JOIN OFA-MA IN EDUCATION AND ACTION ON HEALTHCARE REFORM!

I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt, Healthcare reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.
-President Barack Obama

JOIN OFA-MA IN EDUCATION AND ACTION ON HEALTHCARE REFORM!

Dear Activist,

If you have been watching the healthcare reform debate and wondering when you should get involved, the time is now! Even here in Massachusetts, there are several key ways you can become active and have an impact in this debate. Organizing for America - Massachusetts (OFA-MA) is focused on EDUCATION and ACTION as we activate volunteers to support President Obama's priorities of meaningful healthcare reform that guarantees affordable healthcare coverage for ALL Americans, and choice that includes a STRONG public option.

EDUCATION
The more knowledge we have about the complex issues involved in national healthcare reform, the more powerful we can be in impacting the debate. OFA-MA has joined with 1199 SEIU, Healthcare for America Now (HCAN) and Doctors for America to provide you with a healthcare reform education opportunity you will not want to miss:

HEALTHCARE REFORM 101 Forum:
Education and Action
Saturday, July 18
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
SEIU 1199, 150 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester 02125
(Next to the Bayside Expo, near the JFK/UMASS Red Line T Stop)

For more info: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfxmg

Equip yourself with the tools you need -- including an informed perspective -- to actively work for meaningful healthcare reform. Experts, including people who have been involved in the legislative process, will answer questions such as:

• What are the different bills being forumulated in Congress? How will they be reconciled? What is the legislative timeline?
• What are the options for healthcare reform?
• What is the "public option?" Are there different versions of a public option?
• Who are the stakeholders and what do they favor/oppose?
• How will national healthcare reform be financed?
• What can we do now to organize?

Space is limited! Please sign up here:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfxmg

If you have questions, send an e-mail to OFAMA2009@gmail.com.
There is plenty of free parking and the space is handicapped-accessible.

ACTION
During the campaign, you were part of one of the strongest grassroots movements in history. And now we have an opportunity to impact one of the most important debates in our lifetime. The Massachusetts Congressional delegation, especially those who serve on key committees, needs to hear from you. They must know that we strongly support a public option. The more they hear from us, the firmer they will be and the more likely to take leadership.

In the coming weeks, OFA-MA will collect thousands of signatures on petitions and postcards, and work to educate and mobilize around healthcare reform. You can collect signatures and hand out materials at your local supermarket, farmers market or other location, help us recruit volunteers to collect signatures, or join us when we bring signatures to members of the MA Congressional delegation on July 28. To help us make our voices heard through this signature drive, please write to OFAMA2009@gmail.com. We will get you materials and guidelines.

Come to the forum on July 18 to learn more about the issue and the evolving organizing strategy - including the National Healthcare Reform Week of Action, beginning July 20.

Thank you for staying involved,

Organizing for America - Massachusetts (OFA-MA)

For more information about OFA-MA, go to: www.massforchange.com