Chris Van Hollen on "Political Pulse" Oct. 22, 24, 26

Chris Van Hollen, Congressman from Maryland's 8th District and Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) will be on "Political Pulse" on:

Friday, Oct. 22nd through Sunday, Oct. 24th at 6 p.m. and Tuesday October 26th, at 9:30 p.m.

Topics that will be discussed include the mid-term elections (and whether the Democrats can hold onto the House of Rep's), jobs, campaign financing, the Health Care bill, the Stimulus bill and other local issues.

Political Pulse is on Channel 16 TV in Montgomery County.

making progress in Montgomery County and Maryland

Thanks to you, the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is making progress in Montgomery County and Maryland.

We've been organizing events, supporting candidates, and informing you about progressive efforts in our area since 2003. We have big plans to work with our friends and allies in the county and state on healthcare, the environment, equality, and more! MCPA is playing a role organizing, supporting, and/or promoting ALL of the events below. NO OTHER ORGANIZATION is involved and promoting progress on such a wide range of issues and efforts!

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Progressive Events Coming up:

Patients United for the Human Right to Healthcare in Bethesda Saturday, Oct 23 at 2 p.m.

Early Voting / Silver Spring festival Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public forum: The Left and Elections in Baltimore Sunday, October 24th, 2 pm to 3:30 pm

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday November 2nd, 7 am to 8 pm

Symposium Series: Pathways to Peace: Creating an Israeli/Palestinian Peace Agreement in DC Thursday, November 4th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm

Mean Girls and their Victims a panel discussion and workshop addressing "Girls at Risk" Monday, November 8th, 7 TO 9 P.M

MoCo Progressive Alliance MeetUp/Meeting November 9, 7 - 9 pm (it's OK to come late, traffic can be tough!)

Alphabet Soup--who are these organizations and what do they do?

Help keep us working for you! Please support the MCPA with a generous donation now.  We hope you will give $25, but we appreciate any help you afford in these tough economic times. You can donate safely and easily online here or bring your donation to our meetings and events. If you can't afford to contribute, please at least pass this along to your progressive friends in Maryland, DC--or anywhere!


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Patients United for the Human Right to Healthcare in Bethesda Saturday, Oct 23 at 2 p.m.

Meet Joel Segal, Senior Legislative Assistant to Congress; Phyllis Zolotorow, Healthcare Advocate and uninsured patient; Judy Mahaffy, Healthcare Advocate and underinsured patient and Beverly Hummel, Healthcare Activist to explore how to start the "building" process!

6213 Dahlonega Road, Bethesda, MD / http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6213+Dahlonega+Road+Bethesda+MD+20816

Please RSVP ASAP to: patients4hcr@gmail.com

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Early Voting / Silver Spring festival Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Governor O'Malley will speak at 1:30 p.m.  More details / entertainment schedule: http://www.silverspringfestival.com/
Early voting is 10 am to 8 pm Friday October 22nd through Thursday October 28th (excluding Sunday October 24th)
Contact me to make calls, work the polls, and otherwise help elect progressive candidates!

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Public forum: The Left and Elections in Baltimore Sunday, October 24th, 2 pm to 3:30 pm
The Baltimore Free School, 1323 N. Calvert St. Baltimore MD 21202
Speakers:  Les Bayless, union organizer and peace activist, and Cindy Farquhar, member of Progressive Working Group.
Event is free, and there will be plenty of time for discussion about legislative possibilities in the General Assembly in 2011.

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ELECTION DAY: Tuesday November 2nd, 7 am to 8 pm
Find your polling place here: http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/where.html

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Symposium Series: Pathways to Peace: Creating an Israeli/Palestinian Peace Agreement in DC Thursday, November 4th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm
Come hear, meet and share your support and insight with: Harriet Fulbright – President of the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center, Walter Fauntroy – US Congressman (D-DC, 1971-1990) and Founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, Joel Segal – Congressional Staffer, Founder of the Free China Movement & co-founder of the Progressive Democrats of America, plus other expert panelists as they seek your help and participation in transforming a long standing conflict into a long standing peace. Sponsored by the Campaign for Middle East Peace and George Washington Interfaith Action (GWIA).

GWU, Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom,
800 21st Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052
A few blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.

To RSVP or more information, please contact Tarek Nahabet at StrategiesForDevelopment@live.com / 603-504-4440

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Mean Girls and their Victims a panel discussion and workshop addressing "Girls at Risk" Monday, November 8th, 7 TO 9 P.M

Free, open to the public, free parking. Refreshments.

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Organization for Women
Wheaton Regional Library, Large Meeting Room on the ground Floor
11701 Georgia Ave., (corner of Arcola Ave.) Wheaton, MD 20902
Directions: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/branchinfo/wh.asp#map

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MoCo Progressive Alliance MeetUp/Meeting November 9, 7 - 9 pm (it's OK to come late, traffic can be tough!)

Fun, informal discussion plus a report on progress in our county and state on Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other organizations. You can bring MCPA donations to our meeting!

Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)

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Other ways to stay in touch

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

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Alphabet Soup--who are these organizations and what do they do?

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented coalition working on local, state, national and international issues. MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around Montgomery County Maryland. Four Meetup groups--Progressive Victory, Democratic Party / MCPA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and this one--get together with like-minded activists working for Progressive Victories in 2010 and beyond. We meet at least once each month to discuss and plan events and actions. Of these groups, Progressive Victory has the most members, and we hope you will join that Meetup to save time, money, and effort organizing our meetings and actions. See: http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/ 

MCPA organization began in 2003 when Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held meetings nearly each month.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee members. Please contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com if you're interested. You can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements. PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections; environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social justice; and peace. See: http://www.PDAmerica.org You can sign up for PDA here:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037

Other organizations working in our area:

PWG: The Progressive Working Group is a coalition promoting progress and reform, economic fairness and equality, protecting the environment, and more. PWG is not part of the MCPA, but the MCPA is part of the PWG which currently includes: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland, Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action, PeaceAction Montgomery, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America (Maryland), Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, and Upcounty Action. PWG will focus on 2 or 3 issues during the 2010 session. Progressive organizations are welcome to join PWG. Please contact Wally Malakoff malakoff@starpower.net for more information.

NOW: The National Organization for Women has been advancing womens' issues including general progressive causes for decades. See: http://www.now.org/ for more information. Contact Montgomery County NOW membership chairperson Jeannette Feldner lj.feldner@verizon.net to join. Men as well as women are welcome to join NOW.

OfA: Organizing for America emerged from President Obama's campaign in 2008, and is organizing grass-roots activists to support the Democratic National Committee/Obama agenda. OfA is sponsoring local efforts in each congressional district which are not directly or legally affiliated with the DNC. OfA is currently sponsoring phone banks, organizing meetings, and building a "rapid response" media effort. Please contact Jon Randall jrandall39@comcast.net for more information. See http://www.barackobama.com/learn/about_ofa.php

MoveOn is a national political action organization and has a local council in Silver Spring and elsewhere around Maryland. Local MoveOn members have cooperated with MCPA on town halls, vigils, phone banking, and other actions. See http://www.moveon.org to join your local council.

To have your organization or events listed here, please contact me.

Thanks for reading down this far, and hope to see you at the meeting and future events,

Mike Hersh, Meetup Organizer
Chairperson, MCPA and DFMC
Maryland State Coordinator, PDA
Steering Committee, PWG

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Please help support the MCPA with a generous donation now. You can donate safely and easily online here or bring your donation to our meetings and events.

The Left and Elections forum in Baltimore Sun. Oct. 24th

Public forum this Sunday: October 24th
The Left and Elections
Place: The Baltimore Free School
1323 N. Calvert St. Baltimore MD 21202
Time: 2 pm to 3:30 pm

Speakers: Les Bayless, union organizer and peace activist, and Cindy
Farquhar, member of Progressive Working Group.

Event is free, and there will be plenty of time for discussion about
legislative possibilities in the General Assembly in 2011.

Join Karen Montgomery this Saturday

From Delegate and State Senate nominee Karen S. Montgomery:

As we move forward to the general election, I hope you will take
advantage of early voting. It's convenient--try it!

You helped me win a difficult election so that we can enact a
progressive legislative agenda in Maryland. But if we don't win the
governor's office, our work will have been for naught.

The governor signs or vetoes legislation that we pass in the General
Assembly, and if we want progressive legislation signed into law, we
must reelect Gov. O'Malley.

The differences are stark. Where Gov. O'Malley froze tuition for four
straight years at the University of Maryland, brought real
professionalism to the executive branch through the State Stat program,
and became one of the nation's leading environmental governors, former
Gov. Ehrlich oversaw record hikes in college tuition in our state, hired
and unleashed a political hack to fire and demote hundreds of fine
public servants because they were not Republicans, and moved to sell off
public lands to private entities. It is critical that Gov. O'Malley be
re-elected!

But we must get out the vote if we are to defeat Bob Ehrlich. Turnout in
the Maryland primary election in September was only 24%, which means
that 76% of the people did not vote! We can't let that happen in the
general election.

I hope you will join me in downtown Silver Spring on Saturday, Oct. 23,
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a Street Festival to support Gov.
O'Malley, kick off early voting, and enjoy a fun day with other highly
engaged Democrats!

The Street Festival features all sorts of great events. Gov. O'Malley
will speak at 1:30 p.m. Check here for details and an entertainment
schedule: http://www.silverspringfestival.com/

With your help, we can turn the progressive ideals we hold In common
into legislative victories. We can keep our schools number one, create
quality jobs, protect the environment, improve transportation, and save
taxpayers money through responsible budgeting.

Let's not turn back the clock. Please help ensure that Gov. O'Malley is
reelected so that he can sign into law the kinds of progressive measures
we have fought for in District 14.

I ask for your vote again, for senate, and for the rest of the District
14 team--Ann Kaiser, Eric Luedtke, and Craig Zucker for delegates.

Join me in Silver Spring next Saturday--and let's reelect Gov. O'Malley!

Sincerely,

Karen S. Montgomery

Bethesda Oct 23: Patients United for the Human Right to Healthcare

In the words of the "old sage" Yogi Berra, "IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S
OVER!!" Health care reform is NOT OVER! It's JUST BEGINNING! We are now
starting to build on the foundation.

Please join Joel Segal, Senior Legislative Assistant to Congress;
Phyllis Zolotorow, Healthcare Advocate and uninsured patient; Judy
Mahaffy, Healthcare Advocate and underinsured patient and Beverly
Hummel, Healthcare Activist to explore how to start the "building" process!

Some people say "Repeal the new law". We say, "We're gearing up to amend
and build!"

Be a part of history, join us, "Patients United for the Human Right to
Healthcare", at Beverly Hummel's command post:
6213 Dahlonega Road, Bethesda, MD / Saturday, Oct 23, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6213+Dahlonega+Road+Bethesda+MD+20816

RSVP by October 20th to: patients4hcr@gmail.com

Directions from 495:
495 to River Road South/190
Right on Goldsboro Rd/614 (about 5 traffic lights)
1st left on Massachusetts Ave/396
1st right on Bent Branch
1st left on Mohican Rd
2nd left on Dahlonega 

Mean Girls and Their Victims--MCNOW presents "Girls at Risk" Mon. Nov. 8th

The Montgomery County Chapter of the National Organization for Women invites you to attend an engaging, informative panel-led discussion and workshop on "Girls at Risk: the bullying of sexualization of girls."  Free, open to the public, free parking. Refreshments.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010 FROM 7 TO 9 P.M.
WHEATON REGIONAL LIBRARY Large Meeting Room on the ground Floor
11701 Georgia Ave., (corner of Arcola Ave.) Wheaton, MD 20902
Directions: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/branchinfo/wh.asp#map

With the following AGENDA:

1.       Presentation by Leslie Cameron of the American Psychological Association on the APA’s Task Force Report on The Sexualization of Girls—with a focus on suggestions for curriculum that can address this problem in the Middle Schools.

2.       Response by Panelists
a.       Ellen Bartlett, author of “Have Our Kids Lost Their Way?” Bethesda Magazine Oct. 2010
b.      Maggie Campbell, American University
c.       Julia McMurry, Albert Einstein High School

3.       Audience discussion and workshop
a.       Best Practices by Parents and Teachers
b.      Supporting the Healthy Media for Youth Act in Congress
c.       Forming a Coalition to Address the Sexualization of Youth

We hope you will attend yourself and will share this invitation with your colleagues, friends and contact.

Jill N. Brantley and Mike Hersh
Action Vice-Presidents, Montgomery County N.O.W

Pathways to Peace: Creating an Israeli/Palestinian Peace Agreement

Campaign for Middle East Peace (CMEP) in partnership with George
Washington Interfaith Action (GWIA)

Proudly presents the Symposium Series: Pathways to Peace: Creating an
Israeli/Palestinian Peace Agreement

Come hear, meet and share your support and insight with:
Harriet Fulbright – President of the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center
Walter Fauntroy – US Congressman (D-DC, 1971-1990) and Founder of the
Congressional Black Caucus
Joel Segal – Founder of the Free China Movement & co-founder of the
Progressive Democrats of America
and other expert panelists as they seek your help and participation in
transforming a long standing conflict into a long standing peace.

7:30pm – 9:30pm Thursday, November 4th, 2010
GWU, Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom,
800 21st Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052
A few blocks from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station

Snacks and Drinks will be provided.

To RSVP or more information, please contact
Tarek Nahabet at StrategiesForDevelopment@live.com / 603-504-4440

Bethesda Oct 23: Patients United for the Human Right to Healthcare

Patients United for the Human Right to Healthcare

In the words of the "old sage" Yogi Berra, "IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER!!"

Health care reform is NOT OVER! It's JUST BEGINNING! We are now starting to build on the foundation.

Please join Joel Segal, Senior Legislative Assistant to Congress; Phyllis Zolotorow, Healthcare Advocate and uninsured patient; Judy Mahaffy, Healthcare Advocate and underinsured patient and Beverly Hummel, Healthcare Activist to explore how to start the "building" process!

Some people say "Repeal the new law". We say, "We're gearing up to amend and build!"

Be a part of history, join us, "Patients United for the Human Right to Healthcare", at Beverly Hummel's command post:
6213 Dahlonega Road, Bethesda, MD / Saturday, Oct 23, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6213+Dahlonega+Road+Bethesda+MD+20816

RSVP by October 20th to: patients4hcr@gmail.com

Directions from 495:
495 to River Road South/190
Right on Goldsboro Rd/614 (about 5 traffic lights)
1st left on Massachusetts Ave/396
1st right on Bent Branch
1st left on Mohican Rd
2nd left on Dahlonega

Saturday Oct. 16 Progressive Neighbors/Organizing for America (OFA) canvassing

Friends,

A reminder that Progressive Neighbors will be participating in the
Democratic Party's Organizing for America (OFA) canvassing effort this
Saturday (Oct. 16) to encourage registered Democrats in District 20 to
vote during the early voting period between Friday, 10/22 - Thurs., 10/28.

While we expect all our endorsed Democratic candidates in District 20 to
prevail in the Nov. election, we believe it's important to help ensure
that O'Malley remains as governor so that progressive representatives at
the state and local level have a chance at getting a progressive agenda
implemented.

We will be meeting up at 8804 Flower Ave., Silver Spring (in the empty
parking lot at the corner of Flower and Arliss St.) at 10:00 am. this
Sat. OFA will provide a brief training session, provide us handout
materials, and will then send us out in pairs. Everyone is encouraged
to participate between 10 a.m. and 1:00 - 2:00 pm, but if you can't
spare that much time, we encourage you come at 10:00 and participate for
as long as you can.

The primary message for the canvassing will be to encourage folks to
vote early, but if you have time, you might want to view
http://martinomalley.com/point for a comparison of
O'Malley's vs. Ehrlich's records prior to Sat. We'll be distributing 3
flyers: one on O'Malley/Brown, one about early voting, and the Sierra
Club flyer comparing O'Malley's vs. Ehrlich's record on the environment,
see
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/10/sierra-club-clear-choice-for-governor.html

If you can join us, please RSVP to Shelley Fudge at scfudge@gmail.com by
Thursday, 10/14, if possible, so we can tell OFA how many materials they
need to bring for the PN contingent on Sat.

If you have any questions about this PN get-out-the-vote effort, feel
free to contact Shelley at 301-580-9224. Hope to see you on Saturday!

Also, Save the Date - Sat. Oct. 23rd for an early vote rally in Downtown
Silver Spring 10 to 4. More details to follow in our next email.

p.s. If you haven't already joined Progressive Neighbors, it's only $10
- go to http://www.progressiveneighborsmd.org

March with the Monahans for democracy

March with the Monahans

On October 20, the Monahan Brothers end their historic walk by crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington, D.C.

Join PDA's Amend to Suspend Corporate Personhood Action Group; sign up here.

Published by Move To Amend.

Five months ago, two brothers—both veterans and both in their sixties—set out to walk across the US for democracy.   

Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, Laird and Robin Monahan disagreed strongly with the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that confirmed that “corporations are persons” and have the constitution right of “free speech” under the First Amendment. But, instead of getting cynical, they got walking.

Starting in San Francisco May 16, they headed east along Highway 50, speaking along the way with local citizens and the media, demonstrating in front of state capitals, and connecting with Move to Amend supporters and allied grassroots groups in small towns and large cities across the country. Read their blog and press accounts at www.lairdandrobin.org.

On October 20, the Monahan Brothers end their historic walk by crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington, DC.

Join Move to Amend in Washington to welcome them at the bridge and rally at the Lincoln Memorial and U.S. Capitol for an end to corporate personhood and corporate “free speech”.

We invite you to be part of this event to:
• celebrate the end of their 158-day “Walk Across America for Democracy”
• rally against unlimited corporate money in elections that drowns out the voice of “we the people”
• rally to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to end corporate personhood and the false notion that money is equivalent to speech.

Save the Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

10:00 a.m.: Meet Laird and Robin and walk with them to the Lincoln Memorial. Starting point: The Women in Military Service for America Memorial, at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and near the Arlington Metro stop.

12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.: Rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

1:30 p.m.: Leave Lincoln Memorial and walk to the U.S. Capitol Building for a second rally at 3:00 p.m.

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.: Celebration and reception at Busboys & Poets at 5th and K (www.busboysandpoets.com)

As we close on the midterm elections, corporate donors are spending an unprecedented amount of money, much of it from undisclosed entities and some of it possibly originating illegally overseas, to influence voters and ensure that they have a Congress who’ll protect their interests and their profits.

The corporate agenda has kept Main Street struggling while Wall Street prospers with taxpayer bailouts. The corporate agenda has prevented real healthcare reform for all, and promoted “free” trade and the migration of jobs overseas, while criminalizing immigrants to this country. The corporate agenda costs us when we go to second-rate hospitals, drive on crumbling bridges and roads, and send our kids to inadequate public schools.

We deserve better—a truly democratic government answerable to the people and the public good, and constitutional protection against “corporate persons” and the notion that money is speech. Join us in DC as we “March with the Monahans” to show our commitment to these goals.

You probably can't take seven months to walk across the US. But we hope you'll support Move to Amend wherever you are, by organizing in your community, spreading the word on corporate power, and donating to support our work. Thank you!

Marc Korman and Mark Uncapher Debate MoCo and MD politics on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV

Marc Korman, who is on the Montgomery County Democratic Central
Committee, and Mark Uncapher, the Chairman of the Montgomery County
Republican Party, discuss key County and State races on "Political
Pulse" on:

Thurs, Oct 7th at 9:00 p.m.

Fri-Sun, Oct. 8th-10th at 6:00 p.m. and

Tues, October 12th, at 9:30 p.m.

Political Pulse is on Channel 16 TV in Montgomery County.

making plans for progress in MoCo, Maryland and the USA.

Join us 7:30 PM Tues. Oct. 5th at the Saigonese Restaurant in Wheaton.

We'll be making plans for progress in MoCo, Maryland and the USA.

11232 Grandview Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902 a few short blocks from the
Wheaton Metro stop.

Marc Elrich Montgomery Political Forum Wednesday, 10/6, at 12:30pm at the Rockville Library

Reminder for the Montgomery Political Forum!

The first Wednesday of the month meeting of the MPF is this Wednesday,
10/6, at 12:30pm at the Rockville Library.

Featured speaker will be Marc Elrich, who, having served four years on
the County Council, was the top primary vote getter among the at-large
candidates.

As usual, it is bring your own lunch - with opportunities nearby to
purchase takeout. Parking, now for a fee, is across the street from the
library on Maryland Avenue.

Computing for the Clueless 7 PM Monday October 4th at the Wheaton Library

Attend Montgomery County National Organization for Women's event
"Computing for the Clueless" -- there are no "dumb" questions, just
information and skills you haven't learned...yet.

7 PM Monday October 4th at the Wheaton Library (Georgia Ave at Arcola).
Experienced computer users will answer your questions, and help with
everything from email to twitter.

Free and open to the public, free parking at the library lot.