters who lean Democratic. We also will have phone banks from Nov. 1-4. If you can help in either effort, please call Melissa at 314-225-2357 to sign up for a shift. Please tell her that I asked you to call.

Statewide Ballot Issues

Here's how I'm voting on the five statewide ballot issues:

Amendment 1 - No
Amendment 4 - Yes
Proposition A - No
Proposition B - Yes
Proposition C - Yes

For those who want to know more about these issues, I have a nine page briefing document (in Word format) that explains the details, including arguments for and against. Request it by replying to this e-mail or calling 314-771-8882.

The most difficult issue for me was Proposition A, because some of the economic arguments for the measure appeal to me. However, I have been so offended by what I see as deceit in the messages supporters are using that I cannot reward them with my Yes vote. For example, the mail I receive on Prop A frames this as a schools issue, when it's really about the gambling industry. One piece shared how many millions of dollars schools in "the greater St. Louis Region" would receive, without revealing that St. Louis Public Schools and the majority of St. Louis County school districts will receive ZERO funds from Prop A.

For a comparison of how Missouri school districts fare with Prop A, see:

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divadm/finance/documents/Prop_A_Comparison.pdf

St. Louis Public Schools are on page 12 (#115).

For more on controversy surrounding how Prop A is marketed, see:

http://ky3.blogspot.com/2008/10/southwest-mo-teachers-name-incorrectly.html

What About the Judges?
The best information I've found is at:
http://www.mobar.org/data/judges08/index.htm

Surrounding Our Schools with Care Update
Here's a great way to help a St. Louis area teacher provide the resources
she needs for her students:
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=223198&utm_source=tea
chers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TeacherMarketing


Community Announcements
Thanks to those who came out for the Power to the Progressive People Progressive Party on Cherokee Street on Oct. 20. We raised about $4,800 for the Take Back the House effort. You can still give in these final days of the 2008 General Election season by going to:
http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19294

Related to the Oct. 20 event, we celebrated 12 highlights from LGBT history in Missouri. Write me for a list (compiled by Philip Deitch), and you may also enjoy this link for a daily celebration during LGBT History month (October):

http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2008/icon.cfm?id=30

Don't forget the Stroganoff Dinner fundraiser at Epiphany UCC this Saturday, Nov. 1. It's at 2911 McNair in the Benton Park Neighborhood and will help Epiphany raise needed funds. The menu is Beef or Portabella Mushroom Stroganoff with Noodles, just like Grandma used to make, plus salad, dessert, and beverages. It's from 5:30-7 p.m., and the ticket is $8 for adults, $5 for children, and children under five eat for free.

There will be raffle items and door prizes as well - with fun items like Cardinals tickets or gift certificates to restaurants. RSVP to 314-772-0263 and specify whether you want beef or vegetarian so we'll be ready when you come.

Some upcoming dates to remember:

November 4 - Election Day (Go Vote and take five friends!)

November 16 - Transgender Day of Remembrance

December 1 - World AIDS Day

JMO

JMO4Rep Update - The Change We Need in November: Education Edition

Friends, Allies, and Constituents,

This is the third in a series of issues briefings in preparation for the Nov. 4 election. In the previous two newsletters I shared information about healthcare and the economy. The focus for this issue is education, both elementary/secondary and higher education. Here are a few important facts about Missouri's well-being under the educational policies of the Blunt administration (and I'll be glad to e-mail you the full briefing document if you request it):

K-12 and Higher Education Briefing

- The GOP-led General Assembly Does the Bare Minimum for K-12 Schools. In 2008, a $121 million increase in the formula for distributing state money to local school districts was approved, the bare minimum required by state law. The budget does not fully fund public education; it only fully funds the portion of education spending covered by the "new" formula that is slowly being phased in over seven years. The "new" formula accounts for just 45 percent of total spending. The "old" formula this year accounts for the remaining 55 percent and is just partially funded. The
additional $121 million for the formula is within the standard range of increases public schools traditionally receive each year. It does not represent a true increase in the state’s financial commitment to public schools.

In addition, The budget continues to shortchange school districts on transportation costs. With fuel prices nearing $4 a gallon, the expense of transporting students is causing severe strain on school budgets.

- Under Matt Blunt The High School Graduation Rate Decreased. Prior to Matt Blunt entering office, high school graduation rates were inclining. But during the 2005 – 2006 school year, the high school graduation rate dropped; this rate remained the same for the 2006 – 2007 school year. [Missouri Department of Education Accountability Report, 2006 – 2007 School Year; http://dese.mo.gov/commissioner/statereportcard/src.pdf ]

- Missouri Students Have An Average Student Debt Of $18,635 When They Graduate From 4 Year Institutions. Missouri students have an average student debt of $18,635 upon graduation from a four year institution. [Project On Student Debt, September 2007;
http://projectonstudentdebt.org/files/pub//State_by_State_report_FINAL.pdf]

- Missouri Ranks 47th Among Per Capita Higher Education Funding.
According to an editorial in the Springfield News-Leader, "Indeed, our state's higher education institutions are among our greatest assets when they are given the resources to keep our future intellectual assets, our students, in Missouri, learning here and working here. Yet even with this year's one-time capital infusion of more than $300 million dollars statewide, our state still falls behind almost every other state in the nation in terms of higher education funding per capita. Missouri ranks an abysmal 47th in fiscal year per capita higher education spending according to the Center for the Study of Education Policy. Our border states all rank significantly higher. Nebraska is 9th; Kentucky is 11th; Kansas is 13th; Arkansas is 14th; Iowa is 18th; Oklahoma is 19th. Only Illinois at 32nd and Tennessee at 35th come close to Missouri's poor performance." [Editorial, Springfield News-Leader, 7/15/2007]

Ballot Initiative Recommendations

There are five statewide constitutional amendments or petition initiatives on the Nov. 4 ballot. Here are some facts about each and my recommendations for votes on some of them (and if you would like a longer explanation of any of these, I have full briefing documents available - simply email me with your request):

Amendment 1: This would add a new section to Article I of the Missouri Constitution – the state’s Bill of Rights – establishing English as the official language of Missouri government proceedings. Please join me in voting NO. This is yet another willy-nilly attempt to amend the state constitution for no good reason. State statutes already acknowledge that English is Missouri's common language. There is no history of government proceedings in Missouri being conducted in languages other than English. This initiative plays on anti-immigrant fears and would make Missouri a
less welcoming place for global business and global tourism.

Amendment 4: This would make it easier for water and sewer districts to obtain tax-free grants and loans from the state. The Metropolitan Sewer District has many expensive jobs ahead to make sure our drinking water is safe, so I will be voting YES.

Proposition A: I'm sure you've seen those beautiful blue billboards with the shiny apple saying Prop A is for our schools and for our economy. Well, there's more to it than that. Prop A would remove Missouri's unique in the nation loss limit at casinos ($500 per two hour "cruise"). It would also cap the number of casinos at 13 (the 12 we have now and one more that is under construction), and it would increase gross receipts tax on casinos to 21 percent from the current 20, thus making more money
available to education.

However, Prop A was written by the gambling industry, and they have raised at least $8.6 million to secure its passage. It is dubbed within the statutory language of the proposal as "The Schools First Elementary and Secondary Education Funding Initiative." That name has been criticized as misleading because it creates the appearance that the focus of Prop A is education measure rather gambling. It also should be noted that bills filed in the legislature to remove the loss limits offered a better deal to the state, raising gross tax receipts to 22 or 23 percent.

Finally, a group of superintendants are questioning whether Prop A does what advertisements claim, and they also suggest that no new funds would be allocated to St. Louis Public Schools through the ballot measure. Read more at: http://www.semissourian.com/article/20081014/NEWS01/710149907

Unless I hear more convincing arguments, I'll vote NO on Prop A. I prefer an alternative - negotiate a better deal with the gambling industry in the Legislature and increase funding for our schools by making our income tax system more modern, fair, adequate, and sustainable ("the Tax Justice for a Healthy Missouri plan").

Proposition B: This initiative would create a Missouri Quality Homecare Council, an eleven-member public authority to ensure the availability and improve the quality of home care services by recruiting, training and stabilizing the personal care attendant workforce. The Council would consist of a majority of governor-appointed consumers and consumer advocates, providing them with a real voice to improve the home care system in Missouri and would fall under the Department of Health and
Senior Services.

The Quality Home Care Council would recommend minimum qualifications and offer voluntary training for workers. It would also prepare Missouri’s long term care system for future growth and help contain Medicaid costs.

In addition, it would allow workers to have a voice in the system through a union, if they elect to do so. Similar councils have been created in several other states with positive results. Academic studies of one state’s program found that workforce turnover fell 57 percent over a five-year period. The supply of workers also increased by 54 percent, and consumers reported greater satisfaction with services following the wage and benefit improvements. I urge a YES vote on Prop B.

Proposition C: This is the Clean Energy Initiative which would require Missouri investor-owned electric utilities (Ameren, Empire, Aquila, and KCP&L) to get 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021.

Renewables are defined as clean sources of energy like wind, solar, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects. According to Missouri Coalition for the Environment, 26 states have passed a similar policy often known as a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). Instead, Missouri has a voluntary standard that does not hold utilities accountable to use clean energy.

Currently, 86% of Missouri's electricity comes from coal, and pollution from these plants has been linked to asthma and lung disease. Coal fired power plants are also the biggest contributor to climate change, so finding cleaner ways to produce electricity is very important to our planet’s future.

Are you saying, "Sounds good, but what will it cost me?" The other states with this policy have not experienced rate increases. Instead, diversifying the power supply by developing America's homegrown renewable energy resources can help shield consumers from spikes in energy prices over time. And there’s an insurance policy for voters in the ballot language - the Clean Energy Initiative includes a 1% rate increase cap. I
urge a YES vote on Prop C.

Reminder for Election Day: Choose the Paper Ballot

Choose to use the Opti-Scan paper ballot. Overall it can save time, and we're expecting huge turnout on Nov. 4. In addition, the paper ballot offer more information and stand up better to a recount if one is needed. Ask your friends to choose the paper ballot.

Obama News

I contributed a quote to an LGBT Voices press release sent out by Obama for America last week, and it was an honor to be asked to do so.

Of course the big news is the "Change We Need" rally with Barack Obama at the Gateway Arch on Saturday, October 18. Gates open at 10:15 a.m., and the program begins at noon. For more information or to register, go to:
http://mo.barackobama.com/StLouisChange

Supporters of Barack Obama have certainly been offering us some fun musical endorsements. You may enjoy these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycu0sy5RW8

http://www.myamericanprayer.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJW67YfLWgs

Surrounding Our Schools with Care

It was great fun to serve breakfast to the Roosevelt High School Rough Riders football team on Oct. 11. The team has a great record this year. Go out and show your support on Oct. 18. They play Webster Groves High School at home, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Wear red or white to show your support.

Take Back the House Campaign

According to an article by Brent Martin on Missournet, "There is no doubt Republicans are in a defensive position this year, wholly apart from political trends across the nation that appear to favor Democrats. There are 67 state representative races in which there is no opposition; 44 Democrats and 23 Republicans. That leaves 96 contested races in the House; 49 Republican incumbents face opponents, 20 Democrats face opponents. It is, of course, difficult to unseat an incumbent, though both Republican and Democratic officials have at least a handful targeted. Most officials believe about seven or eight Republican seats are competitive with only three or four Democratic seats competitive. The 27 contested races without an incumbent in them will form the true battleground for control of the House. Democrats need to pick up 11 seats to win control of the majority."

You have the chance to help Democrats take back the majority by coming to a party this Monday night, Oct. 20, 5-7 p.m. It's the Power to the Progressive People Progressive Party on Cherokee Street in honor of LGBT History Month. I will be a special guest along with Representative-Elect Mike Colona of the 67th District. See the attached flyer for more details.

Community Announcements

The Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life at UM-St. Louis will be showing a movie at COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue in University City, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. It's a fundraiser for $15 (or $25 which includes a reception with the director). The movie is called "What's Your Point, Honey?" To learn more, go to:
http://www.umsl.edu/~iwpl/events/whats-your-point-honey.html

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25th from 5-7 pm for CHARIS' annual Pasta Extravaganza at First Divine Science Church, 3617 Wyoming. Once again, CHARIS - The St Louis Women's Chorus will offer all you can eat pasta, salad, bread and a dessert bar catered by Chef David Hietter. The menu includes vegetarian pasta primavera, blackened chicken alfredo with mushrooms, and traditional penne and meat sauce. Tea and lemonade are available or you can bring your own bottle. Dinner is $12
for adults and $5 for children 3-12.

And continue to eat for a good cause on Saturday, Nov. 1, as Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair, presents Beef or Portabella Mushroom Stroganoff with Noodles, just like Grandma used to make. It's from 5:30-7 p.m., and the ticket is $8 for adults, $5 for children, and children under five eat for free. There will be raffle items and door prizes as well.

And finally, it's a great time to make a financial contribution to PROMO, our statewide LGBT civil rights advocacy organization, since it's LGBT History Month and since a matching funds challenge is going on for the month of October. A benefactor will match your gifts dollar-for-dollar, up to $12,500. Send checks to PROMO, 438 N. Skinker, St. Louis, MO 63130.

Happy LGBT History Month to all!

JMO

JMO4Rep Update - The Change We Need In October: Jobs & The Economy Edition

Friends, Allies, and Constituents,

In my last newsletter I began a series of briefings about key issues in Missouri and the importance of the Nov. 4 election. Healthcare was my first focus, and the current turmoil on Wall Street (and Main Street) has led me to choose jobs and the economy as Issue # 2.

Here are a few facts about Missouri's economy during the Blunt era:
Missourians Saw Their Grocery Prices Increase By 5% In The First Quarter Of 2008. [Kansas City Star, 4/4/2008]
Missouri's Unemployment Rate Is 6.4% - Highest Rate In Almost Two Decades.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in July, Missouri's unemployment rate rose to 6.4%. Missouri's unemployment rate is at its highest mark since October 1991. Missouri's unemployment rate is also higher than the national unemployment rate which is 5.7%. Missouri's unemployment rate is currently the 14th highest in the country. [Analysis of Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Data,
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?series_id=LASST290000
03&data_tool=XGtable]

Missouri Has Lost More than 20,000 Manufacturing Jobs Since 2005.
According to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Missouri has lost 21,700 manufacturing jobs since Matt Blunt took office in January of 2005.
[Analysis of Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Data]
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?series_id=SMS29000003
00000001&data_tool=XGtable]

Missouri Ranked 37th Overall in Growth from 2006 to 2007.
According to recent U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data, Missouri ranks 37th among
the states overall in growth from 2006 to 2007. Missouri's real gross domestic product increased 1.3% from 2006 to 2007 according to advance estimates. [Analysis of Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Data Release, 6/5/08,
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/2008/pdf/gsp0608.pdf]

Missouri Ranked Behind All But Two States In Average Annual Wage Growth.
In 2007, Missourians' paychecks grew more slowly than all but two states, as Missouri ranked 48th in average annual pay growth.
[CFED, 1/18/2008; http://www.cfed.org/focus.m?parentid=34&siteid=2346&id=2346]

Missouri Foreclosures Filings Increased 73% In The Past Year.
Missouri had the 18th highest foreclosure rate in May, according to RealtyTrac's
May foreclosure activity report. Foreclosure filings increased 73% since July 2007. [Press Release, RealtyTrac, 8/14/2008
http://www.realtytrac.com/ContentManagement/pressrelease.aspx?ChannelID=9
&ItemID=5041&accnt=64847]

For the complete Quick Facts on Missouri document sharing even more facts about jobs and the economy, healthcare, and higher education, simply write me at jmo4rep AT juno.com. You may also be interested in today's Post-Dispatch editorial about Blunt's record on healthcare:
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/published-editorials/2008/0
9/thursday-editorial-misleanding-missouri-on-health-care/

In other state news:

MoDOT Scraps Private Financing for the Bridge Plan
Because of the continuing collapse of the national credit market, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission voted on Sept. 18 to scrap an ambitious funding plan under which a single contractor would privately finance the repair of 802 bridges over five years and then maintain them over the following 25 years and receive annual payments from the state during the duration of the contract. Instead the commission will sell its own bonds to pay for the project.
The Missouri Department of Transportation first proposed its Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program in September 2006. MoDOT officials had hoped to pay a contractor around $50 million a year to finance, construct and maintain the bridges in the plan. The tight lending market, however, pushed the cost estimates to as high as $74 million a year, which MoDOT officials said was unaffordable. The selling of additional bonds will add to the $2.62 billion in debt the department has racked up in recent years.

MOHELA Misses Another Payment to the State
The national economic downturn has caused the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to miss another scheduled payment to Gov. Matt Blunt's college construction program. Under a controversial 2007 law, MOHELA is required to make $5 million quarterly payments to the state. With its missed September payment, MOHELA is currently $8.6 million in arrears. When the governor's plan was debated in the General Assembly, opponents warned that an economic downturn could make it difficult for MOHELA to make its payments and threaten the financial health of the agency, which subsequently posted the first financial losses in its history.

Amendment 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot: English as the Official Language for
Government Proceedings
Amendment 1 would add a new section to Article I of the Missouri Constitution - the state's Bill of Rights - establishing English as the official language of Missouri government proceedings.

The General Assembly placed the measure on the Nov. 4, 2008, ballot with the passage of HJR 7 during the 2007 legislative session. HJR 7 passed 25-7 in the Senate and 127-29 in the House of Representatives. (I voted no.)

The language of the proposed new section is:

"Section 34. That English shall be the language of all official proceedings in this state. Official proceedings shall be limited to any meeting of a public governmental body at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy formulated, whether such meeting is conducted in person or by means of communication equipment, including, but not limited to, conference call, video conference, Internet chat, or Internet message board. The term "official proceeding" shall not include an informal gathering of members of a public governmental body for ministerial or social purposes, but the term shall include a public vote of all or a majority of the members of a public governmental body, by electronic communication or any other means, conducted in lieu of holding an official proceeding with the members of the public governmental body gathering at one location in order to conduct public business."

Supporters say the proposal would formally reinforce in the Missouri Constitution the reality that English is the language of state and local government.

Opponents (including me) say the measure is unnecessary because of the reality that English is the language of state and local government. Amending the constitution to make the statement that English is the state's dominant language is also redundant, they say, because state law already establishes English as Missouri's "common language." (RSMo. 1.028: "The general assembly recognizes that English is the common
language used in Missouri and recognizes that fluency in English is necessary for the full integration into our common American culture for reading readiness.") I also believe the measure promotes anti-immigrant sentiment and plays on anti-immigrant fears.

Candidate Spotlight

I've been telling you about some great Democratic candidates who can help us Take Back the House in the November elections (like Jeanne Kirkton, Deb Lavender, Vicki Lorenz Englund, etc.). But Dems not only need to charge ahead to take some seats this fall, we also have to play defense. In the 2006 elections, Democrats were able net a five seat gain, and the GOP is especially targeting two of those winners: Tom Shively in District 8 and Rebecca McClanahan in District 2. Both had excellent first terms as Freshman Democrats, and they are worthy of your support.

Tom Shively represents part of Linn, Macon, Shelby and Sullivan counties, and his vocation has been farming and agricultural vocational education. Tom has been a strong ally for labor and public education issues. He has been a strong advocate for local control related to public health and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's). In fact, he defeated a pro-CAFO champion to win his seat in 2006. Learn how to help keep Tom in office by going to his website:

http://www.tomshively.com/index.html

Rebecca McClanahan is a nurse and educator, specializing in community mental health nursing (only the third nurse to serve in the history of the MO Legislature). She has been a strong voice against the Medicaid cuts and for Medicaid restoration, and she is a strong advocate for our schools. Help Rebecca win re-election by going to:

http://www.rebeccamcclanahan.com/district2/

In addition, I'd like to invite you to meet my House colleague Sam Page, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, on Sunday, October 5, 2008, from 3-5 p.m. at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood 63143.

Also this link may be of interest to your deaf friends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8-A3IS7NwI

Jenny Page, Sam's wife, has deaf parents, so she and her mother have made a video about Sam, utilizing American Sign Language.

My Sympathy to the Parker Family

Condolences are extended to the family of Sherman Parker, a former colleague in the House of Representatives who recently died at age 37 of an aneurysm. An African American Republican from St. Charles County, Rep. Parker voted against the Medicaid cuts and often tried to steer his party in a more compassionate direction around social welfare policy. He and I appeared on several panels together over the years, and I found him to be a really good guy. He will be missed!

Surrounding Our Schools With Care Update

The Special Administrative Board of the St. Louis Public Schools was scheduled to announce its choice for superintendent during its Sept. 25 board meeting. I continue to grieve the loss of Dr. Diana Bourisaw, but will work hard with the new superintendent to continue the progress that was being made under Dr. Bourisaw.

ARCHS is sponsoring a conference on Partnerships for Lifelong Learning at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park on Saturday, October 11, from 8:30 a.m.-noon (and beginning with a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.).
For more details, see: http://www.stlarchs.org/

Community Announcements

- The Invest in Children Campaign is planning a rally at the Vice Presidential debate at Washington University on October. Speakers will be Nathan Ross, a former foster youth, and Michael Petit of Every Child Matters. Meet at the southeast corner of Skinker and Forsyth on the grass in Forest Park at 4:45 pm. Then, the group will proceed to the VP Debate Public Viewing Area on the Washington University Campus (or go directly there if arriving late).

R.S.V.P. - All participants need to R.S.V.P in advance to Cathi Martarella at (314) 504-1573, or you can CLICK HERE to send an email to Cathi.Martarella@bgtm.org. For more information, see: http://www.e-mcca.org/investinkids.php

- Help Barack Obama win Missouri! After Saturday, September 27, 2008, there will be exactly 10 days left to register voters. We need your help canvassing door to door, in high traffic areas and special events in your neighborhood as we strive to reach a history making goal of knocking on 50,000 doors in the greater St. Louis area!. Please sign up and we'll connect you with the Neighborhood team that covers your area. There will be three shifts: 10-1, 1-4, and 4-7.

To sign up for the 50,000 Knocks for Barack in your area, please click this link:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p3qRGZewCdmf0oDeiDxsXDA
From: Steve Walker / Regional Field Director / Missouri Region 10, 314.324.9072 / swalker@mocampaignforchange.org

- 2008 Fall Rehabbers Club Classes: ReVitalize St. Louis and the St. Louis Rehabbers Club are excited to announce that the 2008 Fall Rehabbers Club Classes will be sponsored by St. Louis Chapter of AIA [American Institute of Architects] Bookstore. They are located at 911 Washington Avenue in the Lammert Building downtown. This location is centrally-located, close to MetroLink and MetroBus lines, on-street
parking is plentiful and it is fully accessible. Their intimate and dynamic venue and our knowledge - what a partnership!

Classes begin on Wednesday, October 1st at 7:00 p.m. and the semester will run for eight consecutive weeks. Sessions are two hours long and there is time set aside during each class for Q&A. Topics include: Buying A Foreclosure; Pioneering Partnerships; Funding Your Rehab; Working With A Contractor; Neighbors in Action; Real Estate Law 101; Green Rehabbing; and Smart Landlording.

The fee for each class is $10 or you can purchase the eight-class package for $70. Class size is extremely limited so reserve your seat now. Details and descriptions are provided on the website at http://www.rehabbersclub.org/classes.html

You can purchase your seat with a PayPal interface that accepts credit and debit cards as well as checks.

- Immigrants and The Constitution will be the topic of an address by Lucas Guttentag, Founding Director of ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project on Thursday October 16 2008 - 6:30-8pm at the ACLU offices, 454 Whittier Street 63108. It's free and open to the public. RSVPs encouraged, but not required. Phone 314-652-3114 ext 23.

- Taste of the South Side: DeSales Community Housing Corporation's annual "A Taste of The South Side" fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, October 24 at the beautiful Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a spread of food from a variety of popular south side restaurants and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 each, or two for $60. Each ticket includes two drink tickets. All proceeds benefit DeSales Community Housing Corporation, which has been a major force in
stabilizing and improving the near south side of St. Louis for many years. The Palm House is a historic, renovated 19th-century greenhouse and offers a unique atmosphere in which to socialize, sample delicious foods, and help a worthy cause. For tickets, contact Christian Saller at 314-771-3958.

- Congratulations to Humanitri for achieving full compliance with all 20 charity accountability standards of the Better Business Bureau.

- Green Homes and Renewable Energy Festival at Grandel Square on Saturday, Sept. 27. We still need volunteers! The Dancing in the Streets Festival runs from 1-9 p.m. on Grand Ave. Make it a day of education and art for the planet and its people. There's a solar car race (and more) for the kids and workshops (and more) for the adults according to Kat Logan Smith of Coalition for the Environment. For more details, see:
http://www.moenviron.org/

And a final invitation from our household
My partner Dorothy, a hospice chaplain, will be ordained as a minister in the United Church of Christ at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 16, at Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair. You are invited to attend this very important occasion in our lives. Please RSVP to 314-772-0263 to help us plan for our refreshment needs. (Dorothy also just celebrated a birthday on Sept. 23, and we will continue to mark that event by enjoying the Sweet Honey in the Rock concert at Edison Theater this Saturday evening.)

JMO