Global Weekly Update August 12, 2013

National Grassroots Conference Call Rescheduled for September 7!

Join us for the rescheduled September National Grassroots Conference Call for global poverty advocates on Saturday, September 7. We are hoping to have Dr. Paul Farmer on the call with us (stay tuned); gather fellow advocates and dial (888) 409-6709 a few minutes before 2 pm ET to join!

Also, host a September 21 Outreach Party to Celebrate Reclaiming Our Democracy. Another exciting opportunity coming in a few weeks is the celebration of the release of the 20th anniversary edition of Reclaiming Our Democracy by RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris. Dr. Muhammad Yunus will join Sam Daley-Harris and RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter on a conference call that can serve as a centerpiece for an outreach book party in your community. The call will be held at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on Saturday, September 21. A guide to creating a great event, plus the details on how to join the call, will be available in the days ahead.

Top Actions: Education, Nutrition, and Outreach

Take Action on Education and Child Nutrition. While our focus lately has been largely on the upcoming fall replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, we don’t want to leave behind other powerful actions that we’ve been working on this summer. As you meet with your legislators at home in your states and districts, ask for co-sponsorship of two important items in the House — the Education for All Act of 2013 and H.Res. 254 which supports child nutrition. Utilize our comprehensive blog post on both pieces of legislation to get briefed on the issues, and make co-sponsorship requests of your representatives.

Laser Talk and Podcast for Outreach. Use this month’s laser talk to inspire others to engage with RESULTS using the powerful Story of Self, Us and Now format. Why do you do this work? What does it mean to work on poverty together? And why is the issue of poverty particularly urgent now? Use this month’s laser talk as a starting point for creating your own Story of Self, Us, and Now, and motivate others to join you! (And while you’re at it, why not share the inspiring words of Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and our own grassroots advocates to help in your outreach? Share the podcast of this month’s national grassroots conference call!)

Important Dates, Events, and Opportunities

1. Building Bipartisan Champions Cohort Call. Join us at 1 pm ET on August 26 for a special midday gathering of the Building Bipartisan Champions Cohort. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join. This particular call will feature special guest former Congressman Lee Hamilton (D-IN) who served Congress for 34 years. Call in for insightful remarks and a Q&A session with this legislator who has dedicated his post-Congressional career to cultivating an interest in civil civic dialogue. Congressman Hamilton will be our guest for the first half of the call, and then we’ll pick up the conversation by discussing opportunites for bipartisan champion-building that we discovered at the International Conference and during August recess in-district meetings.
2. Engaging Returned International Volunteers. On August 27 at 9 pm ET, Zahara Heckscher, author of How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, will be leading a webinar for RESULTS folks on how to engage returned international volunteers in our groups. Alumni from international volunteer programs like the Peace Corps are "prequalified" to become RESULTS activists because they already care about the issues. But how do you find these returned international volunteers In your community? How do you engage them and bring them up the RESULTS ladder of engagement? The webinar will answer these questions and prepare you for successful recruitment and outreach for the September 21 Reclaiming Our Democracy book re-release event with Sam Daley Harris, Joanne Carter, and Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The strategies shared will also apply to other outreach target populations and future events. To join, cut and paste http://fuze.me/21005003 into your browser for the webinar portion. For the audio portion, dial (347) 817-7654, pin 0# or dial in via Skype to "fuzemeeting" and then 0#.
3. Grassroots Board Member Nominations Are Open. Dr. Scott Leckman, Chair of the RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund Board, has announced a position available, starting November 2013, for a RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund (REF) Grassroots Board Member. Lydia Pendley is completing her three year term as a Grassroots Board Member, making this spot available, and our sincere gratitude goes out to her for her three years of service! Candidates for the Grassroots Board Member seat must be engaged in an active RESULTS group, and if elected, will serve for a term of three years and represent the volunteer body on the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee of the Board of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund. More details on responsibilities and expectations of the Grassroots Board Member position are available from Jack McLaughlin in the DC office. Nominations of candidates for the open Grassroots Board Member position must reach the RESULTS office by September 24. You can e-mail your nomination to Jack McLaughlin or fax it to (202) 466-1397.
4. Standing for Grameen Bank. Today, in open letters to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, members of Congress and a diverse set of global leaders called on the government of Bangladesh to preserve the independence of Grameen Bank. Grameen Bank provides credit and other critical services to nearly 8.4 million of the poorest women in Bangladesh, creating an opportunity for these women and their families to transform their lives and move out of poverty. Read more on our blog.
5. Great Videos Featured on our Blog. Wanted to be at the International Conference? Hungering to find great online presentations featuring some of the great speakers with which RESULTS is connected? You’re in luck! Check our blog for films and clips shared at the International Conference which showcased some of our major domestic and global campaigns. Or be inspired by clips from the International Conference itself.

And how do you bring spectacular presenters to your fundraiser or outreach event attendees without the expense and coordination of travel? You can bring them in virtually! Videos are available that are ideal for small house parties and banquet dinners alike. Check out Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Senator Bob Bennett, acress Valerie Harper, and RESULTS founder Sam Daley Harris speaking directly about RESULTS! (If this motivates you to work toward a RESULTS fundraiser, contact Cindy Levin, Grassroots Development Associate, for support.)

Remember: August Recess is an Outstanding Chance for Follow-up and In-District Meetings

1. Report on your Lobby Day meetings from the International Conference or from any time this year! We use the information about your meetings in a number of ways; please report before too much time passes! If you have hard copies you want to submit, contact Lisa Marchal, Senior Global Grassroots Associate.
2. Follow up on your meetings, both by inquiring about the requests you made and by offering thank yous for the meetings and, if relevant, for attendance at the International Conference Lobby Day reception. Remember that if you don’t follow up on a meeting, it’s like it didn’t happen. Keep building those relationships!
3. Haven’t yet gotten that face-to-face meeting you were seeking with that certain a member of Congress? Take advantage of the long August recess (as well as recesses coming up in September and October) and book a meeting now! Perhaps your senator or representative will be back in your area and can meet with you. We have a goal of meeting with all of our representatives and senators this year. Can you help us get there?

Instead of the traditional quote, listen to Valerie Harper, actress and RESULTS leader and ally, speak to you in her own words. She will inspire you.

1. August 14, 9 pm ET. RESULTS Introductory Call. Heard of RESULTS and want to know more? Join us for this 30-minute introductory call. Contact us with any questions and RSVP for the call. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join.

2. August 19, 8 pm ET. Next RESULTS Free Agents call for global poverty advocates. Dial: (218) 486-1611, passcode 7378587 (RESULTS). Are you a RESULTS activist with our global poverty campaigns, living in a town with no RESULTS group? You are alone no more! Contact Lisa Marchal, Senior Global Grassroots Associate, for more information on this monthly group call.

3. August 20, 8 pm ET. Media Support Call. Want to be part of the on-going support that’s available to help you reach your media goals? Then this is the call for you! Join monthly for inspiration and ideas to keep you going. This month, we’;ll share highlights from the Media 101 workshop at the International Conference; also, bring your stories of success to share! Dial (218) 862-1300, passcode 682494 to join this call.

4. August 23, 1 pm ET. RESULTS Introductory Call. Heard of RESULTS and want to know more? Join us for this 30-minute introductory call. Contact us with any questions and RSVP for the call. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join.

5. August 26, 1 pm ET. Building Bipartisan Champions Cohort Call. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 for this special daytime call. This cohort meets every other month to brainstorm ways to move the needle on our issues in more challenging Congressional contexts. This call will feature a special guest, former Congressman Lee Hamilton (D-IN). Call in for insightful remarks and a Q&A session with this legislator who has dedicated his post-Congressional career to cultivating an interest in civil civic dialogue.

6. August 27, 9 pm ET. Engaging Returned International Volunteers. Zahara Heckscher, author of How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, will be leading a webinar for RESULTS folks on how to engage returned international volunteers in our groups. Webinar access: http://fuze.me/21005003. Dial in for audio to (347) 817-7654, pin 0#. Zahara covered this topic at the International Conference and is excited to bring it to those who missed her workshop.

7. September 7, 2 pm ET. RESULTS National Grassroots Conference Call for Global Poverty Campaigns. Dial (888) 409-6709 to join!

8. September 21, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Outreach Conference Call to Re-launch Reclaiming Our Democracy. To celebrate the release of the 20th anniversary edition of Reclaiming Our Democracy by RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris, Sam will be joined on a conference call with Dr. Muhammad Yunus and RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter. Use this call as a centerpiece for an outreach book party in your community. A guide to creating a great event, plus the details on how to join the call, will be available in the days ahead.