Monday, December 17, 2007

Upcoming Nashville MAU....

FRIDAY January 4, 10-NOON: @ Shelby Bottoms Greenway in East Nashville. Meet at main entrance. New Year kick off!! We'll chalk peaceful messages of hope for 2008 and walk / stroll / hike with trash / recycling bags to clean up our city's wonderful oasis in the metropolis. Dress for weather, bring snacks to share and / or lunch for you and yours. Rain plan will be to join the Shelby Park playgroup at the Shelby Community Center, and focus our clean up efforts nearby.

Monday January 7, Noon: @ 2nd Presbyterian on Belmont & Graybar. Join Go Green Nashville for Lunch & Learn. Details TBA.

Friday January 18, 6-8 PM: @ Friends Meeting House on @ 25th & Torbet. The first of 2008's quarterly BRING THE FAMILY Potluck Social & Salon series. The inaugural one will be a New Year feast and Mother's Day Hat Making meeting. Save up your holiday wrapping and ribbons for recycling into fancy funny fearlessly over the top or beautifully decorous hats for wear at Nashville's 2008 Mother's Day Peace Parade. Dads, partners, kids and grands can make hats, too! Mamas with complex haberdashery dreams, we can do work on these each month at Moms Night Out, or on additional gathering times. Start sketching and scheming your hat ideas now!! Bring a potluck dish, $3 per family for the Meeting House, and any art supplies you want to share.

Monday, January 28, 6:30 PM: MAUmas Night Out - details TBA. Start a folder or a list now with ideas you'd like to talk about, actions you're interested in participating in or leading, etc.


Discussion takes place on a variety of related subjects and impromptu activities come together on the
Nashville MAU yahoogroup. Check the blog for other updates. And holler with any news you think we all need to hear!!

With wintry greetings and fondest wishes,

Paige, for Nashville MAU

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Changing the Story: YES!

handbookIt's time to shop, reflect, give thanks, eat! During the upcoming feasting and holiday celebrations, may we celebrate in particular the individuals who are changing the world's story with the strength of their commitment; a story in which currently every other child lives in poverty, almost half of all war casualties are children, and global warming threatens every child's future.

Let's take time to honor mothers like the late Dame Anita Roddick who said, "I want to connect with people who share my outrage…But I also want to tell — and hear…stories that lift our spirits, that celebrate how glorious our planet is. Outrage and celebration — let's run this gamut together." Inspired leaders like Greg Mortenson who says, "When I look into the eyes of the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, I see the eyes of my own children full of wonder. I hope that we each do our part to leave them a legacy of peace." Mamas and community builders like Tiffany Bellah, who says, "Having a baby changes everything. Since that wonder-filled day 6 years ago when Grace entered this world, I have been reaching out of my comfort zone. She has made of me a responsible revolutionary, and my role as her mentor and mother has propelled me to take an active part in forming the world she will be inheriting."

People who, when our common family is threatened, find the courage and strength to change the story. This holiday season, Mothers Acting Up* cheers, stomps, whistles and in every other way honors the individuals around the world who are taking action on behalf of our future generations. YES!!!!

Purchase the 2008 MAU Handbooks for story-changing individuals,
information and actions: www.mothersactingup.org

*mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Friday, November 16, 2007

Mamamade 2007!

I'll be on hand all day tomorrow at Mamamade 2007 to sell MAU Handbooks (think of it as the Passport for the Movement, honoring the promise of our children's lives!). I'll have Nashville MAU aprons and recycled tees (see photos here for examples-- each is different!) and I'll have MAU bumperstickers, too: they're green and round and look great on strollers, water bottles, guitar cases, and wagons (both the Volvo and the Radio Flyer version). You can go home with a bumper sticker for a buck and a pledge (of your choosing) to lessen your carbon imprint and do something to green up your family's life.

With me through the day will be my boy, Ziggy, and a few of the Nashville MAU mamas; we'll be ever so glad to answer questions about our local community, help you fill out voter registration cards, sign you up for national and local action and news of community building, and in general, cheer you on... You go, mama!! Remember, being one of many Mothers Acting Up takes on many forms and is not so much one more dang thing to do, but just part of the fabric of how we live....

The 2008 Mothers Acting Up Handbook: YES!

The world's children have found a brilliant new advocate: mothers*. We're stretching our traditional roles to include publicly advocating for children and the world's children shout YES!

The 2008 Handbook includes the inspirational voices of Marion Wright Edelman (founder of the Children's Defense Fund!), Anita Roddick (The Body Shop), Harry Belafonte, Dolores Huerta, Ann Crittenden, Joan Blades (Moms Rising), Patricia Foulkrod, Muhammad Yunus, Representative Jan Schakowsky, Massouda Jalal and a whole cast of mothers* sharing their personal insights.
Designed to uniquely appeal to mothers, the Handbook addresses two of the biggest challenges to mother activism: lack of time and how overwhelming the problems seem. By offering a daily entry point (with simple actions and accessible information set in a beautiful, inspirational and lively format) the Handbook provides tools in a language that engages everyone, policy wonk and new activist alike!

Full color, 6.5 X 9 inches, soft cover & spiral bound, two year-at-a glance section.
Price: $20.00

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Upcoming actions and events.

Nashville area Mothers Acting Up upcoming actions and events:


***Nashville MAU has agreed to adopt two foster children for holiday giving through Centerstone and to do a toy drive for St. Luke’s Community House; contact Paige for details on how to contribute paige@mothersactingup.org


Friday Nov 2, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground – meet MAU co-founders Joellen Raderstorf & Beth Osnes!!


Friday Nov 2, 7:30 PM MAU Live! Theatre for Empowerment (M)other performance @ First UU Nashville, followed by discussion and refreshments


Saturday Nov 3, 9-Noon Workshop for Activism facilitated by MAU co-founder Beth Osnes @ First UU Nashville, followed by brown bag lunch AND….


Saturday Nov 3, 1 PM Girlcott of Bongo Java on Belmont—bring the family!!


Monday Nov 5, NOON Join Go Green Nashville for Lunch and Learn @ Second Presbyterian on Belmont with a talk given by earth stewards Hector & Susie Black of Cookeville, bring your own lunches


Friday Nov 9, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground


Sat Nov 10, Tennessee Statewide Church Women United Conference @ Alex Haley’s Farm in Norris; MAU Now Workshop will be presented


Sun Nov 11, 11:11 AM Worldwide Meditation for Peace with Nashville Peace Coalition and Veterans for Peace @ Centennial Park by the Parthenon


Fri Nov 16, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground


Fri Nov 16, 6-8 PM Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon Celebrate Thanksgiving by feasting and visiting @ Nashville Friends Meeting House, 26th & Torbett. With our children, we’ll be making Holiday cards for peace to send to our Members of Congress and Senators.


Sat Nov 17, 9-2 PM Mamamade 2007 @ New Song Christian Fellowship Church, 2949 Nolensville Pike Nashville MAU will be selling 2008 MAU Handbooks as well as handmade aprons and Nashville MAU recycled tees!


Fri Nov 23, NO MOBILIZE THE MAMAS PLAY AND ACTION GROUP THIS DAY!


Tues Nov 27, 9:30 Downtown Public Library Story Time, followed by a visit to Congressman Cooper’s office downstairs


Fri Nov 30, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground


*inclement weather meeting place for Mobilize the Mamas groups is the Downtown Public Library, 2nd Floor, children’s area

Nashville MAU blog: www.nashvillemau.blogspot.org, sign up there for our list serve!

MAU on Liberadio this week.

Stay tuned for the podcast and syndicated showtimes, and in the meantime, check out the Mary Mancini's post here about MAU and this weekend's Nashville activities.

(M)other gets Critic's Pick in Nashville Scene!

Maternal Devotion

(M)OTHER Tennessee Women’s Theatre Project co-sponsors this one-woman show by Beth Osnes, co-founder and program coordinator of the Colorado-based national organization Mothers Acting Up (MAU). Osnes explores issues of mothering in a cross-cultural context, with focus on a fictional UN program called “Baby Swapping,” in which mothers from seven nations exchange their six-month-olds for one month. The result is an intimate look at the maternal experience across international boundaries, including an analysis of the interconnectedness between the women, their children and their countries. In conjunction with her performance, Osnes presents a Nov. 3 workshop that uses theater as a tool to empower maternal voices for public expression and civic participation. For more information, contact Paige La Grone Babcock at paige@mothersactingup.org. 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church —MARTIN BRADY


Mothers Acting Up works to ensure the health, safety and education of the world’s children by mobilizing the political strength of *mothers.

*mothers and others, both on stilts and off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Mothers Acting Up: Mobilizing Mamas Project in Top 100 for Case Foundation Grant!

Mothers Acting Up: Mobilizing Mamas Project in Top 100 for Case Foundation Grant!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Oh my heavens!


After today's Roadway arrival, the note I sent along to Juliana Forbes: mentor, coworker, Mothers Acting Up co-founder and Midwife Maven to the Annual MAU Handbook:

My truckload of 20 boxes of 2008 MAU Handbooks has just arrived in the rain… they now sit on my front porch, save for the one box I brought into the house and ripped into immediately to take a look. And I’m just BAWLING…. THEY. ARE. SO. BEAUTIFUL. I’d love to call and tell you so, but I don’t think I can speak for being a blubbering mess of gladness.

Love and lots of it.

XX

Paige

(I have always been of the sensitive persuasion, but since having become pregnant with my son, and then these two years after his birth, even, I am just a walking jangle of happy-sad-beautiful-crazy human-ness, both tender and tough, with a penchant both for laughing and weeping uncontrollably. The already wonky world goes a bit madder in motherhood, I find.)

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

It's time for the mothers to decide!



Learn more about how to act up right here!

See MAU Live: BUY YOUR TICKETS now.

MAU Live is coming to Nashville November 2 & 3!

Tickets can be purchased for (M)other and for the Saturday morning workshop / girlcott right here.

Get tickets today!!

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Celebrating Mothers.

A PROJECT OF MOTHERS ACTING UP, Celebrating Mothers: Global Portraits to Inform and Inspire will showcase 20 mothers of young children around the world who are involved in social advocacy and are initiating positive change in their communities. Please see our website and send us your stories of exemplary mothers who are making a difference. Submission deadline for nominations is October 12, 2007. www.celebratingmothers.org Contact: amie@celebratingmothers.org

What she said.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Rally for Our Children's Health: THIS EVENING.

Prioritizing the wellbeing of children is worthwhile! It will be important to have as many families as possible to represent that. Please try to come for just fifteen or thirty minutes. Small children can be kept safe in strollers, backpacks, slings.... Please share widely!


Subject line: In Nashville, October 4, 2007, parents and kids rally at Centennial Park

MoveOn.Org and Nashville Mothers Acting Up

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: CONTACT: Priscilla Craig 491-1137 MoveOn

Thursday, October 4, 2007 Paige La Grone Babcock 495-1879 MAU

***Local media event-this Thursday at 6pm***

Parents and Kids in Nashville to Rally for

Children’s Health Care

As Billions Are Spent in Iraq, Bush Vetoes Children’s Health Care in Tennessee

Rep. Cooper and Congress Passed Children’s Health Care

MoveOn and Mothers Acting Up Call on Rep. Cooper to

Over-Ride Bush’s Veto

Nashville-On Thursday, October 4, at 6pm, local parents and kids will hold a “Rally For Our Children’s Health” at Centennial Park across from Borders bookstore. 225 similar events are happening around the nation.

Congress recently passed the “Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.” Congressman Cooper voted for this bill, which would ensure that many Tennessee children have health insurance and can see a doctor when sick. President Bush vetoed the bill this week.

Local MoveOn and Mother Acting Up members thank Representative Cooper for standing strong against President Bush’s attempt to block health care for Tennessee children, and will urge him to vote to over-ride Bush’s veto.

“President Bush and his administration are blocking health care for our children,“ said Paige La Grone Babcock, National Outreach Coordinator and community organizer for Mothers Acting Up. “This is a question of priorities. Bush is spending billions per week on the war in Iraq, but he won’t protect the health of our kids back home. We need Representative Cooper to over-ride Bush’s veto and stand up for our kids.”

This legislation passed the House on September 25, by a 265-159 vote--approximately 290 votes are needed to over-ride a veto. It passed the Senate September 27 with a 67-29 veto-proof majority. A new poll reveals 72% of Americans support the bi-partisan proposed $35 billion for children’s health care.

“Rally For Our Children’s Health”

Who: Parents and kids from Nashville area, members of MoveOn.org and Nashville Mothers Acting Up

What: “Rally For Our Children’s Health” rally urging Congressman Cooper to stop Bush from blocking health care for our kids

Where: Sidewalk in front of Centennial Park across from Borders bookstore

When: Thursday, October 4, 2007, 6:00pm

##

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Save the Date: MAU Live Coming to Nashville!!

CONTACT: Paige La Grone Babcock; paige@mothersactingup.org (615)-750-3780, (615) 495-1879 (cell)

***SAVE THE DATE: MAU LIVE! comes to Nashville Nov 2 & 3***

(M)OTHER HITS THE BOARDS

THEATRE FOR EMPOWERMENT PAIRED WITH WORKSHOP TO MOBILIZE MAMAS

“Once you get hooked on MAU’s positive breed of activism, the Nashville MAU community will be there with you to keep it going and growing.” –Paige La Grone Babcock, MAU Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer

WHEN: Nov. 2, Friday at 7:30 PM

WHERE: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1808 Woodmont Blvd.

WHO: Mothers Acting Up (MAU), working to ensure the health, education and safety of the world’s children by mobilizing the political strength of mothers.* www.mothersactingup.org

Nashville’s MAU community is honored and excited to bring MAU LIVE! and MAU co-founder Beth Osnes to town!! www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

WHAT: MAU Live! Theatre for Empowerment: a one-woman performance by MAU co-founder Beth Osnes, (M)other explores what it might just take for the mothers of one country to authentically care about the mothers and children of another country. The fiction that the “other” is not part of the “mother” is washed away. What remains is a powerful affirmation of our interconnectedness in both our challenges and our solutions as a global community.

A Workshop for Empowering Mother* Voices: Nov. 3, Saturday 9AM-Noon, also at the First Unitarian Universalist Church

Beth Osnes will lead a workshop using theatre as a tool for developing our voices for effective public expression – of vital importance for any kind of civic participation. Goals of this workshop:

*teaching skills for effective vocal expression

*using our voices to ‘rehearse’ activism

*engaging all participants in actively devising solutions to obstacles

*conveying a model of activism that is positive and proactive

Background:
Mothers Acting Up (MAU) works to ensure the health, education and safety of the world’s children by mobilizing the political strength of mothers*. MAU inspires, educates and engages mothers (a gigantic force to be reckoned with) to prioritize children in our corporate and public policies through monthly Web actions, annual Mother’s Day events, field trips to elected officials, Girlcotts, and daily inspiration and tools found in a weekly calendar. MAU brings a new breed of activism to the political landscape; one that is positive, accessible and supports mothers in making informed personal choices, inspiring collective action and influencing decision-makers. MAU, founded in 2002, is based in Boulder, CO. MAU believes that when mothers lead, generations of global citizens will follow.

Let us:
whisper this to each other, sing it out in the streets,
yell it from our rooftops, declare it in our houses of government:
we will protect our children with our personal and political strength,
wherever they live on earth!

* mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Dem Debates on Healthcare tonight!!

this in from TN Health Care Campaign:

AARP and Iowa Public Television (IPTV) will be holding a Democratic presidential candidate forum focused on health care and financial security tonight, September 20. A follow-up Republican forum will be held on October 25. PBS correspondent and anchor Judy Woodruff will moderate the 90-minute discussions.

At tonight’s event, Democratic candidates committed to participating and meeting forum criteria include: U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, former U.S. Senator John Edwards, U.S. Senator Joe Biden and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. All of the Republican presidential candidates have been invited to participate in the October 25 forum.

WNPT, 9/20, 7:00 PM CT, Nashville
WTCI, 9/20, 8:00 PM ET, Chattanooga
WLJT, 9/20, 7:00 PM CT, Jackson
WETP, 9/20, 8:00 PM ET, Knoxville
WKOP, 9/20, 8:00 PM ET, Knoxville
WMAV, 9/20, 8:00 PM CT, Memphis

How do the Presidential Candidates stack up? Check out the New York Times and the Washington Post links below:

New York Times and Washington Post

Sincerely,

Tony Garr, Tennessee Health Care Campaign

Celebrate International Day of Peace & Eat Local Month with MAU.

As many of you know, this month is Nashville Eat Local Month, as well as National Food Security month, which assuredly have much to do with greening up our lives. These pieces are in alignment with Mothers Acting Up and our Mother Agenda (1. champion the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate extreme poverty, 2. protect the environment for Kids’ Sake, and 3. measure the true impact of war).


On the third Friday of each month Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community hosts a Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon. In celebration of Eat Local and Food Security Month, tomorrow evening we encourage attendees to bring potluck dishes comprised of local ingredients where possible and a small panel of local food and security experts / enthusiasts will be on hand to share their knowledge and resources with us.


When: Friday September 21, 2007 6-8 PM

Where: Nashville Friends’ Meeting House, 26th Ave at Torbett, off Charlotte Ave

Bring a dish of local fare to share, any books or magazines you on topic that you might wish to share, and a heaping helping of enthusiasm. Families of all kinds welcome. We’re a nursing / intergenerational / sexual orientation / all race, ethnicity and class welcoming group!!

I hope to see some of y’all there,

Paige

PS: as tomorrow—9/21-- is International Day of Peace, Nashville MAU celebrates in our community during our Mobilize the Mamas play & action group by participating for a second year in the global Chalk for Peace event. We’ll be festively dressed, babes and children in tow, to chalk at the Centennial Park Playground from 10-noon, asking passersby and regular park goers to join the action. You’re all welcome to come out and make sidewalk art. Bring water and snacks to share if you care to.

Friday, September 14, 2007

MAU at national peace conference in Tennessee!!

The Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking takes place this year at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN. Nashville’s own Naomi Tutu (!!) will be the event’s keynote speaker. In its fourth year, the 2007 conference is themed Building the Beloved Community. Today, September 14, is the last day for a price break on an adult conference goer’s registration. Tomorrow, price goes from $50 to $75.


Mothers Acting Up will have a Saturday morning workshop called MAU Now: Mobilizing the Mamas, the Joy of Activism for mothers (and others) who want to build community in advocating publicly and passionately for the world’s children. MAU will have a Nashville MAU presence specifically, as well as MAUs from other locations. We’ll have a table with MAU literature and goods including the hot off the presses 2008 Handbook & Engagement Calendar, the 2007 edition MAU bumpersticker, as well as Nashville Mothers Acting Up tee shirts and mamamade aprons.

The conference should be a big time for ALL wanting to gather in the name of peace with justice. I’m bringing my family (husband and two year old), and encourage that you bring yours, too.


Volunteers for womaning the MAU table are needed! Please shout at me as per below if you are able and willing to take a shift or two.

In peace and in the spirit of community,

Paige

paige (at) mothersactingup (dot) com

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

National Call In Week to End the War in Iraq!!

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR EMAIL LISTS.

Dear Ones,

Congress goes back into session *this week*. Now is a critical time to put pressure on Congress in opposition to the $193 billion funding bill for Iraq and to pressure our Senators for just immigration policy. Please make phone calls this week on Thursday and Friday. Toll free number: 1-888-732-9404.

Collectively our voices will make the difference.

Thanks! All the info you need is below.

Paige La Grone Babcock

paige@mothersactingup.org

_______________________________________________________________

National Call-In Day to end the funding for the war against Iraq -- Thursday, Sept. 6

Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202-224-3121 or 1-888-732-9404 (toll free)

Join the nationwide effort to flood the offices of our member of Congress with calls demanding an end to the U.S. war in Iraq. Let's make it clear: there cannot be "business as usual" in Washington until effective action to bring all the troops home is taken!

Call your Representative, both Senators and Congressman Jim Cooper on Thursday, September 6th.

Tell them: I want you to act now to end the war and occupation of Iraq. The Congress has the Constitutional right and a moral responsibility to use the power of the purse to withdraw all U.S. soldiers and contractors from Iraq on a rapid and binding schedule. Four and a half years of this war is too long - it has to end now!

Not sure who represents you in Congress? www.Congress.org

Background:

In September, Congress will focus on Iraq. They will vote on the President's request for continued funding of the war. At this writing, the request stands at $142 billion, but Bush will probably increase it to over $190 billion! Congress is not required to give Bush any of this money, or even to bring the request to a vote. Congress can also put restrictions, firm withdrawal timelines and other conditions on any funding in order to force an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. More info: www.unitedforpeace.org

Thursday September 6 & Friday September 7, 2007

______________________________________________________________________

Stop Immigration Enforcement-Only Policies

Take Action Now:

Congress has received thousands of calls supporting enforcement-only measures that will harm immigrants and refugees. We must let Senate leaders know that this flawed legislation and Department of Homeland Security policy will not fix the out-of-date immigration system. Spread the word! The recently introduced Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2007 (S. 1984) focuses on punishing immigrant families, adding border fences, walls, and patrol agents, and increasing detention centers and deportations. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a new rule requiring employers who receive Social Security Administration (SSA) “no-match” letters to follow steps to prove that employees are authorized to work or risk liability. The policy misuses the letters, which are not intended for immigration enforcement, and could result in employment discrimination.

Call your Senator and Share this Action Alert!

On September 6th and 7th, use this toll free number 1-888-732-9404. Ask to be connected to your Senator’s office and tell your Senator:

§ Please say NO to S. 1984! - I urge you to oppose the Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2007 (S. 1984). More fences, walls, detention centers, agents and rounding up immigrants at their homes and workplaces are not the answer.

§ Please SUPPORT Congressional oversight of DHS’s SSA “no match” letter policy including employer liability for employment discrimination and the complaint process.

§ Please say YES to constructive immigration reform that includes a path to permanent residency and citizenship, restores due process rights, stops the militarization of the southern border, and ensures humane policies that keep families together.

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization which works for social justice and peace (www.afsc.org/immigrants-rights/). AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of non-partisan goals and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work. (This nonpartisan disclaimer must be included in publications of the toll-free number).

Don’t Forget to Forward this Message! For more information contact Sara Ibrahim at sibrahim@afsc.org or 1-202-483-6839.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

41 School Kits!!!










WOW! I set a goal of 5 school kits early in August, and by the end of the month we'd made 41! When the kids and I dropped them off at 10,000 Villages yesterday, the volunteers and assistant manager were overwhelmed by the bags and bags full of kits we kept lugging through the door. While we helped to unload them in the back room, Priscilla, one of the volunteers, told us what would happen to them next. They'll take a ride up to Indiana, where the MCC home office is, and then will travel by ship over to Iraq, where they will be distributed by the MCC workers over there. I'd love to see how they're received by the children themselves, and what they allow the kids to do in school. Such a small gift, but I'm sure it means so much to them.

At Suzanne's encouragement, we'll continue to work with the MCC and branch out into other types of kits. Here's a list of all the kits they request and distribute . I recommend that we make newborn kits next... More on that soon.

In the meantime, thanks to all of you who participated in this project -- it's quite an accomplishment, and so beautifully illustrates our mission to advocate for the world's children.
Kate

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Heatwave....

Due to continued heat and air quality discomfort, MAU's play and action group for tomorrow, Friday Aug 24, will NOT be at CentennialPark Playground, but at our inclement weather back up locale: the 2nd Floor Children's Area of Nashville's Downtown Public Library-- main
branch, 10-noonish.

There will be a marionette performance of Midsummer Night's Dream for older kids (6+) and Ginger Sands will have a program for the under 6 crowd as well.

If you are gathering supplies for the school kits, bring them to Kate if you've got 'em. We have but one more week to work on these!!

Please pass the word along to others so that if anyone wishes to join us, they know where we'll be....


Friday, August 17, 2007

Potluck update for tonight!

NEW DEVELOPMENT: the filmmaker will not be present. He's had a family situation arise that requires his attention. He'll send his co-conspirator Alex to show the film.

My decision is to show the 38 minute SHORT version of the film.

Schedule:

6 PM Finalizing set up and folks get nametagged and begin their suppers.

6:40ish begin film

7:15 Q & A with Alex

7:40 wash dishes, breakdown tables, general clean up

Nashville MAU will purchase a copy of the Kilowatt Ours DVD and keep in the lending library (at my home office) -- families who care to can check out the DVD to see the long version of the film at their leisure.


(NEXT MONTH'S POTLUCK SOCIAL & SALON will be in celebration of National Food Sustainability month and will consist of locally grown / produced potluck items and an informal panel including a Food Security officer, organic family farmers, a CSA representative, and more.... mark your calendars now for Friday Sept 21)

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Friday 8/17:

Heat and Air Quatlity Alert: Alternate plans for weekly play & action group


Due to extreme heat this week and air quality alerts, Nashville's MAU Mobilize the Mamas play and action group will NOT meet at Centennial Park Playground tomorrow, Friday 8/17.

Instead, we will meet at our inclement weather plan place: the downtown public library on the second floor -- 10-noonish. We can free play, snack and roam the courtyard, and also attend a special storytime event with Ginger Sands and Friends: http://www.library.nashville.org/events/show/176

Bring lunch or snacks for post show courtyard time.

This month's action is as follows:

I was in 10,000 Villages the other day and came across these pamphlets distributed by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), www.mcc.org, on how a community can put together school kits for children displaced by war. I thought this would be a great opportunity for our local MAU community to support the world's children in a very concrete way. The pamphlet reads as follows:

"School kits are MCC's most requested item. They are given primarily to refugee children, helping students and teachers add some normalcy to disrupted lives. Countries receiving shipments include Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan, Bosnia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, North Korea, Iraq and Palestine.

Contents (NEW items only)

4 spiral notebooks or notebooks with perforations (about 21.5 cm x 27 cm/8in x 10.5in; about 70 - 80 sheets each)

4 unsharpened #2 pencils

1 ruler (flat flexible plastic, indicating both 30cm and 12in)

12 colored pencils (in packaging)

1 large pencil eraser

School kits are distributed in a useful double drawstring cloth bag (28cm x 40.6cm/11in x 16in). You may sew the bag yourself (instructions at www.mcc.org/kits/kitbags), request bags from an MCC collection center, or donate contents to be placed in a bag."

10,000 Villages requests that we get the materials to their store no later than August 31, leaving us the rest of the month to get these kits together. Let's aim for 5 complete kits. You can bring the materials to me directly, or bring them to upcoming August Friday gatherings at Centennial, or to the potluck this Friday. If you're interested in contributing, please email me and let me know what you'd like to give and I can coordinate it so we don't all choose colored pencils or erasers.

Kate

kzwingate@yahoo.com

Mothers Acting Up -- Killowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America screening

Friday, August 17, 6pm
Nashville MAU's Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon held at Nashville Friends Meeting House; 530 26th Ave. N

Nashville MAU invites the community to gather for a potluck supper and a special screening of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America, an acclaimed documentary designed to help consumers cut their energy bills and improve the quality of the environment through conservation methods and clean, renewable power sources. This is a family friendly venue and filmaker Jeff Barrie will be present! Drinks will be provided, but please bring a dish to share. The suggested $8 donation per family covers both the film and the Friends Meeting House care fee. Come one, come all! Contact Paige at paige@mothersactingup.org or call (615) 495-1879 for more information.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

MAU looking for Development Coordinator.


Development Coordinator, Mothers Acting Up

Reply to: Joellen Raderstorf, Executive Director

Starting Aug 15, 2007

If you have an appetite for raising money for social change, this is an outrageously great opportunity: great mission, great organization, great team!

Flexible hours, can work from home.

Volunteer position with potential to move into a paid position.

Become the Development Diva of Mothers Acting Up (MAU), a movement of mothers publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children. MAU inspires, educates and engages mothers* a gigantic force to be reckoned with to prioritize children in our corporate and public policies. MAU believes that when mothers lead, generations of global citizens will follow. The organization is in its fifth year with a strong foundation and well-connected team.

All the raw materials are in place, awaiting someone who is inspired!

* mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Qualifications:

  • Love raising money for social change
  • Development, Marketing and PR experience
  • Familiarity with grant funding sources and processes
  • Donor cultivation knowledge and/or experience
  • Passionate commitment to a peaceful, child-friendly world
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Computer savvy
  • Event planning knowledge and/or experience

Major responsibilities include:

  • Work with MAU team to create development plan
  • Pursue sponsorship opportunities for MAU’s 5th annual Handbook
  • Support marketing and distribution of MAU Handbook
  • Assist in planning, coordination and implementation of fall fundraiser
  • Research and apply for grants (corporate and foundation) for MAU
  • Maintain and enhance current donor tracking/management systems
  • Provide donor cultivation guidance

Check out MAU at www.mothersactingup.org

joellen@mothersactingup.org

PO Box 1244

Boulder, CO 80306

303.474.1286

Monday, August 13, 2007

School Kits for refugee children

I was in 10,000 Villages the other day and came across these pamphlets distributed by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) on how a community can put together school kits for children displaced by war. I thought this would be a great opportunity for our local MAU community to support the world's children in a very concrete way. The pamphlet reads as follows:

"School kits are MCC's most requested item. They are given primarily to refugee children, helping students and teachers add some normalcy to disrupted lives. Countries receiving shipments include Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan, Bosnia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, North Korea, Iraq and Palestine.

Contents (NEW items only)
4 spiral notebooks or notebooks with perforations (about 21.5 cm x 27 cm/8in x 10.5in; about 70 - 80 sheets each)
4 unsharpened #2 pencils
1 ruler (flat flexible plastic, indicating both 30cm and 12in)
12 colored pencils (in packaging)
1 large pencil eraser

School kits are distributed in a useful double drawstring cloth bag (28cm x 40.6cm/11in x 16in). You may sew the bag yourself (instructions at www.mcc.org/kits/kitbags), request bags from an MCC collection center, or donate contents to be placed in a bag."

10,000 Villages requests that we get the materials to their store no later than August 31, leaving us the rest of the month to get these kits together. Let's aim for 5 complete kits. You can bring the materials to me directly, or bring them to upcoming August Friday gatherings at Centennial, or to the potluck this Friday. If you're interested in contributing, please email me and let me know what you'd like to give and I can coordinate it so we don't all choose colored pencils or erasers.

Kate
kzwingate@yahoo.com

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Killowatt Ours Screening 8/17!

Nashville Mothers Acting Up invites the community to gather for a potluck supper and a special screening of Killowatt Ours. This is a family friendly venue and filmmaker Jeff Barrie will be present! Come one, come all. Please share this widely, and contact me at the below numbers for more information.

In spirited partnership,
Paige La Grone Babcock
National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer, Mothers Acting Up


August 6, 2007 CONTACT: filmmaker, Jeff Barrie (615) 438-5060

OR Nashville Mothers Acting Up, Paige La Grone Babcock (615) 495-1879/ paige@mothersactingup.org

Documentary Screening Helps NASHVILLE Consumers

Lower Heating Bills and Use Energy Responsibly

to Protect Our Health, Environment and Pocketbooks

NASHVILLEA new documentary film designed to help consumers cut their energy bills and improve the quality of the environment is touring the United States this winter through summer as many Americans face record-high heating and cooling bills. The public is invited to a family friendly viewing of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America where they can meet the filkmaker during a special MOTHERS ACTING UP (MAU) sponsored screening at the Nashville Friends Meeting House, Friday August 17, 2007. This acclaimed film advocates energy conservation methods and clean, renewable power sources available as alternatives to the high costs of energy.

When: Friday, August 17, 2007; 6 PM
Where: Nashville MAU’s Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon, held at Nashville Friends Meeting House, 530 26th Ave N
Admission: a dish to share with other attendees (drinks provided), $8 suggested donation per family at the door covers both the film and the Friends Meeting House care fee

Kilowatt Ours is the story of filmmaker and conservationist Jeff Barrie's 18-month journey across the southeastern U.S. to document our energy-related problems and present practical, cost-saving solutions for consumers. Widespread problems revealed in Kilowatt Ours include mountaintop removal, air pollution, global warming, childhood asthma, and mercury contamination. The film illustrates practical solutions that help homeowners save more than $600 per year on energy bills while helping the environment and protecting human health.

“I hope this film sparks an energy conservation movement across America, while boosting demand for clean renewable power sources,” says filmmaker Jeff Barrie, who will lead a discussion following the screening. “Many people are unaware that we’re still burning coal to generate most of our electricity in America, creating serious consequences to the environment and human health. The need for conservation is urgent,” says Barrie.

According to the Department of Energy, the average American home consumes more than 900 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. More than 50% of our nation’s electricity is generated in coal-fired power plants, amounting to nearly 6 tons of coal burned to generate electricity for the typical American home each year. By using products marked with EPA’s Energy Star label, purchasing power generated from renewable resources, more effectively insulating our homes, and utilizing natural energy sources like sunlight, wind, and geothermal power, consumers can reduce the impact of their energy usage, while saving money.

For more information please email info@KilowattOurs.org or visit www.KilowattOurs.org. Click on “Media Resources” to receive an electronic media kit. DVDs are available for preview.

For more information on sponsoring group Mothers Acting Up; www.mothersactingup.org

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