Author: Lindsay

Image via CrunchBaseJust 1 day left to register to vote in the great state of Pennsylvania to vote for the Presidential election in November, 2008.

If you are on Facebook there is an easy easy to make sure your friends are registered to vote. The Everybody Vote Facebook application! http://apps.facebook.com/everybodyvote/

Everybody VOTE is a non-partisan voter registration and mobilization campaign created to increase voter participation in Pennsylvania and dedicated to expanding the role of the state’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in voting and elections.

This application allows you to register to vote, as well as verify if you and your friends are already registered.

Help spread the word:

• Add the Everybody Vote Facebook Application
• Be a fan on the Everybody Vote Application Fan Page
• Join the Everybody Vote Group on Facebook

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Drinking Liberally is a great organization that exists across the nation.  A happy hour that is open for anyone that wants to get together and talk politics.  Mostly from the liberal point of view.  Drinking Liberally started in NYC during the 2004 elections and has spread across the US.

Pittsburgh has had a Drinking Liberally group in the past, there is a new coordinator in town and an election to get ready for.  If you are new to politics, new to Pittsburgh or new to politics and Pittsburgh this is a great way to get to meet some like minded folks.  If you are running for office this is a great way to reach out to some local people that are interested in politics.

I have added this to the Progress Pittsburgh Google Calendar (if you have an event you want to share please let us know so we can add it to the calendar)

Pittsburgh’s Chapter of Drinking Liberally
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm
Buffalo Blues, Highland Ave.
More info: http://drinkingliberally.org/locations.html#pa
FREE, just buy your own drinks

Chris Ivey, a Pittsburgh based filmmaker who works on films all over the world has been working on a second installment to the documentary East Of Liberty.

Chapter 2 is titled the Fear of Us.  I have had the opportunity to watch many pieces of this documentary over the past 2 years.  This is some of the stories of a neighborhood that aren’t often heard.  The first chapter of East of Liberty was screened in London last spring.

The Fear of Us will be at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater Feb 29-Mar. 2.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfhGhIgk8M[/youtube]

For more clips and footage about East Liberty and other Pittsburgh neighborhoods click here.

I wanted to post the information about this leadership training because I know lots of young leaders in this city that would benefit from these trainings and often announcements about trainings and workshops get sent to the same groups of people.  This announcement is from the PUMP newsletter.  I hope you will share this information with other who may be interested.

November Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy: Please plan to register early for the next opportunity to learn all about the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards.

The next session of The Leadership Academy is Saturday, November 3, and will take place at Big Brothers/Big Sisters in East Liberty.

Staff and board members are encouraged to attend.

Speakers for the November session will include: Michael Kumer, Dee Jay Oshry, Coleen Fedor, Terry Beggy ,Sr. Linda Yankoski, James McConomy, Carolyn Falk, Allison Jones

Saturday, November 3, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Program Cost: $150 (scholarships available) includes breakfast and lunch. Upon request, for more information or to register, call 412.396.6231 or visit www.leadership.duq.edu/nonprofit.

Sierra Club 101: An Introduction to Exploring,

Enjoying, and Protecting our Planet

At this introductory workshop, you’ll:

• Learn more about the Sierra Club, what we do, and how we do it.
• Meet other members and activists.
• Find out about the many ways that you can get involved in protecting our environment.
• Share your ideas for how we can build an environmental community in the Pittsburgh area.

No matter whether you have 15 min. or 15 hours, you can make a difference, and at Sierra Club 101, you’ll learn how.

We look forward to meeting you!

When: Wednesday, October 3rd 6:30-8:00pm

Where: The Sierra Club Office 3109 Forbes Ave

In Oakland

RSVP by calling 412-802-6161 or Email randy.francisco@sierraclub.org

I just wanted to post a reminded that you can sign up to have the latests posts from the Progress Pittsburgh blog delivered to your email box each day.  Just enter your email address in the box below and click subscribe.

The presidential election will inevitably use regional identities to determine what values matter most to voters. So where is Pittsburgh?

According to Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest#Definition):

…parts of the Northeastern states have a Midwestern feel. Western Pennsylvania, which contains the cities of Erie and Pittsburgh, shares culture, history, and identity with the “Midwest,” but overlaps with Appalachia as well. Buffalo, New York, the western terminus of the Erie Canal and gateway to the Great Lakes, also offers a Midwestern orientation, and in most instances its residents identify more readily with the cultures of Chicago or Detroit than cities on the Eastern Seaboard. However, residents of Western Pennsylvania and Western New York rarely, if ever, consider themselves Midwesterners.

Do you consider yourself a midwesterner? Absolutely East Coast? A mix? Where is Pittsburgh more midwestern, Appalachian, or northeastern?

If you are thinking of running for office or thinking about thinking running for office, if you want to be a better organizer or work as a campaign manager I highly recommend campaign trainings. Even if you are going to be the candidate it is important that you understand your campaign program.
I have attended a number of campaign trainings since I first started working on the Kerry Campaign in 2004. One of the most important things to know about running for office is fundraising.

I just received an email from Democracy for America about their night school project – they are going to be holding virtual campaign trainings all summer long.
The first one – Developing a Finance Plan – is tonight (Tue. June 12) at 8:30.
For more info and to sign up visit www.dfalink.com/financeplan

We are trying out a new calendar feature here on the Progress Pittsburgh blog. We are using a Google calendar to keep track of any events that would be of interest to Progress Pittsburgh readers. Hopefully this calendar will
1. Help promote events for multiple groups
2. Help reduce scheduling conflicts by listing all of the event in one central place.

Many Views
- The new calendar is available by clicking the calendar link at the top.
- Upcoming events are listed in the sidebar to the right.
- If you are using Google Calendar you can subscribe to the Progress Pittsburgh Calendar by clicking here

Meet and Greet the League
Wednesday March 21, 6:30p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Union Project ~ 801 N. Negly Avenue

We’ve come so far in the last two years, we invite you to get to know us and see where we are going. The reception will feature:
- How We’ve Grown!
- Meet the New Staff
- Introduction new Board of Directors

We’re going State wide—find out how!

Interactive Voter Guide!
- Demonstration of Video Voter Guides
- Hands-on time with Video Voter Guides
- Hands-on time with online voter guide

Campaign to Stop the Bus Cuts!
- What we’ve done
- What were planning
- Educational Programs!

Brief update of Hip Hop Senate in Pittsburgh Public Schools

Sign up for Tunnel Builders Institute

Refreshments! Finger Food, Wine, Beer, Soda

We just want you to come, eat our food, drink our drinks, and get to know the League, see where we have been and find out where we are going. We will hold a separate press conference the morning of the 21st to launch our Video Voter Guide.

RSVP: Jennifer England 412-513-9091 jen@indyvoter.org

Pittsburgh is looking for “young people” for appointments to its Boards Authorisies and Commissions (BACs).

How to apply:
If you are interested in serving on a Board, Authority or Commission, please send your resume to: Gabe J. Mazefsky, the Mayor’s Policy Manager Gabe.Mazefsky@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Current Vacancies:
Current vacancies: All appointed by the Mayor unless otherwise specified.

Human Relations Commission: 1 vacancy;
* must be a City of Pittsburgh resident.

Clean Pittsburgh Commission: 10 vacancies
* 1 must be from Mayor’s Office
* 1 from DPW – Partners in Parks
* 1 from Police Bureau
* 1 from Bureau of Building Inspection
* 1 from PA CleanWays of Allegheny County
* 5 at-large (but must be from ““neighborhood organizations, community groups, interested nonprofit organizations, local educational institutions, businesses, and Allegheny County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government representatives.”)

Equal Opportunity Review Commission: 2 vacancies

Ethics Hearing Board: 1 vacancy

Housing Authority: 2 vacancies
* Must be City of Pittsburgh residents;
* May possibly need to live in a Housing Authority community;
* Cannot hold public office

Pgh Housing Development Corp: 3 vacancies. Appointed by URA Board of Directors.
* 1 must be from Mayor’s Office.
* Must live, work, or own a business in the City of Pittsburgh.

City Planning Commission: 2 vacancies.

PittsburghWater and Sewer Authority: 1 vacancy. Must live, work, or own a business in the City of Pittsburgh.

Shade Tree Commission: 1 vacancy.
* Must be from Mayor’s Office.

Urban Redevelopment Authority: 1 vacancy.
* Must be a City of Pittsburgh resident.

Water Exoneration Board: 3 vacancies.
* 1 must be from PWSA
* The other two cannot be City employees.

Zoning Board of Adjustment: 1 vacancy.
* Might need to be a lawyer.

BOARD OF APPEALS – 1 vacancy
* seeking a certified architect

Art Commission: 1 Vacancy
* Sculptor

More information on each of the BACs is available on the City of Pittsburgh’s Boards Authorities & Commissions Website