Oxford County Democrats

MIT Energy Expert to speak in Greenwood - Aug. 21

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Henry D. Jacoby will speak on national energy policy on Friday, August 21 at 6:00 at the home of Pat and Henry Stewart on Indian Pond, Greenwood. The talk is sponsored by the Oxford County Democrats and is open to the public. Professor Jacoby’s presentation, “The Climate Threat: Prospects for an Appropriate Response” will address this important topic in an informal fireside chat. A reception will follow Professor Jacoby’s remarks and provide an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful lakeside setting.  Donations to the Oxford County Democrats will be accepted.

Henry (Jake) Jacoby is Professor of Management in the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management and Co-Director of the M.I.T. Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, which is a world leader in integration of the natural and social sciences and policy analysis in application to the threat of global climate change. He is director of the design and application of the social science component of the Joint Program’s Integrated Global System Model - a comprehensive research tool for analyzing potential anthropogenic climate change and its social and environmental consequences - and he is a leader of M.I.T. research and analysis of national climate policies and the structure of the international climate regime.

An undergraduate mechanical engineer at the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Jacoby holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University where he also served on the faculties of the Department of Economics and the Kennedy School of Government. He has been Director of the Harvard Environmental Systems Program, Director of the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Associate Director of the MIT Energy Laboratory, and Chair of the MIT Faculty. He has made extensive contributions to the study of economics, policy and management in the areas of energy, natural resources and environment, writing widely on these topics, including seven books. He currently serves on the Scientific Committee of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program and on the Climate Research Committee of the U.S. National Research Council.

Parking is extremely limited. For that reason, and in the interest of energy conservation, attendees are strongly urged to carpool and may meet up at the Bryant Pond Post office at 5:45 PM. RSVP to Cathy Newell, 875-2116.

The Oxford County Democrats hosted booths at the Norway Art Fair and at Bethel’s Mollyockett Day with an emphasis on Healthcare Reform. Assisting with the Norway event were Roy Gedat and Julie Peterson, Kim Waite and Cathy Newell, as well as Kevin Kramer of the Change that Works campaign. Kramer conducted Healthcare House meetings in late June in Fryeburg at the home of Stefi and Peter Hastings, and also participated in the Ossipee Valley Fair parade with Rep. Helen Rankin.

Rep. Rankin was the July 4 speaker at the Hiram celebration and organized a parade presence on an Education theme. The Oxford County Democrats were much in evidence at the Mollyockett Day parade led by Benton Shattenberg on stilts. Participating were John Patrick of Rumford, Cathy Newell of Greenwood, Eileen Broderick of Bethel and her mother, plus Jimmy McHugh of Mexico driving the truck. The weather improved for the activities on the Common and the booth was busy. Staffing were Newell, Patrick, Broderick, Tim and Jodi Carter of Bethel, Nancy Willard of Woodstock, and Emily Ecker of Woodstock.

Upcoming events include a lecture and reception featuring Henry Jacoby of MIT, a national expert on Energy Policy. This will be held in Greenwood on Friday, August 21, and the Oxford Democrats annual Summer BBQ and Family Fun Day at the University of Maine 4-H Leadership Center in Bryant Pond on Sunday, August 30. The program will feature several announced and potential candidates for Governor, and will honor our legislators.

To join the Oxford Democrats electronic newsletter, please visit our web site www.oxforddems.org.

Huge Healthcare Rally in Portland..

What can happen in just a week?
A week can mean lasting health care reform; quality, affordable choices for every Maine citizen; the option of a public health care plan, and insurance reform that helps us all. Or it can mean the greatest missed opportunity in the history of health care reform.
Join us next Saturday, and help us change history: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/healthandjustice

• What: HEALTH & JUSTICE - The largest march for health care reform in Maine history
• When: July 18th, from 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM
• Where: Monument Square, Portland
• NATIONAL SPEAKERS EXPECTED - This is going to be great!
  

This year, America has a once in a lifetime opportunity to solve our health care crisis. Every day, we face a nightmare of bankruptcy, death, injustice and fear. With the cost per person for health care in Maine the second highest in the country, and 1 in 4 Mainers uninsured for some period of time in 2008, we cannot afford to wait.

Join SEIU Change that Works <http://www.seiu.org/changethatworks/maine/> , Health Care for America Now, AFSCME, Maine People’s Alliance, the League of Young Voters, and MSEA-SEIU 1989 as we all come together for a historic state-wide rally in support of health care reform.

What happens in the next few  weeks will determine whether we will bring the change that working families, small businesses and our economy needs, or whether we will let the insurance and pharmaceutical companies determine our destiny. Failure is not an option. The cost of doing nothing is a financial burden that no Maine business or family can afford.
This year, this day, let’s make our voices heard.

RSVP for Health and Justice here
<http://action.seiu.org/page/s/healthandjustice>

Phone Banks - Healthcare for Organizing for America
Still looking for some phone bank help during the weeks of July 13 or 20th at various locations. I have some commitments for Bethel area and for Norway/So Paris. We will have lists and scripts provided and will be calling from homes.  Please call Cathy Newell 875-2116 or e-mail cathyn@megalink.net if you can help.