Hello everyone.  The election and honeymoon period are over.  Now the work begins.  Everything up to this point was done in order to place us in the position we are now!  Barack Obama is the new president and has already began to implement his agenda.  That is the nuts and bolts of it.  We have to implement change in our states, counties, and cities.  Emotions run high for a time, but it seems to wane at its most critical juncture.  We are in a position to make real changes.  We can't use the excuse, "I'm only one person" anymore.  The internet age is allowing us to mobilize massive numbers of people for the good of governmental policy.  So, if you are tired of the way your local or city government is running, then jump on the bandwagon and roll up your sleeves.  I will cite just one example.  In Cleveland, councilman Matt Zone introduced legislation to enact an "Idle Reduction Ordinance".  While this may in theory be good for the environment, in practice it will likely prove impossible.  Why?  One, the sheer number of vehicles in Cleveland.  Two, I can't imagine a policeman being able to respond to every idling vehicle.  What about the big city buses that idle in traffic or any other black smog producing diesel.  The vast majority of idling vehicles are in traffic anyway not idling in front of the grocery store or library.  Furthermore, this measure once again is punitive toward citizens.  How about looking into a light rail system?  Let's go to the source of the emissions and find a way to reduce it!

Please come to http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/OhioCAN and sign up.  Individuals and groups statewide.  The information below is provided by CAN co-founder and CaliforniaCAN administrator Paul Currier.  It outlines the formation, rules, and composition of CAN from the National to the county level in each state.

1.) Welcome to your Community Action Network: Rules of the Virtual Highway:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxLPy
This link is critical for you to understand.  The Founding San Francisco California Group agreed to these terms without descent.  These are what we ask all who join us to agree too.  We hold our selves to a higher set of standards - to elevate America.  Please take the time (1.5 hours) to view Barack Obama on Empathy.  If you have not been to Camp Obama, get 6 to 12 of your friends together and work thru Camp Obama with Marshall Ganz.  Your own private Camp Obama is your experience.  This will take two days at 6 hours per day.  Think of this as "Team Building".

2.) Organize America - Our 50 State Main MyBO Groups
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxHP8
This link has a ""Link List" to easily find all other State Groups.  In time, those States will follow California's example, and build out there own County (Parish, Census District, and Boroughs) L ink List's, and post these on their main MyBO Page for easy access to all 3,071 Counties, 4 Independent Cities, and Territorial Region.?

And Welcome to America - Washington DC!  We don't want to forget that DC is in the House ! ! !  This only took a couple of hundred years !

3.) Our 58 County List of California.CAN Groups
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxFtz
This is a Link List of all Counties in the Golden State of Sunny California!  When your State Administrators of your State.CAN network recruit enough members, Chicago HQ will open up your state for County.State.CAN Group formation.  As 3 Admins are needed per County - that means over 9,000 Local Admins are necessary to operate the CAN as designed.  Each of you can recruit 10 to your first meetings on March 7th 2009, and we will have created a National Group of 10,000 members who want to work for Change together.  If your in one of the California Counties - host your meeting and lets continue to lead the Nation.  The other States are catching up!

4.) Community Action Network (the CAN in Yes We CAN!!!)
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxtYC
The November 21st, 2008 post for our Founding Assembly.  13 Attended.  We had several California Counties represented: Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and El Dorado.  All present were and are shameless Obamaniacs - Obamericans - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens and so forth.  I put this in for history only.  November 8th 2008, three Camp Obama Graduates decided to form the Community Action Network.  We want to thank some people now.  Thank you Martin Luther King.  Thank you Cesar Chavez.  Thank you Robert Kennedy.  Thank you Marshall Ganz.  Thank you Buffy Wicks.  Thank you to every other community organizer who gave their contribution to us all, and thank you to everyone with the courage to just try and take a chance on humanity.  We can change the world.  Yes We CAN !

5.) Final Monthly Meeting Format for all CAN Groups
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxtvF
The Format we voted to suggest is simple.  Reports from Officers and Committees are to be brief.  Old business comes next to allow voting on what we already deliberated on and caucused on for at least 30 days.  Reasonable works.  New Business is non votable.  This process allows New Business to become Old Business at the next meeting.  There is no rust really.  We are here for the duration of our political lives together, so lets act adult.  Housekeeping Motions are simple for each group.  Substantial Unanimity  - is Chairpersons Rules - not Robert's Rules (50% plus one).  The goal of substantial unanimity is 100% (Altogether Now).  2/3 to 3/4 means a group holds together.  Less than substantial unanimity means i ts a good idea to table until next month.  These are ideas.  Your free to do as you like.

6.) Final Two Year CAN Schedule: all County, State Assembly, and National Congress Events
http://my.barackobama.com/pag e/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxzKs
This initial two year schedule was voted on and agreed to propose to all following CAN groups to adopt so we can act in coordination.  The State and National Groups will probably vote on our annual schedules forward as a group.