Two weeks until Lobby Day and National Call-in Day: Tell Congress to Close the SOA!

[Guest guest]

SOA Watch UpdateFebruary 7, 2005TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE DC LOBBY DAY, ACTIONS and

NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY:TELL CONGRESS TO CLOSE THE SOA/ WHINSEC!MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21

and TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 221. DC legislative trainings,lobby day and actions2.

National Call-in Day to Close the SOA/WHINSEC- - - - - - - - - - - - -1. DC

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS DAYS: FEBRUARY 21-22Click here for INFORMATION, including

schedules, location and housing information:

http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=983Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA)

will be introducing new legislation to close the SOA/ WHINSEC early this year,

and the SOA Watch Lobby Day is a key to victory in this campaign! Join us in DC

to meet with your Representative's office, network with other SOA Watch

activists from your region, get up-to-date information on the legislative

campaign to close the SOA/ WHINSEC and participate in targeted direct actions.On

Monday, February 21st, we'll gather at 1 pm at the George Washington Univeristy

Law School at 20th

and H Streets for a legislative teach-in and lobby trainings. On Tuesday,

February 22nd, there will be an SOA Watch drop-in space at the Church of the

Brethren on Capitol Hill, where you can stop by before, in between or after your

Congressional visits to get a cup of coffee, eat lunch, pick up materials for

Congressional offices and socialize with others working to close the SOA.FOR

LOCATION INFORMATION, visit http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=989.Make your

travel arragements today! There are plenty of inexpensive flights to DC online

right now. For a start, check: www.cheaptickets.com and www.orbitz.com. Our

meeting and drop-in spaces are metro-accessible.FOR TRAVEL and TRANSPORTATION

INFORMATION, visit http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=991.ACCESSIBILITY: If

you have questions about accessibility at these events or if you need

accessibility accommodations, please email Christy Pardew at cpardew(at)soaw.org

or call her in the SOA Watch office at 202-234-3440.- - - - - - -

- - - - - -2. NATIONAL CALL IN DAY – FEBRUARY 22, 2005For more information on

the call-in day, visit http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96.Do you have 15

minutes to spare for US military accountability and justice for the people of

the Americas?Even if you are not able to make it to DC for this year’s Spring

Lobby Day, you can still take IMPORTANT legislative action at home. SOA Watch

calls on you to call your Representative and Senators and urge them to support

legislation that would close and investigate the SOA/WHINSEC once and for

all!These three calls can truly make a difference. Congressional offices count

how many calls they get on a specific issue, and these counts help influence

political support and policy decisions.CONGRESSIONAL SWITCHBOARD: 202-224-3121A

GOOD PHONE CALL SHOULD:-- Be directed towards the appropriate person —- the

legislative staffer who handles the SOA/WHINSEC issue, usually either the

foreign policy or defense aide. Just ask when you call.-- Include

mention of your name and city/area of residence so they know you are a

constituent.-- Clearly state your request, or " ask " :** For Representatives:

Co-sponsor new, upcoming legislation that calls for the suspension and

investigation of theSOA/WHINSEC. Have them Call Rep. McGovern’s office for more

information.** For Senators: Introduce companion legislation in the Senate that

would call for the suspension and investigation of the SOA/WHINSEC.-- Briefly

mention why that particular Member of Congress would and should support the ask.

Check out the talking points for ideas (but feel free to think outside the box)

at http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=115.RESEARCH BEFORE YOU CALL:A more

informed caller usually gets a better response, so please do a little background

research on your Member of Congress. This small investment will be useful in

future lobbying on SOA/WHINSEC issues and many other causes.-- The SOA Watch

Legislative Action Center has tons of helpful resources such as: a

quick link to find out who your Members of Congress are; past voting and

co-sponsorship records (look under “Legislative History”), talking points and

other ways to take action. Visit today at

http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96.-- The Latin America Working Group (of

which SOA Watch is a coalition member) keeps a congressional voting record on

Latin America issues, especially Colombia votes. Check them out here:

http://www.lawg.org/tools/scorecard/intro.htm.-- Government sites with

information and links include: www.house.gov, www.senate.gov and

thomas.loc.gov.DON’T STOP NOW:Excited? There is plenty more you can do to close

the SOA/WHINSEC.-- Forward this message to everyone you know and urge them to

make these calls.-- Write a follow-up letter. Like the calls, letters to

Congressional offices are counted and help determine policy choices.

Handwritten, personal letters are best. You can also find a sample at

http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=572.-- Make a visit to your

Representative or Senator in the district office. Go to

http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=456 for tips on how to have an effective

lobbying meeting.______If you have received

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blank email to soaw-. To read more about this list

visit http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/soawSOA Watch ~ PO Box 4566 ~

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