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E-News NassauThe local presence of the American Civil Liberties Union 250 Fulton Avenue, Suite 514A Hempstead, New York 11550 Tel: 516-741-8520 Fax: 516-741-8534 E-mail: nassau@nyclu.org www.nyclu.org/nassau Myspace.com/nassaunyclu What a Swell Party It Was The first of our "parties with a purpose" - intimate gatherings aimed at getting the community more involved with the NYCLU - was successful beyond our wildest expectations. Host Andrena Wyatt chose to hold the event for about 20 of her friends at the African-American Museum in Hempstead instead of in her home. It was organized with the help Rachel Collins, a St. John's Law Student and a Nassau Chapter intern who will assist hosts with organizing their party. After rousing talks by Executive Direction Tara Keenan-Thomson and Corey Pegues, the Long Island representative of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the guests got down to some serious socializing and a dinner of wraps, cookies and coffee. The party was built around the NYCLU's attempts to modify the draconian Rockefeller drug laws, which have resulted in the imprisonment of thousands, particularly minorities, suffering through major sentences for minor drug crimes. Our hope at these events is to encourage some of the attendees to hold parties of their own so we can continue to expand our circle of potential supporters. At the Andrena Wyatt event, five of the 20 guests committed to do just that. Thank you Andrena. How about considering holding a similar gathering? All you need is a few friends, family or neighbors who might be interested in the aims of the NYCLU. The refreshments can be as simple as coffee and cookies or as elegant as a sit-down dinner party, and Rachel Collins will be there to help from start to finish. Call the office at 516 741-8520 and we'll get you started. Not Just Talk One of the aims of the Nassau Chapter is to stimulate the interest of our members and the general public in our current issues. That's our way of hoping to stimulate more Long Islanders into actually getting up and doing something to further the cause. This month the chapter will be hoping to move people to action by participating in three forums. You're all invited, and they're all free. Monday, March 3 Executive Director Tara Keenan-Thomson will give a talk on Freedom of Speech at a reception for the library's month-long presentation of the chapter's traveling exhibit, Censorship in Schools and Libraries. The exhibit will be on view from March 1 to March 28. Tara will be on view from 7 - 8 pm, speaking and then taking questions. For information call Mary at 516 746-8488 and press 0. Saturday, March 8 Tara will be spreading the word again, this time as a panelist at The Forum to Repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws. She will also lead a workshop on How to Change Your Lawmakers' Minds. Other workshops include Leadership in the Community and Mobilizing Youth. For information call Jean Ives in the Office of Mayer Wayne Hall, 516 489-3400, x206 or x203. Tuesday, March 13 Board member Vincent Wright will lead a panel on Civil Liberties in Wartime ?
A Balancing Act. Other panels topics include: Guilt Free Green; Election Reform
& Voting Machines in 2008; Arab-Israeli Issues; Separation of Church and
Stat; and Anti-War Efforts. A forum for teens will focus on a documentary,
Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish Pluralistic High School. For information,
contact Alice Fornair, Chair, Social Action Council, afornari@optonline.et
or 516 482-8326 |
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