Subject: RE: FairWisconsin--Outpost #4, October 2006, Is Interested in Publishing Names of Those Opposed to the Amendment Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:06:02 -0500 Message-ID: <BDD0A3EABE40F04A8C7200805EDE5A6A0488D51B@PEPSI.uwec.edu> From: "Nowlan, Robert A." <RANOWLAN@uwec.edu>
Friends, SFPJ:
To follow up on Karl's and Kate's messages, _Progressive Outpost_ is
interested in publishing a list of the names of people who are willing
to publicly declare their opposition to the civil union/marriage
amendment in our October issue. If sfpj would like to spearhead
getting commitments from people at and around campus for this purpose
that would help us out greatly with making this happen. We'll publish
as many names as we get. We want, in particular, to make this a
published list of committed _straight_ opponents to the ban, so we would
like, in particular, people to indicate either of the following in
agreeing to have us publish their opposition to the amendment:
1. I am straight and I oppose the amendment
2. I am straight, legally married, and I oppose the amendment
We will have articles related to (opposition to) the amendment in both
our September and October issues, but we'd also like to do this
(publication of names of committed opponents) as well. Again,
soliciting names of people willing to have their opposition published
is something that _Progressive Outpost_ will need other groups to take
up the lead in doing, if we are to do this, because we are only a staff
of five people, and one is pretty much unavailable right now due to
(more than) full-time campaign commitments (Andrew Werthmann, Kathleen
Vinehout's campaign manager). Since the Progressive Student Association
is in a transition period right now, with limited membership or
leadership to start the fall semester, and the same is true of _The
FlipSide_, this (solicitation effort) might well be something that sfpj
instead could lead. Someone or some group of people within sfpj could
agree to collect the names of people willing to publish their opposition
to the amendment, including whether they are willing to identify their
opposition with 1. or 2. above (straight and opposed, or straight,
legally married, and opposed), along with an indication of their city,
town, or village of residence, and, if they wish, their position/title
as well. Sfpj members interested in helping out with this could contact
others at the university and in the surrounding community, using other
e-mail lists/listserves they are a part of, to solicit further people
willing to publish their opposition to the amendment (beyond those on
this listserve). And then eventually you can send all of this
information to me. I'll let you know when we will need it; we haven't
set a submission deadline yet for the October issue, but it will likely
be the end of the first week of October at the latest.
So, once again, this is something _Progressive Outpost_ has volunteered
to do, but what we need is some group that is willing to solicit and
collect names. It's just not something that it is feasible at this
point for _Progressive Outpost_ to take charge of all by ourselves,
unfortunately. And we probably will up our print run of the October
issue back to(ward) 2000 copies. I don't see why we couldn't get at
least 500 names-and I'd like it if we could get 1,000, which I think is
possible. Despite recent poll results, I believe that at and around
campus, a solid majority of people-faculty, administration, staff, and
students-are opposed to the amendment, and a large percentage of these
are not likely to hesitate to make this opposition publicly known. I
also think it is possible that a large indication of especially straight
as well as straight and legally married fellow citizens from this area
readiness to publicly express their opposition may have some impact on
those who remain truly wavering or undecided (which I suspect is a
limited group, but enough still to help beat the amendment).
Of course this _Progressive Outpost_ initiative is just _in addition_ to
helping out with canvassing and other efforts that Fair Wisconsin is
leading up.
Questions and comments are welcome.
Bob Nowlan
Editorial Board, _Progressive Outpost_
On Sabbatical, English Department, UWEC, 2006-2007
-----Original Message-----
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Markgraf, Karl F.
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 8:27 AM
To: sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu
Cc: Hannah Johnson
Subject: FairWisconsin
Following up on Kate's message regarding FairWisconsin, and the need to
turn our part of the state in the right (read left) direction, I'd
encourage you to help the effort by canvassing. Door to door educational
efforts are remarkably effective in terms of
1) Informing people what this ban really means to citizens of
Wisconsin and
2) Mobilizing them to vote on it.
And as educators, we bring to this effort the skills we practice every
day in the classroom and on campus - the ability to explain, and to help
others understand issues.
There is a major canvassing push planned for Eau Claire, on August 26.
Please Contact Hannah Johnson and volunteer your time, energy and skills
to help educate your neighbors about this issue.
See Hannah's forwarded message (below) for details.
Karl
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. Karl Markgraf, Director
Center for International Education
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54701 USA
t: 715-836-4411
f: 715-836-4948
e: markgraf@uwec.edu
http://www.uwec.edu/cie/index.htm
Dear Eau Claire Action Network,
Election Day is just around the corner and it's time to re-energize your
commitment to stopping the ban on civil unions and marriage for gay
couples.
On Saturday, August 26th we are kicking our door canvass efforts into
high gear. We are organizing the biggest door canvass this campaign has
seen, and we need your help to make it happen.
Please take a moment to think about how important stopping this ban is
to you. If you've been too busy to canvass, have been feeling nervous
about canvassing, or have been putting off canvassing for other reasons,
now is the time to give canvassing a try. Canvassing is absolutely the
most important thing we can do to ensure victory this November. Please
summon up your courage and your resolve to defeat the ban, and come
knock on doors with us Saturday, August 26 from 10-3 (we will be meeting
at the Fair Wisconsin Office at 211 Graham Ave next to the Bottle and
Barrel).
Please help make this canvass huge by recruiting five friends, family
members or co-workers to join you for the Eau Claire Canvass. This is a
critical moment of our campaign, and we need nothing less than 500
people knocking on doors around the state. Explain to those you care
about, and who care about you why you are choosing to canvass with us
even though you are busy or nervous about it. If you've canvassed with
us before and know what a rewarding experience it is, share your stories
with friends and family so they aren't quite so nervous about giving it
a try.
We need your help. We need the help of your friends and family. Together
we will win.
Sign up on the calendar: www.fairwisconsin.com/calendar
<http://www.fairwisconsin.com/calendar> , or call me with any questions.
I hope to see you all on August 26th!
Hannah Johnson
Eau Claire Field Organizer
(715) 379-2051
A fair Wisconsin votes NO