Garden State Equality Action Fair: Sunday, February 22.

[JackBeck]

You asked for it and you got it: In addition to our events on weeknights throughout the year, Garden State Equality will hold additional events on the weekends to accommodate those who work late, those who don't want to brave rush-hour traffic during weeknights, and those who'd like to involve the entire family in the civics of working for marriage equality together.

We're calling our new weekend events... ACTION FAIRS.

The first Garden State Equality ACTION FAIR is this Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 pm in Maplewood at the Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road.

Each ACTION FAIR will have a very exciting format that will entertain and engage you and your loved ones of every age. We'll have activities for kids. We've been cooking up this innovative program for months!

At each ACTION FAIR, there'll be a rotating series of interactive activities right on site where you'll take action for marriage equality and leave the ACTION FAIR with a personal game plan for the week ahead.

Again, please join us at the first Garden State Equality ACTION FAIR this Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 pm in Maplewood at the Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road. We'll serve free sandwiches and drinks. No need to RSVP.

As always, please forward this email to your family, friends, colleagues and list servs.

If you have any questions, be in touch with my wonderful colleague Hannah Johson, Garden State Equality's Field Director, at [e-mail] or cell [phone].

Thank you so much.

Best,

Steven Goldstein

Chair, Garden State Equality

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I'll be running one of the workshops on Sunday. Won't find out until Saturday which one it will be.

The first night I volunteered there were about 5 other volunteers. This past Wednesday we had grown to over 30.

If you can't make it, please forward this to someone you know or get in touch with me for information about other upcoming events.

We are quickly building this grassroots movement in New Jersey to make sure same-gender marriage passes in 2009. The more people involved, the faster we can get legislation on Corzine's desk to sign.

[enigmatic]

1. Thanks for this

I emailed a friend who lives in Toms River who I know would be interested in going w/ her partner; this sounds great.

[JackBeck]

2. Excellent.

We've got tons of events coming up and need all the volunteers we can find!

[ThomCat]

3. I'm not sure how I got on their mailing list.

But I've been getting regular stuff from Garden State Equality for a couple of years.

They sound like an awesome organization. I hope you have a lot and get a great turn-out. :)

[JackBeck]

4. Funny you should mention that.

I joined their FB group today, and like other groups I join, I scan the membership list to see if I know anyone or if members know people I know. You're name came up a few times as a friend of a couple of members. Some other DUers, as well, had friends that were members of the GSE group.

I'll keep ya' posted on turnout. In all honesty, I really want to be living in a 'post-marriage' era, since there are many other issues that need to addressed. I've been kind of tired talking about just this one issue.

[JackBeck]

5. Our turn out today was between 20-25 participants.

Not too shabby for the first time we held an Action Fair.

The workshop I co-facilitated helped teach everyone how to 1) write letters to their legislators; 2) call and leave a message on their legislator's voice mail; and 3) fill out postcards supporting same-gender marriage.

We've also identified 6 NJ senators that we are targeting to get their vote to pass same-gender marriage. We ended the three hour session brainstorming on possible ways to make contact with them from within their own communities.

We need to get marriage equality passes in New Jersey this year, since there's no guarantee that we will have as much support as we do now after this year's election. If you have any friends in family in New Jersey, please call them and se if they can volunteer any time to support our campaign. Thanks.

[JackBeck]

6. Some local press from the event:

http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/marriage-equality-gets-a-boost-in-maplewood#c

Our next Action Fair is in Cherry Hill on March 8th. Please let any friends and family know about our events so we can bring and even more powerful message to the NJ senate.