SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 MEETING AT NEW VENUE

from John Debus

Hi Everyone,       

Reminder of our FIRST EVENT at our NEW  location, this Monday evening, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, September 29, 2014 at the Garden Club Center, 911 Parkway Drive, Fort Pierce, Fl. 34954. It is about 4 or 5 blocks west of the American Legion (our old meeting place) on Georgia Ave. It is the yellow building off the circle, right next to Glidden Park, you can’t miss it. It is a very nice place and neighborhood. Call me if you need directions; 772-349-5328, also a map is on our web-site. We will have water and Green Tea (free) available or bring your own. Come early for some Social time before our event, doors will open at 6:00pm. We must start on time to ensure we get out on time. We are looking for a large turnout, come and be part of our new experience.

This month we will be hosting George Mallinckrodt, author of “Getting Away with Murder” and whistle blower on the Florida Department of Corrections. He will be speaking on the Prison system and the conditions for the mentally ill. As many of you have hear recently of ALL the charges and arrests with prison officials down south of us, please come and get the real news and facts on this story. He is coming all the way from Miami to inform and educate us on these issues. His book will be available for purchase and he will also personally sign it for you.  The most important place to be every month is our event, all our work and activism starts with the support we get from each other here and the recognition of our organization depends on the number of people participating.

The action table at our event is set up for group's information, sign-up sheets, upcoming events and petitions. All groups or candidates will have 1-3 minutes to tell us about themselves. You can also contact Kathy or myself to have your events posted on our web-site happenings page. Check often for up to date HAPPENINGS.

Reminder for Our Quarterly Picnic Sunday, 5 October 2014 at 11:00am to 2:00pm at  Museum Point, South Causeway Park in Fort Pierce. Bring something to eat (sandwich) for yourself, something to drink, you can bring a dish to share, or just come and have a drink with us (as always we will have drinks available). All our Events are free and open to the public, membership is not required. Come and meet some very good people and be part of our family. Make a day of it and visit the Museums and/or the Aquarium while you are there. Please call me if you have any questions or need directions.

TCPA does not endorse political candidates and we are a non-partisan organization. They may come and tell us about themselves and our members may support them individually. All candidates are invited to our events. TCPA supports Progressive Issues.

Please come out, we need your support to make a difference, be part of the experience. We also would like your feed-back on our Events and Organization. So feel free to respond to this e-mail. CHECK OUT OUR WEB-SITE; tcprogressivealliance.com  Check often as many events are posted late with little notice. We post as soon as we get them. Also check out our blog with many interesting articles and information posted there. Thanks for your support, hope to see you Monday night.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Take care,

John

THE LAGOON NEEDS YOUR HELP

from Corry Westbrook
Hi,
This is all hands on deck crisis. The IRC Commissioners think it is okay to SAY they are concerned about the lagoon - and then take actions that will harm it. This is not okay. Despite huge public outcry they had a secret vote in a budget meeting yesterday, with no public notice, that will expand the Oslo boat ramp at the expense of seagrass and our lagoon. We must tell them this behavior is unacceptable. We have to take a stand. We need a huge showing on Tuesday morning. A lot of you being invited live and work in Brevard but if you can take an hour or two to help on Tuesday, we will be forever grateful. We must make elected officials stand-up for the lagoon. No more talk and no action - or in this case say you are doing good but really be harming it. Scroll down - details below. I really hope you can attend! And please bring a friend, spouse, child - we need big numbers! Feel free to send this invite/details to your contact lists. THANK YOU!! Corry 772 539 1992

from Richard Baker
 The Lagoon REALLY NEEDS YOU ON TUESDAY in Vero Beach Sep 23, 2014 — CRUCIAL RALLY & PROTEST AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION!

They voted this week at a budget meeting to fund the ramp project despite enormous public opposition :~( PLEASE BE HERE: Tuesday 23 Sept., 8:30 am, Vero Beach (1801 27th Street, Building A)

Dear Friend of the Indian River Lagoon,

You know about the value of the lagoon. You know about the incredibly rich seagrass beds, mangrove forests, sportfish spawning habitats and manatee feeding grounds at Vero Beach’s Oslo Road boat ramp. And you know about the terribly destructive dredge, fill and pave project slated to damage all this. What you don’t know is that this week the Indian River County commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward with this project at a budget meeting– and to use local boat fees to pay for at least part of it. That means the very citizens who are rallying against this destruction – boaters and fishermen – will be footing the bill. In a county where priorities like cleaning up mold in our firehouses go unfunded, we’re outraged that the commissioners insist on spending $1 million of our public funds to further damage the lagoon.

LAGOON NEEDS YOU this Tuesday 23 September! PLEASE come to our RALLY AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING 1801 27th Street, Building A Vero Beach, Florida 8:30 am People from ALL COUNTIES are warmly welcomed and strongly encouraged to come. > We will ALL BE THERE with SIGNS AND BANNERS to tell the commissioners – both directly, and via the media – that our citizens do not want this project. Lange Sykes of the Coastal Conservation Association will speak to the rally and media about why this is such a terrible project, for taxpayers as well as the lagoon. Then at 9:00 am, we’ll all take our seats in the commission meeting, QUIETLY HOLDING OUR SIGNS UP – you can print your own, and support the community speakers who are on the agenda.

We know you’ve been helping fight this for years. And we know how busy you are. But this is ALMOST GAME OVER for the Oslo habitat and lagoon – we REALLY need to show how deeply our community feels about this. PLEASE, even if you can just come for 10 minutes, be there at 8:30 Tuesday morning.

 PLEASE send this message to all your Lagoon-loving (and tax-savvy citizen) friends, members, family and other contacts – we really need good numbers. IF YOU CAN, TAKE 10 MINUTES this weekend to call 10 people and ask them personally to be there. And please also post it on your FB pages and Twitter accounts! We need fishermen – conservationists – manatee lovers – students – taxpayers – bird watchers – scientists – retirees – teachers – and everyone who cares about the lagoon, and about how spending decisions are made in Indian River County – to be there.

IF YOU CAN'T COME ON TUESDAY - PLEASE CALL THE COMMISSIONERS Wesley S.Davis (772) 226-1442 Joseph E. Flescher (772) 226-1919 Tim Zorc (772) 226-1440 Peter D. O'Bryan (772) 226-1440 Bob Solari - Bob has been an ally and voted AGAINST funding the project :~) (772) 226-1442 For more information on the Tuesday rally: Buffy Turner – 772.480.5125 or buffy@fastmail.fm Carolyn Lange – 772.473-7982 or carolyn@langesykes.com About the Oslo Ramp project: http://www.pelicanislandaudubon.org/

Thank you for sticking up for the Lagoon! See you Tuesday! 

NOAM CHOMSKY

from Erika Alveraz

For all who have a nagging suspicion they're not getting the whole news, I suggest going to Noam Chomsky's website. That's where I go when I need more information about an issue (foreign affairs). This is the person to read. In my opinion, he is the best informed person on the planet. Here is the website: http://www.chomsky.info/

TAKE BACK YOUR POWER

from Nancy Stiefel

What:  Social Justice Film Series – Take Back Your Power

When:  7:00 PM, Sunday, September 14

Where:  Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach at the corner of 27th Avenue and 16th Street

The 2013 NSA spying scandal exposed vast programs to monitor personal communications. Now, utilities and governments are reaching into your own home, through fast-tracked “smart” meters and spy-ready technology. But what if you have a choice? At stake is in-home surveillance, skyrocketing bills, emerging health risks, and hacking vulnerabilities.

With compelling insight from whistleblowers, government agents, lawyers, environmentalists, and doctors, the award-winning documentary Take Back Your Power takes us on a journey to expose corruption and erosion of rights in the name of “smart” and “green.”  This film looks at numerous issues surrounding smart meters:  health, safety, security, privacy, and the impact on our environment.

Guest facilitators are Susan Keiffer (master herbalist and iridologist at Wildflower Herbal Counseling in Sebastian) and Stephanie Austin (co-founding member of the Florida Coalition for Health Against Smart Meters – CHASM).  The Fair Trade Corner will be open one-half hour prior to the 90-minute film.  

The public is invited to this free screening, so please bring along a friend or neighbor.  As always, donations to cover our costs are gratefully accepted.

Nancy Stiefel