Blog Archives - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Rally to Support Asylum Seekers

11/26/2018

Rally in Support of Asylum Seekers - Friday, November 30th at 4:00 pm

Civil Rights Forum and Quad Cities Interfaith
ICE Headquarters, Federal Courthouse
Rock Island, IL

We had a good turnout at the rally in support of asylum seekers on Friday, November 30th at 4 pm. We also had great press coverage! Check it out at the following links:

KWQC

WHBF-TV/KGCW-TV/KJLB-TV

WQAD

Read this story at the Dispatch-Argus.

Thanks to all who came to a cold winter rally in support of Central American asylum seekers who were tear-gassed by our government. We are a land of immigrants, and we demand that our government and ICE treat asylum seekers humanely. We further demand that our government and ICE follow our own laws and international laws that give asylum seekers the right to apply for asylum.

We plan to follow up this rally with meetings with our Illinois and Iowa Senators and Representatives and local ICE officials.

The rally was organized by Aaron Wagner of Quad Cities Interfaith.

What You Can Do Now - Sign Up for the Affordable Care Act or Help Others to Do It!

11/20/2018

Help Someone Enroll In The Affordable Care Act

From the PACC HealthCare Reform Forum

If you do not have health insurance, check out coverage options under the Affordable Care Act. Do it now -- the deadline is December 15th!

If you know of a family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker who might not have health insurance, ask them if they are insured. If they are not, urge them to check out ACA coverage. Offer to help them find out if they may qualify for subsidized premiums under the ACA. Use information from the “Need Health Insurance?” fliers below. They are available in both English and Spanish.

A first time applicant may need help from you or from one of the sources listed on the flier. Your personal help and encouragement may be crucial in getting your friend insured. This will not only benefit your friend, it will also help show public support for keeping and improving the ACA and health care for all Americans.

Another way you can help is to print out some flyers and post them on bulletin boards in barber and beauty shops, pharmacies, libraries, coffee shops, family restaurants, etc. If you need copies of the flyers, contact me.

Frank Samuelson
[email protected]

need_health_insurance_flyer.pdf
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necesita_seguro_médic1_.docx
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Take Action to Stop the Department of the Interior Records Destruction!

11/12/2018

Stop the Massive Destruction of Department of Interior Records by Secretary Ryan Zinke
Comment Period Ends: Friday, November 23rd 5:00 pm

Environmental Forum
The National Archives and Records Administration

The Department of the Interior has sent National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) a massive "Request for Records Disposition Authority," (i.e. permission to destroy old records.)

Interior’s request involves documents about oil and gas leases, mining, dams, wells, timber sales, marine conservation, fishing, endangered species, non-endangered species, critical habitats, land acquisition, and more.

The request covers these categories of documents from every agency within the Interior Department, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and others.

The request covers already-existing documents going back more than 50 years and consisting of thousands of cubic feet of paper documents and gigabytes of digital documents. Besides existing documents, as usual, the proposed schedule will also apply to all future documents created in these categories (whether on paper or born digital). Source: altgov2.org/doi-records-destruction/

Action:

Email [email protected] with a Public Comment. Deadline: November 23, 2018.

Sample Script:
"I am writing about action DAA-0048-2015-0003. I am against this massive destruction of records. This content would normally be kept and preserved by the U.S. Department of Interior. I am asking National Archives to deny Secretary Zinke's request so that these records are kept as they should be." [Sign with your name]

Call your representatives. Here is a suggested call Script:
"My name is __________. I am a constituent, and my zip code is _______. I am a member of Progression Action for the Common Good in the Quad Cities.

"Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has asked the National Archives for a massive destruction of records that normally are kept for historical purposes. This is an unusual and troubling request. I am asking you to investigate this request and to stop the destruction of important and valuable records. The National Archives ID number is DAA-0048-2015-0003."

ILLINOIS

Senator Dick Durbin (D) 202-224-2152 or 309-786-5173

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D) 202-224-2854 or 312- 886-3506

US Representative Cheri Bustos (D) 202-225-5905 or 309-786-3406

IOWA

Senator Chuck Grassley (R) 202-224-3744 or 563-322-433

Senator Joni Ernst (R) 202-224-3254 or 563-322-0677

Representative Dave Loebsack (D) 202 225-6576 or 563-323-5988

We need to act now!!

Susan Leuthauser
[email protected]

Register NOW for Our Upcoming Annual Holiday Party!

11/10/2018

Annual PACG Holiday Party/Potluck - Thursday, December 6th 5:30 pm

Cobblestone Place
1212 W. 3rd St., Davenport (map)

Hi Folks!
Our annual PACG Holiday Party/Potluck will be on Thursday, December 6th, from 5:30 to 8 pm in the 1st floor Community Room at Cobblestone Place.

We promised you more information this week, so here it is!

We are having Fresh Deli cater the entrees: beef pot roast; chicken and rice casserole; and vegetarian polenta. We will provide coffee, iced tea and water. You can bring a salad, hors d’oeuvres, or dessert to share if you like. There is no admission charge - this is PACG's holiday gift to you, our members and supporters.

A $10 annual membership renewal form will be available if you want to renew your membership to PACG. And if you have them, please bring gently used books for the adults and/or children who are residents of Cobblestone Place in lieu of food pantry donations this year.

You'll get to watch us award this year's Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice Grant to a worthy local recipient (or two), and you'll get to catch up on everything with old and new progressive friends!

So please follow this link to register for the holiday fun! This will help us know how much food to order. We look forward to seeing you on the 6th!

Sincerely,

Your PACG Holiday Party Committee
Allison Ambrose, Ann McCluskey, Caryn Unsicker
[email protected]

Renewable Energy Conference - Reference Materials

11/9/2018

The PACG Renewable Energy Conference Was a HUGE Success!

Our event of Friday, November 9th was highly anticipated and well-received. Attendance was over 110 people, including presenters, exhibitors and attendees. The PACG Environmental Forum deserves our gratitude for their hard work. And a sincere "Thank you!" goes out to all of the presenters and exhibitors who are so committed to the cause of renewable energy.

Since so much important information was shared, we are making the conference program, presentations, and contact information readily accessible. (Note: The Renewable Energy Specialist Program is offered by Eastern Iowa Community College (Scott County Community College) and they were one of the exhibitors at our conference. This training may be of interest to some.)

renewable_energy_program_.pdf
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iowa_wind__solar_for_johnson_county_carberry.pptx
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eicc_renew-engergy-system-specialist-fact-sheet__1_.pdf
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moline_metrolink_presentation-_renewable_energy_conference.docx
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solar_and_sustatinability_illinois_renewable_energy_association.doc
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iowa_energy_office_qc_renewable_conference.pdf
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moline_metrolink_presentation-_renewable_energy_conference.docx
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metrolink_powerpoint_presentation.pdf
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exhibitor_contact_list.pdf
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Below is a list of our presenters and their biographies, with at least a few links to organizations they have been involved in.

Mike Thoms is the current mayor of Rock Island. Mike is a fourth generation resident of Rock Island and a business leader in the Quad Cities community. He is the former COO of Thoms-Proestler and former President and CEO of Renaissance Rock Island.

Eric Sorensen brings two decades on air experience to WQAD News 8. He has received two Silver Dome Awards by the Illinois Broadcasters Association, and has been nominated three times for Emmy awards. In 2018 he became a fellow of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Eric attended NIU, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree. While he studied weather, he also held minors in journalism and math. Eric chased tornadoes and hurricanes while working in Lufkin TX as Chief Meteorologist and as Morning Meteorologist in Tyler, TX. Before arriving in the QC, Eric spent a decade forecasting the weather for his hometown of Rockford, IL.

David Osterberg is emeritus professor of environmental health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, and founder of the Iowa Policy Project. He still teaches at the University and researches environmental issues at the IPP. David has earned degrees at Washington State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received further education at the University of Stockholm. He has served in the Peace Corp in Iran, and taught at a number of colleges and universities. He also served as a representative in the Iowa General Assembly.

Sarah Moskowitz is the managing director of outreach at the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), an Illinois consumer advocacy group that focuses on electric, natural gas, and telecom issues. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 2000 with a degree in anthropology and immediately started work in CUB’s consumer advocacy department. She returned to U Chicago in 2004 to earn her MA at the School of Social Service Administration, and now manages CUB’s statewide consumer education and organizing efforts. These efforts include a variety of activities, including energy efficiency program management, media campaigns, and face-to-face consumer engagement across the state.

Rebecca Judd is the Clean Energy Advocate for the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization with over 100,000 members and supporters in the State of Illinois. Rebecca is the lead policy advocate for Sierra Club efforts to move Illinois to 100% clean energy, particularly focused on strong and just implementation of Illinois’ new clean energy law, the Future Energy Jobs Act. Before joining Sierra Club in September 2017, she was an environmental lawyer and legislative counsel in Washington, DC for nearly 11 years.

Robert and Sonia Vogel founded the Illinois Renewable Energy Association, whose mission is to be a network for sharing ideas, resources and information with individuals, businesses and communities to promote a resilient future through renewable energy, energy efficiency and earth friendly technology. They serve on the Illinois Renewable Energy Advisory Board and have offered the Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair at the Ogle County Fairgrounds. Both are retired professors from the Lorado Taft Campus of Northern Illinois University where Robert taught environmental quality, alternative energy and research, and Sonia taught field ecology, seasonal and prairie studies and interpretation.

Mike Carberry earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa in 1983. He has worked as Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Energy Association; Midwestern Nuclear Campaign Coordinator for Friends of the Earth; Senior Regional Field Director with the Iowa Global Warming Campaign; Campaign Manager for Citizens for Public Power; and Director of Green State Solutions. Mike’s volunteer efforts also reflect his interest in the environment. He has served in many roles with the Sierra Club, and was awarded the 2013 Environmental Activist of the Year award from the State Chapter of the Sierra Club. Mike currently serves on the boards of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Iowa Wind Energy Association and the 1000 Friends of Iowa. Mike was elected to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in 2014.

Stephanie Weisenbach is a program manager with the Energy Office at the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), which has a variety of initiatives to help implement the Iowa Energy Plan created in 2016. Stephanie is currently preparing to re-open a loan program for renewable energy projects, inherited by IEDA along with the Iowa Energy Center. For several years, she led IEDA’s efforts on alternative fuels and electric vehicles.

Tim Dwight is president of the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association. He travels around the Midwest educating people about solar energy and demonstrating how cost effective the technology is today. He advocates for the job growth produced by this industry, and lobbied the Iowa legislature for the solar tax credit. As an Iowa native and graduate of the University of Iowa, Dwight returned to Iowa after his 10 year stint in the NFL and encourages homeowners, farmers and businesses to invest in solar.

Mark Schwiebert graduated from Augustana College in 1972 and went on to obtain his law degree from Drake University. He has practiced law in Rock Island since 1975 and was the Mayor from 1989 to 2009. As mayor he co-sponsored the Revolving Loan Fund, sponsored one of Illinois’ first certified Historic Preservation Ordinances and established the Advanced Technology and Sustainability Consortium. He serves on the boards of Unity Point, Figge Art Museum, Augustana College, Rausch Foundation, Rock Island Library Foundation and Amy Helpenstell Foundation. He established the Mark W. Schwiebert Fund for Environmental Studies in 2015 through the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend.

Jeff Nelson has been the General Manager for MetroLINK (Rock Island County Mass Transit) for the past 35 years. His strategic focus has been on implementing cutting edge programs with an emphasis on economic growth, environmental sustainability, enhanced technologies, and workforce development. Nelson was an early adopter of alternative fuels, and most recently took delivery of 3 Proterra, battery electric, zero emission transit buses. Additional projects include the construction of a state-of-the-art 150,000 square foot “Operations and Maintenance Center” built to LEED Gold standards. He was also instrumental in the planning, development, and construction of the “Moline Multi Modal” station in downtown Moline. Currently he is the Chairman of the Quad Cities Manufacturing Lab, and is involved with the boards of the Two Rivers YMCA, the Illinois Public Transportation Association, and the Quad City Chamber of Commerce Regional Opportunities. He has held leadership positions for the National Transit Institute at Rutgers, the Moline Planning Commission, the Moline Police and Fire Commission and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Mr. Nelson holds a B.S. in Political Science from Western Illinois University, a M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University, and is a graduate of the Kennedy School of Business “Creating Collaborative Solutions” program.

Jeff Kaman is Manager of Energy and Climate Strategy for John Deere and Company. He is experienced in energy efficiency projects, as well as renewable energy and operations management. He holds a BSE (Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and MS (Environmental Engineering) from the University of Notre Dame.

Rick John is head of the nationwide staffing firm, the Sedona Group. He was recently honored as service-division finalist for the Illinois/Northwest Indiana Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Sedona is headquartered in Moline and has 31 offices nationwide. He previously worked as manager of consumer products for John Deere and Company. He also serves on the boards of Junior Achievement, United Way and Trinity Regional Health System, and on the Black Hawk College Foundation committee.

Ralph Russell is now retired after 44 years with HR Green, Inc. Russell graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Civil Engineering. Russell worked as a resident engineer, design engineer, project engineer, project manager and department head prior to serving as President and CEO. During the latter part of his employment with Green, Russell worked in the firm’s Renewable Energy Department including two years as President of the Energy Business Unit. Since his retirement Russell has had the opportunity to pursue a long-time interest, renewable energy. He currently owns a 75kW solar facility, which generates energy used in an animal confinement facility on an eastern Iowa farm. Additionally, he is consulting on an on-site natural gas fired energy generation for an eastern Iowa industry. Russell also owns, with family members, a 55kW wind turbine and a 45kW solar array, both of which provide renewable energy to family businesses. Russell’s newest renewable energy project is an 182kW roof-mounted solar array for an Eastern Iowa non-profit organization that used a significant amount of energy, which will provide 65% to 75% of the energy used by the organization. Russell is active in professional, business, and civic organizations and has served on numerous boards.

Celeste Wilkinson lives in Bettendorf. She installed an electricity-producing photo-voltaic solar array on her roof in 2015. Her home also has geothermal heating and a tankless water heater, and she drives a hybrid vehicle. She is committed to renewable energy.

Nobody is Above the Law - Rapid Response for Jeff Sessions Firing

11/8/2018

Attend the Nobody is Above the Law Rally TODAY at 5:00 pm
Davenport - LeClaire Park 400 West Beiderbecke DR (map)
Rock Island - US County Clerk 211 19th ST (map)

With the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday, Donald Trump is demonstrating his intention to put himself above the law. We won’t allow it.

Trump is compromising the Special Counsel investigation and will create a constitutional crisis if he fires special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller.

Our response is imperative now! We must show Members of Congress that they need to stand up to Trump or allow him to move our democracy toward authoritarianism.

From the MoveOn rally organizers: "Donald Trump has installed a crony to oversee the special counsel's Trump-Russia investigation, crossing a red line set to protect the investigation. By replacing Rod Rosenstein with just-named Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as special counsel Robert Mueller's boss on the investigation, Trump has undercut the independence of the investigation. Whitaker has publicly outlined strategies to stifle the investigation and cannot be allowed to remain in charge of it. The Nobody Is Above the Law network demands that Whitaker immediately commit not to assume supervision of the investigation. Our hundreds of response events are being launched to demonstrate the public demand for action to correct this injustice. We will update this page as the situation develops."

MoveOn is holding emergency “Nobody is Above the Law” rallies around the country TODAY at 5:00 pm local time. There are over 900 of these demonstrations planned, in every state, with 350,000 RSVPs to date!

RSVP to attend the rallies today. Nobody is Above the Law – Mueller Firing Rapid Response rallies here:

For Davenport RSVP here.

For Rock Island RSVP here.

Alta Price

Support the Transgender Community - Wednesday, Nov 7 at 7:00 pm

11/6/2018

Support the Transgender Community - Wednesday, Nov 7 at 7:00 pm

Civil Rights Forum
Metropolitan Community Church, 2930 W Locust St, Davenport, IA (maplink)

The Board of PACG voted to sponsor this rally in support of the Transgender Community. We encourage you to come and show your own support.

The Trump Administration is trying to erase transgender persons out of existence and deny them civil rights protections. Read more about the proposed changes at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Alta Price

Are You Interested in Non-Violent Resistance? Learn More!

11/5/2018

Civil Disobedience Training
from the PACG Board

Sunday, November 11th 4:00 pm
Metropolitan Community Church, 2930 W Locust St, Davenport, IA (map)

Rev. Rich Hendricks of the Metropolitan Community Church is training activists in peaceful civil disobedience. This training is very important! If you have not yet gone through one of these sessions, and you think that you might wish to participate in acts of peaceful civil disobedience, you really need to go through the training. With the administration considering redefining Transgender out of existence and the approach of the Immigrant Caravan, we may soon find ourselves needing to engage in acts of peaceful civil disobedience, should the government remain unresponsive to our protests.

Note: Even if you do not want to personally participate in civil disobedience, we need support in the community for those who do, and those supporters also need to be trained.

Alta Price

What You Can Do Now - VOTE on Tuesday, November 6th

11/5/2018

VOTE!
a message from the PACG Board

If you have not already voted, VOTE! on Tuesday, election day. If you have voted, convince your friends and family to vote.

In Iowa: Polls are open in Iowa from 7 am to 9 pm.

In Illinois: Polls are open in Illinois from 6 am to 7 pm.

Find your polling place: Vote411.org.

Alta Price