In Austin, we have several events coming up raising awareness and funds for organizations serving those affected by HIV & AIDS. Austin Red Week includes my city's hosting of a segment of the Quilt, and also events like Dining For Life and AIDS Walk Austin.
Hi, there all, it is time for me to start bugging people about the AIDS Walk Austin. So, the economy sucks, those of us with jobs are really grateful just to have them, candidates are asking for money, there's an important election in November..... And here's me, with my hand out, too. Well, not my hand. Well, yes, my hand, but I'm seeking donations to benefit men & women in Austin & Travis County who are living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Walk Austin has been going on for 23 years, and bebefits people living with HIV & AIDS in Austin & Travis County. The agencies also do prevention & education, so that the population of persons affected does not continue to grow. I'm going to talk about the Walk, and about some other stuff I'm doing & there's a song involved. If you want to skip that part, here's my AIDS Walk Austin page. Please donate if you can.
The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is next Saturday. I've raised way more than the minimum, so I'm writing a diary about the Ride in general, and ask for donations for others. This ride is full of amazing, wonderful, beautiful people. Come with me below the fold & see
(Because this is such a worthy cause and Becky is such an angel!!! - promoted by refinish69)
cross-posted at Daily Kos & BOR I'm doing the Hill Country Ride for AIDS on April 24. This is the 11th annual ride, and it is a beautiful, amazing event. I've done a couple of lighthearted diaries, but this one will be serious. (ok, I'll still put something lighthearted at the end, can't be all seriousness on a Friday)
So in 22 days, I'll be doing the Hill Country Ride for AIDS. It is a 1-day event, with varying ride distances, raising money for agencies that assist people in Austin & Travis County affected by HIV & AIDS. This is a cause that is dear to my heart, there are people who I adore who are HIV+, and I always try to raise a lot of money for this cause. Come with me below the fold & I'll inject some cuteness & levity into my appeal. Warning, cuteness & silliness follows.
Well if we've met you know I have 2 big passions besides electing more & better Democrats - AIDS Walk Austin (for which I was the biggest fundraiser last October) and the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, which I'll be participating in for the 11th time in April. I've been the top fundraiser for the Ride before & both the Ride and I have big fundraising goals this year. I want to raise $10,000 which is a crazy big goal for an individual and the Ride has a goal of $700,000.
(The AIDS walk is today and showing our support is a vital part of being a community!!! Thanks to Becky and all the hundreds of people who are such a strong part of the community and care so much. - promoted by refinish69)
cross-posted at DK & BOR
The 22nd annual AIDS Walk Austin is this Sunday, October 18. If you are in the Austin area, you really should ome down to City Hall. Registration opens at 12:30, step-off is at 2. As I write this, I am the top second-highest fundraiser for the Walk, and they've raised 68% of their goal amount.
On September 14 & 15, reataurants all across Austin will be doing something very generous, donating a portion of their proceeds to AIDS Services of Austin. You can find a full list of participating restaurants here but follow me below the fold and I'll tell you more.
I am not nearly as active on Texas Kaos as I should be. I get busy talking to a group of friends over at Daily Kos & that takes all my computer time. But here I am with my annual post about AIDS Walk Austin. This is the 22nd year, I have been there every time and I writing this to seek both donations and walkers.
So, I know I haven't been around TK much lately - sorry about that. But I popped in to tell you that the Hill Country Ride is in a little over 3 weeks, on Apr. 25. I've raised $2091, which is quite good, and includes donations from folks who have donated more than once, and one really gigantic donation (thank you, Karen, you are the best!!). And sfbob & I had quite a nice response to the WGLB diary on DK a couple of weeks ago - that was really a lot of fun. But I really want to do better. (Ideally, I'd love a repeat of last year's "top fundraiser" performance, it was fun & I'd be really proud to do that again) If you have already donated - and many of you have - please pass this message on to any friends you think might be able to donate. The agencies benefiting from the Ride have had their budgets slashed to the bone.
Cornyn has pulled out all the stops as he's faced a Democratic challenger who took to heart Howard Dean's admonition that Democrats need to fight for seats everywhere. In fact, Dean's praise of Noriega at Netroots Nation is one of the prime pieces of ammunition that Cornyn is using against his opponent.
And just who is John Cornyn? He's one of Big Oil's 10 favorite members of Congress, he's against choice, against education programs, against health care for the poor...in fact, it seems that the only thing Cornyn is for is big business. Oh, and Cornyn is also the senator who, while advocating a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, famously said:
"It does not affect your daily life very much if your neighbor marries a box turtle. But that does not mean it is right. . . . Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife."
So on behalf of box turtles everywhere, come out of your shell and give tonight! Our own Research 2000/Daily Kos poll shows that Noriega is a mere six points behind, so let's help push him over the top in the closing days before the election. Dig deep and donate to this outstanding O2B candidate and help get his voice yee-hawing all the way to Washington. We're shooting for 3,600 donors for Rick Noriega, so jump in and make sure Republicans know there will be Hell to Pay when they go after Democrats for being Democrats.
KT at BOR has seen the error of his 2006 ways, and is getting on board with Chris Bell for SD-17 early.
Longtime readers may remember that back in the old days (i.e. 2005/2006) I was not the biggest fan in the blogosphere of a man who ran for Governor named Chris Bell. Back then (thankfully), I was a minority voice in the Texas Blogosphere.
* I didn't understand the charm of the Exploratoriam.
* I didn't understand the importance of the moonshot for education.
* I didn't understand the need to thank God for Mississippi.
* I was out of step with The New Mainstream.
* And somehow Chris Bell was both Mr. Republican Light and Mr. Way Too Liberal at the same time.
Wow. I feel ridiculous.
Part of his penance is putting BOR on strike until the community raises $1000 for Bell's campaign. (See how they're doing at the right.)
While Texas Dems are preparing for Senate District conventions, and the fight for healthcare access continues, and too many are dying in Iraq, I have to ask you to take a little time and some folding cash out to give to Rick Noriega, our Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.
Let's get Rick Noriega's Senate campaign some notice!
Be sure to vote for Rick in Sen. Russ Feingold's "Pick a Progressive Patriot" contest at the Progressive Patriots Fund. The campaign that wins this contest gets not only national recognition but also a contribution of $5,000.
This just received in email from the Noriega Campaign.
I'm sure New Year's festivities are keeping you busy, but I just wanted to pass on the great news that, thanks to donors like you, we've broken our end-of-year fundraising goal!
Because of you, we're on the brink of reaching a major milestone for our campaign: $1 million raised. We're $50,000 away from reaching $1 million raised since Rick entered the race. We only have until midnight tonight to make it happen. Will you take a few minutes to help us meet our new $1 million goal before you head out for the evening?
Just got this via email. KT also posted it at BOR, of course.
Answering the call to serve.
The rumors are true- I'm moving back to Texas!
I am excited to announce that I have taken leave from ActBlue in order to join Rick Noriega's US Senate campaign as the Online Coordinator effective November 1.
Currently, I'm writing you from the Boston-Logan Airport where I will soon board a jetBlue flight to Austin (via JFK in New York) with my cat (Catfish). As you can see, she's handling it quite well. She wasn't much help with the $50 cab fare to get here (taxis are crazy expensive in Boston) but she seems just as eager as I to return to warmer Texas weather. And of course, to Rick Noriega's Senate campaign.
Well, how do we welcome Catfish and traveling companion back to our fair state? Follow me on the flip for KT's idea.
cross-posted at Burnt Orange Report and Texas Kaos
Today is the mid-point for Seven Straight Nights, a national event that is providing straight Americans with opportunities to do justice and motivate new allies to stand up and be counted for equal rights. This is an action of Atticus Circle and Soulforce. It consists of a coordinated campaign of overnight vigils led by straight allies, sweeping across capital cities throughout the nation during the week of October 7 - 13, 2007, gaining momentum in the national media as more states participate in the event.
More on Seven Straight Nights and an appeal for AIDS Walk Austin below the fold:
Just received from the Noriega Exploratory Campaign.
The campaign is still announcing contributions of $570,000, however a review of the data shows that Noriega bested 3 out of 5, not 4 out of 5, of the 2006 winning Democratic Senate challengers for the same reporting period.
Excerpts from press release below, all emphasis added.
Raised on this page: supporters- 801 raised- 139,773
Raised across ActBlue:supporters- 1,137 raised-157,124
Sincere thanks to all our friends in the national netroots, and all over Texas who have promoted, blogged, emailed, talked, and finally donated to a truly people powered candidate for the United States Senate.
