Sorry this is rather tardy.  The main topic of our Meetup was to
organize the delivery of the DSM petition to our Congressman's office.
Making an appointment to do that has become more difficult, since
requests have to be sent by fax and I have yet to figure out how to get
my program to do that.

Anyway, it was a good meeting and we had a chance to get to know Peter
Sullivan, who's announced his intention to campaign for the House in NH
district One.

We had lively reports from the participants in the Visibility on the
General Sullivan Bridge (July 23)--picture in the New Hampshire
Gazette.  No report on the DSM Houseparty at Nancy Beach's, but much
interest in the Downing Street Memos.

Gail Mitchell reported on her visit with Carol Porter to the VA clinic
in Somersworth, of which Jeb Bradley claims to be particularly proud.
For some reason, there's an awful long wait for appointments and doctors
are only on site three days a week.  Since services for our veterans,
especially those returning from Iraq, are a particular concern at DFA,
we plan more follow up visits.  Carol Apell will consult with Fred Ross,
who might have more information.

As noted in the subject line, DFA Meetup is about to be transformed into
DFA-Link.  Look for more information next week about signing up to make
sure we maintain contact with all our members.  The New England area has
a volunteer co-ordinator, Dave Eaton, who will be making sure we have
all the information we need to continue to take our country back.

The delivery of the signed petition, asking Congress to hold formal
hearings on the British report that the justification for the invasion
of Iraq was based on "fixed" information, is scheduled for August 17.
Gail Mitchell has volunteered to head up our delegation to Bradley's
Dover office.  Tim Horrigan will contact the press to alert them to this
visit and John Pelletier, with the assistance of Michael Moebius will
alert UNH radio.  Letters to the editor on this important matter are
also encouraged.  (NB: People usually have to get new information three
times before it sinks in.  So, the more often we can tell them about the
DSM, the better).
The first test of the DFA-Link software will be getting people signed up
for the appointment to deliver the DSM petition.  So, please, RSVP the
next message you get and sign up. We're looking for about 20 people to
give Gail moral support.

Upcoming events we are excited about include the talk by our very own
Secretary of State, Bill Gardner in Wilton this Sunday, August 7 from
4:30 - 7:00. on the subject of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), a bribe
from the feds to make us all dependent on electronic vote tallying
machines.

Tuesday, August 9, there will be a commemoration of the bombing of
Hiroshima at the South Mill Pond in Portsmouth.  Bring candles at 6:00PM

Wednesday, Howard Dean is featured at a Democratic Fund Raising
reception in Concord and, later in the day, at a get-together for
Democratic Bond holders, the folks who've signed up to contribute
monthly to the DNC and help us get BIG MONEY out of the political
process.

Then on Saturday, August 27th you're all invited to the Fund Raiser put
on by the Strafford Town Democrats with Arne Arneson at the Bow Lake
Grange--tickets are $12 at the door.  Come feast on Yassa Poule

The Strafford County Democrats are hosting a picnic, too.  Scheduled for
September 11th, it will honor all of the first responders in our neck of
the woods.  Check  http://www.straffordcountydemocrats.org
for particulars and how to get to Salme Perry's--the locus of the
picnic.

Finally, since we all had such a good time at our picnic at Hilton Park
and the visibility on the General Sullivan, it was unanimous that we
should hold a repeat on September 24th for those who can't make it to
Washington for the Anti-War Mobilization (for which NH Peace Action is
organizing transportation)  We'll need to have a work session
before-hand to produce really big letters on poster board to spell out
our message.

Last, but not least, Caroline French, agreed to serve on our steering
committee.  She joins Amy Pollard, Leif Gerjuoy and Me---


Monica/Hannah

P.S. In case you haven't noticed, there are some people, Sen. Joe Biden
in particular, who are floating the idea (again) that Democrats should
have a Republican (John McCain) in the VP slot for the presidential
ticket.  This should be a "no starter" but, in any event, any mention of
watering down the Democratic agenda that way should prompt lots of
letters and calls to talk shows to object.