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DKMplwd
Citizen
Username: Dank3265
Post Number: 29
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 2, 2005 - 5:10 pm: |     |
Grassroots Action Supporting Progress [GRASP] is pleased to invite you to our Maplewood Candidates' Night on Wednesday, May 11, 7.30pm at the Maplewood Library. This event, which is open to the public, will include both questions developed by our organization, as well as those submitted by the audience. All of the candidates for the Democratic nomination for Maplewood Township Committee will be participating.
Since you may not be familiar with our organization, we've put together a brief information sheet, below, on GRASP so you'll have a better understanding of who we are, and what we are trying to accomplish.
We hope you find this information helpful. Should you have any further questions or wish additional information, please feel free to contact us: grassrootsaction@comcast.net.
Thank you for your interest. We hope to see you at our program.
Mission Statement
Grassroots Action Supporting Progress [GRASP] is a political organization with a progressive focus, whose goals are to develop informed positions on issues and candidates, share this information with the public and take effective actions in support of these positions. We are made up of residents of Maplewood, South Orange and neighboring New Jersey towns.
History
GRASP was formed in November 2004 by Dan Kaslow, a 20-year resident of Maplewood active in town and neighborhood activities, and former Maplewood/South Orange field director for the Kerry campaign. The creation of this new group was in response to the desire of many community members for a vehicle that would allow them to participate in the political and advocacy process outside the traditional party organization structure.
Membership
Our membership, of about 120, is comprised almost entirely of political novices who have never held any elected office. There are currently no restrictions placed on who can be a member. Our "membership" consists of anyone who has expressed an interest in the organization or attended one of our meetings. The mix is roughly 60% Maplewood residents and 40% South Orange residents.
Our group is drawn from people involved with the Kerry campaign, friends, and others who learned about us through MOL or word-of-mouth. We represent a highly diverse group of community members with interests in many different areas of political and advocacy activism. Included are many members of the South Orange Board of Trustees and Maplewood Township Committee.
Operations
Like any new organization, we are still learning as we go, which means that, as yet, we don't have any formally approved by-laws (we have a steering committee which is currently working on that) and no formal leadership. For the time being, any major policy decisions have been made by the steering committee, with input and suggestions from the membership. Less minor decisions relating to activities of our various committees have been left up to committee members.
To date, we have had five meetings, including a Candidates' Night for candidates for South Orange Board of Trustees. Other meetings have been devoted primarily to a discussion of administrative issues, and updates on our committee activities. Currently, we have committees involved in such areas as local and regional campaigns, foreign policy, and electoral reform. We also try and have a guest speaker at these meetings (Our first speaker was Phil Alagia, Chief-of-Staff to County Executive Joe DiVincenzo). In addition to providing an organization for political activism, our members receive a periodic mailing of a broad range of events of interest.
Our next meeting will be our Candidates' Night for candidates for the Democratic nomination for Maplewood Township Committee on May 11. These efforts are being overseen by our Political Affairs Committee, Local Campaigns.
We have no affiliation with any political organization, although we do maintain regular contact with other nearby progressive grassroots groups, including, BlueWave and Democracy for America and local advocacy organizations, such as South Mountain Peace Action and Education Funding Committee.
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Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 915
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 6:31 am: | |
You say that your group has no political affiliation, yet the background you provide makes the group sound like a continuation of the far left elements of the kerry campaign.
You also claim that your group consists of many on the Maplewood Township committee and SO Bd of Trustees.
Pls identify them.
thanks |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3760
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 9:14 am: | |
Reflective,
Trust me, nothing to worry about!
I attended one of their earlier meetings just to get a feel for what they were up to... Guess what? They were just a group of ordinary people, friendly, and looking to spread peace and love in the world...
The only thing I found a little strange was they all seemed to be writing with their left hand, and when they stood up to get into smaller groups they started off with their left foot. Other than that they appeared to be perfectly normal...
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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2932
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 9:53 am: | |
Art,
Everyone knows your generation has fewer lefty writers because in many schools and homes, kids were forbidden to use a pen or pencil left-handed.  |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3763
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 10:36 am: | |
You're so right Hank, I never thought that much about why everything always seemed so "RIGHT" in my life... |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 916
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 10:56 pm: | |
Thanks Art, do they sit on their left cheek,pledge allegiance with their left hand and shop on the left side of maplewood?
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3766
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 1:14 am: | |
Yes, yes, yes, yes... however, if they want to get anywhere in this country they need to move to the right side of the road! :-) |
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