What an exhilarating experience to represent ONE to Senator Hutchison’s staff in Houston! ONE members Jenny, Sunny, Linda, and I introduced ourselves to district staffer Albert Chang. We spoke about the history, partnerships, and issues that ONE represents, speaking specifically on clean water, foreign aid reform, and the important need for American leadership now more than ever.

We were thrilled to hear Albert say he was impressed and wanted a working relationship on issues such as foreign aid reform as they come up in the Senate during the year. He appreciated us meeting with him and expressed gratitude for us taking the extra step in coming to the office to visit.

After the meeting, ONE members agreed it was truly a divine intervention at work in this wonderful meeting. We felt the synergy in each of us and were proud of our courage to stand up for such a great cause. We all had our little piece in the meeting but represented such a larger number. We had a voice that day in the Senator’s office and it was a good day!

-Vanissa Plata, Houston ONE Member

All around the country Members are returning home to their districts and states, and “taking the pulse” of their constituents. As news channels cover heated town halls, there are others out who are quietly thanking their representatives for their efforts to help the world’s poorest people.

Just this week I met with the Office of Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12), a key and influential player in the U.S. House of Representatives and Ranking Republican of the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

District Director Barbara Ragland took notes as I thanked the Congresswoman for her commitment to the world’s poor as well as global health issues. Specifically I thanked her for the Congresswoman’s steady leadership and bipartisan approach to developing the 2010 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill by working with Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Nita Lowey (NY-18). I also asked that she retain her commitment to the funding levels contained in the House Foreign Ops. Appropriations bill as it moves through the House/Senate Conference process. Her close attention to this process will ensure ultimate success and will lead to improved funding for proven, effective programs that help save lives.

Even in these tough economic times, I, as a member of ONE, believe that her thoughtful approach to foreign assistance is critical in the fight against global poverty and preventable disease. By making life a little better for those in troubled regions, our nation and world will ultimately be safer.

Thank you, ONE members, for taking the time to use your voice to help the world’s poorest, and please remember to thank your members of Congress when they do the same!

-Joshua Key, Texas ONE Member

Today I got the opportunity to meet with Bruce Reddon, Deputy Regional Director for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. I was joined by Haley Jo Schwab, Tammy Schwab (Haley’s mother), and Lance Price. We all arrived with one goal, to let Senator Hutchison know that there are people in Texas who want extreme poverty to end in our lifetime. We came from different walks of life but together we were ONE.

Haley Jo started off the conversation by stating what we were there for: to ask Senator Hutchison for her leadership in fighting poverty on the Appropriations Committee. Haley Jo, a graduating senior from high school, represents the youth of our nation and it was important for her to be heard. Mr. Reddon was so gracious and polite. He was very interested in what we had to say and went on to inform us that he is already a ONE member. He was wearing his ONE bracelet. I, at this time, offered him more bracelets and a T-shirt. As the meeting progressed, we were all given a chance to express our views about the world and how important it is to give aid to Africa for various reasons: stability, national security, and just because it’s the right thing to do. Mr. Reddon listened to us about the tremendous need to aid Africa and also informed us of his visits there. He went on to tell us that he spoke to Senator Hutchison the evening before about our scheduled meeting.

Mr. Reddon said that Senator Hutchison is very interested in ONE. He told us about a photo of Bono meeting Senator Hutchison that hangs in the entry to her Dallas office. He also told us of his brief meeting with Bono. This was all great news. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to be there. Everyone had something to contribute. What a rewarding experience!

-Rusty Stickler, ONE Dallas, Texas

ONE Volunteer Adam Stackhouse attended the Clinton Global Initiative University meeting this weekend at the University of Texas at Austin. CGI U brings together students, university presidents, nongovernmental organizations, and national youth organizations to make commitments to action against global poverty and injustice.

He wore his ONE shirt and even struck up a conversation with Paul Begala who told Adam that he was a big fan of ONE! He put on his white band and posed for a picture to show his ONE (and Longhorn) pride!

-Lauren Conn, VA ONE Field Organizer

I first heard about ONE when Brad Pitt was interviewed about this cause. He made a statement that changed my life! He said how can we possibly be okay knowing that someone is starving in the world. How can we go on with our daily lives knowing that people are dying from starvation and treatable diseases, and the only reason is because of WHERE they were born. Then, they showed the PSA with celebrities, clergymen, and political figures who come from every background and belief. These people disagree on many things, but this is the ONE thing they all agree on. NO ONE should starve! I immediately joined ONE, and began ordering wristbands. I passed them out, ordered more, passed them out, ordered more. I live in Dallas, TX and am amazed at how many people still don’t know about this cause. I felt like my efforts were just a drop in a bucket.

Then, I got an opportunity to volunteer for the Music Builds Tour at the Yellowpages.com Center here in Dallas. That experience gave me the idea that if this message is going to get to the people of Dallas, someone has to take the bull by the horns……so to speak. I’m just ONE man. How can I do this and where? I started asking around my neighborhood, and the president of the local business association, suggested I put up a table at the “First Wednesdays” on Cedar Springs. “First Wednesdays” is a small street fair/sidewalk sale that happens once a month in Oaklawn. I was a part of the November “First Wednesdays”, and now December’s, and found many people interested in this cause. Many were interested in volunteering. I even had Miss Oaklawn sign the ONE Declaration. It was a great night and I hope I have more opportunities to get the word out that we CAN make poverty history.

-Rusty Stickler

The ONE Campaign at Baylor University teamed up with Rock the Vote to encourage students to vote in the upcoming presidential election and emphasize issues facing millions of the world’s poorest people. After a one week delay due to Hurricane Ike, Baylor’s Rock the Vote concert was held on Wednesday, September 17 in one of the most heavily traveled portions of campus. Baylor ONE members tabled at the event, passed out ONE Vote ‘08 information, and encouraged students to join the campaign.

The featured musical artist Trey Duck, Shapes Stars Make, and Sleeperstar wore ONE bands as they performed their music to a crowd of Baylor students. While the concert was going on, students were encouraged to depict what voting meant to them through their artistic abilities and sign a wall with messages of the importance of voting. Overall, the night provided a great opportunity to highlight the importance of voting and the ONE Campaign to hundreds of college students.

Sic ‘Em ONE!

-Justin Kralemann, President of the ONE Campaign-Baylor

Just wanted you to know that I delivered more than 2000 letters from Texas ONE members to Andy Rittler, North Texas Regional Director for Senator Cornyn. I asked Andy if he knew the senator’s interest in the bill, and he didn’t, but he said he would find out and get back with me. We briefly talked about AIDS for a while and what the medicines PEPFAR provides would do for the people in Africa.

-Kyle Talkington, Dallas ONE Member

In the week leading up to this past Tuesday’s Texas primary, ONE members in Waco realized they had a unique opportunity to help in the fight against extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

More than 30 volunteers came out throughout the week attending events for Governor Huckabee, and Senators Clinton and McCain. Armed with ONE T-shirts, homemade signs, and their passion for ONE’s issues – volunteers and made sure that the candidates from both parties knew that Texans want our next president to be a leader in fighting for the world’s poorest people.

On Thursday, February 28th volunteers attended the Mike Huckabee rally in Waco, Texas, where they were able to meet the governor. After talking to the candidate about fighting poverty around the world, the volunteers were also excited that they were able to meet Huckabee supporter Chuck Norris at the rally.

The next day more ONE volunteers came out for Senator Clinton’s rally where they had seats right in front so that the senator could see them with their ONE shirts and poverty-fighting signs.

Then on Monday, March 3rd, Senator McCain was in Waco for a town hall and again, ONE was there! Justin Kralemann, president of the Baylor University ONE Student group, attended and sent me this note:

We just got in from the McCain Town Hall, during his speech, the senator asked everyone in the meeting to look at me and my fellow ONE members who were present. He talked about ONE and how young Americans are working together for a great cause. All of the cameras turned to us in our ONE tee-shirts. When he opened it up for questions, he asked me to take 60 seconds to tell everyone what ONE was. I then thanked him on behalf of over 100,000 ONE members in Texas for going “On the Record” and if elected, to visit Africa in his first term.

Thanks to all the volunteers in Waco who came out to support ONE and the world’s poorest people. For the ONE supporters out there in Wyoming, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, as your primaries near, keep an eye out for candidates coming to your city, because we also need you to hit the campaign trail as ONE!

-Kim Smith

Historically, as we move closer to the general election, campaigns, media and electorate itself, tends to talk a lot more about the horse race and a lot less about the issues.

Today, with critical presidential primaries in four states, I and my many ONE member friends and colleagues must work that much harder to raise the profile for global poverty in this country.

Remember, you can look at the candidate’s plans for global poverty on ONE Action’s On The Record site. If you happen to live in Ohio, Texas, Vermont or Rhode Island, you could consider talking about global poverty while in the voting line.

And, as always, stay tuned for more urgent actions in the days, weeks and months ahead.

-Virginia Simmons