Pagan Unity Campaign-- Central Eastern Region

Welcome to the Central Eastern Region of the Pagan Unity Campaign. The Central Eastern Region is led by Rev. Adam L. Labonoski and covers Delaware, Washington DC, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia . Here you will find recent updates, opportunities to get involved and much more!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Pagan Unity Campaign - Imbolc Campaign 2009

From: Pagan Unity Campaign
Date: January 14, 2009
Subject: Imbolc Campaign 2009
Contact: Fallon Glenn ( fallon_glenn@yahoo.com), Adam Labonoski
( adamlabo@aol.com)

In accordance with Pagan Unity Campaign's ongoing So Vote It Be
campaign and our goal to keep the rights and freedoms of minority
religions on the minds of the government representatives in Washington
during this time of great change, the Pagan Unity Campaign will stage
the 8th annual Imbolc campaign on February 4, 2009.

As has been done in previous years, we ask that all Pagans join voices
and email, fax or telephone their elected officials during the first
week of February to encourage support of religious tolerance,
diversity and freedom. It only takes a few minutes to get involved,
and serves as a simple yet powerful reminder of the importance of
religious diversity in the country, as well as the presence of Pagan
voters and other religious minorities throughout every district in the
United States.

During this time, we would also ask that you send letters of support
for religious diversity and tolerance to state and local media outlets
in the hopes that our collective voice extends beyond our elected
officials to the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens.

You may find contact information for your elected officials at the
links below:

White House:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm

House of Representatives:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

Links to State and Local Officials:
http://www.statelocalgov.net/

--------sample email fax or phone call for the Imbolc campaign-----------

Dear Honorable Senator (or Representative) (add name);

We in the Pagan community of (your state or district) would like to
encourage you as our (Senator or Representative) to support the causes
of religious freedom and diversity as you carry out your duties in
office over the coming years. Our country was founded upon the tenets
of religious freedom and we must make a concerted effort to ensure
religious diversity continues to thrive throughout our great nation in
the coming years.

Sincerely,
(add name and city and state)

So Vote It Be!

# # #

Sunday, October 26, 2008

9 Days Left and Counting

This is it, the countdown to one of the most historic presidential races in the history of the United States. Will it be Obama, the first black man; or McCain, with the first female Vice- President? It would be even better if a third party person won it, that would make even more historic for this day and age.
Either way it's your choice. You may not think that your vote counts, but it does. And you definitely can't complain if you don't vote at all. Your voice counts especially in the battleground states. Those states in the Central Eastern Region of PUC are Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. This is your chance to make your voice heard!
If you haven't voted yet, I encourage you to do so when the time comes. It's your constitutional right.
Information on House, Senate and Gubernatorial Races:
http://www.2008racetracker.com/

Presidential Candidates
Barack Obama (Democrat)
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

John McCain (Republican)
http://www.johnmccain.com/

Bob Barr (Libertarian)
http://www.bobbarr2008.com/splash/?s0618

Ralph Nader (Independent)
http://www.votenader.org/

Cynthia McKinney (Green)
http://www.runcynthiarun.org/

Other Third Party and Write In Candidates
http://www.politics1.com/p2008.htm

So Vote It Be!
---
Many Blessings,

Rev. Adam L. Labonoski
Pagan Unity Campaign
Central Eastern Regional Director

Saturday, October 25, 2008

T Minus 10

Have you been to the polls yet? If not, it's about that time!

In 10 days, the presidential election will officially be upon us. I would like to encourage all of you to head to the polls and vote if you have not already done so! Below are links that may come in handy as you make your final decisions.

Information on House, Senate and Gubernatorial Races:
http://www.2008racetracker.com/

Presidential Candidates
Barack Obama (Democrat)
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

John McCain (Republican)
http://www.johnmccain.com/

Bob Barr (Libertarian)
http://www.bobbarr2008.com/splash/?s0618

Ralph Nader (Independent)
http://www.votenader.org/

Cynthia McKinney (Green)
http://www.runcynthiarun.org/

Other Third Party and Write In Candidates
http://www.politics1.com/p2008.htm

So Vote It Be!
---
Many Blessings,

Rev. Adam L. Labonoski
Central Eastern Regional Director

Monday, September 1, 2008

The Importance of Voting

From: Pagan Unity Campaign
Subject: Importance of Voting
Date: September 1, 2008
Contact: Adam L. Labonoski (spiritseekr2004@yahoo.com)

Pagans, like all Americans, are watching coverage of the Democratic
and Republican conventions this week. Barack Obama has announced that
Delaware Senator Joe Biden will be his choice for Vice President. John
McCain has chosen Alaska governor, Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice
President.

Both candidates have platforms that they believe, if implemented, will
make America a stronger nation. And, like all Americans, Pagans are
divided on both the issues and the candidates they support. One thing
however, that we as Americans and as Pagans must not be divided on, is
the importance of voting this November.

The Pagan Unity Campaign would like to encourage Pagans across the
nation to educate themselves on both the candidates and the issues and
then put that information to work and VOTE on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

So Vote It Be!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

"I Am" Campaign Reminder

From: Pagan Unity Campaign
Subject: "I am a Pagan" Post card campaign--last minute reminder
Date: June 19, 2008
Contact: Adam L. Labonoski (spiritseekr2004@yahoo.com)

PUC would like to encourage all Pagans on Summer Solstice to send postcards to their

elected officials in Washington DC with the simple but powerful message;

“I am a Pagan…fill in the blank….(i.e. parent, citizen, soldier, voter)”

Contact information for elected officials below:

https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml (House of Representatives)


http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm (Senate)

Barack Obama
Post Office Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680

John McCain
2211 East Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

###

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I Am... Are you?

From Pagan Unity Campaign
Subject: I Am... Are you?
Date: June 12, 2008
Contact: Adam L. Labonoski (spiritseekr2004@yahoo.com)

Do you have your postcards and pens at the ready? I Am is just around the corner and it's time to start filling out those postcards. Why not make it a social event? Make it a craft project with the kids? Personalize your cards?

There are so many ways to approach I Am that makes the campaign both fun and important. Here are a few ideas you might want to try this I Am to make your postcard sending painless and enjoyable.

*Print off the postcards designed by PUC staffers or create your own to add that Pagan touch. There are a few printable postcards that PUC staffers have designed located in the files section or by contacting your state chair or regional director.

*Why not make your own postcards from scratch? Using posterboard or blank index cards as a base, you can design them any way you like! This is an especially good idea for the youngsters.. who doesn't love a fun craft project? Get out the crayons, makers, glitter and stamps and make a craft of it!

*Sometimes you can find postcards on Ebay.. or you can have your own printed at Vistaprint.com (if you google free postcards, you should get a link where you can order 100 postcards for free, you just pay shipping.. to get them to you in time, you'd have to pick the quicker shipping however).

*Please use postcard stamps instead of regular first class stamps. They are cheaper and are all that is needed to send a post card along! You can get them at your local post office or you can order them at the Post Office website.

*Encourage your friends and family to get involved, even if they aren't Pagan, by sending in postcards that say something like "I am the sister of a Pagan American" "I am the Christian husband of a Pagan American."

*You can also set up a community get together to fill out postcards... just pick a date, a time, and a place, tell everyone to bring their postcards and markers and have some fun with the campaign!

*Remember, the I Am campaign is a simple, non intrusive way to remind officials that they represent Pagan Americans as well. We aren't out to change the world with this one; simply to remind elected officials that we're everywhere and we do vote. Sure, the postcards may get thrown away, but when the mailroom has received 20 or 30 with the same message during the same week... they get the message. In past years, the campaign has created quite a buzz in some mailrooms and quite a few of those that include their return address have received replies back.

Happy Sending!

Joan of Arc Press Release

Exactly 577 years ago on May 30th, 1431 Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake as a heretic and Witch. As Pagans, we should hold this martyr in our minds and spirits as a constant reminder of what can happen when individuals in power decide to use OUR faith to justify their questionable actions. While St. Joan did not self-identify as a Witch or a Pagan, preferring instead to believe that her "supernatural" visions and powers of premonitions were divine gifts from Christ, it is important that we as modern practitioners recognize what atrocities can be committed by those who don't understand nor appreciate our chosen path. Today however, that is not the world we live in. joan.jpg (17544 bytes)

As Americans the first amendment to our governmental constitution gives us the right to freedom of religion (for full reference please refer to the following web address: http://caselaw. lp.findlaw. com/data/ constitution/ amendment01/ ).

This can be translated to mean that the unjust processes committed on behalf of the Medieval Church will no longer occur.

For those of us at your friendly neighborhood Pagan Unity Campaign this anniversary is a great opportunity to join in our annual "IAm" campaign. This event is driven by a desire to inform our legislative representatives at all levels of government that we, as Pagans, are members of their community and their constituency and as such our interests should be taken into consideration! !

So please take a moment to honor the memory of St. Joan of Arc and numerous other women who were falsely murdered for their beliefs and raise your voice today. Let your leaders know that our voices and opinions matter. Send them a postcard today!!

(for more information contact your state chair or check out our website: http://www.paganuni tycampaign. org )