 Public
Issues
Marie
Aquilino
413-596-3966
WLachenMeyer@verizon.net
Click here
for the GFWC Public Issues Community Service Program from the 2012-2014 GFWC Club
Manual.
Click here
for the Public Issues Information
Please pages.
Click here
for the Public Issues Report Cover Sheet.
Check
out our "Support
Our Troops" page.
GFWC Partners
are organizations with whom GFWC has a formal relationship and mutual
understanding. These partners offer special services, like
materials, speakers, kits, and/or additional information specifically
designed for GFWC clubs. They are aware of GFWC clubs’ specific
needs, our organizational structure, and have a signed Memorandum of
Understanding with GFWC.
Kettering Foundation, www.Kettering.org
The Kettering Foundation focuses on what
makes democracy work. It research is focused on the individual
and how organizations in the community relate to the individual.
Not only are they looking for donations from GFWC clubs, they would
like us to host issue forums in our communities.
Sew Much Comfort, www.SewMuchComfort.org
Sew Much Comfort provides adaptive
clothing for injured veterans. Clubs can collect clothing, donate
money, or sew for this organization.
United Service Organizations (USO), www.USO.org
The USO has a number of programs for
military personnel. These include Operation Phone Home, United
through Reading, USO2GO, and Warrior and Family Centers. You can
contact your local USO group to see where your club may help local
military personnel and their families.
GFWC Community Service Projects,
formerly known as Collaborations, are programs and projects that club
members create to serve their communities. They do not include
projects that relate to GFWC partners. Under this section, the
programs and projects can involve other community members and
organizations, as well as club members. These projects can
include voter registration drives, supporting local veterans who are
staying in veterans’ hospitals, working with school children to promote
bicycle safety, or visiting a local police or fire station and
discovering what support they may need. Whatever your club does,
be sure to document it, so that you can write concise reports for GFWC.
Some suggestions:
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival will
be held on October 8-14, 2012, at the Cutler Majestic Theater, 219
Tremont Street, Boston. This festival showcases artistic
achievements of Veterans from across the country in art, music, dance,
drama, and creative writing. Volunteers are needed to help with
registration, art exhibits, workshops, hospitality, and
invitations/tickets. Go to www.CreativeArtsFestival.va.gov for more information.
With the number of weather related emergencies in Massachusetts in 2011, many people are thinking about how to prepare for the next emergency. See www.Ready.gov
for information on making an emergency plan, assembling an emergency
kit, and involving your community in emergency preparedness.
The National Crime Prevention Council
is a leader in helping keep individuals, families, and communities safe
from crime. To achieve this, NCPC produces tools that communities
can use to learn crime prevention strategies, engage community members,
and coordinate with local agencies. One area of focus is school
safety. Partner with your school’s PTO to create a school safety
program for kids in your community. Go to www.NCPC.org/topics/school-safety for ideas.
Conduct a voter registration drive to promote civic involvement among all citizens in your community. Go to www.VoteSmart.org/elections/voter-registration/MA for tips on how to get this kind of project off the ground.
Support local veterans’
hospitals and charities. For general information on the
hospitals, charities, and veterans’ organizations in your area, look at
the following government websites:
www.Mass.gov/veterans
www.Sec.State.ma.us/cis/cisvet/vetwomen.htm
www.Boston.va.gov
www.Bedford.va.gov
www.CentralWesternMass.va.gov
The following organizations address veteran housing issues:
Veterans Inc. is a
national leader in ending homelessness among veterans. It has one
of the highest rates in the nation – 85% – for transitioning veterans
out of homelessness. Headquartered in Massachusetts, Veterans
Inc. is the largest provider of services to veterans and their families
in New England. Since 1991, Veterans Inc. has helped more than 40,000
veterans and their families. See www.VeteransInc.org.
The New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV), www.NECHV.org,
is a multi-dimension service and care provider dedicated to assisting
Veterans who are facing or at-risk of homelessness. The Center offers a
broad array of programs and services that enable success,
reintegration, meaningful employment and independent living.
A Taunton, MA, organization, Homes for Our Troops, builds specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans. To find out how you can support this organization, go to www.HomesforOurTroops.org.
And if none of the above listed ideas inspire you, go to www.PublicAgenda.com. Public Agenda
is an innovative public opinion research and public engagement
organization, which works to strengthen our democracy's capacity to
tackle tough public policy issues. It is nonpartisan and
nonprofit. It provides tools for you and your community members
to engage in effective civic discourse about difficult public policy
issues. At this website, you will find information on topics
ranging from schools, crime, immigration, and science.
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