VOP Upcoming Events

The Virginia Organizing Project has many events scheduled during the months of October and November. On October 1st in Washington, D.C. there will be a Rural Health Reform dialogue with 5th District Congressman Tom Perriello. The Urban Rural Learning Linkage Living Institute International will provide help with transportation for volenteers interested in attending. On November 6th at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville there will be a Social Justice Bowl VI. This is a community-building soup and bread supper and those who attend receive handcrafted bowls made by local potters. This is a fun event which honors people who have done excellent social justice work in our community. For more information on VOP upcoming events, click link here: http://www.virginia-organizing.org/calendar.php

Virginia Organizing Project Motto

“Real People, Dealing with Real Problems, Working for Real Solutions” is the motto of the VOP. We believe that all people should be treated fairly and with dignity in all aspects of life, regardless of race, class, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability or country of origin.We believe that every person in the Commonwealth is entitled to a living wage and benefit package that is sufficient to provide the basic necessities of life, including adequate housing, a nutritious diet, proper child care, sound mental and physical health care, and a secure retirement. We believe that every person is entitled to an equal educational opportunity. Click the link below to learn more about VOP statements of beliefs:http://www.virginia-organizing.org/principles.php

What We Do

The Virginia Organizing Project deal with many public policy campaigns. Racial profiling, health care reform, predatory lending and tax reform are just a few of the many campaigns. For more information on the VOP and the VOP public policies campaigns click link provided below: http://www.virginia-organizing.org/what_we_do.php

VOP memebers speaks out about Organizing

Members of the Virginia Organizing Project Jay Johnson, Denise Smith and Jason Guard speaks out about organizing and the responsibilities that come with the job. Click link to view video footage of members speaking out about organizing http://www.virginia-organizing.org/organizers_speak.php

Intern Program for the VOP

VOP is a statewide grassroots social justice organization that works on multiple issues with a diverse group of people. VOP is seeking applicants willing to work as interns across the state of Virginia. Interns will assist VOP with a variety of tasks related to VOP's public policy reform priorities and local campaigns. To learn more on how to become an intern for VOP and to download an application click the link provided here: http://www.virginia-organizing.org/internship.php

VOP ON FACEBOOK

The Virginia Organizing Project - VOP - is a statewide grassroots organization decicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities. Join VOP on facebook for updates on policy awareness. http://www.facebook.com/group/php?gid=23840147519

Status of VOP

The Virginia Organizing Project is a grassroots organization on the move. In 2009 VOP interns, volunteers and staff went door-to-door across Virginia, talking to people about health care reform and leaving door hangers asking people to call their representatives to take action this year.VOP organized health care forums, rallies and press conferences across the state, including in Wise, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, and Williamsburg in which people told their health care stories to legislators and demanded quality, accessible health care for everyone. VOP has been able to organize and produce poductivity to the fight of giving everyday citizens a voice. For more VOP status from 2008-2009 click link: http://www.virginia-organizing.org/what_we_do.php#12

Obama's Healthcare Insurance Reform Plan

Some Americans are confused as to what exactly is President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plan. The President's plan clearly outlines his policy if you have healthcare insurance, if you do not have healthcare insurance and his plan for all Americans. click link to learn more about Pres. Obama's healthcare insurance reform plan. http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon/?source=OM_LB_google_HC-search_hreform_tc&gclid=CPXBivPt_pwCFVRM5QodAUFhbg

I Support The Employee Free Choice Act

Taimer Singleton, Virginia State University student, supports the Employee Free Choice Act. Singleton recently wrote a letter to our VOP editor Julie Blust.

I am writing to voice my support for the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 560, H.R. 1409) which has recently been reintroduced in Congress. We need the Employee Free Choice Act to offset rising health care costs, home foreclosures, stagnant wages, and shrinking retirement plans. To revive the economy and rebuild the middle class in the long term, we need to empower workers to bargain for better wages and benefits. The Employee Free Choice Act will strengthen penalties against employers who break the law. The act strengthens workers’ ability to achieve a first contract within a reasonable period of time. The act gives workers a free choice and a fair path to choose to form a union.The Employee Free Choice Act is a critical piece of our economic recovery. I'm confident you'll continue to represent the best interests of workers in your district by supporting it. Scroll down to Employee Free Choice Day of Action. click link here:http://www.virginia-organizing.org/media_releases.php#68

Letter to the Editor

Virginia Organzing Project member Tammi Nichols writes a letter to the editor voicing her support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

I am writing to voice my support for the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 560, H.R. 1409) which has recently been reintroduced in Congress. The economic tailspin has put the middle class, our country's backbone, in peril. Rising health care costs, home foreclosures, stagnant wages, and shrinking retirement plans are all taking a huge toll. To revive the economy and rebuild the middle class in the long term, we need to empower workers to bargain for better wages and benefits. The Employee Free Choice Act will do just that - allowing workers to form a union when a majority of them want one. It will also stiffen penalties on employers who harass, intimidate, and fire workers for their support of a union.The Employee Free Choice Act is a critical piece of our economic recovery. I'm confident you'll continue to represent the best interests of workers in your district by supporting it. Scroll down to Employee Free Choice Day of Action. click link: http://sumofchange.com/index.html

Voter Education - Voter Registration - Restoration of Rights

The Virginia Organizing Project is pushing for reform. The Civic Engagement and Education event VOTER EDUCATION ~ VOTER REGISTRATION~ RESTORATION OF RIGHTS
Petersburg Chapter is SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to come to 500 FLEET STREET, BENEDICT CLUB, PETERSBURG VA SPONSORS INCLUDE VIRGINIA ORGANIZING PROJECT, DELTA SIGMA THETA PETERSBURG ALUMNI CHAPTER, STREET CERTIFIED, PRINCE GEORGE-HOPEWELL VOLUNTEERS FOR CHANGE AND JIM WILLIAMS.

ARRESTED for asking about HIGH INSURANCE RATES

Joe Szakos leads the Virginia Organizing Project, an almost fifteen year-old community organization that Health Care for America Now works with in Virginia to organize for health care reform. Szakos's organization employs dozens of people, and they get their health care through Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
This year, Szakos was informed that Anthem was going to increase the premiums on Virginia Organizing Project's health plan by 14.1%. Szakos immediately had questions. His first question was why Anthem using its resources to lobby against health care reform with a public health insurance option while at the same time increasing rates by 14.1%? When Szakos went to speak with Anthem about the matter he was arrested. Shocking but true, to view video footage click here: http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2009/09/17/for-asking-why-your-insurance-rates-increase-you-can-be-arrested/

VOP Supporting Health Care Reform in VA

VOP Members Supporting Health Care Reform around Virginia
Report: Warren County’s Health Insurance Crisis: Why You and Your Neighbors Need Health Care Reform.Prepared by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter, Virginia Organizing Project. August 2009. (pdf file)
We’re closer than we’ve been to meaningful health care reform in 60 years. This reform will provide accessible, affordable, quality health care for ALL Virginians. Legislation has been passed by three House Committees and one Senate Committee that meets these goals.
The Virginia Organizing Project and Health Care for America Now members across the state have attended Town Hall meetings, written letters to the editor, canvassed with their neighbors, and made phone calls to urge our Members of Congress to support this legislation. We MUST keep this up!
Please call 1-877-264-4226 and ask Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb and all of our 11 U.S. Representatives to support this health care legislation.
Also, please contact us if you want to do any of the actions listed above and check our calendar for events near you. http://www.virginia-organizing.org/healthcare.php

Defend Against Trespassing Charges By Anthem

Anthem Sends A Message To All Their Customers With Trial:

“If you Question Our Business Practices, There Will Be Consequences.”

Enclosed: Video Footage of the Arrest, also available online at www.youtube.com/vopvideo

Richmond, VA – At a time when health insurance industry malfeasance is a daily focus of the evening news, Anthem, a WellPoint subsidiary, has boldly decided to put their own customer on trial for asking to speak to a representative about their rates. On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, Joe Szakos, executive director of the Virginia Organizing Project, will stand trial to defend against trespassing charges brought on by Anthem after visiting their headquarters in July to question his organization’s health insurance premium increases.
Szakos was charged with trespassing on Anthem’s property in Richmond on July 24, 2009 when he and three Virginia Organizing Project board members attempted to meet with Anthem officials to discuss their concerns about a 14.1 percent insurance premium increase. Anthem officials locked the front door to their corporate headquarters when the group approached the building, and called police to have Szakos arrested.
The Virginia Organizing Project was also questioning Anthem for using their premiums for lobbying against reform instead of paying health care claims. Anthem and its parent company WellPoint have spent millions lobbying against a public health insurance option, including soliciting their own costumers to speak out against reform.
Szakos’s legal defense team has subpoenaed Anthem’s CEO, C. Burke King, and director of public relations, Scott Golden, to appear in court on Tuesday.
The Virginia Organizing Project will be holding a press conference prior to the trial where community members will share their own Anthem horror stories and call for their members of Congress to take action on health care reform.
WHO: The Virginia Organizing Project
WHAT: “Big Insurance: Sick Of It” Press Conference and Trial of Joe Szakos (trespassing charge)
WHEN: September 22, 2009
10 a.m. Press Conference
11 a.m. Trial
WHERE: Henrico General District Court, 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23273-0775

The Virginia Organizing Project is a statewide, multi-issue grassroots organization committed to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives.
www.virginia-organizing.org

Healthcare Reform, the Time is NOW!

The Virginia Organizing Project is a grassroots organization based in the community to assure that the average Virginian can make their concerns and voices heard in matters that involve public legalities. The Virginia Organizing Project is demanding that the Public Health Insurance Plan is a choice for Virginians to establish better insurance healthcare reform. Call Senator Warner at 1-888-436-8427 and tell him to support the choice of a Public Health Insurance Plan. The time more than ever is NOW! http://www.virginia-organizing.org/

V.O.P. on Capitol Hill

On Sept. 9, 2009 I visited Capitol Hill along with the Virginia Organizing Project to push the Employee Free Choice Act -- EFCA-- agenda. In attendance were members from various constituent groups such as civil rights activists, environmentalists, education advocates, worker’s rights advocates, women’s’ rights activists and faith based organizations. According to Father Les Schmidt, a Bishop Liaison for the forty-eight Catholic Church, the Employee Free Choice Act is an important issue to the faith community. The EFCA bill is an issue of justice in the workplace. Father Schmidt says, “A worker can always be left out or canceled. Our present system is broken. Employees need the right to organize without fear of intimidation from employers.” Father Schmidt says, “Justice delayed or justice deferred is always justice denied.” http://sumofchange.com/index.html