[CSPS] news from Brazos Progressives

[Susan Scott]

Several items of interest to CSPS members were discussed at the Brazos Progressives meeting on 2/22/05.  Topics are listed below so that you can access more details (further below) if you’re interested.  
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Scott


1. Questions for City Council Candidate Survey (input requested)
2. ForwardFest (April 2 in Downtown Bryan) Update * volunteers needed!
3. Opportunity for CSPS to partner with ACLU in Civil Liberties Essay Contest
4. BP Membership benefits available to CSPS

1.  GREAT (the Grassroots Education and Action Team) is developing a survey for CS City Council Candidates, and would like input on questions to include.  The deadline for persons to file for the election is March 7, and the candidates will receive surveys soon thereafter, so please mail your suggestions this week to:  great at brazosprogressives.org .  Results of Yes/No questions will be printed in the Eagle, and responses to all questions will be made available on the BP web site:    www.brazosprogessives.org .

2.  The third annual ForwardFest will take place in downtown Bryan on April 2, 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., followed by a KEOS 10-year anniversary celebration (street party with music by Del Castillo) from 5:00-11:00 p.m.  This is a new location, the city of Bryan is being very supportive, there will be a terrific local artists’ exhibit, lots of kids’ activities, and at least 20 booths featuring local “Progressive” organizations.  Don’t miss it!

CSPS will have a booth at ForwardFest, so we’ll need members to staff it (contact me at sscott at rpts.tamu.edu if you can help for a few hours).  Cecelia, Kate and others are discussing booth features like baskets of banned books and sex ed books to be raffled.  Volunteers are also needed to assist with set-up of the festival area beginning at 9:00, and clean-up at 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., so please e-mail me if you’re available to help at any of those times.  Also, please spread the word so we get a good crowd out at this great community event!

3.   The Brazos Valley Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is planning an essay contest for local students on why civil liberties are important.  They invite other organizations to partner with them in this effort.  Is this something CSPS would like to do?  Please e-mail me if you’re interested in working on this.  The next ACLU meeting is 3/6/05 at 4:00 p.m. in the CS Library, and their contact person is William Wurtz (william.wurtz at tamu.edu ).

4.  Since CSPS is a member organization of Brazos Progressives, we can take advantage of the following benefits:  
	
- web site with a great local media contact listing and other features (www.brazosprogressives.org )
- individuals may make donations to CSPS via PayPal on the BP web site
- discounts on workshops and other events hosted by BP
- ability to post events on the BP calendar and listserv



Susan G. Scott
Instructor and Internship Coordinator
Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences
Texas A&M University 
College Station, TX  77843-2261
Phone:  (979) 845-5350
FAX:  (979) 845-0446
susan-g-scott at tamu.edu
www.rpts.tamu.edu