Our Meetup at Dover Soul was an interesting experience since the staid
coffee shop gradually morphed into a Martini Bar and Ladies' Spa,
outfitted with a portable massage table. We got quite a bit of exposure
to a different group, but no new participants.
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Bob Perry, just back from Bermuda, brought us up to date on our effort
to make our DFA Corps clean-up a permanent fixture on Rt 202 (pictures
on Meetup.com). Seems that groups supporting political candidates or
parties are not welcome to participate in the marker program. More
later.

Tim Horrigan reported on the Seacoast Anti-pollution League Annual
Meeting (25-30 attendees) for which DFA Corps helped with the mailing.
Fundraising success numbers still awaited from Herb Moyers. If the BRAC
plans for the Navy Yard go forward (good attendance at march in the
morning reported on evening news), then the clean-up of the site
contamination will have to be speeded up and SAPL will be the local
monitoring group, as they are on the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.

Chaz Proulx provided a run-down on a sometimes contentious NHDP
Convention and general agreement that exposing the influence of Grover
Norquist (Tom Delay's guru) on New Hampshire legislators (six senators
and 56 house members) is a worthwhile endeavor. The Quislings' pledge
not to raise taxes does not serve the citizens of NH well.

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A number of up-coming events were announced, starting with the HAVA
public hearing in Plymouth today and a framing workshop at the
Historical Society in Concord on Saturday from 9-4:30. Also, the group
decided to get a table at the 4th Annual Fair Share Fair on June 5th.
We need volunteers to man the table and hand out some DFA flyers, etc.

Time: 11:00
Location: Sugar Shack on Route 4 in Lee, NH

The 4th annual Fair Share Fair, a festival of vegan food and sustainable
living, will be held at the Sugar Shack on Route 4 in Lee. Organized by
volunteers from the Fair Share Fair Committee, the fair will feature
food, demos, workshops and seminars on sustainable living, plus vendors,
a children's center, a tag sale, and live local music on a solar powered
stage. Admission is free.

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The main agenda item revolved around the new Healthy Communities
Campaign, starting with putting pressure on companies like Walmart to
provide adequate health coverage for employees. A short trailer
promoting "WalMart--The High Cost of Low Price" a new movie by Robert
Greenwald, the producer of "Outfoxed" started our discussion and
planning for Houseparties on June 23rd. So far, Mayme Trumble and
Woodman Barn will host a party--goal is to have at least five members
and five new recruits and raise $100 for DFA Meetup. If we get another
host in the Portsmouth area, that should pretty well cover the area.
If the issue of health coverage at WalMart is not attractive, phone
cards for Veterans (along with their health problems) might make a good
focus. As would the provision in the No Child Left Behind legislation
which forces schools to release students' names and addresses to
military recruiters--UNLESS THE PARENTS PUT A WRITTEN OBJECTION ON FILE
WITH THE SCHOOL. That necessary tutoring has to be outsourced in order
for the schools to continue to receive federal funds is also a topic
that should spark some interesting discussions.

Since there are no major parades in this area for us to participate in,
Salme Perry has graciously offered to host a picnic/cookout on the 4th
of July. Details and Directions to follow.

If you have to miss this one, Sarah Hutz and Gordon Simmons have
volunteered to host a picnic/cookout at a public park in the Dover area
on July 23rd. Details to follow. Hilton Park might be in need of a
little more clean-up by then.
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Olivia Zink brought us up to date on some of the ground-water issues in
the area. DES is reported to have already issued a wetlands permit to
USA Springs, the company wanting to withdraw millions of gallons in
Nottingham. The proposed site in on Rt. 4 by the blank billboard that
used to advertise Red's Shoe Barn. There will be a site walk on June 11
and a meeting of Save Our Groundwater on June 9th, at the Sugar Shack in
Barrington. The public is invited to learn more about a subject that is
likely to come up all over the state, the sale of a public resource for
private profit. Some communities are drawing up local ordinances to
preserve what the DES seems inclined to give away. There are some
predictions that the availability of safe, drinking water could become a
bigger issue than oil.

South Church in Portsmouth will host a showing of the movie "Thirst" on
June 30th.

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Finally, the group decided that the next Meetup, July 6th, would be at
Mayme Trumble's on Back River Road, off Rt. 4 in Dover. Detailed
directions from what used to be a blinking light to be provided later.
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In addition to volunteers to man the table at the Fair on Sunday, I
could really use some help with phone calls. Hint!!!!!!!!

M/H