On the weekend of June 10 and 11, Hanover Township celebrated its annual Freedom Bash, and HanDI was there.  Several of us volunteered at the donations booth, where we accepted gifts of “comfort items” to be sent to troops abroad. Then on Saturday evening, the usual suspects (and family) gathered to dine on hot dogs, hear the musical performances, and (for the younger set) get airborne in the bounce house. Half-empty view: the weather was cool and drizzly. Half-full view: no waiting in lines!

The theme of Freedom Bash is “support the troops,” and some of us had expressed concerns about lending HanDI’s name to the event as a co-sponsor, since this phrase is often twisted to mean, “accept unconditionally the military and foreign policy of whatever administration is in power right now.”  I’m glad we followed through on Trudy’s suggestion, and she and I spent a few hours on Saturday afternoon conversing with the other occupants of the donation tent, who were there to represent Operation Support Our Troops America. Volunteers Joe and Diane are both parents of servicemen, and they offered a nuanced perspective on the US involvement in Iraq that I found refreshing. It was also startling to learn how much service people crave these comfort items, which are not provided as part of their standard military rations and which are not even available for purchase from the “PX” when troops are working far out in the field. For example, mouthwash and eye drops are an antidote to the dry, sandy conditions of the desert. Let’s hope these troops continue to get the support mot just from sympathetic members of the general public but also from their government, in the form of adequate medical and psychological treatment for as long as they need it.

When: Saturday, June 11, 6:00-9:00pm

Where: Hanover Township Headquarters, 250 S. Route 59, Bartlett IL

What: Annual celebration in support of US troops. HanDI members will gather in the beer garden to enjoy the live music. Please bring “comfort items” to donate to service members; a wish list appears on the website below.

Questions: www.freedombash.com

When: Monday, May 9, 6:30-8:30pm (note early start time)

Where: Panera Bread, 971 W. Irving Park Rd., Streamwood IL

What: Join us for a discussion of “Amendment 28,” a series of grass-roots proposals to reform Congress. The amendment text has been widely circulated on the internet; one version appears below*. We also suggest that participants take this opportunity to read the Constitution in its entirety – it’s only 7,500 words, and you may be surprised at what’s in there (and what’s not)! The Constitution can be found at your local library and on websites such as this one.

Questions: 630-213-3325, hanovertdi@gmail.com, www.HanDIonline.org

Amendment 28: Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. Term Limits.

12 years only, one of the possible options below…
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people..

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

Title: EDDI Fundraiser – Cosmic Bowling with Pizza, Pop & Cupcakes!
Location: Brunswick Zone Lake Zurich
Description: The Eighth District Democrats & Independents (EDDI)
Fundraising Committee presents
All American Family Afternoon of Fun!
EDDI Cosmic Bowling with Pizza, Pop, & Cupcakes!

Would you be interested in being a HanDI team member on:
Sunday April 3rd 1pm to 4pm
Brunswick Zone Lake Zurich
21080 Rand Road (between Quentin and Cuba)
Invite your friends, family and/or neighbors to join us for a afternoon of fun.
There will be six people per team. $25 per bowler & $10 per guest

EDDI will share a portion of the proceeds with HanDI if a team from HanDI are participates.

NEED RSVP BY MARCH 15TH, TUESDAY!!
Start Time: 13:00
Date: 2011-04-03
End Time: 16:00

Woo-hoo! It's Party Time!

Title: Holiday Party
Location: JC’s Mexican Restaurant, 130 West Bartlett Avenue, Bartlett IL (near train station)
Description: Celebrate the season in red, green…and Democratic blue! HanDI members and friends will reminisce about the year past, celebrate successes, and mourn losses with the help of JC’s bartender. Dinner optional. Please bring non-perishable food or household items to donate to the Hanover Township Food Pantry.
Start Time: 07:00
Date: 2010-12-13
End Time: 09:00

The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability is a bi-partisan 501(c)3 research and advocacy think tank that promotes fair, efficient and progressive tax, spending and economic policies. Executive Director Ralph Martire is a fiscal expert who has lectured and published widely on public policy and good government. He is a regular columnist for the ­Springfield State-Journal Register, The Joliet Herald News, and The Daily Observer.
Start Time: 07:00
Date: 2010-09-13
End Time: 09:00

7:00 PM to 7:15 PM – Meet & greet
7:15 PM – Guest speakers, Q&A
8:15 PM – Members’ meeting
9:00 PM – Adjournment

HanDI meets the 2nd Monday of every month. Come join fellow progressives interested in supporting like-minded government officials and candidates in our local community.

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2010-08-09
End Time: 21:00