Join us for the next in our series of monthly community discussions, free to the public, light refreshments served

 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Doors open at 6:30 pm

hosted by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters

at the Tau Center

(FOLLOW SIGNS TO ENTRANCE #5)

26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL

What is the current status of climate change?

     Join us May 1^st at 7:00 pm as we engage in the challenging issue of Climate Change.

     Rev. Terry Gallagher, speaking from an experience base gathered over the course of his career in widely diverse fields having been an engineer, a Chemical Plant Manager, a UCC local church Pastor and currently as a public theologian engaging issues of social justice, will present the acclaimed Climate Reality slide show and lead us in a discussion of: What is the current status of climate change? What further effects can we expect and how soon?  What should our response be to the climate issue?

     Hope you can join in the discussion!

The DuPage Coffeehouse provides a time and a place for people to regularly and respectfully share their dreams and concerns about our community and how we can improve it for generations to come.  

Registration for this discussion is available atwww.dupagecoffeehouse.org

Sponsored by the DuPage Coffeehouse Planners – an independent group of citizens.  Not sponsored by any other organization.

at the Tau Center

Join us for the next in our series of monthly community discussions, free to the public, light refreshments served

7 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Doors open at 6:30 pm

hosted by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters at the Tau Center (FOLLOW SIGNS TO ENTRANCE #5)

26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL

The Social Psychology of War

This presentation, by Prof. Christian Goergen, will discuss some of the psychological concepts that have been used to explain war and other forms of violent mass conflict. It will focus mostly on theories from social and cognitive psychology and try to address questions such as: Is human nature to blame for war? What role do stereotypes play? What are the effects of in-group cohesion and group-think? What is the role of obedience? Where does the attraction of war come from? Does killing come naturally to soldiers? Why do Hawks usually win political arguments?

Dr. Goergen is Professor of Political Science at College of DuPage.

 The DuPage Coffeehouse provides a time and a place for people to regularly and respectfully share their dreams and concerns about our community and how we can improve it for generations to come.

 Registration for this discussion is available at www.dupagecoffeehouse.org

Sponsored by the DuPage Coffeehouse Planners – an independent group of citizens.  Not sponsored by any other organization.

7 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Tau Center

INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN

THEMSELVES:

Economic Development on Chicago’s West Side

Non-profit Bethel New Life has been working to end poverty in Chicago’s West Side communities since 1979. Affordable housing, sustainable jobs, personal financial education, senior care, and childhood education have been some of the areas where Bethel has made a considerable difference throughout the years.

It is a common belief that many of the issues negatively impacting many urban communities (violent crime, gangs, drug abuse, home foreclosures, etc.) are influenced by the standard of living in these communities. Are people who grow up and live in these environments naturally unproductive? In general, people who reside in these communities have not traditionally been exposed to economic opportunities that many of us in DuPage County take for granted. Bethel’s experience shows that when the right opportunities are available, people will take advantage of them to improve themselves and to improve life for their families. When good opportunities are available, entire communities can blossom and grow.

Ed Coleman is Vice President of Community Economic Development with Bethel New Life. In his current position, Ed is responsible for establishing and managing Bethel’s business, workforce, and educational development initiatives. Recently, Bethel opened the only Illinois Small Business Development Center on Chicago’s West Side, and created an Entrepreneurship Training Program for aspiring entrepreneurs. One of these local entrepreneurs will join Ed during the March 6 discussion.

at the Tau Center

Join us for the next in our series of monthly community discussions, free to the public, light refreshments served

7 p.m., Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Doors open at 6:30 pm

hosted by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters

at the Tau Center

(FOLLOW SIGNS TO ENTRANCE #5)

26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL

THE MILITARIZATION OF AMERICA: Why Do We Always Seem To Resort To Violence First and in the Process Dismiss Active Nonviolence as Unworkable at Any Level?

Rev. Sam Smith is an Ordained Minister, a Youth Speaker and A Peace Activist. He also is a Freeman Fellow with the Fellowship of Reconciliation…. He will describe his successes and his failures as well as set before us the challenge of Active Nonviolence.  Sam speaks nation-wide in any venue possible in his promotion of Active Nonviolence.  He also leads a small cadre of teens and twenties in the Wheaton, Warrenville, Winfield, West Chicago area in a struggle toward community which is infused with Fun, Food, Fellowship and Spiritual Direction.

Sam also is one of the main, national leaders of the I Will NOT Kill  Campaign which in essence helps to enlighten youth about the dangers of Militarization and which strives to identify and enlist the new Peacemakers of this day. Sam works as a Service Learner Leader with DePaul Universities’ PAX 200 Classes each quarter. More can be found about Sam @ WWW.HeavyLight.Org as well as WWW.UpperXtreme.Com.

 The DuPage Coffeehouse provides a time and a place for people to regularly and respectfully share their dreams and concerns about our community and how we can improve it for generations to come.

Registration for this discussion is available at

www.dupagecoffeehouse.org

Sponsored by the DuPage Coffeehouse Planners – an independent group of citizens.

Not sponsored by any other organization.

Here’s a Huffington Post article about the We The People Amendement introduced in Congress yesterday, that is endorsed by Move to Amend.

Rick Nolan, Minnesota Democrat, Unveils Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United

Additional news coverage: Move to Amend Facebook Page

More details about the amendment: We The People Amendment

Sign the on-line Move to Amend petition

The “We the People” amendment will be introduced in Congress Monday February 11, 2013 by Representatives Rick Nolan (MN) and Mark Pocan (WI)!! The press conference is 10am Eastern time.

Stay tuned to the Move to Amend Facebook Page (http://facebook.com/Move2Amend) throughout the day for updates, articles, video, photos, etc. We need all hands on deck to help spread the word because we are expecting Social Media to be a more reliable method for getting the word out. PLEASE SHARE EVERYTHING WE POST!

MTA Exec member Ben Manski will be on Reddit at 1pm Eastern (10am Pacific) for an “Ask Me Anything”. The link will be posted on Reddit this morning. We’ll share it with you then.

The final amendment language will be posted this morning.

at the Tau Center

Join us for the next in our series of monthly communitydiscussions, free to the public, light refreshments served

7 p.m., Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Doors open at 6:30 pm

hosted by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters at the Tau Center (FOLLOW SIGNS TO ENTRANCE #5) 26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL

Taming the Military Industrial Complex

Since Republican President Dwight Eisenhower left office in 1960 warning us against the growing influence of the “military-industrial complex”, our nation has taken a match to, and burned up, TRILLIONS of dollars to fuel this cancerous growth.  And now: are we safer?  More respected and liked in the world?  More influential?  More prosperous?  We CAN ‘tame’ this rapacious monster–but we ALL must ACT.

Jack Reich is a humanist and UU minister who has spent much time and energy in politics and public affairs. He has been a radio news director, a hospital chaplain, a practicing clergyman, a staff member at The University of Chicago, an elementary school teacher, and a cab driver.  In 1992 he was the Democratic Party’s candidate against Rep. Dennis Hastert, and sought to alert voters to the dangers posed by our out-of-control spending for war and preparations for war, which is much worse now than then.

 The DuPage Coffeehouse provides a time and a place for people to regularly and respectfully share their dreams and concerns about our community and how we can improve it for generations to come.

 Registration for this discussion is available at: www.dupagecoffeehouse.org

Sponsored by the DuPage Coffeehouse Planners – an independent group of citizens.  Not sponsored by any other organization.

Scenes from Saturday’s rally and march.

What Do You Do When Democracy is Under Attack?

Stand Up!  Fight Back!

Grab your red DuPage Move to Amend t-shirt, if you can fit it over your winter coat and head to Chicago Saturday morning for the rally. The current weather report indicates we will have a balmy high of 42 degrees, with only a 10% chance of rain. It will be a bit windy in the Windy City.

Steve Alesch will have a few shirts available for a requested donation of $15, but a financial waiver can be requested, no questions asked.

MONEY OUT, VOTERS IN!

JANUARY 19, 2013

The weekend of January 19, 2013, marks two important dates – Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the 3rd anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The Citizens United ruling opened the floodgates for corporate and special-interest money in politics. At the same time, a rash of voter suppression laws in 30+ states targeting people of color, new voters and the elderly threaten to make voting difficult, if not impossible, for millions of Americans.

Our system of fair and free elections is under attack.

Join us to rally for democracy!

If you don’t bring a protest sign, one will be provided.

Take the train from the West Burbs

We’ll meet in the last open train car.

UP-W line:  (Metra Train Schedule)

If you can volunteer to be the contact person for the UP-W train ride, contact Steve Alesch, steve.alesch@gmail.com, 630-779-8295.  The contact person will be asked to to provide their name and cell phone number for people to contact the day of the event.

Catch the 10:54am train from Wheaton (main station) and then walk from the Ogilvie Transportation Center.

Walking directions to W Adams St & S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL from Ogilvie Transportation Center:
1. Head east on W Madison St toward S Canal St (0.5 mi)
2. Turn right onto S Dearborn St (0.2 mi)
3. Arrive at: W Adams St & S Dearborn St Chicago, IL

BNSF line:  (Metra train schedule):

Contact person: Steve Alesch, steve.alesch@gmail.com, 630-779-8295

Catch the 10:33am train from Naperville (4th Ave. station) and walk from Chicago Union Station

Walking directions to W Adams St & S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL from Chicago Union Station:
1. Head east on W Jackson Blvd toward S Canal St (0.6 mi)
2. Turn left onto S Dearborn St (443 ft)
3. Arrive at: W Adams St & S Dearborn St Chicago, IL

Federal Plaza Rally

When:   Saturday, January 19, 2013 – NOON
Where: Federal Plaza, Adams & Dearborn, Chicago
Contact: MoneyOutVotersInChi@gmail.com or,
               call Jim Coleman at 773-736-1400

Co-Sponsored by:
Public Citizen | Move to Amend | Common Cause | MoveOn | ILPIRG | Coffee Party | Rainbow PUSH Coalition | Americans for Democratic Action | The 10th Dems | DuPage County Green Party | PDA Illinois | US Uncut | Occupy Naperville

Money Out/Voters In! Event Invitation and Map

Together we will demand “Money Out” and Voters In!”

www.moneyout-votersin.org

About the Money Out/Voters In! Coalition

Facebook Event Invitation

Event Flier – Please Distribute Widely!

www.IllinoisMoveToAmend.org

at the Tau Center

Join us for the next in our series of monthly community discussions, free to the public, light refreshments served

7 p.m., Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Doors open at 6:30 pm

hosted by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters

at the Tau Center

(FOLLOW SIGNS TO ENTRANCE #5)

26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL

Teacher Pension “Reform”

Illinois State Employee Pensions are in trouble, not because of anything they or the employees have done, but because of what the State of Illinois has done. Karin Snodgrass, a public school teacher who negotiated three contracts, will discuss the Teachers’ Retirement System and how we got into the pension mess currently plaguing Illinois.

The DuPage Coffeehouse provides a time and a place for people to regularly and respectfully share their dreams and concerns about our community and how we can improve it for generations to come.

Registration for this discussion is available at:

www.dupagecoffeehouse.org/request-reservation

Sponsored solely by the DuPage Coffeehouse Planners – an independent group of citizens.  

Coffeehouse – December 5, 2012

Teacher Pension “Reform”

Presenter: Karin Snodgrass

Small Group Discussion Summary (4 Groups)

Question to Discuss:

Is it possible to get a “fair” solution?

What can we as citizens do?

GROUP 1

1. Fairness?  Fallout of political power
2. Solution?
   1. Grandfather in current teachers
   2. State pays what it owes
   3. New teachers on social security
   4. Eliminate regional superintendents
   5. What is math of problem?

GROUP 2

1. Fairness? – Did not answer
2. What can we as citizens do?
   1. Become informed
   2. Dick Ingram Townhall
   3. Teacher retirement Townhall meetings
   4. Presentation online (General Assembly Reform Menu)
   5. Study current public employee systems that are successful or changed to make them fiscally solvent – e.g., Rhode Island WTTW Chicago Tonight on 12/4/12, IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement System)
   6. Look at Summary Illinois HB 6258 – Glen Brown Blog Prepares.wordpress.com
   7. All stakeholders involved in negotiations for widespread support
   8. Districts should not make promises they don’t have to pay for
   9. Northern IL Jobs with Justice.org – to learn about worker rights and get involved in worker issues
   10. Superintendant/Administrator salaries excessive – need to be addressed
   11. Consider changing laws so teachers get Social Security as well as a pension
   12. Citizens need to become informed, participate in educational forums, talk to legislators
   13. Effect change when it needs to be done, get sense of urgency and importance!

GROUP 3

1. Fairness?  Did not answer
2. What can we as citizens do?

FIX IT

1. Stop corporate welfare

• $85 M/yr for 10 years            CME
• $10M for Sears
• Navistar
• Two-thirds of IL corporations pay no taxes

1.  Revenue like a graduated Income Tax

• $6.2 Billion          Iowa
• $3.6 Billion          Wisconsin

1. Follow on Twitter
2. Show the suffering of reduced budgets
3. Contact legislators           slip against
4. Rallies

GROUP 4

1. Fairness? – Did not answer
2. What can we as citizens do?

• Remember the Indians (create reservation for teachers?)
• Funding problem with solutions
• Graduated State Income Tax
• Tax on trades and services
• Simplify retirement system
• Inform the public that teacher pension is in place of Social Security
• Accountability