Friends--
We are moving blogging/live updates to our new website, ProgressiveMass.com. Most recent posts will appear on the front page of the website; you can read thru back posts on the "BLOG" tab.

Check there for most recent information/outreach from Progressive Mass!

Thank You!

Over 200 activists and organizers kicked off Progressive Massachusetts this past Sunday in Newton! The diversity of organizing experience was matched only by the passion of the participants. As we said on Sunday, there’s a need for a home for Massachusetts’ progressive activists, and Sunday’s enthusiasm and energetic participation made this clear.  We were happy to see you all and appreciate all of the feedback we’ve received already.  Take a look at some of the scenes from Sunday’s discussions, presentations and breakout sessions--and please share your own photos on our Facebook wall!

At the heart of Progressive Massachusetts are strong progressive principles, activism and engagement.  We want to get to work NOW to build on the momentum from Sunday, and to grow this organization into the powerful force in Massachusetts politics that Sunday proved it can be.  We look forward to working together on everything we discussed Sunday, and more.

We are gathering all your questions and feedback from the index cards and your purple Action Steps forms, and will be sharing responses as soon as possible.

Your Action Steps forms also revealed lots of enthusiasm for taking concrete actions in the weeks ahead, on:

• a Campaign to Defeat Scott Brown;
• the Campaign for Our Communities;
• a US Senate Candidates’ Forum Committee;
• a Candidate Endorsement Criteria Committee;
• a Future Issues Committee; and
• local meetings with other progressives to build Progressive Massachusetts

We’ll be sharing that info with those of you who signed up, so we can begin organizing as soon as possible.  If you want to add your name now to one or more of thes actions, you can check off that information on our subscription page; just click here.

Finally, for Progressive Mass to become the powerful organization it can clearly be, we need to spread the word to everyone who should be a part of it.  Below is a sample email you could send to anyone you know who might be at all interested in what we’re doing.  Feel free, of course, to change this around or write your own message entirely.  

EMAIL TEMPLATE: (click for pre-loaded email--just add your friend's email address and your name!)

“Hi _____,  I just wanted to share with you that this past Sunday I went to the kickoff of Progressive Mass, a new statewide political organization that I think could shake up Massachusetts politics (http://progressivemass.org, http://facebook.com/ProgressiveMass).  There were over 200 people there, lots of energy, and good discussions about how we can win on progressive issues and get progressives elected to office.  You should get on their mailing list, so you can see what they’re up to.  Here’s the link to sign up: http://bit.ly/ProgMA_SUBSCRIBE or go to the website, where you can click on the links to subscribe.”

Thank you for your engagment and enthusiasm on Sunday, and we look forward eagerly to working with you in the months and years ahead!

Bring Your Refillable Water Vessels!

We would like to lessen the environmental impact of our meeting, while still making sure everyone is comfortable and hydrated!

We would like to request that as many people as possible bring your reusable water bottles, and we will provide water jugs with which you can refill them as needed.  

If you don’t have a water bottle or forget, don’t worry, we’ll have cups.  Grab a Sharpie and write your name on your plastic cup to use it throughout the event. And help us make sure it's recycled afterward by getting into the right bin.

We will also have snacks to keep you going, and even more food and drink at our reception following the kick-off. If you have any questions, please email us at progressive.mass@gmail.com.

Important Sunday Event Reminders!

Just 2 days away til our Progressive Mass kick-off, and the response has been incredible! We will have a large crowd on Sunday. DOORS WILL OPEN AT 1:30 AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ARRIVE EARLY. To expedite check-in, please print out and bring your Eventbrite ticket, which can be scanned at the door for quick registration. If you have any questions about the event, please contact us atprogressive.mass@gmail.com.  Following the meeting, we will have a light reception for attendees; please stay afterwards to recharge and connect further with fellow progressives! Maps and lots of information about transportation, orientation and parking are reprinted below and are located at the blog. See you Sunday! --the Progressive Mass. Organizing Team      ORIENTATION, TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING:  Orientation Take a minute to check out the layout of the campus and orient yourself.  We have annotated maps of the general area and of the campus, to help you navigate your way from parking or the T to DeWitt Hall.  If you misplace this email and its links, be advised that all this information and other updates are posted at our blog, and any new information will be updated there, as well as on the "NEWS" section of the Eventbrite listing. Location We're meeting at DeWitt Hall, Winslow Academic Center at Lasell College (#13 on the Campus Map; bring one with you)   Parking Parking will be on campus at Central Parking (P1 on campus map), which is Northeast of DeWitt Hall (across the soccer field, click here to see on annotated map).  Campus police and volunteers will be assisting with directing people to the right locations.  * Do not drive directly to DeWitt Hall; there are no spots available to us there. *     Driving Directions Directions to the Central Parking Lot from North, South, East and West are below. The T - "D" Train - Riverside Stop Lasell is about a mile from the Riverside stop.  Walking directions:  -Come up to the street (Grove Street) and walk to the left. -Take a right onto Woodland Road. -Take a left on Maple Road. DeWitt Auditorium / Wilson will be on the right.    (See also the annotated map)   DRIVING DIRECTIONS From the WEST: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to exit 14 (Route 128, I-95 North/South). Take the "Route 128 North 30" ramp and bear right to exit 24 East (Route 30/Commonwealth Ave.) Travel east on Route 30 for 1.4 miles to the sign for Lasell College on the right. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just before our sign. From the SOUTH: Take Route 95 (also Route 128) to exit 24 (Route 30/Mass Pike). Follow sign to Route 30. Take exit 24 (Route 30, Newton/Wayland). Turn right on Route 30 East - Newton/Boston. You will be on Route 30 (Commonwealth Avenue). Travel 1.4 miles to the Lasell College sign. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just before our sign. From the NORTH: Take Route 95 (also Route 128) South to exit 24. At the exit ramp take Route 30 East (Commonwealth Avenue). Travel 1.4 miles to the Lasell College sign. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just before our sign. From the EAST:Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to the Route 16 Exit (Newton/Wellesley). Bear right (Route 16 West) off the ramp onto Washington Street. Go .5 miles and turn right onto Commonwealth Ave. Travel to the Lasell College sign on your left. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just after our sign.   Progressive Massachusetts Kick-Off Sunday, October 2, 2011 2-6 PM, with Reception following We believe that to create meaningful changes in public policy, progressives in every corner of the state must work together to hold elected officials accountable to progressive values and  to elect progressive candidates.  Progressive Mass. will make that vision a reality with effective, statewide organizing.  We are open to anyone in Massachusetts who wants to see their progressive values turned into action, and will work closely with existing progressive organizations to ensure the success of our efforts.

Getting to DeWitt Hall at Lasell College

This google map shows the locations of the T stop, commuter rail station, parking lot, and the meeting location (DeWitt Hall at Winslow Campus Center, marked w/ the "Progressive Mass" sign). Open in a new window to explore on a larger scale; click on the icons to see more.
View Progressive Mass Kick-Off, Oct 2, 2011 in a larger map

ORIENTATION: PRINT OUT A CAMPUS MAP

Please be sure to have a copy of the Campus Map to help you navigate your way on campus. DeWitt Hall (at Wilson Campus Center) is #13 on the map.

Below is a marked-up version of the campus map, to help orient you. Click on the image to see it larger.

Carpools
We encourage people to CARPOOL or take the T as much as possible. We are helping coordinate people who need rides with people who have offered to give rides as well as helping to put people in same/nearby towns in touch w/ each other.

Parking
Parking will be on campus at Central Parking (P1 on campus map), at the intersection of Comm and Central Ave, and northeast of DeWitt Hall (across the soccer field). Campus police and volunteers will be assisting with directing people to the right locations.

DO NOT DRIVE TO DEWITT HALL -- there is no parking available to us there; they are all reserved spots! Cars should go directly to CENTRAL PARKING LOT. Walk to DeWitt Hall (see marked up map and also bring a campus map with you!)

The T - "D" TRAIN - RIVERSIDE STOP

Walking directions from the T at Riverside:

Come up to the street (Grove Street) and walk to the left.

Take a right onto Woodland Road.

Take a left on Maple Road. DeWitt Auditorium / Wilson will be on the right.

Driving Directions

From the WEST: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to exit 14 (Route 128, I-95 North/South). Take the "Route 128 North 30" ramp and bear right to exit 24 East (Route 30/Commonwealth Ave.) Travel east on Route 30 for 1.4 miles to the sign for Lasell College on the right. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just before our sign.

From the SOUTH: Take Route 95 (also Route 128) to exit 24 (Route 30/Mass Pike). Follow sign to Route 30. Take exit 24 (Route 30, Newton/Wayland). Turn right on Route 30 East - Newton/Boston. You will be on Route 30 (Commonwealth Avenue). Travel 1.4 miles to the Lasell College sign. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just before our sign.

From the NORTH: Take Route 95 (also Route 128) South to exit 24. At the exit ramp take Route 30 East (Commonwealth Avenue). Travel 1.4 miles to the Lasell College sign. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just before our sign.

From the EAST:Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to the Route 16 Exit (Newton/Wellesley). Bear right (Route 16 West) off the ramp onto Washington Street. Go .5 miles and turn right onto Commonwealth Ave. Travel to the Lasell College sign on your left. Central Street parking lot is off of Route 30, just after our sign.

Blue Mass Group blogs about Progressive Mass.

Event registration for Progressive Massachusetts Kick-Off

Our inaugural event is coming up in a little over a week (Oct.2, Sunday). We're getting the word out the grassroots way, word-of-mouth, person-to-person, and using new/social media to broaden our reach. Read about Progressive Mass. and what other liberal bloggers at Blue Mass Group are saying. Here's a snippet:

I’ve heard stories about the amazing grassroots network that Governor Patrick created for his 2006 election. I was a small part of the huge grassroots network that helped propel President Obama to the White House. Two strong grassroots networks that came together and worked productively for elections that then were allowed to lay dormant after their candidates won. I know I’m not the only one to notice this. John Kleschinsky wrote an excellent “Open Letter to the Democratic party” about just this shortly after the election last November.

Given the breadth and depth of progressive political actors and organizers in our state, this doesn’t have to happen. We have many strong grassroots organizations and activists across Massachusetts, and there is so much we need to do between elections. By joining together to stay engaged, we can ensure that Massachusetts becomes the national leader we should be in enacting progressive policies.

We're also now on Facebook and Twitter, where we will be posting updates/information about the meeting on Oct. 2.

There are around 30 Mass. progressive tweeters who are so far signed up for the kick-off; you can see the growing list here. If you are a tweeter and aren't on the list, send a tweet to @ProgressiveMass! And don't forget to tweet the word... We're using the hashtag #ProgMA in addition to the broader #MApoli and #p2 tags.

Progressive Massachusetts Kick-Off Meeting

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