Messages

I've updated this event by switching it to Steelhead across from UC Irvine. For more details, see the full listing:
http://prochoice.meet...

If the change affects your plans to attend, please take a moment to update your RSVP. (You can RSVP 'No' or 'Maybe' as well as 'Yes'.)

You can always get in touch with me through the 'Contact Organizer' feature on the Meetup.com website:
http://prochoice.meet...

We've also changed our name to combine with other small groups. Please read the message below.

Hello, Meetup Members!
I ask your patience in reading through this message, and in following through with some kind of action. A number of us think that it is vital for us to keep our troops together, to fight for election reform (Have you been following the discrepancies between the number of votes and the number of voters in various Ohio precincts?), to prepare for 2006 and 2008, and to work on the many issues -- from the Iraq war to social security to the environment which affect us all.

Meetup is one of the ways we can do that. It gives us an opportunity to connect on a level which is not quite as organized as official Party organs, and which may therefore seem more welcoming to some, and it is also a great way for newcomers to the community, or people newly interested in politics to find us.

I apologize for this late message, but the holidays combined with my radiation treatment and out of town guests have really put me out of commission for the past several weeks. But now it's a New Year, and it's time to organize!

My initial idea is to rename all the Kerry Meetups that I "organize" and all the Meetups with progressive themes so they will all fall under one name. Right now, the "working title" is OC Grassroots Progressives. In addition, we'll retain the Democratic Meetups, where everyone will be welcome, but the loose affiliation with the Democratic Party will be apparent. And, there are some other Meetups that may appeal: For Howard Dean afficianados, there is DFA. For the younger crowd, there is Twenty Million Strong. There is also a group meeting about "Big Media."

When Meetup changed their format, they "froze" the membership lists at various locations. Many times, someone who lives or works in one part of the county may have ended up on a list for a meetup many miles distant. Organizers can only contact people on "their" list, and many people don't understand how easy it is to join a different, and more convenient Meetup. I will be happy to talk anyone through this process if they will contact me at htoji@cox.net. We can do it by email or by phone. So we can get our membership lists up to date, please join the Meetups where you may participate, and drop memberships in those where you will not.

Although we want the Meetup days and locations to be convenient for as many as possible, we don't want to schedule Meetups for such small groups that only one or two people show up. That may mean driving a bit further for some. As interest grows, it is easy to add more Meetups. If you would like to be the organizer for a Meetup in your neighborhood, please email me.

Now for the January list:

Tuesday, January 4th: The "Fight Big Media" group will meet at 7:00 pm:
Steelhead Brewery (patio area)
4175 Campus Drive (across from UCI) Within shopping center
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 856-2227

Tuesday, January 4th: The "20 Million Loud" group MAY meet a 7:00 pm. Only one person has sent in an rsvp. The Steelhead Meetup may be a safer bet.:
Cafe Ruba
1749 Newport Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-642-4026

If you want to go to a Meetup on that night, please attend one of those meetups! I am canceling all other Tuesday meetups that I organize, since there are so few RSVPs. If I can get to a Meetup myself, if will be the one at Steelhead.

Wednesday, January 5th: "The DFA" group will meet at 7:00 pm:
Karl Strauss Brewery
901 South Coast Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-546-2736

This large and active group of Dean supporters is raring to go! They are working on various local political projects.

Tuesday, January 11th: Official Democrats Meetup day at 7:00 pm.
Karl Strauss
901 South Coast Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-546-273

AND a second location:

Natále Gourmet Coffee & Cafe
34827 Del Prado (by Ralph's at Del Prado & Golden Lntrn)
Dana Point, CA 92629
949-493-3088

Other Democratic Meetups are taking the old Kerry Meetup spot on the 4th Thursday. However these two will temporarily cover the area near South Coast Plaza and the South County. We will be adding another one inbetween as soon as possible. Senator Joe Dunn has announced that the big state legislature fight will be in Orange County in 2006. He needs us to prepare for the campaign.

Thursday, January 27th: "Old" Kerry Meetup day at 7:00 pm.
So far there are four scheduled.

Tustin Democratic Meetup
Volare Trattoria
405 So. El Camino Real
El Camino Real at Main, Old Town Tustin
Tustin, CA 92780
714-669-2950

Fullerton Democratic Meetup
Sizzler Restaurant 1401 N. Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
714-990-6767

Combined Progressive Meetups
Karl Strauss
901 South Coast Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA
714-546-273

Cafe Ruba
1749 Newport Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA
949-642-4026

Others may be scheduled as well. We'll try to keep you up to date.
Please go to the "old" Kerry sites, as well as the various Democratic
meetup sites and any other progressive Meetup groups to which you belong and get your memberships straightened out so we can see where we need to hold Meetups. And please rsvp if you intend to attend one of the above.

Thanks for all you do -- we have no reason to fold our tents!

Sharon Toji
949 929-6512 (cell phone -- leave a message with your number)
htoji@cox.net