Daily Archives: November 13, 2012

Register for Spokane Conference, Olympia report and Ref 74 post-election wrap up

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Spokane UU Voices Legislative Conference
Join us next Saturday, November 17, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane for our first Legislative Conference in Eastern Washington!
Registration, coffee and refreshments begin at 9:30 AM, and the Conference opens at 10 AM.  Keynote speaker Senator Lisa Brown will look at some of the issues that face the 2013 Washington Legislature when it convenes in January.  Immigration, the budget and state economy, and a diverse society will be addressed by other speakers, including:

  • Sandra Williams, Coordinator of the Eastern Washington University Pride Center
  • Sevan Bussell, transgender rights
  • Dr. Martin Meraz-Garcia, Assistant Professor, Chicano Education, EWU
  • Liz Moore, Director, Peace and Justice League of Spokane

Small groups will discuss educational and legislative strategies around the issues before the conference adjourns at 3 PM.
Haven’t Registered?   Go to www.uuvoiceswa.org today!

Report:  Olympia UU Voices Legislative Conference
More than 40 UUs and friends gathered November 10 for the 7th Annual Legislative Conference in Western Washington.  Keynote Speaker Nancy Amidei, founder of the Civic Engagement Project, spoke on “Effective Legislative Advocacy.”
Other speakers spoke of important social, environmental, and economic issues that Washington Legislature faces, including:

  • Immigration:  Roberta Ray, longtime immigration rights activist; Larry Warren, chair of the Northwest Detention Center Roundtable
  • Coal trains and safe children’s products:  Jessie Dye, Earth Ministry
  • Criminal justice reform and death penalty repeal:  Safe and Just Alternatives members
  • Campaign finance reform, Patricia Chapman, Seattle

Following small group discussion, the following were selected by Olympia conference attendees as WA UU Voices 2013-14 legislative priorities:

  1. Immigration and the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma
  2. Environment and coal trains in Washington
  3. Revenue and taxation reform; education and public assistance funding
  4. Money and politics, including repeal of Citizens United ruling
  5. Death penalty repeal and criminal justice reform

Marriage Equality Comes to Washington!

Thanks to all of you who worked for marriage equality!  Each of you, as people of faith, brought our message of love, inclusion, and equality to our friends, neighbors, and communities in a powerful way.

WA UU Voices has immense gratitude for our positive message expressed by sign wavers, forum presenters, letters-to-the-editor writers, doorbellers – all who Stood on the Side of Love in Washington!

Read about the response from UUs in Washington, Maryland, Maine, and Minnesota in this week’s article in the UU World:

“UUs celebrate historic wins for marriage equality”
Popular votes in Maine, Maryland, and Washington approve same-sex marriage; Minnesotans reject marriage ban.
By Donald E. Skinner and Michelle Bates Deakin, 11.12.12
http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/280934.shtml?utm_source=n

Thank you for your support!