We are holding our first Gorge Area chapter meeting on Thursday, March 20, at 6:30 pm in the Community Room (basement level) of the Commodore II Building, across the street from The Dalles City Hall. Please note that the building is locked after business hours, so you will need to call for the access code to let yourself in. Light refreshments will be available.

The meeting will be divided into three parts:

I. A brief presentation by members of the Oregon State Coordination Team of PDA, followed by questions & answers.

II. Basic chapter formation business.

III. Brainstorming local priorities and strategies, including implementing the Healthcare not Warfare campaign in our area.

As you probably know, PDA was founded in 2004 and currently has over 2,500 members in Oregon. Formation of the local chapter marks a major step toward achieving our goal of organizing in each of Oregon's five Congressional Districts. We will be working closely with other chapters on statewide projects, including those already organizing in Portland, Forest Grove, Corvallis, Eugene, and Ashland -- with more to come soon; as well as the caucuses within the party, and outside "movement" groups with which we share common goals as identified in Progessive Challenge 2008.

This is in keeping with PDA's inside-outside strategy: working inside the Democratic Party with the Congressional Progressive Caucus to return the party to its roots, holding Democrats accountable on progressive issues, and by building coalitions outside the Democratic Party on shared issues. Since PDA is a true grassroots movement, loosely structured as a confederation on the "co-op" model of autonomous local chapters, we will remain free to set our own local goals and campaigns to achieve them, while tapping into the resources and expertise PDA has developed at the state and national level.

For more information, to volunteer to contribute refreshments, or to obtain the building access code, please contact Fr. John-Mark by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 541-296-6126. You will find additional information at the Gorge Chapter website we are building at pdgorge.org, including proposed draft by-laws and several informational videos.