Countywide Action Team Meeting

Over 80 AIM leaders attended last night's countywide action team meeting at Kehilat Shalom in Gaithersburg. We briefly discussed our ongoing Ad Book Campaign, but the majority of the evening was devoted to our evolving 2006 issue agenda. The potential issues being discussed were each an outgrowth of hundreds of individual and small group meetings AIM leaders held throughout the county over the past few months. Research action teams were formed late last year to explore these areas. Last night, leaders from each research action team made brief presentations on their findings.

We then broke out into smaller groups for more detailed discussions of each issue area.

Our final issue platform is still being worked out, but the issue areas under discussion last night were: community centers, education, housing, health care, immigration, and pedestrian safety.

AIM will announce its new issue agenda at a major action at Woodside United Methodist Church in Silver Spring on March 9. Our congregations have committed to bring 710 leaders to the action, which will also be attended by numerous public officials and candidates for office.

Photo credits: Rabbi Mark Raphael, Kehilat Shalom/AIM

Calendar Update - 2/3/2006

1/15-2/24
Annual AIM Ad Book Campaign
Contact: Linda Culbertson or Harvey Lerner.

2/9 (7:30-9:00pm)
AIM Countywide Action Team Meeting
Core teams from each member congregation are expected to attend; location: Kehilat Shalom (Montgomery Village); contact: Alisa Glassman or Russ Louch.

2/16 (7:30-9:00pm)
AIM Strategy Team Meeting
All members of the Strategy Team are expected to attend; location: Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church; contact: Russ Louch.

2/24-2/25
IAF-East Organizing Careers Workshop
Training and orientation for individuals interested in exploring a possible career as an organizer with the IAF (contact the AIM office for details and application); contact: Alisa Glassman.

3/8-3/15
IAF National Training
In-depth training in broad-based community organizing taught by experienced IAF organizers and national staff; qualified AIM leaders are welcome to attend (contact the AIM office for details); location: Maritime Institute (near BWI airport); contact: Alisa Glassman.

3/9 (7:30-9:00pm)
AIM Action!
We expect a major turnout (each AIM congregation has already agreed to a specific quota); many elected officials, candidates for office, the media and other guests are also expected to attend; AIM will launch its new 2006 Issue Agenda; location: to be determined; contact: Alisa Glassman or Russ Louch.