Apr 7th, 2011 4:24 PM UTC
By Lauren Conn
|
It’s good to be back on the ONE blog!
I recently moved from the ONE field team in the US to the Southern Hemisphere to study the programs that millions of ONE members support in our global advocacy work. In addition to leading the fight to eradicate polio with partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary sends students all over the world to promote cross-cultural understanding, advance peace scholarship, and develop future leaders in global health, diplomacy and education (Find out more on the Rotary website).
This year the Rotary has generously given me, and nine other scholars, the opportunity to study international development, peace and security as Rotary World Peace Fellows at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires.
(more…)
|
Nov 12th, 2010 6:45 PM UTC
By Lauren Conn
|
This just in from Richmond, Virginia Congressional District Leader Jeanine Guidry:
CDL Jeanine Guidry and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3)
“I attended last week’s Richmond Forum, where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia was keynote speaker. During the introductions I noticed that Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3) was one of the honored guests. Between dinner and the actual presentation, I sought out Rep. Scott and thanked him for his continued support for ONE and he graciously posed for a picture with me!”
Many ONE members will recall that earlier this year, Rep. Scott held a town hall with ONE.
|
Nov 2nd, 2010 5:00 PM UTC
By Lauren Conn
|
When former President Bill Clinton and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani visited the Mountain State yesterday to campaign for their candidates, West Virginia ONE was there! Senator Jay Rockefeller and President Clinton attended a rally in Beckley yesterday for Governor Joe Manchin -– and all three proudly put on their ONE bands! Gov. Manchin immediately recognized ONE and said that he just ran into ONE members this past weekend in Morgantown!
The next senator from West Virginia will go to Washington immediately after the election today, which means he’ll have the opportunity to support funding for smart investments in global health and sustainable agriculture in the 2011 budget. No matter what happens today, the candidate who fills the late Senator Robert Byrd’s seat knows that West Virginians care deeply about this small, but critical funding. To the many, many ONE members across the country who have built relationships with candidates on both sides of the aisle during our ONE Vote 2010 effort: let’s celebrate, but then accelerate our efforts!
In the coming weeks, all ONE members will be called upon to lift their voices to their members of Congress, incumbent and newly-elected, in support of continued bold American leadership in the fight against global poverty into the 112th Congress.
|
Nov 1st, 2010 3:44 PM UTC
By Lauren Conn
West Virginia ONE member Michael Cuppett with Gov. Joe Manchin
Over the weekend, I received this message and picture from Michael Cuppett, a ONE member from West Virginia:
“I was able to talk with Gov Manchin in Morgantown on Saturday. He said he knew about ONE and had a white band that was given to him previously!”
ONE members are reaching out to the Senate candidates to make sure that no matter who wins tomorrow, the next senator from West Virginia will continue bold American leadership in the fight against global poverty and preventable disease.
Just last week in Charles Town, West Virginia ONE members were introduced to John Raese by a mutual friend, and champion of the world’s poorest people, Senator John McCain.
|
Oct 28th, 2010 5:06 PM UTC
By Lauren Conn
|
I just got this text from ONE congressional district leader Phillip Reynolds who caught up with former Governor Mitt Romney last night when he passed through Phillip’s hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina. The former governor noticed Phillip in his ONE shirt before taking the stage and then came back around to shake hands.
The text reads:
“Met up w/ Gov Romney tonight here in SC. He told ONE to “keep up the great work” as I thanked him for his work!”
Phillip gave Gov. Romney a ONE band to add to his collection. ONE members have been reaching out to him on the campaign trail this year to ask for continued bold US leadership in the fight against global poverty. And ONE members even caught up with Gov. Romney in Florida earlier this month, where he told the crowd that “no nation has done more to lift people out of poverty than this nation.”
By using your voice (and shirt) with ONE, you can help make sure that our leaders know that saving lives in the poorest nations on earth is not only possible, it is a priority!
|
Aug 25th, 2010 12:58 PM UTC
By Lauren Conn
|
The Midtown Raleigh News said it best: ONE is “growing locally” in Raleigh and across North Carolina!
This summer, North Carolina ONE volunteers have hosted four meet-ups across the state. Volunteers gathered in Charlotte, Wilmington, Raleigh and Burlington to screen “The Lazarus Effect” and organize locally to advocate for effective poverty-fighting programs such as the Global Fund.
North Carolina screening of “The Lazarus Effect.”
These meetings have generated more than 50 letters to Sens. Richard Burr, (R-N.C.), and Kay Hagan, (D-N.C.), asking that they support life-saving development policy in the United States.
ONE members recently met with Sen. Hagan’s staff in Charlotte and even caught up with the senator herself at a “Conversations with Kay” event in Monroe. I was able to speak with Sen. Burr and thank him for his commitment to ending mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission.
ONE members look forward to continuing this important dialogue with both senators as they travel the state. With more than 30,000 in North Carolina and counting, both senators can expect to meet passionate advocates from all walks of life who are coming together as ONE in the fight against extreme poverty.
Live in North Carolina? Join other ONE members on our Southern Atlantic Region Facebook Group.
|
Jul 23rd, 2010 11:59 AM UTC
By Lauren Conn
|
 It seems that every ONE member I meet in the Southern Atlantic is as active in her local community as she is as a global advocate. That is definitely true of Jacqueline Thurman (left), Congressional District Leader in Charlotte, NC who aspires to one day open a local clinic for women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
She holds an MBA in Healthcare Management and is currently working on her PhD in Health Administration. Originally from South Carolina, Jacqueline thinks globally and acts locally, like when she recruited nearly 200 new ONE members at the Charlotte AIDS Walk this spring! She’s looking to get more people involved in the global fight against extreme poverty, and that’s why she’s hosting a Meet-Up for area ONE members in Charlotte this weekend! RSVP here for more info!
In her own words:
I am so excited to be Charlotte’s Congressional District Leader. I plan to work with other local ONE members to make sure our representatives know how important fighting global poverty and preventable disease is to their constituents. Standing as ONE we can make a difference.
|
