While some used the last week of August to get ready to go back to school or get in that last summer vacation, ONE members across the country were busy attending meetings with their Members of Congress! Each of these meetings are important and provide an opportunity for ONE members to use their voice for the world’s poorest people. The meetings let Senators and Representatives know that their constituents truly care about the fight against extreme poverty and preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

Below are a few highlights of last week’s meetings, and make sure to check out the blog as we get more updates from around the country (click images to enlarge):

Visit to Senator Richard Shelby’s office in Mobile, Alabama

Last week Judith Smits and fellow ONE member David O’Brien met with Tara Johnson in Senator Shelby’s office in Mobile, Alabama to discuss the importance of U.S. leadership in fighting extreme poverty and global disease. Specifically, they discussed the potential impact climate change may have on developing countries. Increased droughts, floods and storms have the potential to reverse many of the gains being made against poverty and disease in some of the poorest countries around the world. Judith and David requested that Senator Shelby ensure that this year’s Senate climate change legislation meets the standard set by last year’s bipartisan Lieberman-Warner climate bill, and allocates 5% of any revenue to begin helping the world’s poorest people overcome the threats posed by climate change.

Visit to Senator Specter’s office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Last Wednesday PA ONE Members met with Senator Specter’s Community Affairs Coordinator Adam C. Pope in Pittsburgh, PA. We made sure that Mr. Pope knew how much PA ONE members appreciate Senator Specter’s leadership in the Senate and for supporting important programs like PEPFAR, the Millennium Challenge Account, and the Global Fund.

We also indicated that ONE hopes that Senator Specter will support 5% of climate related revenue to assist the world’s poorest confront threats arising from climate change. There was also discussion of the upcoming G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, the role Senator Specter will play in those events as well as ONE having a presence in the city and around the meetings.

Visit to Representative Bill Posey’s office in Melbourne, Florida

On Wednesday last week, ONE members joined Jenni Rothenberg and others from the USGLC to meet with Representative Bill Posey’s (R-FL-15) District Director, Kathryn Rudloff. We discussed the importance of development as a key foreign policy tool and the need for development strategies to be elevated to the same level as defense and diplomacy (i.e. the ‘3Ds’). We are hopeful that Rep. Posey will help us achieve this goal by supporting full funding for poverty reduction programs in the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill conference report.

Visit to Representative Kathy Castor’s office in Tampa, Florida

On Friday last week, ONE member Alex Savelli teamed up with USGLC one more time to meet with Representative Castor’s District Director, Chloe Coney. We thanked her for Rep. Castor’s previous support on global poverty issues, including her vote in support of the FY2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. She also voted against several amendments which would have substantially reduced funding for 2010 poverty-fighting programs. Rep. Castor’s continued support of full funding for the FY2010 International Affairs Budget will be critical to help elevate development assistance in order to restore America’s image in the world, increase our security and help to lift millions out of extreme poverty.

Visit to Representative Bill Young’s office in Seminole, Florida

Last week, Tampa ONE member Alex Savelli met with Shirley Miaoulis at the Seminole district office of Representative Bill Young (R-FL-10). Representative Young has been in office and serving the people of the 10th Congressional district for close to 40 years. It was great to be able to sit down with his staff and learn more about the issues that Representative Young champions, including his commitment to U.S. troops and their families. As the highest ranking Republican member on the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, his support on initiatives to end poverty and disease is critical.

During the meeting, we talked about the upcoming vote on the State, Foreign Operations conference report and asked that Rep. Young support the highest possible funding for life-saving programs such as The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and PEPFAR, The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The International Affairs Budget provides America with countless opportunities to build global stability, generate much needed allies and advance our national interests. I am hopeful that Rep. Young will support the State,Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill when he returns to Washington this fall.

-Kim Smith

We made it out to Samford University in Birmingham AL on Monday, October 27th. There were numerous volunteers that came out to the bus to help out by passing out literature and wristbands. Being parked in the circle, which was directly in front of the student center, made it almost impossible for the students to ignore us. Not to mention, pizza was served and as we all know is a huge hit, especially with the college crowds!

-Megan Schweizer

You could have heard a pin drop as the audience at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute raptly watched A Powerful Noise. But the impact of the film on the audience was anything but quiet.

A Powerful Noise, an award winning film that was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, shares the stories of three phenomenal women and how they have risen to overcome barriers to stand up and be a voice in their societies. Their amazing stories truly confirm that ONE person really can make a difference!

Filmgoers took the film’s empowering message as a call to action. First on the agenda was a chance to stand in unity with millions worldwide and participate in the UN Millennium Campaign’s world record attempt for the most people ever to Stand Up Against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. Birmingham ONE member Suzanne Martin reprised her role as leader for the third year in a row and led the group in reciting the Stand Up! pledge.

Several organizations were represented at the event’s action tables – ONE, Bread for the World, CARE, UNA, Church World Service, Oxfam, and Empower Alabama provided attendees with additional resources for action. Before adjourning everyone was invited to sign onto a letter to the next President asking him to make fighting global poverty a central part of his foreign policy agenda.

The subtitle of A Powerful Noise” is “The Impact of One Voice. The Power of Many.” – perfectly describing the work of ONE and public policy advocacy.

-Elaine VanCleave, ONE Birmingham

The invitation read “Come together as ONE for a different kind of birthday celebration honoring Lauren Evers. An awareness dinner featuring the ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History…”

When Lauren and I first talked about the idea of having a ONE-themed birthday party, she recollected, “A couple of years ago I discovered the ONE Campaign – the goodness of humanity in action – one person at a time doing their part to make our world a better place. And it’s so simple – sign the declaration, email your congressman – change the world! Oh yeah, and spread the word.”

During those two years, Lauren stayed informed about ONE and even gave all of her girlfriends Christmas gifts from ONE founding partner World Vision. But, she wanted to do more. Lauren said, “A couple of months ago I went to the ONE website to see what else I could do and read the suggestion about hosting an awareness dinner party. I asked my best friend, Teresa, if she would help me and she jumped on board. We decided to do it in honor of my birthday which was coming up soon.”

I had first met Lauren at the hair salon she owns when my daughter was getting a haircut. We very briefly chatted about some common interests, but didn’t discuss the ONE Campaign. The very next day, however, Lauren saw me talking about ONE on the local Fox affiliate’s newscast after the Idol Gives Back special and decided to ask me if I would be a speaker at her birthday party. I agreed and we scheduled the party for late July.

In the meantime, Lauren had second thoughts about spending the money to host a party. Lauren confessed, “It was early in my second pregnancy. I was very tired and my enthusiasm was waning, as I was driving all over town looking for matching table cloths that didn’t cost a fortune, and I thought to myself – maybe I should just send this money straight to Africa – it would probably do more good than paying for dinner and drinks for 30 of my closest friends. Will they even pay attention? I shared these thoughts with one of my clients who happened to be Elaine’s pastor. He replied, ‘Being in a similar business, I have found that investing in changing hearts and minds will bring you a much better return.’

Lauren was reenergized and very enthusiastic on the night of her party and ready to “make the investment.” Lauren reported, “You could have heard a pin drop while Elaine was addressing us. Everyone signed the declaration. We discussed the current state of our planet and what we could do about it. We ate great food and we danced. There was hope in the air! It was a beautiful night. The next day I got the best call. One of the couples (Dave and Mary Browning) had gone on to another party that night. Mary called to let us know that her husband had people in a circle at that party educating them on the ONE campaign. Our investment was already paying off!”

Way to go, Lauren!!!

-Elaine VanCleave, head of ONE Birmingham