Global Weekly Update October 17, 2011

Top Action: Call Your Rep. About the Education Sign-On Letter — It Closes This Friday, October 21

Please call the foreign policy aide for your representative and ask that he or she sign on to the Schakowsky sign-on letter to Secretary of State Clinton. The letter asks the Obama administration to make a three-year pledge of $375 million to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) at the upcoming replenishment conference in November. Points to emphasize when you call:

• This is not new money. It would involve shifting some of our global education money to the Global Partnership for Education.
• Investing in the GPE is cost effective because GPE coordinates aid, the U.S. investment will encourage other governments to give, and GPE encourages recipient countries to invest more in their own education sectors.
• GPE investment in developing countries fill funding gaps while the vast majority of education funding comes from the recipient countries themselves.
• If GPE raises the $2.5 billion for three years they are seeking, they’ll help put 25 million kids in school over that time.
• Investing in global education is good for U.S. security and the U.S. economy.

Here are other useful resources to help you with this request:

• Our comprehensive Education for All resource page, which includes the updated editorial packet
• A laser talk for making the request
• A copy of the sign-on letter to Sec. of State Clinton you can send to the aide
• A fact sheet on global education that explains why education is so critical
• Recent op-ed by General John Bradley on global education and investing the GPE that you can forward
• Capitol Hill switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Your efforts are critical to getting the administration to make this needed investment. Please take a couple of minutes to do this today or tomorrow. Stay in action on it it until you get a yes or no answer!

October 15 Global Conference Call Provides Media Gems You Can Use Today

Editorial page editor Jay Evensen of the Salt Lake City Deseret News gave us frank and insightful tips on working with newspapers. He also provided insights into the current state of the newspaper industry. Check out the recording of the call for his comments. In the grassroots section of the call, Eloise Sutherland of Austin, TX also provided some great insights into what we have to offer editorial writers: affirmation that their writings will be seen and read by decision makers.

Here’s what you can do to continue to leverage media to get the administration to pledge $375 million to the Global Partnership for Education:

• Write a letter to the editor using our online action alert.
• Send our editorial packet and education media compilation (over 38 pieces of media) to your editorial page editors and ask them to write on the topic of global education.
• Send our education media compilation to your member of Congress and let them know that people care about global education, and ask them to sign the Schakowsky letter.

The End of AIDS . . . Could It Be More Than a Dream?

RESULTS is the kind of organization that has the power to be part of this astonishing possibility through our advocacy.

Progress is being made on AIDS treatment and medicines, and recent research demonstrates that we can break the cycle of HIV by starting treatment early. It is an amazing prospect. Check out our short fact sheet on The Beginning of the End of AIDS. But the end of AIDS won’t happen unless we all focus and invest the resources needed.

We want to take the message of the possibility to end AIDS into World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, and into the RESULTS International Conference, July 21–24, 2012, to ensure that decison makers maintain focus and commitment. You can start by getting the message out to your community this World AIDS Day. We even have financial resources to help you out.

• Plan an outreach event to build HIV/AIDS awareness in your community with local AIDS groups. Use this World AIDS Day resource page and fact sheet to help you plan.
• Consider engaging one of the 59 members of Congress on the AIDS Caucus in your event, or one of the guest speaker we can send to your town. (Contact Lisa Marchal for a list or check out the biographies of the speaker group on our World AIDS Day resource page.)
• Apply for a World AIDS Day Mini-grant. REF offers grassroots groups the opportunity to apply for funding through a grant application process. These grants are awarded for community advocacy activities such as large outreach events, film screenings, and media plans that promote TB and TB-HIV advocacy. The grants range up to $5000 and must be administered by a current RESULTS partner. Applications are available now and will be reviewed immediately. To receive funding by December 1, you should apply early. The deadline for applications is October 31.
• Have World AIDS Day be your kick-off to the RESULTS International Conference July 21–24, 2012. Next year the RESULTS IC will coincide with the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, and this presents some amazing opportunities for activism. Read RESULTS/REF Executive Director Joanne Carter’s remarks on why this moment matters. Work with your local AIDS activists and invite everyone to DC in 2012!

Don’t Keep RESULTS a Secret!

We are on the lookout for people who might want to meet us! RESULTS advocates and staff are hard at working checking out places all across the country where RESULTS groups could take root.

Most immediately, a new group start is happening in St. Louis on October 24.

We are also trying to get groups going in the following areas and need your help: Portland, ME; Boise, ID; Baton Rouge, LA; New Orleans, LA, and in the states of Montana, Wyoming, and Mississippi.

People are more likely to get involved when they get a personal invitation, and it’s much easier for us to say that you told us to contact them. You’ve got the passion; now, offer the invitation! Contact Ken Patterson or Lisa Marchal if you have leads we could follow. Likewise, invite your friend, co-worker, or family member to register for the next RESULTS Introductory Call on October 24 at 9:00 pm ET. This 30-minute meet-and-greet with offer a taste of what RESULTS is all about. Anyone who is curious is invited! It’s a great first step.

And speaking of ways to let people know about RESULTS, have you ever considered holding a year-end fundraiser? Yes! If you haven’t yet held a fundraising event, there is still time to plan a simple, small fundraiser in the fourth quarter. A pre-holiday wine tasting? A holiday party in December? A potluck house party? These are a few easy ways that your group can contribute to the resources that support our powerful advocacy. We have a great “Save the Date” graphic to e-mail to guests that can be customized for your event and sent to you quickly at no cost to your group. Contact Cindy Levin for assistance. Your fundraising coaches stand ready to assist you!

If AIDS is defeated, it will be thanks to an alliance of science, activism and altruism.

— “The End of AIDS?” in The Economist, June 2, 2011

October 21–22: RESULTS Heartland Regional Conference. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

October 24: RESULTS Introductory Call. Register today!

October 24: RESULTS St. Louis Group Start Workshop. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

October 28: RESULTS Houston Fundraiser. Contact Cindy Levin for more information.

November 2 and November 16: Two-session RESULTS New Activist Orientation, 9 pm ET. (712) 432-3100, passcode 7612622

November 12: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709

July 21–24, 2012: RESULTS International Conference in Washington, DC

RESULTS has moved! Our new address, effective October 4 is:
RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund, 1730 Rhode Island Ave, NW, 4th Floor, Washington DC 20036

No change to phone numbers; new fax number to be updated soon. Thanks for your patience as we complete our transition.