Please join us for the kickoff meeting of Progressive Democrats of America's newest chapter, PDA Illinois Congressional District 9. We'll feature a free showing of Michael Moore's blockbuster film SiCKO, Saturday October 18 at 1:30 pm, at the Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Ave.
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Featured speaker will be Donna Smith, one of the 'stars' of SiCKO, and an active member of the PDA team, locally and nationally. Donna has emerged on the national level as someone who presents the logic and economics of Single Payer Health Care in down-to-earth language. You'll see the same woman who moves with her husband into their daughter's basement computer room in the film, because medical expenses have bankrupted them (although both working and fully insured!), and is now co-chair with Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) of Healthcare not Warfare, a national PDA program. Donna is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of ColoradoCollege with a degree in history. Her journalism career includes work as a stringer for Newsweek magazine and numerous awards. 

Here's a recent video of Donna being interviewed in a relaxed moment with Rep. Conyers after a PDA triumph for "everybody in, nobody left out" healthcare at the Democratic National Convention. Donna collaborated with Democratic Delegate Bob Remer of Chicago to create a health care amendment that Rep. Conyers shepherded to adoption and is now firmly a part of the Democratic Platform. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=R84bFSKWfWc
(if a click won't do it, you can cut and paste this link to your browser).

You'll also meet Bill Bianchi, Chair of both Chicago and Illinois PDA. He’ll speak briefly on what makes PDA unique. According to John Nichols, featured writer for The Nation magazine, "The only group that gets it every time and is absolutely essential to the struggle for peace and economic and social justice in America is Progressive Democrats of America."
http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p= 2011

Our third all-star speaker will be Dr. Anne Sheetz,  specialist in the home care of the frail elderly. She is Chicago Co-chair, Illinois Single Payer Coalition, and a member of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and Chicago Single Payer Action Network (C-SPAN).

Are you ever puzzled by the alphabet soup of single payer organizations? Thanks to PDA Chicago steering committee member Jim Rhodes, we'll have
handouts spelling out all the key players, with contact information.

Regards,
Arlene
(arlene gloria hirsch)
PDA Point Person Illinois District 9
arlenegloria@sbcglobal.net
773 743 1110