First
I found in on michaelmoore.com, that in October, the antiwar group Iraq Veterans Against War, which spoke to the Armed Services Commitee about offenses they committed in Iraq, dubbed the Winter Solider campaign, will be doing a similar operation, the ( this is not imaginative ) N.East.. Winter Soldier, starting the 4th of that month. Its in Rochester. If anyone at EFD knows anyone who may be interested, details are at http://rochesterturning.com/2008/07/28/whats-goin-on-t-roundup-71808 Much of the info here is preliminary.
It may change. 

Also
the DNC Convention, from August 24-28, is nearing. While its unlikely, if anyone is interested in making plans, or informing others about the event, the address is: 
http://realdemocracy2008.org. I don`t know who, or if anyone still lives in my area, but if they might enjoy that.

One more thing:
there is also a grassroots groups called AskNadler2Impeach.org
I don`t know what EFD`s position is on the impeachment matter, but they have been trying to convince Rep. Jerrold Nadler D-NY 8th, to formally endorse impeachment hearings for Pres. Bush and Vice P. Cheney. They have attempted to run a primary challenger against Nadler, on the base grounds of a Cal. primary who succeded in “scaring” a Dem opposed to voting in favor of mpeachment hearings. Well, the AskNadler candidate, Adam Sullivan, failed to qualify, due to  tech. electoral glich, but for non-related purposes Nadler seemed to drop his personal opposition at  the “sorta” impeachment hearing in the HJC last Friday, on the 24. They have been gaining but still need some help. 

If anyone`s interested in them, a signable petition is on their site homepage, AskNadler2Impeach.org, and they can contact Bernadette Evangelist, one of the members, at sleet15@nyc.rr.com
or Jim McCabe, at mccabe_jim@hotmail.com. Most agree its too late for full impeachment but at the least the House alone, should consider a formal inquiry. If there`s a problem, please RE before Fri. Thanks.

The East Fishkill Democratic Committee meets on the second Wednesday of every month in the Alley Room of the East Fishkill Community Library at 7:00 pm.

The Town of East Fishkill is hosting a public forum by [members of] the Dutchess County Environmental Committee on July 21st at 7:00 PM at the East Fishkill Town Hall.

Dutchess County Legislators Marge Horton, Rob Weiss, Alison MacAvery, David Kelly, Joel Tyner, and Peter Wassell, as well as Town Supervisor John Hickman, will be on hand to listen to the public regarding environmental issues of concern. This will be a good chance to discuss environmental issues with your Legislators; public input and suggestions are welcome.

For more information contact Environmental Committee Chair Joel Tyner at 876-2488 [or 489-5479) or Deputy Environmental Committee Chair Peter Wassell at 350-1007.

“I am running for office because I believe that everyone should have the promise of opportunity to make a good life for themselves. My first priority will be making sure that no one in our district has to pay an unfair share of their income for property taxes. We need to be doing more to find alternatives to property taxes, to promote our local businesses, and to develop an economic base which can profit from our tremendous agricultural resources and the rise in environmentally centered industries like alternative energy,” said Anne Rubin.

She continued, “I decided to run because I believe that politics should be about communities working together to grow and prosper. I see all around me the consequences of business as usual in Albany, and am convinced that we need to find new ways of growing our local economies, keeping our farms viable, and making the Hudson Valley affordable for all our families.”

Candidates for the Assembly must collect 500 signatures to get on the ballot in November. In less than a week, through her own drive, and by inspiring dozens of volunteers, Anne has exceeded this number. It is virtually unprecedented for a candidate to gather this many signatures in such a short time.

“Anne Rubin is exactly the kind of candidate that the Democratic Party and the people of the district need in the race for New York’s 103rd Assembly seat. Her work on the Conservation Advisory Council in the Town of Red Hook gives her the insight necessary to help maintain the Hudson Valley’s character while investing in new infrastructure and economic growth,” said Ira Margulies, President of the Dutchess County Young Democrats.

“Anne Rubin’s grasp of the issues that people are concerned about in the Hudson Valley is phenomenal. Her energy and deep understanding of the environmental and economic issues we face will make her a great advocate for us in the Assembly”, said Victor Mendolia, Chairman of the Hudson City Democratic Committee.

An official signature count will be released Wednesday night, after all petitions have been collected and gathered in one place.

Please meet us Friday, July 11 at Town Hall at 8:00 A.M. The whole cleanup should only take a few hours. Any help is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, please contact Bill directly at wdahncke@frontiernet.net

Since deciding to run, I have been astounded at the outpouring of support and assistance from volunteers around the 103rd Assembly District. I owe many of you a great deal for the help you have provided throughout the last week.

However, due to the shortened time frame I am facing, we are very concerned that we will not be able to reach the required number of signatures to get on the ballot.

I am running in this race because I believe that the promise of a better future belongs to everyone in the 103rd Assembly District, not just a few special interests in Albany.

I am running because I see the crushing economic burden faced by too many of our citizens, because I see our seniors and young people leaving the state, our farms and small businesses closing down, and when I see these problems, I know that I owe it to my children, and the rest of the Hudson Valley, to strive for a better, more sustainable future for our region and our state.  I want to work with the people of my district to support economic growth by creating incentives for new kinds of businesses to come in, especially those that sustain the environment.  We can work together to make the Hudson Valley green and prosperous, a place that our children will want to raise their children.

We have worked on many of the same causes over the years, and I look forward to fighting side by side with you into November and beyond. However, right now, until Wednesday night, I need your help. We need to make one last effort to push the signature count over the legal threshold.

As a nation, state and individual communities, this is our year to step back from the old ways of doing business and start down the path to stronger, more vibrant communities, and greater opportunities for all Americans.    We must once again become that shining example of real freedom from want and fear, we must come together and chart a different course for this new century.  There is a brighter future that awaits us, if we are willing to work together for it.

I will be out petitioning until Wednesday night at 9 PM, and I ask that you do the same. The County HQ will be open until 10 PM to drop off petitions so that we can submit them Thursday morning, and there will also be a location in Red Hook.

If you need walk lists or petitions, call Pat Kelly at 845-325-2659.

With my sincere thanks,
Anne Rubin

Thanks to everyone who showed up Saturday at Gian Bruno’s in Hopewell. There was a quite a turnout and we couldn’t have done it without you. It was great to see  Congressman John Hall come out and support our local candidates. Joan Posner kicked off the event and Ken Dow reminded us all that Dutchess County isn’t as Republican as it used to be.

Next to speak was Anne Rubin, Candidate for the 103rd. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting her, she will be at our August meeting to speak  and take questions. Anne is quite passionate about fairness and transparency in government.

Congressman Hall spoke last to acknowlege local candidates and his support for them. The congressman thanked us all for our help in his efforts in Congress and said he was glad to pitch in on the final push for our local candidates.

The congressman also spoke about the importance of supporting Senator Obama in his bid for the presidency. He said, as we knew, that he had been a Clinton supporter. However, he said, it is time to rally around Senator Obama. Democrats who are leaning toward McCain—or who are thinking of not voting—are failing to consider the possibility of 100 years in Iraq and, also important, that the next president will likely fill two Supreme Court Seats.

All the candidates answered questions and mingled for a little while. Then the petitions were divied up, routes handed out and we were off!

Thanks again to all who helped out!

And a special thank you to the organizers and to those who made the walking lists, maps and all!!
This will be a big help to all of us.

It’s going to be a great year for Democrats in Dutchess County!!
Joan