New York News
WNY Rocks The Vote
On Saturday, November 1, 2008, almost 100 Western New Yorkers braved the cold to join us for a Rock The Vote concert with local bands and political figures. Despite competing with a number of other events in this last weekend before the election (and a Sabres game!), the concert was fairly well attended, and a good time was had by all.
You can check out a few photos of the event below; the rest are posted over at our Flickr photostream. You can catch some video of a few of the bands' performances on our YouTube channel. And if you were at Rock The Vote, pop on by to the blog to post your comments and reactions!
On Saturday, November 1, 2008, almost 100 Western New Yorkers braved the cold to join us for a Rock The Vote concert with local bands and political figures. Despite competing with a number of other events in this last weekend before the election (and a Sabres game!), the concert was fairly well attended, and a good time was had by all.
You can check out a few photos of the event below; the rest are posted over at our Flickr photostream. You can catch some video of a few of the bands' performances on our YouTube channel. And if you were at Rock The Vote, pop on by to the blog to post your comments and reactions!
WFW/New Dems Phone Bank a Huge Success
Every Tuesday night, Working Families Win holds a phone bank in conjunction with the New Democrats of WNY to identify voters' candidate preferences and what issues they find most important. The group has been incredibly productive, and with their help, we've been able to make over 800 calls to voters in the rural parts of the 26th Congressional District.
Almost half of the people we've spoken with support the Democratic candidate, Alice Kryzan, while the remaining 54% has been split pretty evenly between supporters of Republican candidate Chris Lee and folks who have not yet made a decision. The issue on everybody's mind seems to be the economy, although many people also mention their worry about health care and energy prices. These phone banks have been hugely beneficial in figuring out the focus our canvass efforts, and we could not have done it without the help of the New Democrats! Thanks again to all of them for their hard work.
With only a little more than two weeks left until the election, this is really the time when we need your help most. If you'd like to take a cue from our fine volunteers pictured below, please contact Jennifer or Christy and join us in our voter outreach efforts!
Every Tuesday night, Working Families Win holds a phone bank in conjunction with the New Democrats of WNY to identify voters' candidate preferences and what issues they find most important. The group has been incredibly productive, and with their help, we've been able to make over 800 calls to voters in the rural parts of the 26th Congressional District.
Almost half of the people we've spoken with support the Democratic candidate, Alice Kryzan, while the remaining 54% has been split pretty evenly between supporters of Republican candidate Chris Lee and folks who have not yet made a decision. The issue on everybody's mind seems to be the economy, although many people also mention their worry about health care and energy prices. These phone banks have been hugely beneficial in figuring out the focus our canvass efforts, and we could not have done it without the help of the New Democrats! Thanks again to all of them for their hard work.
With only a little more than two weeks left until the election, this is really the time when we need your help most. If you'd like to take a cue from our fine volunteers pictured below, please contact Jennifer or Christy and join us in our voter outreach efforts!
WFW Attends Flu Clinic
On Wednesday, October 8th, the St. John's Nurse Ministry group held a flu clinic at St. John's Community Center on Englewood at Belmont in the Town of Tonawanda. Working Families Win was there to talk with attendees about health care. We had some interesting discussions and shared a lot of good information with people as they waited their turn to be checked out by the nurses after receiving their vaccines.
On Wednesday, October 8th, the St. John's Nurse Ministry group held a flu clinic at St. John's Community Center on Englewood at Belmont in the Town of Tonawanda. Working Families Win was there to talk with attendees about health care. We had some interesting discussions and shared a lot of good information with people as they waited their turn to be checked out by the nurses after receiving their vaccines.
Health Care Roadshow Stops in Buffalo
On Monday, September 15th, Working Families Win - along with the Coalition for Economic Justice, Communication Workers of America Nurses United Local 1168, New York State Nurses’ Association, and the Western New York Health Care Coalition - hosted a discussion called The Truth About Health Care. It wasf the last stop on the Health Care Roadshow, a community discussion of the health care system that swept across upstate New York in early September.
Panel speakers included Donna Smith, a consumer featured in the Michael Moore movie SiCKO, Communication Specialist with the California Nurses’ Association, and founder of American Patients United; Dr. Rudy Mueller, family physician, Chautauqua County Legislator, and author of the book As Sick As It Gets; and Gaen Hooley, RN, Labor Relations Representative for the New York State Nurses’ Association. The discussion was moderated by Rebecca Elgie and Bernie Fetterly, co-directors of the Tompkins County Health Care Task Force. A number of thoughtful questions and comments from the audience on topics ranging from Medicare to NYS Senate races to alternative or integrative medicine rounded out the discussion.
This event received some coverage in the Buffalo News. Check out our photos below if you missed out!
On Monday, September 15th, Working Families Win - along with the Coalition for Economic Justice, Communication Workers of America Nurses United Local 1168, New York State Nurses’ Association, and the Western New York Health Care Coalition - hosted a discussion called The Truth About Health Care. It wasf the last stop on the Health Care Roadshow, a community discussion of the health care system that swept across upstate New York in early September.
Panel speakers included Donna Smith, a consumer featured in the Michael Moore movie SiCKO, Communication Specialist with the California Nurses’ Association, and founder of American Patients United; Dr. Rudy Mueller, family physician, Chautauqua County Legislator, and author of the book As Sick As It Gets; and Gaen Hooley, RN, Labor Relations Representative for the New York State Nurses’ Association. The discussion was moderated by Rebecca Elgie and Bernie Fetterly, co-directors of the Tompkins County Health Care Task Force. A number of thoughtful questions and comments from the audience on topics ranging from Medicare to NYS Senate races to alternative or integrative medicine rounded out the discussion.
This event received some coverage in the Buffalo News. Check out our photos below if you missed out!
WNY Issue Forum a Success!
On Thursday, September 4th, Working Families Win held our first issue forum at the Lockport Public Library. Though attendance was low, an appearance by Congressional candidate Jon Powers had a positive effect on the mood of everyone there. Powers made himself very accessible to those who came out, answering all questions that were asked of him and even pulling chairs into a circle so as to better have a conversation, rather than speaking at an audience. Check out photos below, or watch a video clip from the event by clicking here!
On Thursday, September 4th, Working Families Win held our first issue forum at the Lockport Public Library. Though attendance was low, an appearance by Congressional candidate Jon Powers had a positive effect on the mood of everyone there. Powers made himself very accessible to those who came out, answering all questions that were asked of him and even pulling chairs into a circle so as to better have a conversation, rather than speaking at an audience. Check out photos below, or watch a video clip from the event by clicking here!