Category: Message From The President - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Inaguration Celebration Help Needed! - What You Can Do Now

11/26/2020

2021 Presidential Inaguration Celebration Planning - Volunteers Needed!

A Message from the President

Hello Progressives!

Interested in ways to get involved? I am looking for a few volunteers to help plan a fun and interactive virtual Inaugural Celebration! Young people, we could really use your perspectives!

This commitment will involve a few idea-sharing meetings and tasks to complete independently, and then meetings to work on the implementation plan. We always have a lot of fun planning events so please JOIN US!

If you are interested or have questions please email me at ambroseallisons@sau.edu.

Allison Ambrose

Annual Picnic and Pie Auction a Virtual Success! - After Action Report

10/14/2020

PACG's Annual Picnic and Pie Auction via Zoom Was a Success! - After Action Report
Sunday, October 4th

A Message from the President

PACG held its 8th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction (and first done virtually) on Sunday, October 4th and it was a GREAT success!

In the spirit of keeping the picnic similar to what would happen at a live event, we were able to entertain participants with music, offer a meal, allow for social time, update members on PACG happenings and hold a pie auction. And we did it all virtually!

Participants picked up their Tamales for Hope enchilada meals ahead of time, and then signed on to Zoom to be entertained by really good music before the official program started. "Totes Magotes" musicians Christy Todtz, Jim Severe, John Kinser and Doug McCollum played and sang lively, popular songs. The official program started with members being put into Zoom Break Out rooms (randomly assigned small groups) to discuss "What is the best thing about the pandemic?" A spokesperson for each group shared with the larger Zoom meeting once we re-convened. It was encouraging to hear so many positive messages!

I updated the membership on the success of the Y15K fundraising initiative, which was held to celebrate PACG's 15th Anniversary. We were able to infuse $20,000 into the community to help those in need. Book Club and Forum Facilitators also gave updates about their recent activities, plans for the future and upcoming meeting dates.

Thirteen pies were auctioned off in grand VIRTUAL fashion, which allowed us to raise close to $500 for PACG. Finally, gift certificates from minority-owned businesses were distributed as door prizes.

Feedback indicates that the picnic was generally a success, with some technical difficulties. We realize that some people did not receive the Zoom links and we apologize for that. At our picnic debriefing meeting we figured out how to do better at future large events that we hold online. We appreciate your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters.

We are proud that we were able to hold our 8th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction, despite this crazy year! A big Thank You to all the folks who helped plan and execute the event, to the pie bakers, and to all of you who participated!

Allison Ambrose

Y15K Funds Distributed to Cobblestone

9/26/2020

Y15K Funds Distributed to Cobblestone Place
Saturday, September 26, 2020

A Message from the President

On Saturday, September 26th the last of our Y15K Initiative Funds were delivered to Cobblestone Place in a very small ceremony. PACG has rented office space in this affordable housing building in downtown Davenport for a number of years, and we often have meetings, parties and events in their public area.

I spoke briefly about our Y15K Initiative, Alta Price spoke about the founding of PACG and our issue forum model, and then we made the presentation.

Juanita Eucker and Diane Wolak received our check and explained that the funds will be used for a bench outside as well as furniture for the common space inside the building.

Cheryl Bruce from Bruce's Furniture in Davenport was also on hand. Her store is going to supply Cobblestone with furnishings.

Funds will also be used to purchase MetroLINK passes and HyVee gift cards for residents. Alta surprised Juanita and Diane with a donation of high quality masks for all employees and residents. "We at Progressive Action take the pandemic very seriously and we encourage people to always wear masks in public," stated Dr. Price.

Here are some of the images we took today of this event.

Allison Ambrose

Cobham Missions System Donation for Racial Equality

9/20/2020

Cobham Missions Systems Donation

A Message from the President

The committee for Charitable Contributions at Cobham Mission Systems in Davenport reached out to PACG in July, stating that “…we have been seeking organizations to donate to that help promote racial equality in the Quad Cities.”

We were very honored and excited! Further communication included: “Cobham is…very interested in donating to your organization. Our senior leadership has approved us to give a donation…due to your work in our community and your mission to help drive positive change.”

The Cobham donation was $2500, which will be put to good use by PACG.

This is a reminder for our members and the broader community that the hard, sometimes seemingly thankless, work that we do has payoffs in unexpected ways. Keep up your dedication to making change for the common good.

Allison Ambrose

MaskIowa Postcard Campaign - What You Can Do Now

9/19/2020

#MaskIowa Postcard Campaign to Mandate Masks in Iowa

A Message from the President

A friend of mine has started a postcard campaign asking for a mask mandate in Iowa because our governor refuses to order one. You may read more about this effort here: MaskIowa.com!

Postcards are to be sent to Governor Kim Reynolds. There was recently an article in the Quad City Times that she is going to stand firmly against this mandate, even though governors in states like Mississippi and Georgia have changed their opinion on this issue:

Reynolds scoffs at calls for a statewide mask order, calling them “feel-good” actions, and refuses to let city officials enforce local mandates, even as the small, largely rural state maintains one of the highest COVID-19 positivity rates and has topped 1,200 dead. While she implores residents to wear masks while indoors when social distancing isn't possible, she has said not everyone believes they're effective and frequently is photographed mingling at crowded events without a mask. Read the full article here.

We are asking our members to consider downloading postcards and sending them to the Governor's office. Each card you send asks you to state "I wear a mask for..." which means you may wish to write multiple postcards for the multiple reasons you believe mask-wearing is important.

Postcards may be printed here and should be mailed to:

Office of the Governor
Iowa State Capitol
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319

If you'd also like to mail them to other members of the Iowa legislature, click here.

Share this fun and effective campaign with your friends! I believe it is very timely because I believe in science! We should all be wearing masks! In addition, I feel this is especially important as we approach flu season!

Allison Ambrose

Y15K Initiative Fully Funded!

9/8/2020

Y15K Initiative Fully Funded!

Message from the President

We are excited to announce that our Y15K fundraiser honoring our 15th Anniversary has achieved its goal! We will have more details about our success in next week's WEU. Thank you all for your continued support as we work for the common good of all in the Quad Cities!

Allison Ambrose

Save the Date - 8th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction

9/8/2020

PACG's Annual Picnic and
Pie Auction via Zoom - Save the Date!
Sunday, October 4th from 4:00 to 5:30 pm

A Message from the President

Join your PACG friends to celebrate our 15th Anniversary at the 8th Annual PACG Picnic and Pie Auction! We will have a virtual picnic but real enchiladas! With music, a raffle and pies, this promises to be a uniquely memorable event! Look for details in next week's WEU!

Allison Ambrose

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day - A Message to Our Membership

4/21/2020

We Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!!

A Message to Our Membership

Hello Progressives!

Wednesday, April 22nd is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!

Our Environmental Forum has worked hard all year to make this anniversary a special event. Unfortunately, the live events will not be occurring as planned, but the forum has made sure that we do have some virtual ways to celebrate. Look for details in today's newsletter.

I want to give a SHOUT OUT to the Environmental Forum for all they have done to help us remember how precious our planet is.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Allison Ambrose, President

A Message from the President - QC Connection During Pandemic

3/24/2020

A Message from the President

Dear Progressives,

I wanted to reach out to you all during this strangest of times. Our in-person meetings and events scheduled to occur in the next few months have been postponed or cancelled. Some of our scheduled events - specifically forum and group meetings - will be occurring virtually via Zoom, which is a wonderful way to allow us to continue our progressive work and to keep our members connected during these days where feelings of isolation may get us down. We will use our website and calendar to give you the most up-to-date information about these meetings and events. It is our hope to schedule larger virtual events for members revolving around our forum issues where members can learn about and discuss some of these pertinent topics. Again, keep your eye on our website and calendar.

In addition, I would also like to encourage you to support our local businesses by shopping locally on-line, ordering take out and buying gift cards. Realize the people who are delivering your food are doing so at risk to themselves. Please remember to tip generously. I have noticed a few initiatives that make this support easy and safe:

1. Monday, 3/23 is the start of our local virtual shop small event.

2. You can support local restaurants and non-profits by buying items that bring income to struggling businesses. Consider purchasing t-shirts and gift cards at https://qccustomtees.com/.

3. Check out the Quad City Emergency Take Out and Delivery Facebook page.

4. The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page also has good information on how you can support local businesses

Please feel free to share with me (via email) any other initiatives you are aware of and we will post those on our website. As progressives, we all realize the value of having a thriving community so that all people may live fruitful lives.

Take care everyone!

Stay healthy and sane and stay connected with PACG!

Allison Ambrose

Iowa Caucus Monday, February 3rd at 7:00 pm

1/28/2020

The Iowa Caucus Is Less Than A Week Away!
Monday, February 3rd at 7:00 pm

Message from the President

Hello Progressives,

Can you believe that, after all these months, the Iowa Caucus is less than a week away? I encourage you all to attend and participate in our democracy!

If you want to know more about the process for your party's caucus, please see Iowa Democratic Caucuses or Iowa Republican Caucuses Blog posts on our website.

In addition, the PACG Forum Facilitators have written resolutions that they would like to see in both parties' platforms. You can access these from our website through the Resolution Blog post links below. I encourage you to download these resolutions and take them to your caucus site where they will be gathered. The more that are turned in, the better the chance of getting them into the platform.

If you are passionate about an issue, volunteer for the Platform Committee. Inquire at the caucus about this.

We look forward to gathering with our members and neighbors at the caucuses on Monday, February 3rd!

Note: These resolutions express the position of our forums and not necessarily of PACG as a whole.

Civil Rights Forum Platform Resolutions
Drug Policy Forum Platform Resolutions
Environmental Forum Platform Resolutions
Health Care Reform Forum Platform Resolutions

Allison Ambrose