Aug 18th, 2008 3:32 PM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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On Wednesday we’re hosting a “ONE Minnesota” event at the State Capitol in St. Paul to celebrate Governor Pawlenty’s leadership in declaring Minnesota a “ONE State,” Mayor Rybak declaring Minneapolis and Mayor Coleman declaring Saint Paul “ONE Cities.”
The event will raise awareness for the issues important to the more than 28,000 ONE supporters in Minnesota and celebrate the leadership that Minnesota’s elected officials have demonstrated on both the state and federal levels.
Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Lutheran Bishop Peter Rogness, ONE member and leader of the Twin Cities ONE Group Rochelle Gibbs are all confirmed to speak. If you would like to join us for this event please RSVP here.
Way to go ONE Minnesota members!
-Libby Crimmings, MN ONE Field Organizer
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Aug 14th, 2008 6:19 PM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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Here at ONE we are so excited about the Democratic and Republican National Conventions coming up in the next few weeks! The conventions are a perfect opportunity to interact with party delegates and officials from all over the country and ONE will be there to make sure to bring the issues of extreme poverty into the US political arena. We will have many events at both conventions, including a wrapped campaign-style bus with a state-of-the-art podcast station.
ONE is also hosting service projects for volunteers at both conventions. As many as 800 volunteers will assemble kits to distribute to caregivers who support people living with AIDS all over the world. In addition, ONE will be hosting panel discussions as each convention to engage and educate people on the issues of extreme poverty and global disease.
For those who live in Denver or Minneapolis, or plan to travel there for the conventions, you can sign up now to help with the caregiver kits at the DNC here and the RNC here. More information about the conventions will follow in the coming days.
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Jun 3rd, 2008 10:18 AM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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 Yesterday I visited Senator Grassley’s Des Moines office to deliver 484 letter from his constituents encouraging the senator to keep PEPFAR authorization moving through Congress. Specifically the letters ask Senator Grassley to sign the Lugar-Sununu letter to urge Senate Majority and Minority leaders to get PEPFAR reauthorization to the floor of the Senate.
At the office I met with Aaron McKay, Senator Grassley’s Regional Field Director. Aaron had attended our Summer Kick-off event as a representative for Senator Grassley earlier this week. Aaron and I spoke about how this bill would increase funding from $15 billion over the last five years to $50 billion over the next 5 years and directly save millions of lives. He will be in contact with Senator Grassley regarding these letters.
Thank you Iowans for taking the time to write Senator Grassley and encouraging him to support this very important bill, I was proud to deliver the letters on behalf ONE’s Iowa members.
-Libby Crimmings
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May 26th, 2008 11:05 PM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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Tomorrow ONE Vote ’08 is having their summer kick-off event in Des Moines with Jason Walsmith and Mike Butterworth of the Nadas.
“One.org is about aid and funding to relieve world hunger, poverty and AIDS. If our music can help even in a small way, then any amount of effort is well worth it.” – Mike Butterworth, lead singer and guitarist
To make global poverty a central issue in this year’s presidential election, we meet the candidates everywhere on the campaign trail and ask them tough questions about battling extreme poverty and global disease. The summer kick-off event is a celebration of our successful pre-caucus efforts and a look to our future during the general election season.
The event will feature an exhibition of photos from ONE Vote ’08 all over the country, and world. Following the event there will be a free concert for ONE members by Jason Walsmith and Mike Butterworth of the band the Nadas.
If you live in the Des Moines area I hope you can join us! Wear your ONE shirt and bring your friends!
RSVP here.
See you soon!
-Libby Crimmings, ONE.org
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Feb 15th, 2008 11:12 AM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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 This weekend ONE members in Iowa did something a little different to raise awareness about poverty, they went mini-golfing!
ONE sponsored and decorated the 18th hole of the Downtown Des Moines Skywalk Golf Tournament. There were almost 2,000 people participating in the world’s largest indoor golf tournament held in a 3-mile section of the skywalk system! When golfers got to the 18th hole, they were shooting for a “Hole in ONE” through giant ONE bands set up on the hole.
We spoke to golfers about the campaign, handed out stickers and literature, bands, and of course, “Hole in ONE” prizes! Two volunteers even got their picture printed in a local weekly newspaper. The caucuses may be over but ONE is still talking to Iowans about extreme global poverty and disease. We had a fun day and got lots of great visibility to the campaign at the same time!
-Libby Crimmings
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Jan 7th, 2008 1:24 PM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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I can’t believe we’re in the middle of January already! After months of hard work and dedication ONE members across the state of Iowa showed the nation that we not only stand up for Democracy but we stand up to fight extreme poverty as well.
 ONE’s Iowa caucus project proved extremely successful with almost 700 registered participants around the state. ONE members and supporters wore T-shirts, bands and stickers for visibility. They also submitted and passed planks about extreme poverty to their county platform committee in hopes of eventually getting a plank put in on the state party platform.
At my location alone there were 3 people in ONE T-shirts! At the location across the street a ONE member was nominated to be the precinct caucus secretary, which was the location CSPAN was showing live across the country! Other members reported their whole families showing up in ONE shirts!
There were thousands of media people here from all over the world, and many of them were asking about ONE and what we are doing. We had a table set up at the convention center in Des Moines where most of the media outlets called home base. Our CEO David Lane came to speak with the press during a ONE reception along with State Co-Chair Former Governor Terri Branstad.
 I would like to thank everyone who was instrumental along the path to this day. For every staff member, volunteer, campaign staffer, candidate, or just ONE member- thank you for everything you have done to help. To everyone who has volunteered time, tabled at events, blogged, written Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor, asked the candidates tough questions, and supported ONE at your caucus; Thank You! When it came time for Iowa’s turn in the spotlight, we sure know how to shine!
Always remember: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a singe step.”
This is just the beginning!
-Libby Pederson
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Jul 25th, 2007 6:30 PM UTC
By Libby Pederson
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ONE Vote ’08 grew in numbers in and excitement in Iowa today!
-At RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across in Iowa, we signed up new members, banded people, and bike riders and spectators wore ONE shirts all over town.
-Chris Matthews taped an interview with Lance Armstrong with ONE supporters in the background. The members wore ONE shirts and placards and Chris even signed our ONE wristband! MSNBC will be rebroadcast it at 7 PM.
-Tonight ONE will have a great presence at a local Blues Traveler and The Nadas concert. A ‘The Nadas’ band members will have a ONE Vote ’08 shirt on during the performance and will mention ONE on stage.
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