Pickens Plan District Group IA-05

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Comment by Codi Prachar on June 24, 2009 at 10:56am

Bob Shultis, District Leader for IA-03, posted the following this past week in the District Leader Discussion Group, and I wanted to be sure to share it with each of you:

Comment by Bob Shultis on June 19, 2009 at 8:25pm

Just a real obvious comment (sorry to bore!). If your employer is in the alternative energy field, make sure senior management is aware of PP (most are but we need to be sure). Even if they are not totally in alignment with our mission, or don't commit for whatever reason, look for opportunities for mutually beneficial interaction. Just as an example, through my company's association with AWEA, there is an opportunity to bring several of my co-workers, and myself, face-to-face with Senator Chuck Grassley in the next two weeks (he has been identified as a key swing vote on the RES bill). We are arranging to have different members of our workforce attend several of his town hall meetings. What a great opportunity to lobby a key Senator, and bring additional members into PP!

I guess the message is, never quit trying- if you look hard enough these opportunities will present themselves.

Best regards,
Bob Shultis IA-03


Thank you, Bob for your continued efforts and for keeping your eyes & ears open for opportunities to connect with our representatives! Also, I'm including a list of Senator Grassley's upcoming town halls so that you each can make contact with him.


Upcoming Events

Allamakee County Town Hall Meeting

* Date: Tuesday June 30, 2009
* Location: Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Community Room, 201 West Main Street, Waukon

Senator Grassley will conduct an Allamakee county town hall meeting as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.


Clayton County Town Hall Meeting

* Date: Tuesday June 30, 2009
* Location: Elkader City Hall, Lower Level, 207 North Main Street, Elkader

Senator Grassley will conduct a Clayton county town hall meeting as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.


Dubuque County Town Hall Meeting

* Date: Tuesday June 30, 2009
* Location: Dupaco Community Credit Union, Community Room, 5865 Saratoga Road, Asbury

Senator Grassley will conduct a Dubuque County town hall meeting as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.


Tour and take questions from employees at Honkamp Krueger

* Date: Tuesday June 30, 2009
* Location: Krueger, 2345 JFK Road, Dubuque

*Senator Grassley is a guest of Honkamp Krueger for this event. Please refer any questions or requests about the event to Honkamp Krueger.


Meet with the Iowa City Old Capitol Kiwanis

* Date: Thursday July 2, 2009
* Location: St. Mark’s Methodist Church, 2675 East Washington Street, Iowa City

Senator Grassley will meet with the Iowa City Old Capitol Kiwanis as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.

*Senator Grassley is a guest of the Iowa City Old Capitol Kiwanis for this event. Please refer any questions or requests about the event to the Iowa City Old Capitol Kiwanis.


Tour and take questions from employees at Tama Benton Cooperative

* Date: Thursday July 2, 2009
* Location: 711 South K Avenue, Vinton

Senator Grassley will tour and take questions from employees at Tama Benton Coopertive as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.

*Senator Grassley is a guest of the Tama Benton Cooperative for this event. Please refer any questions or requests about the event to the Tama Benton Cooperative.


Meet with the Marengo Rotary

* Date: Thursday July 2, 2009
* Location: Marengo Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room, 300 West May Street, Marengo

Senator Grassley will meet and speak with the Marengo Rotary as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.

*Senator Grassley is a guest of the Marengo Rotary for this event. Please refer any questions or requests about the event to the Marengo Rotary.


Tour and take questions from employees at Farmers Co-op Association

* Date: Thursday July 2, 2009
* Location: 110 South Keokuk Street, Keota

Senator Grassley will tour and take questions from employees at Farmers Co-op Association as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.

*Senator Grassley is a guest of the Farmers Co-op Association for this event. Please refer any questions or requests about the event to the Farmers Co-op Association.


Tour and take questions from employees at Agriland FS

* Date: Thursday July 2, 2009
* Location: 110 NE Street, Oskaloosa

Senator Grassley will tour and take questions from employees at Agriland FS in Oskaloosa as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.

*Senator Grassley is a guest of Agriland FS for this event. Please refer any questions or requests about the event to Agriland FS.


Marion County Town Hall Meeting

* Date: Friday July 3, 2009
* Location: Pella Community Services Building, 712 Union Street, Pella

Senator Grassley will conduct a Marion County town hall meeting as part of his annual visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties.

Comment by Codi Prachar on April 30, 2009 at 10:41am

A major article in the Wall Street Journal echoes what T. Boone Pickens has been saying for nearly a year: There is enough natural gas under the continental United States to serve all of our needs for upwards of 100 years.

Check out the Daily PIckens, where you can read full the article.

Comment by Codi Prachar on April 15, 2009 at 8:48am

Hi Team,

I wanted to let you know that between now and April 19, over the Congressional Easter Recess, we have an opportunity to reach our Members of Congress in their home districts! Having our leaders hear from us, the constituents, makes the biggest impact!

So here's what to do:

The focus is now on 2 new pieces of legislation: NAT GAS Act of 2009 and RES (Renewable Electricity Standard). Boone needs your help to rally local supporters to contact your elected officials during the Congressional Recess.

Here is what you can do:

1) Generate letters, emails and calls to your Members of Congress during the Congressional Recess
2) Set up meetings with your Members of Congress or an aide over the next week while they are on recess
3) Organize local meetings, events, happy hours, receptions with local supporters and urge them to call or email their representative on the spot!
4) Submit Op Eds & Letters to the Editor to local newspapers and media outlets (If you want to do this option, let me know and I will be glad to help! )

Contact info for your Congressmen and Senators can be found at http://www.house.gov/ or http://www.senate.gov/

Finally, please post any updates on activity that you initiate in your district. I report to Boone on a daily basis, and your feedback keeps him up-to-date!

KEEP PUSHING!

Codi

Comment by Codi Prachar on April 11, 2009 at 8:39pm

Welcome, Wendy! Glad you are on board!

Comment by Wendy on April 11, 2009 at 8:22am

My husband and I recently moved to Le Mars from Minnesota. I was a part of the Pickens Plan there and look forward to doing what I can here.

Comment by Codi Prachar on March 31, 2009 at 8:10pm

Boone's ready to march tomorrow--are you?

Comment by Codi Prachar on March 19, 2009 at 4:25pm

Members,

This is a response that was received from Sen. Harkin's office after being contacted about the Stimulus package---it sheds some light on his thinking about energy independence. What do you think?

Codi

Thank you for contacting me regarding investments in renewable energy
contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

As you may know, with my support, the Congress recently passed, and the
President signed, this $790 billion plan. The ARRA will help create or
sustain about 3.5 million jobs, provide individuals and families with
additional disposable income, and lay the groundwork for a sustained
economic recovery. Additionally, the Recovery Act will direct crucial
funding toward rural development, nutrition and conservation initiatives.
The economic downturn has cut across all sectors of our country, further
straining the rural and agriculture economies and increasing food
insecurity. This bill sends urgently needed aid to these targeted
communities, and it comes in the form of grants and loans and services
like broadband. At the same time, it creates jobs and puts food into the
hands of those who need it most.

I appreciate the comments I have heard from Iowans who are concerned
about the cost of this package, particularly in light of our national
debt. I share concerns about the size of our national debt, which is why I
have long advocated for responsible federal budgets and "Pay As You Go"
spending, which prevents Congress from increasing mandatory spending or
making changes to the tax code without paying for it. However, with our
economy facing a deep recession, economists on all sides of the political
spectrum agree that reducing our deficit must take a back seat in the
short term to fixing our economy.

Among its many provisions, the ARRA includes $37.5 billion of investments
to modernize our nation's energy system. While I am disappointed that
there was no money for USDA energy programs, I am very pleased that
investments will be made to begin moving our nation towards energy
independence. I will also be working to ensure that this new energy
funding will be used towards the most critical priorities during this
transition towards clean, renewable sources of energy.

Additionally, I am extremely pleased that in his first speech to a joint
session of Congress, President Obama announced that his budget will invest
$15 billion a year to develop new technologies like wind and solar power,
advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel efficient cars and trucks.
The ARRA will double this nation's supply of renewable energy in the next
three years, however I am encouraged that the President intends to go even
further, recognizing that renewable energy from homegrown sources – many
of which are grown in Iowa – will not only free our dependence from
foreign oil, but also improve energy efficiency and create jobs.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me. As we begin a new
chapter in the United States, I look forward to working with my colleagues
in the 111th Congress and the Obama Administration to find common sense
solutions to help wean us off foreign oil, stimulate the economy, and
improve environmental quality.


Sincerely,



Tom Harkin
United States Senator

Comment by Codi Prachar on March 14, 2009 at 9:02am

Friends,

You have probably seen information on the Virtual March on Washington, but in case you haven't yet, here's what it is:

The Pickens Plan is organizing a Virtual March on Washington to be held April 1-3, 2009.

We are going to utilize the size and unique capabilities of the New Energy Army to have an enormous impact on the White House and Congress. The Army will focus its energy during those three days on e-mails, calls and faxes to every Member of Congress.

Between now and then we will be engaging in a series of activities to get ready for the event, including:

* Contacting Members of Congress through email and phone calls to encourage support for key aspects of the Pickens Plan.
* Recruiting new members of the Army in every Congressional District.
* Submitting letters to the editor and op-eds to newspapers around the country.
* Holding district meetings and house parties with members of the Army to discuss ways to have an impact.
* Participating in webcast events.

We will be communicating with members of the Army via email, Push, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn to build support and enthusiasm for the event. Make sure you are connected to us on any of these platforms where you have a profile!

Be sure to take photos and videos of your activities over the next couple months - we will soon be inviting you to submit items to be featured here on the Virtual March homepage.

Sign up today to participate in the Virtual March and recruit your friends and family to join you!

(If you are interested in visiting your Members of Congress during the virtual march, please contact your Regional and/or District Leader for more information.)

Comment by Codi Prachar on March 5, 2009 at 7:19am

This Weekly Standard post has information many of you have been curious about. It explains the math that comes with the cost of foreign oil when compared to what we can save using natural gas. Definitely worth reading!
"A Good Thing Obama Could Do"

Comment by Codi Prachar on February 3, 2009 at 10:26am

Thanks for posting, Larry!

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