GRO VITA Site 2012 Hours of Operation

January 21, 2012 to April 14, 2012
GRO – Grass Roots Organizing Headquarters
304 E. Breckenridge Street, Mexico, Missouri

573-581-9596

Mondays: 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 10:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Days and hours open based on volunteer preparers’ availability.

Taxpayers assisted on a first come, first served basis –
NO appointments.

Be sure to bring:
*Photo Identification
*Social Security cards for you, your spouse, and each of your dependent children
*W-2 for every job you or your spouse worked in 2011
*Voided personal check/deposit slip, to get refund direct deposited
*Your last year’s tax return (optional)

In 2011, did you…
*Receive unemployment compensation? Bring your Form 1099
*Pay for child care? Bring the total you paid for child care expenses and name, address, and Tax ID/SS # of the child care provider.
*Pay student loan interest? Bring the total student loan interest paid.
*Pay for tuition? Bring Form 1098 for you, your spouse, and/or dependent children.

Multi-millionaire Gradow, Churchill Group, of Colorado (owner) wants to sell the mobile home park land to Aspen Heights, a half-billion dollar company from Texas.  Aspen Heights wants to purchase the property for a gated duplexes, by the bed, student housing development.  In order for them to do that, the Columbia, MO City Planning & Zoning, and the City Council must approve their rezoning application.

People power set in motion. On September 22, the Regency rezoning request was rejected by a unanimous vote of 7 – 0 by the city’s planning and zoning commission after compelling testimonies from residents, students and community leaders.

Then by unanimous consent the City Council tabled the rezoning application on Monday, October 17 until November 21! And, conditions implying the zoning proposal would pass ($1,200 for each resident to move their home, longer vacating time) was stripped from the motion!  The packed chambers and the tour of the park community on Thursday, October 13, initiated by the residents was key to this encouraging outcome. Councilwomen Barbara Hoppe, Ward 6 (Regency) and neighboring Helen Anthony from Ward 5 toured the property.  Both were adamant about slowing down the rezoning process and gathering more information.

Students rise in solidarity.  The student community and the newly formed GRO Mizzou affiliate of GRO have shown invaluable support for the families of Regency.  Students have turned out for rallies and have publicly testified they do not need this type of housing and want residents of Regency to stay in their homes–including the recently crowned MU Homecoming Queen. (Unfortunately, some students will be gone during Thanksgiving break for the November 21st meeting.)

Leadership emerges.  On October 22, 2011 Michael Brown (new dues-paid member from Regency) and Robin Acree, GRO Director went to Washington, DC.  They were asked to present about GRO and Regency during the National Manufactured Home Owners Association of America conference.  Kevin Borden, Center for Community Change, who works on manufactured home parks organizing nationally, accompanied them.

Seasoned GRO Organizer, Mary Hussmann organized and held a productive residents’ driven meeting that Michael facilitated on Wednesday, October 26.  He gave a report from his recent DC trip and supported his fellow residents who made plans and preparations leading up to and for the November 21, 2011 Council meeting.

The battle continues to save their homes.  And, momentum is shifting towards the side of the people.  But, we need as much public testimony and community support as we can muster to push a NO VOTE to REZONE the property. Big money is a powerful opponent.

RSVP NOW!

Pictured in front row, from left, are Hazel Roberts, GRO Organizer Fenny Dorsey, Hazel's granddaughter Brandi, her daughter GRO executive director Robin Acree, and her great-grandkids. Hazel, her family and other friends and GRO leaders gathered to celebrate Medicare's birthday--but will there be any more?

This week Medicaid and Medicare will have its 46th birthday.

The Social Security Act of 1965 was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to existing Social Security legislation. This legislation included the establishment of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

At the bill-signing ceremony, Johnson enrolled former President Harry S. Truman as the first Medicare beneficiary and presented him with the first Medicare card, and Truman’s wife Bess, the second.

GRO leaders gathered this weekend to ask Congressman Luetkemeyer to help ensure many more birthdays for both Medicaid and Medicare.  The benefits must be here for the hundreds of thousands of us now, and for future generations that follow. Can we count on our Representative to support our values, and get us a fair deficit reduction plan that requires millionaires, billionaires and corporate CEOs to pay their share instead of cutting the life-saving health care benefits of American seniors, kids and families?

Sen. Claire McCaskill joined grassroots leaders and staff from Missouri's GRO and Communities Creating Opportunities.

Yesterday, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri,  joined us for a news conference at the Dirksen Senate Office Building to discuss Caring Across Generations–Medicaid Matters.

Pictured above are, from left–

• Reverend Raymond Burns from Communities Creating Opportunities (CCO) a PICO affiliate based in Kansas City, and Joy Friedman, organizer with CCO;
• Fenny Dorsey from Mexico, Missouri whose granddaughter is wheelchair bound and Medicaid dependent. Fenny is the caregiver for her disabled brother with SSI, Medicare and Medicaid support.
• Joan Wilcox from Columbia, Missouri, whose only income is Social Security and whose husband died after struggle with cancer. She is grateful for Medicare and VA benefits coverage that allowed him to live a longer life and die with dignity.
• Senator McCaskill
• Jennifer Hill, GRO board member – recently moved to Delaware – daughter depends on Medicaid for her healthcare
• Robin Acree, GRO Executive Director

It was a good day for Missouri and health care and GRO was glad to be a part of it.

GRO led a crew of 60+ from the Show-Me State to last week’s Showdown in Ohio, which was coordinated by National People’s Action. Activists from across the Midwest and beyond showed up for “ShOhio” – two days of actions coinciding with the JPMorgan Chase annual meeting of shareholders. The meeting took place at Chase Headquarters – the second largest office building in the world – a 2 million square foot “castle” in the Columbus suburb of Dublin, OH.

With the largest turnout of any individual group, GRO leaders were EVERYWHERE to be found! We had a strong presence at actions on Monday when we visited a Chase Bank branch and the hotel where key executives were staying. AND GRO was represented inside and outside the shareholders meeting on Tuesday! Some GRO members sat face-to-face with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon – asking him tough questions about the practices of the corporation. Others dressed up as Robin Hood and crossed the moat – yes, the MOAT – that surrounds the JP Morgan Chase headquarters. Still others rallied and chanted outside the castle gates, blocking incoming and outgoing traffic and making our presence known!

Great Video: Crossing the Moat and Storming the Castle!

GRO was visible and well represented as we joined in partnership with our National People’s Action brothers and sisters and others. It was great to be with GRO member Jennifer Disla and others who joined the GRO bus in Indianapolis. Sunflower Community Action out of Kansas had a bus that was more full thanks to our friends at MORE, who brought 20+ leaders from St. Louis! Attendees came back energized and hopeful about the POWER we have when we rise up together to hold corporations accountable!

Also, the press coverage from the Showdown was great – be sure to check out some of the articles below!

Onward!

-Your Friends at GRO

GRO – Grass Roots Organizing
573-581-9595 (Headquarters – Mexico, MO)
573-443-4476 (Outreach Office – Columbia, MO)
www.gromo.org
facebook.com/GROMissouri

Become a GRO member or sustaining donor by clicking here! Becoming a member and/or giving regularly will help GRO continue our work of leadership development, social justice advocacy and corporate accountability!

—
Photos from the Showdown in Ohio: See GRO leaders in action! Showdown Photos on the GRO Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/GROMissouri).
Photos, Video and More on the Showdown in Ohio at the Showdown in America website (www.showdowninamerica.org).

NEWS Coverage of the Showdown in Ohio:

Columbia Missourian: Grass Roots Organizing Heads to Ohio for JPMorgan Chase Protest (<–with GRO interviews!)

AP Picked Up the Story!
ABC News (AP): Protester Handcuffed at Chase Shareholders Meeting
Washington Post (AP story with pictures): Protester Handcuffed at Chase Shareholders Meeting

New York Post: ‘Biggest Mistake’: Dimon Rues Action on Military Families (<–GRO mentioned!)

Reuters/MSNBC: Mortgage Mess Dominates JPMorgan Annual Meeting

Bloomberg:
JPMorgan’s Annual Meeting Brings Protest on Foreclosures (video)
San Francisco Chronicle with Bloomberg: Dimon’s Annual Meeting Brings Apologies, Protesters on Mortgages (<–with GRO interview!)

The Columbus Dispatch: Chase Gets an Earful
Columbus ABC6 (video and article): Protest Floods Streets Outside Chase Office

Democracy Now: Hundreds Protest JPMorgan Chase Tax Dodging and Foreclosures, Elderly Demonstrators Maced

Huffington Post:
Police Mace JPMorgan Chase Protesters (<–with GRO interview!)
Protesters at JPMorgan Shareholder Meeting Demand Action on Foreclosures, Human Rights
What Kind of God Do Wall Street Bankers Believe In?

PR Watch: Robin Hood Storms Chase Castle and M&I Execs Get Piggish

The Seattle Times: Chase Annual Meeting Draws Protesters; CEO Apologies (<–with GRO interview!)

Until next time!

We’re GRO
From MO
Fightin’ Injustice
Don’t Ya’ Know!

Mark Your Calendars!

Saturday, June 11: GRO’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic – 10:30 – 2:00 p.m. This year’s theme is GROing Forward – Every Season! The event will be held at the Dexheimer Shelter in Columbia’s Cosmo Park. This appreciation picnic is for GRO members only – Come for a delicious meal, fun times and door prizes for all! RSVP with GRO staff at 573-581-9595 or 573-443-4476, and let us know if you will need a ride.

Monday, June 27: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security: YES! Community Meeting Mark your calendars and plan to join us for this exciting event with leading expert and Co-founder of the national Social Security Works! Campaign, Nancy Altman from Washington DC (see bio here). This public meeting is open to all Missourians who want to assure that these vital social programs are protected and improved – NOT CUT! Monday, June 27, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Missouri United Methodist Church Multipurpose Room, 204 S. 9th (disability accessible, free parking in MU’s Hitt Street Garage). Refreshments and opportunities for action will follow! Call 443-4476 for rides.

P.S. Your membership or sustaining donation can help GRO continue our work for social justice and corporate accountability! Click here to donate today!

You can see it in the town halls where members of Congress are facing angry constituents who are demanding answers from those who voted to end Medicare. In Missouri, organizers from Grassroots Organizing (GRO) have collected over 700 letters in the last three weeks to Sen. Claire McCaskill. Their experience is telling; people on the street have not been irritated or rushed as they passed the group’s table, instead they are stopping in unprecedented numbers. They are taking time to write write long personal letters about the difference these programs have made in their families’ lives.”

Tax Day! Make Wall Street Pay!

GRO volunteers were able to garner nearly 200 hand written letters within four hours during the tax filing deadline day Monday, April 18, outside the Columbia, MO post office to Senators McCaskill and Blunt.

The realization that General Electric may pay no taxes and get a refund is sure to increase public cynicism. GRO advances the people’s budget that calls to reduce the federal deficit by making Wall Street pay their fair share, strengthen IRS enforcement capacity to catch tax evaders, significantly cuts military wasteful spending and supports, protects, and strengthens Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  Missourians at the post office were asked to take additional action and contact their US Representative and Senators during their spring recess (April 18 -28).