Phone-A-Thons:

Keep the pressure on Congress!
Response to our Phone-a-Thons has been so enthusiastic that we are repeating them regularly in different locations.

We ask people to call Congress on the spot (using our phones) with a message about current issues. Tell your senators and representatives you want the troops in Iraq to be brought home. Ask for dipomacy and negotiation with Iran.

And put pressure on New York City Council too!
Approximately 2.4 million dollars of the NYC Department of Education budget is allocated to fund the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps programs at 19 NYC high schools. Our message to City Council: "No military based curriculum in our schools. Educate for peace, not for war. Download a Get J-ROTC Out Of Our Schools flyer here.

Check out our GPB video channel on YouTube for videos of our Phone-A-Thons.

Recipe for a Phone-A-Thon
Ingredients:
Fair weather (or rain date)
Wide, busy sidewalk (Union Square in NYC works well.)
Table (pretty tablecloth a good option)
Big, bright explanatory poster (sample text below)
Flyers - Write one on a pressing issue. (Samples here):
"Stop Sexual Abuse In The Military" sexabusemilitary_quarter_sheet
"Ban Cluster Bombs" clusterbomb_quarter_sheet_s416.pdf
no_war_on_iran - stop H Con Res 362,
stop funding the war,
Toll free number for Congressional Offices (800) 828-0498
Local phone numbers to use if DC offices are busy
Download flyer of New York local office numbers
"Directory of Elected Officials" (League of Women Voters)
4 - 5 Outgoing Persons With Cellphones (OPWC)

Begin during office hours; midday works well. Place one OPWC near the table. Scatter the remainder nearby. Holding flyers in one hand and a phone in the other the OPWCs encourage passersby to call their senators and representatives. After someone stops and stares in amazement the OPWC says, "Yeah, you can use my phone." Dozens of people will make the calls to their senators and representatives and some will sign the email list.

This recipe works best during office hours. Callers are excited to know they are about to speak to a living human being who is actually sitting in a Congressional office.

It will be a first time for most of the callers and many will be obviously nervous. You can listen as people get over their hesitation while they speak. By the end of the calls their voices will be stronger and more confident. They'll leave with flyers and hopefully with the resolve to become more active. Bev, Caroline, Diane, Eva-Lee & Fran

Sample text for poster:
PHONE-A-THON
Call your senators and representatives.
Right now! For Free!
Tell them to fund ONLY the safe withdrawal of our troops and to negotiate with Iran.
DON'T BE SHY.

Let us know what all you and your member coalitions are up to! We will continue to keep in touch on our end as well. Email us at grannypeace@gmail.

In Peace as Always!