Blog Contributor:
Sara Paterni
Oct 14th, 2010 3:00 PM UTC
By Sara Paterni
Gov. Crist and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Election season is heating up, and so are we! The Senate candidates are out in full force, criss-crossing the state to meet with voters, and we are working hard to make sure ONE has a presence at each campaign stop.
Just yesterday morning, I caught up with Governor Crist at Shelby’s Diner in Deerfield Beach, Florida where he received an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As the Governor entered the diner, he noticed my ONE shirt right away, shook my hand, thanked me for coming out and told me that we were doing very important work.
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Oct 1st, 2010 1:22 PM UTC
By Sara Paterni
Rep. Meek and Al Gore in Tampa
We are officially a month out of the midterm election, and I am proud to see that so many ONE members across the country have been working hard to make sure that politicians in open Senate seats on both sides of the aisle recognize the importance of fighting extreme poverty around the world.
Yesterday, I joined our Congressional District Leader Kathleen Barclay at a campaign event in Tampa for Rep. Kendrick Meek.
The event featured several state and local politicians, as well as former Vice President Al Gore, who made an appearance to show his support for the candidate.
After the speeches, we got the chance to shake hands with both Meek and Gore and let them know about ONE. Despite the crowds, Kathleen was even able to band Al Gore!
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Sep 27th, 2010 3:42 PM UTC
By Sara Paterni
Gov. Crist and a few Florida ONE members
On Sunday, a group of Florida ONE members and I caught up with Senate candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist — who was being endorsed by former Rep. Robert Wexler in Boca Raton — to remind him about ONE and the world’s poorest people.
When Gov. Crist arrived, he immediately recognized our ONE shirts and came right over to us before making his way to the stage for his speech! As I was telling him about our work to increase awareness about extreme poverty and preventable diseases, he nodded in agreement and said “Yes, we must take care of the world’s most vulnerable people.”
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Sep 27th, 2010 2:33 PM UTC
By Sara Paterni
Senate candidate Rubio with a microphone
On Saturday, I joined ONE members for Senate candidate Marco Rubio’s town hall event at Pagellis Italiano Restaurant in Estero, Florida.
After his speech, Marco Rubio took some time to walk through the crowd and talk to the voters about issues that were important to them. As we got closer to the candidate, I saw him notice our ONE shirts. He then looked up and said “Hey, ONE Campaign, you guys are doing great work!”
As we were getting together for a photo, I told him about the importance of continued U.S. leadership in helping millions escape poverty and thanked him again for taking the time to stop and talk with us.
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Aug 31st, 2010 9:03 AM UTC
By Sara Paterni
Me and Charlie Crist
November’s midterm elections are fast approaching, and here in Florida, the U. S. Senate candidates are busy traveling the state to meet with voters.
Florida ONE members are just as busy making sure we have a presence at each event to talk to the candidates about ONE and encourage strong leadership in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease.
Over the weekend, we caught up with Florida’s governor and independent Senate candidate, Charlie Crist, at a meet and greet event at Delray Beach.
I thanked Crist for always taking time to stop and talk to ONE members across the state. I also told him that we appreciate his previous support of ONE and look forward to continuing this important dialogue as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate.
Already, there have been so many great ONE moments where our members have used their voice for the poorest people in the world — but we are not done yet!
If you are in Florida and want to get involved, please visit our Facebook page for details on upcoming candidate events near you.
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Aug 26th, 2010 3:09 PM UTC
By Sara Paterni
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It’s been a busy week here in South Florida. It all started when I ran into Rep. Ted Deutch, (D-Fla.), while attending a Senate campaign event at Delray Beach. In a packed gymnasium, the congressman took aside some time to talk to me about ONE.
ONE Field Organizer Sara with Rep. Hastings
ONE Field Organizer Sara with Rep. Deutch
It turns out that Deutch was familiar with ONE and very interested in learning more about our organization. Local ONE members in Deutch’s district followed up with his staff in the hopes of meeting up with his office this fall.
On Tuesday, I traveled to the west coast of Florida to sit down with Kara Wright, district director for Rep. Connie Mack, (R-Fla.). As we talked, I explained how ONE works locally to mobilize public opinion in support of tested and proven methods for tackling poverty, like the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Although we understand that appropriations work is largely done until after the November election, we hope the Rep. Mack will look ahead and support a strong, three-year, $6 billion pledge to the Global Fund at its replenishment conference in October. Kara encouraged me to keep her informed and to let her know about upcoming local ONE activities.
Yesterday, I met Rep. Alcee Hastings, (D-Fla.), at his office in Fort Lauderdale. After just a few minutes of listening to him speak, I could tell that Rep. Hastings cared very much about international issues. In fact, he has consistently supported legislation to fight global poverty.
I thanked him for his leadership, specifically for signing onto the Congressional Black Caucus letter to the House Budget Committee, which asked members to preserve President Obama’s International Affairs budget. As I was leaving, Rep. Hastings thanked us for our work in the state and encouraged us to continue to engage community members and local leaders in the fight to end extreme poverty and disease.
Stay tuned to my Twitter account as I travel throughout the region to meet with our elected officials this fall. No matter where you live, your voice can help encourage our elected leaders to take urgent action to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and hunger around the world.
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Aug 14th, 2010 11:09 AM UTC
By Sara Paterni
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ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
On Thursday afternoon, ONE was back on the campaign trail in South Florida with Senate candidate Marco Rubio at a meet and greet in Palm Beach County.
We spoke with him about ONE and the importance of continued American leadership in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. Thanks to America’s bipartisan leadership on global health issues, we’ve helped save more than 5 million people suffering from HIV/AIDS.
As we shook hands, I reminded Rubio of our first meeting a few weeks back, and we were thrilled he remembered ONE!
We also talked to him about our efforts in Florida with ONE Vote 2010, our campaign to encourage candidates from all parties to, if elected, support the fight against extreme poverty. Marco thanked us for our efforts as he slipped on a ONE band. Excited to get involved with ONE Vote 2010, he asked us to follow up with his staff about what he can do to help the world’s poorest.
Right now, it is more important than ever to reach out to all of our Senate candidates. With their support, American leadership will continue to save lives in the poorest nations on earth. These life-saving efforts around the world show America at its best.
As we fight to end hunger, provide clean water and access to medical treatment to those who can’t afford it, we can build a better and safer world.
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 Florida members on Facebook and Twitter.
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