The Occupy Poughkeepsie Journal Vol 1. #7
Jeff Green
The Occupy Poughkeepsie Journal
Brought to you by the Media Working Group of Occupy Poughkeepsie.
http://www.occupypoughkeepsie.org
Vol. 1 #7
February 15, 2012
Occupy Poughkeepsie welcomes the SUNY Purchase
General Assembly into the Occupy Hudson Valley family. On Monday evening, February 13, Norm, Pepper, Ray, Patrick and Jeff, from OPK drove down to SUNY Purchase to meet with their General Assembly. Their primary focus is on student and tuition issues within the SUNY system and they are planning a "mock funeral" for public education on March 1st, a national day of action for student issues. SUNYPGA will be joining Vassar, Marist, DCC and other colleges across the Hudson Valley and the nation in events that day, some of which OPK's Direct Action Working Group (DAWG) is busy coordinating. On Monday, March 5th, SUNYPGA will be attending a state-wide rally in Albany being organized by New York Students Rising. SUNYPGA will be joining our Thursday evening OHV "Mumble" Chats and we welcome them, brothers and sisters, in solidarity.
On Saturday, February 11, OPK'ers Norm Rodriguez and Jeff Green joined speakers Lydia Wright and Gail Burger for a panel discussion about the Occupation Movement at the Millbrook public library. A well attended event hosted by Lydia and Marc, two stalwarts of the movement who vigil each week in Millbrook, gave residents of that sleepy Dutchess county village an opportunity to learn, to question and to engage themselves a little deeper into the movement itself. About half of the attendees provided us with email addresses for future contact and we welcome their participation. Look toward Millbrook in the near future for additional events.
Also last Saturday, OPK's Foreclosure Defense Working Group held their first public meeting with families facing foreclosure. About 13 people were present including the organizers and Poughkeepsie icon Mother Perry. Several homeowners and tenants spoke with interest in committing to meeting twice monthly. The next meeting will be on the 25th, again at the Christ Church on 20 Carroll St. Several homeowners decided to write a Public Letter to their mortgage holders and took copies of a model letter template Blair Goodman had provided. This week, a team continued canvassing neighborhoods around Smith Street, Mansion, Hamilton and South Clinton. Thanks to Tama Sis Kaya Bell for the report.
The next meeting of Occupy Poughkeepsie Direct Action Working Group (DAWG) will be on Friday, February 17th at 5:30pm in the basement of Christ Episcopal Church at 22 Carrol Street. Please be in attendance so we can do some planning for actions, and move toward the March 1st National Day of Action for Education.
Join the National Lawyer's Guild and Occupy Poughkeepsie for a Know Your Rights Training with Valeria Gheorghiu, Esq. Sunday, February 19th, 5:30 - 7:00 pm (right before General Assembly at Christ Episcopal Church). Learn about your Constitutionally-protected rights to free speech and lawful assembly, and your protections against undue search and seizure and self-incrimination. Understand the procedures that police and federal agents are obligated to follow, and how to conduct yourself if you encounter law enforcement or become the subject of a investigation. Learn about the expansion of government procedures and powers under the PATRIOT Act and subsequent legislation."
Our General Assembly this Friday evening will be 7PM in a new location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church at North Hamilton and Mansion streets, across from Mansion St Park. We'll be meeting in the Parlor. We heartily thank the Reverend Tyler Jones for his hospitality.
Photo by Raymond Contegiacomo
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OPKs Stone Soup program continues in Hulme Park on Friday evenings from 4:30PM until 6:30PM, just in time to get you to our Friday evening GA at 7PM. Come on out, have some soup, bring some food to share, bring a drum and Occupy Hulme Park with some good food and cheer and like-minded people.
OPK hosts an informal "think-tank" program each Monday night at 7PM at Christ Episcopal Church, 22 Carroll Street. Topics are as wide spread and varied as are those who attend. Feel free to drop in and add your views.
OPKs Musicians Working Group: A group of spirited musicians comes together to meet, play music and exchange ideas. The group meets as needed to play together and rehearse. If you'd like to join, please contact Andy Papula at (845) 242-6760
Have you visited OPK's page on Facebook? Check us out.
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If you have any comments about this newsletter, please write us at pr...@occupypoughkeepsie.org
If you would like this newsletter emailed to you automagically each week, visit our website, http://www.occupypoughkeepsie.org and sign up for our mailing list at the top of the right-hand column. We'd love to have you on board.
JmG
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Upcoming Events:
Saturday, February 18 at 7:00pm
Occupy the Sermon on the Mount - Performance and Talk
In many ways Jesus’ times were not unlike our own. Like America, the business of Rome was business. Throughout its empire, Rome built roads and aqueducts, improved communications, and established a uniform code of law and a common currency. All this transformed the economy, bringing great wealth to some—and terrible destitution to many. Instead of merely gathering taxes, Roman landlords gathered the land itself into great estates worked by slaves. Dispossessed peasants were forced to live by day labor, begging, prostitution and theft, or by selling themselves and their children into slavery. The Occupy Movement has enabled thousands of people throughout the world to spontaneously rediscover of the meaning and value of living together in radical, voluntary poverty. The Sermon on the Mount has much to teach us. Christ Episcopal Church - 20 Carroll St in Poughkeepsie @7PM.
Sunday, February 19th 5:30 PM
Know Your Rights workshop
Hosted by the Occupy Poughkeepsie Legal Observer's Group.
Check our website for further information. http://www.occupypoughkeepsie.org
Contact information for Occupy Poughkeepsie:
General Assembly Schedule - All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Sunday, 7PM—Christ Church, 20 Carroll Street
Wednesday, 7PM—The Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library at the Family Partnership Center, 29 N. Hamilton St.
Friday, 7PM—St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Mansion and North Hamilton.
Working Groups:
We get things accomplished by forming working groups.
Individuals self-select into groups based on their skills
and interests. Working groups are open to anyone who is willing
and determined to help out.
Think
Tank
Meetings: Mondays at 7PM, Christ Episcopal Church.
Email: pok-thi...@googlegroups.com
This group organizes through a Google Group. Please join the group to
get involved.
Musicians
Working Group
We meet as needed to play together and rehearse.
Christ Episcopal Church, 22 Carroll Street in Poughkeepsie.
If you'd like to join, please contact Andy Papula at (845)
242-6760 or vdnn...@optonline.net
Direct
Action Working Group
Email the contact person: asoldierofth...@yahoo.com
Media
Working Group
We meet in person as needed.
Email: occupyp...@googlegroups.com
This group organizes through a Google Group. Please join the group to
get involved.
Community
Outreach Working Group
We meet in person as needed.
Email: occupypo...@googlegroups.com
This group organizes through a Google Group. Please join the group to
get involved.
Foreclosures
& Defense Working Group
The economic meltdown has left many of our neighbors facing
foreclosure and eviction. How can we help? Let us get to
work.
Email the contact person: occupypkf...@riseup.net
This group organizes through a Google Group. Please join the group to
get involved.
Moms
& Dads Working Group
We provide food, comfort, & support. You do not have to
be a parent to join.
We meet in person as needed.
Email: occupypokm...@googlegroups.com
This group organizes through a Google Group. Please join the group to
get involved.