Summer of Action Kick-Off Meeting Success!

Thank you to everyone who attended this past Sunday's Summer of Action Kick-Off Meeting (scroll down for pics)! We had a big variety of volunteers present, some who'd been volunteering for years, and some who were getting involved with Oxfam for the very first time. But it was clear after introductions, that every single person had something very valuable to contribute.

During the meeting we were able to identify some key strengths within the group through discussing the many ways one can volunteer with the Action Corps. From tabling at concerts and festivals, to lobby visits and calling your legislators, these areas of action can be categorized as such:

- Communications (Letters to the Editor, letters to your representatives, contributing to the OAC blog or Facebook)

- Legislation (Lobby visits, bill research, Senate phone calls/emails, town hall meetings)

- Concerts/Festivals (Tabling outreach, petition signing, volunteer and materials coordination)

- Events and Promotion (Event oversight/planning/promotion, phone banking, social networking)

- Allies and Community Outreach (Networking with partner orgs, finding new allies, adding OAC events to community calendars, making connections)

If your day job, area of expertise, or general interest lies in one of these categories and you would like to be specifically considered when volunteer opportunities arise, please write to us at sanfrancisco@oxfamactioncorps.org and let us know!

Lastly, I have to mention that by the end of the meeting, we had collectively hand-written 15 letters to our CA Senators about the pros and cons of the American Power Act (namely that while Adaptation funding is indeed included in the bill, it is not nearly enough and will be delayed for almost a decade). These letters will be hand-delivered during lobby visits next week! Letter writing is an easy, yet invaluable way of flexing your constituent muscle. Let us know if you'd like to write one, and we can send you talking points.

Stay tuned for info on next quarter's volunteer meeting, to be set early August.

American Power Act Introduced Today!

After much anticipation, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn) released The American Power Act, a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Ultimately, the bill is a product of compromises aimed at bipartisan appeal, so it's political prospects are uncertain. However, while Oxfam and its allies are dissecting the 987 pages and scoping out its political viability, our common immediate perspective is that it is a welcome step, and we urgently need political leadership to strengthen its provisions.

So far, what we know about the bill is that it:

- aims for 17% GHG reductions by 2020

- proposes a cap & trade system with significant consumer protection

- includes money and incentives for nuclear energy

- includes concessions on off-shore drilling (fewer though, in the wake of Gulf spill).

- includes a program to build resilience through international adaptation, but funding is inadequate and doesn’t commence until 2019.

Read more about the bill here.

Take Immediate Action: Join a national conference call tomorrow (5/13) on the American Power Act, hosted by 1Sky

Time: Thursday, May 13, 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM (Eastern Time)
Dial-in number: 877-366-0713 (toll-free)
Participant code: 38735133#
Questions: Submit your questions in advance here. (And ask about adaptation!)

Guest speakers on the call include Jesse Tolkan (Green for All), Dave Hamilton (Sierra Club), Vicky Rateau (Oxfam America), Jason Kowalski (1Sky).

May 23- Summer of Action Kick-Off Meeting

Have you been waiting for an opportunity to jump in an start volunteering with the Bay Action Corps, or learn more about what we do? Well, now is your chance and we can't wait to meet you!


WHAT: SF Bay Area Summer of Action Kick-Off Meeting

WHEN: 5:00pm, Sunday, May 23rd

WHERE: Action Corps Organizer Megan's House, 44 Ulloa St., San Francisco, CA 94127

DIRECTIONS: Take MUNI lines M, L, and K to Forest Hill, and/or the 36, 43, 44 & 52 buses. BART riders can get off at Glen Park station and take the 44 or 52 bus up the hill. Plenty of street parking is also available.

WHY: This meeting will be a gathering of new volunteers and old from all parts of the Bay Area interested in making this summer and beyond a forceful effort towards achieving comprehensive climate legislation that includes adequate funding for international adaptation! It's time the U.S. steps up as a leader in the fight against climate change and takes a stand for the world's most vulnerable communities. And we need YOUR help to accomplish this.

Items to be covered at this meeting will include:

General overview of Oxfam America, and the Bay Area Action Corps

Overview of climate change, international adaptation, and current legislative implications

Primary action calendar for the summer (not limited to)

Key areas of action and sign-up sheet for interested volunteers

Idea exchange/Meet and greet

Pizza and beverages!!!

Please RSVP to sanfrancisco@oxfamactioncorps.org so we know to expect you and how much food to order (and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions, too).