South Hadley No on 1 Coalition meeting notes

South Hadley No on 1 Coalition Meeting
September 3, 2008

Sarah’s Notes

In attendance: Marion Canning, Jim Canning, Ann Eaton, France Abrams, Robert Abrams, Gary Steigerwalt, Kate Bedard, Bill Foley, Win Lavallee, Peg Lavallee, Robert Salthouse, Bobbie Salthouse, John Scibak, Bob Judge, Brenda Mathieu, Ellen Cohen-Mehlhorn, Skip Jodoin, Margaret Jodoin, Michael Rosner, Donald Marshall, Beth Reidel, Nate Therien, Susan Newton, Sarah Etelman, Pam Schwartz

• If this question passes, 40% of the state budget would be eliminated, and would go into effect January 1, 2009
• There was a similar question on the ballot 6 years ago, and it got 45% of the vote
• The average “back in pocket” would be $3,700
• Voters will be ID’ed with the “vote no pledge card”
o Name and street address are needed
o We’ll build a pipeline to drop off and gather the cards
o Can go online and fill out the pledge cards or fill out paper cards
• Kickoff meetings/public moments will be happening:
o 9/16: Amherst/UMass @ noon
o 9/17: Northampton @ 5:30 PM
o 9/18: Pittsfield
o 9/23: Springfield @ 5:30 PM
o 9/25: Greenfield
• In October, focus will be on phone banks, canvassing, visibilities (sign holding)
• The “yes” vote is being sponsored by Carla Howell, a Libertarian

In South Hadley:

• Columbus Day point person: Kate Bedard
• PTO point person: John Scibak (see below for update)
• Council on Aging/Newton Manor/Loomis Village point person: (TBD – Win Lavallee to contact Linda Young)
• Fire Districts point person: Kate Bedard
• Police point person: Bob Judge (will wait for contact from police first)
• Cable access/channel 15 point person: (TBD – Ann Eaton to contact Connie Clancy)
• Election Day sign-holding coordinator: Gary Steigerwalt
• Lawn sign coordinator: John Scibak
• Data entry: Ann Eaton
• South Hadley general coordination: Sarah Etelman
• Regional coordination: Pam Schwartz

Don’t forget to post at http://southhadleyagainstquestionone.blogspot.com/

Update from John Scibak re: PTOs

The first Open Houses are 9/10, 9/11, 9/17, 9/18, and 9/24
Gus (school superintendant) has agreed to us having a table in the lobby to hand out fact sheets/pledge cards to the parents and teachers (about 700 students at the middle school, and about 80% parent turnout is expected)