UUPLAN Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network
		email address: info@uuplan.org

READ THE "Voting at Risk 2008" REPORT BY CLICKING HERE.

As Unitarian Universalists our Fifth Principle upholds the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. We encourage you to act to demand the right to vote for all citizens of our country. While UUPLAN focuses most of its efforts on legislation in Harrisburg, we feel this issue, which is being decided at the federal level, is too fundamental to our democracy to ignore.

What you can do:

Please contact those listed below and request that HR 5036 (an opt-in bill that provides federal money for states and counties to protect the integrity of their 2008 election) be reported out favorably to the full House of Representatives and be moved rapidly for a favorable floor vote as soon as possible.

1. Rep. Robert Brady, Chair of the Committee On House Administration (a Pennsylvanian) Phone: 202-225-2061, Fax: 202-226-2774, or click to send email.
2. Rep. Bart Gordon, Chair of the Committee On Science and Techology Phone: 202-225-6375, Fax: 202-225-3895, or click to send email.
3. Please contact Governor Rendell and request that he propose and support legislation to reimburse counties now that use externally paperless DRE voting machines for the cost of a switch to voter-marked paper ballot systems so that we can protect our 2008 election. Phone: 717-787-2500, Fax: 717-772-8284, or click to send email.

Further information:

Ohio's Project Everest Report provided a close scrutiny of voting systems used in that state. "Our review concludes that the vendor systems lack basic technical protections necessary to guarantee a trustworthy election." To read the report, click here.

Bring your passion to UUPLAN and join other UUs who are committed to raising our liberal religious voices in the public square. Join today! (Click here)

UUPLAN will have a specific UU identity and will be organized to have a durable and visible presence among legislators in Harrisburg.

The issues we address will be informed by the issues of advocacy and social justice as defined by UUA, UUSC and related organizations (Commission on Social Witness, GLBT Affairs, UUA Washington Office). Greatest effort will be expended on those issues that are of greatest concern to members of the UUPLAN network and those that have greatest significance in Pennsylvania (examples include mercury emissions and gun control laws that are more lax than in other states).

We seek to develop a network of issues experts who can speak to legislators, candidates, and the media about our issues. We also seek to develop key contacts—UUs who have long-term relationships with, and can be our point of contact with, legislators and candidates. Finally, we need issue trackers—people who will follow our issues through the legislative process and monitor legislators’ relevant voting records. On this last item, we will often be able to partner with advocacy organizations that share our point of view.

We will approach the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship to seek members within that group. We will also be talking to UU district leadership and ministers to make them aware of our efforts and solicit their support.

UUPLAN is exploring becoming a 501(c)3 not for profit. We are developing by-laws based on other statewide UU networks.

We cannot take partisan positions in favor of or opposed to a political candidate. We must remain strictly focused on advocating for our issues.

Event: Fair Trade Fair
Congregation: Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon
When: Mid-November
Sketch: A dozen vendors sell goods they procure from partners around the world, paying the partners a fair wage. They fill our meeting room with gorgeous wares (silk scarves, leather satchels, alpaca sweaters, beaded jewelry) and they tell their stories via posters and conversations. Women in Guatemala who use sale proceeds to provide shelter to abused women and children. A Kenyan cooperative whose income sends girls to school. A Uganda group that cares for AIDS orphans. A Vietnamese group that provides an alternative to prostitution.
Balance sheet: We charge vendors $10 each. Money pays for food in hospitality room that we have to feed the vendors. We take no cut—this is not a fundraiser. Shoppers have spent more than $9,000 in each of the past two years.
Bonus: We advertise to the public to get our church on the map as a place where justice reigns. Fair sales occur after 9 am and 11 am services; public is invited from 1-4 pm.
Organizer comment: “We are overwhelmed with the many problems around the world and we feel helpless when it comes to war, genocide or persistent poverty. But, when we purchase fair trade items, we are putting real money in the hands of real people who are working hard to better themselves and the villages where they live. Our purchases buy something beautiful for us AND provide self-esteem and hope for the future to craftsmen and farmers who produce fair trade items.” –Jane Kirsch
Contact: Casey Gilmore, 610-503-6167 (day).

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