Happy Holidays from PACG!
This has been a challenging year for us all. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, our generous donors and a little creative thinking, PACG has adapted well to organizing and working for social justice during the pandemic. We share this new version of a traditional seasonal song as our wishes for blessings in the New Year to all of our friends.
In the 12 Months of 2020 PACG Gave to Me…
(sung or read to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”)
12 (even more!) Platform Resolutions Written
During this election year, the Board encouraged members to submit platform resolution planks for the Iowa Caucuses. We also co-sponsored nonpartisan caucus trainings with the AAUW, QCAIR, and Alliance for Retired Americans.
11 Board Members Boarding
We continue to add qualified members to our Board of Directors and are grateful for their continued leadership.
10 Book Club Books Read
The PACG Book Club continues to meet every month. Its focus is on racial justice and will be expanding to include books on how the environment and health care play a role. The Book Club has gone international with one member Zooming in from Canada!
9 Zoom Licenses Given
In February, with the pandemic looming large elsewhere in the US, we had the foresight to purchase Zoom licenses for our forum and book club leaders. We also gave licenses to other organizations in the community with whom we coordinate on issues.
8th Annual Picnic
PACG held its 8th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction virtually this year. Maria at Catalyst Kitchen provided enchilada dinners. We were able to have a feast and support a minority-owned small business!
7 Bakers Baking
As part of our 8th Annual Picnic we held our Pie Auction on Zoom. Seven incredible cooks baked a total of 13 desserts that we auctioned off, raising $500.
6 Months of Rallies
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, PACG began holding weekly “Racial Equality Now” rallies at John Deere Rd. and 16th St. in Moline. Each Saturday morning since then, supporters stand at this busy intersection holding BLM signs and encouraging drivers to honk their support.
Y-15-K! (read this like 5 Golden Rings!)
To celebrate our 15th Anniversary, PACG began a campaign to collect funds for our Y15K Initiative. PACG matched pledges up to $7,500. Our members helped us raise another $12,500.
4 Earth Month Proclamations
In honor of the 50thAnniversary of Earth Day in April, the Environmental Forum worked to convince the cities of Bettendorf, Davenport, Rock Island and East Moline to declare April Earth Month!
3 Informed Voters Town Halls
We helped organize and host three virtual Informed Voter Town Halls. After the election PACG also co-sponsored a “Count Every Vote” virtual rally.
2 Y15K Funds Distributions
In two separate events we distributed over $20,000 to four organizations that serve those in our community especially negatively impacted by the pandemic.
1 New WEU Category
The “No Hate In Our States” category was added to our Weekly Email Update. Every week we give our readers an action that they can take to educate themselves on the issues of equality.
We missed you all during the year but are confident that the New Year will bring us all together again. Regardless, we will tirelessly continue to do good work into 2021!