The Needy and Impoverished in Savannah--Who's Helping and How You Can Too

Sister Julie Franchi and David Acuff, both active in supporting Savannah's poor and underserved, spoke to the Skidaway Abigails at the meeting hall in the Messiah Lutheran Church on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. 

Sister Julie of the Social Apostolate, a Catholic charity, discussed the goal of helping the homeless move forward with their lives. Toward that end the Apostolate offers a soup kitchen, showers for the homeless and access to a thrift store. Additional services include help in obtaining birth certificates and I.D.'s, prescription expense assistance, advocacy (helping with applications and renewals for government programs, housing applications, etc.) clothing, interview techniques, and transportation to work until the individual receives their first paycheck. Groceries are also offered on an emergency basis. School uniform vouchers are available for those who meet the criteria and baby needs are issued to the parents or guardians of the child(ten). 

The Social Apostolate would be grateful for any donations of food, clothing and hygiene supplies, and of course any monetary donations. Slowest months for donations are January, July and August. Volunteers are always welcome and she especially needs golf tournament volunteers for the event in October at the Landings. 

Sister Julie says that the most underserved are those that are just above the poverty level, the mentally ill and former prisoners who are struggling to find work and shelter. 

On a positive note Sister Julie shared a success story of a man named Timothy who'd been working but lost his job to care for his sick father who eventually died. The Apostolate assisted Timothy, who was a maintenance worker, in finding new employment and he's on his own and doing very well today. 

                                                                                

                                                          

                                                    Sister Julie Franchi and David Acuff

David Acuff is the director of Emmaus House, a charity that serves breakfast to anyone that shows up. As director he noted that there are several charities that lunch and dinner for the indigent but no breakfast, so he made the shift to accommodate this omission. David says the cook is simply amazing and can put a meal together out of anything. It's not necessarily breakfast food that's served per se, sometimes it's lasagna, sometimes it's a stew but everyone enjoys the meal nonetheless. Breakfast is served every weekday at 8:30 in the morning in the Parish House of Christ Church Episcopal downtown Savannah. 

Several merchants are donating food to this worthy organization including the Forsyth Farmers Market and Whole Foods. He also mentioned the Federal Act that protects donors from liability when donating food to charities; it's called the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Act. Other foundations and corporations donate to Emmaus House such as Gulfstream Aerospace, Suwyn Foundation and the United Way. 

Like the Social Apostolate, Emmaus House offers shower facilities plus laundry facilities too. Both charities could really use all of the shampoo, conditioner, soap and skin care products you collect while traveling from hotels, etc. Please consider bringing a bag with your unused items to one of our Abigail meetings and we'll send out an email apprising you of this request.  Also any makeup items that are still usable and you'd like to part with are very welcome too. Laundry products that aren't being used in your home would also be a welcome donation for Emmaus House. 

The Skidaway Abigails is not an organization that seeks monetary donations for political candidates but we do feel that reaching out to our membership for toiletries does not in any way overstep this boundary. We hope you'll share whatever you have that you're not using. 

Sister Julie and David truly enlightened us as to the need for clothing, food, toiletries, laundry detergent, and of course monetary donations if you feel so inclined. We really appreciate their work and sharing their time to tell us about the work each charity does. 

                                                               

Oxfam: World's Richest 1 Percent Control Half of Global Wealth

Carol Bowen, our social committee chair, shared this from an NPR report:

Local villagers scavenging coal illegally from an open-cast mine in a village near Jharia, India, in 2012.

Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Just 1 percent of the world's population controls nearly half of the planet's wealth, according to a new study published by Oxfam ahead of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

The study says this tiny slice of humanity controls $110 trillion, or 65 times the total wealth of the poorest 3.5 billion people.

Other key findings in the report:

— The world's 85 richest people own as much as the poorest 50 percent of humanity.

— 70 percent of the world's people live in a country where income inequality has increased in the past three decades.

— In the U.S., where the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country, the top 1 percent captured 95 percent of post-recession growth (since 2009), while 90 percent of Americans became poorer.

"Oxfam is concerned that, left unchecked, the effects are potentially immutable, and will lead to 'opportunity capture' — in which the lowest tax rates, the best education, and the best healthcare are claimed by the children of the rich," the relief agency writes. "This creates dynamic and mutually reinforcing cycles of advantage that are transmitted across generations."

In other words, Oxfam says that if trends continue, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

"[People] are increasingly separated by economic and political power, inevitably heightening social tensions and increasing the risk of societal breakdown," the report says.

The World Economic Forum is scheduled to hold its annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, beginning Jan. 22.

The Oxfam report largely mirrors findings of several other studies in recent years that have documented growing income inequality in the U.S. and across the globe.

In September, a University of California, Berkeley, study found that the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans saw their incomes grow by 31.4 percent over the period 2009-2012, while the other 99 percent experienced just 0.4 percent growth. Last month, the Pew Research Center published a study that found income inequality in the U.S. was at its highest since 1928, the year before the start of the Great Depression.

Verizon killed Net Neutrality. But the FCC can save it. The petition to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler reads:  "At the behest of Verizon, a federal appellate court struck down the FCC’s Open Internet Order and internet providers are now free to discriminate – block or slow down – any web site or application they choose. As the new FCC Chair you must reclassify broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service and save Net Neutrality." Automatically add your name: Dear Joan, Today, Verizon struck the final blow against Net Neutrality when a federal appeals court ruled in its favor and struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order.1 Net Neutrality is a principle that says that Internet users, not Internet service providers (ISPs), should be in control. It ensures that Internet service providers can’t speed up, slow down, or block web content based on its source, ownership, or destination. And now Net Neutrality is dead – at least until the FCC stands up to Verizon and AT&T and passes strong rules that will pass the legal test for ensuring Americans have access to a free and open Internet. Tell new FCC Chair Tom Wheeler: Save Net Neutrality. Click here to sign automatically. The verdict was a disappointment but came as no surprise. Back in 2010, the FCC, led by Obama-appointee Julius Genachowski, voted to adopt rules that enshrined in federal regulations for the first time the ability of AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and other ISPs to discriminate between sources and types of content. Now even those meager protections have been struck down. But the new chair of the FCC, Tom Wheeler, can save Net Neutrality by doing what former FCC chair Genachowski failed to do. He can stand up to Verizon and AT&T, and undo the Bush-era decision to deregulate broadband Internet providers and allow them to operate outside of the legal framework that has traditionally applied to companies that offer two-way communication services. Tell FCC Tom Wheeler: Reclassify broadband as a telecom service, and enact strong Net Neutrality protections. Click here to sign automatically. Back in 2010, this latest court decision was utterly predictable. A federal court had already ruled that unless the FCC reversed the Bush-era decision to deregulate broadband, the FCC couldn’t enforce Net Neutrality rules. Then FCC Chair Genachowski tested the waters with a proposal to reregulate (or in the jargon of the FCC “reclassify”) broadband. Genachowski himself said that, according to the FCC General Counsel, pushing ahead with policies without reregulating broadband would be unwise given the tenuous legal footing the FCC would find itself in. But Obama administration’s support for Net Neutrality was so weak that his FCC declined to reclassify broadband as a prerequisite to passing Net Neutrality rules. Without providing this legal framework, the Open Internet Order was never anything more than a cynical ploy by Democrats to claim a victory on Net Neutrality while actually caving on real protections for consumers. New FCC chair Tom Wheeler has a chance to change this. He recently made a strong statement in support of Net Neutrality and the necessary legal framework to defend it, saying that “it is essential that the FCC continue to maintain an open Internet and maintain the legal ability to intervene promptly and effectively in the event of aggravated circumstances." But it’s unclear if he’ll simply kick the can down the road by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court (a body that, with the outrageous Citizens United decision, has already proved itself more loyal to corporate control than to protecting our democracy). We need him to muster the political will to take action immediately and save Net Neutrality by reversing the deregulation of broadband and giving teeth to the FCC’s ability to enforce Net Neutrality rules and force Internet service providers to treat all traffic equally. Tell FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: Stop the corporate takeover of the internet and save Net Neutrality. Click the link below to sign the petition automatically: http://act.credoaction.com/go/3127?t=6&akid=9775.4113174.CkOmYE Becky Bond, Political Director CREDO Action from Working Assets

Immigration expert, Scott Titshaw, speaks to Abigails

On Friday, January 10th, Joan Wade introduced Scott Titshaw, professor of immigration law at Mercer University. The Abigails in attendance at the Messiah Lutheran Church were treated to a very informative lecture by the professor.  Previously Professor Titshaw practiced  immigration law at the law firm of Arnall, Golden, Gregory LLP in Atlanta. Additionally Mr. Titshaw has international experience in Germany working as a visiting foreign attorney in Nuremberg which afforded him the opportunity to understand how immigration is handled in western Europe. 

Mr. Titshaw covered three general areas: 

• How immigration works in the United States today
• Reform over the last 30 years
• Current reform proposals, 2013 being a watershed year in which same sex married couples may immigrate as married couples

Overview: Mr. Titshaw reminded us that no one has the right to enter the United States other than U.S. citizens but that the Immigration Nationality Act identifies very specific categories of cases that may be considered for immigration. Here are the categories that are a pathway to legal immigration.

• Employment based: where visas are allotted to individuals who have specialized degrees that are desired in the U.S., multinational corporations who transfer an employee with unique qualifications needed for that business, or a person who's willing to invest a sizable amount of money into a company in the U.S. that will create jobs here. 
• Family based: allowing families or individuals joining families in the U.S.; the U.S. identifies specific countries and gives them a quota allotment. (This is a tough road ahead that may require decades before a visa is granted.)
• Political Asylum: persecuted or fear of being persecuted people may apply for a visa

Additionally there are student and visitor visas but the number of these visas is small comparatively, about 65,000. These are only temporary visas and are not considered a pathway to a green card that allows a person to live in the U.S. legally without becoming a citizen.

In 1986 immigration law was reformed but major changes have occurred since 9/11, criminalization of immigration misuse and the militarization of the U.S. border mostly along the southern border to the tune of 3.5 billion dollars last year.

The Senate in June 2013 passed a comprehensive immigration bill that essentially incorporated the 'Dream Act' that would allow young people brought to this country by their parents or others a pathway to citizenship provided certain criteria are met.  The current mindset is that this legislation will be initiated piecemeal, if at all since The House of Representatives is unlikely to sign off on this bill and will surely do a hatchet job on it as it's currently written. No doubt with the blessing of  Senator Marco Rubio who helped write this bill but is now backing away from it.

In summary Mr. Titshaw feels that immigration enforcement is becoming more and more militarized and that this will continue on the upswing. The 11 million or so illegal aliens living in this country won't see much improvement or incentive to try to live here legally by acquiring a green card. Many live in fear of being deported and thousands have under the Obama administration's crackdown on illegals.

After the lecture there was a lively and provocative question and answer period and Mr. Titshaw clearly enjoyed our  varied and thought provoking questions. We thank Mr. Titshaw for his enlightening presentation and the discussion that followed. 

Professor Scott Titshaw conversing with Joan Wade, right, and Susana Hernandez 

Carol Bowen shares End of Year Thoughts

It seems that this has been a wonderful year for the Skidaway Abigails to "take off"! We have had 2 very successful social events- September 30th and last week Wednesday at Delegal, with over 90 members in attendance-- lots of fun and good fellowship!

Our gathering on October 28th was a presentation by Dr. Blake Caldwell on the Affordable Care Act.  Response was enthusiastic and now, we can look forward to another one.

 On January 10th at 3:00 pm, Professor Scott C. Titshaw, photo below, of the Mercer University Law School will speak about immigration law. He will be discussing immigration issues and the options currently being considered in Congress. The event will be held at the Fellowship Hall of Messiah Lutheran Church.

    Guests are welcome to attend for $5 and paid members are free. If you plan to attend, please reply to this e-mail or to Carol Bowen at 598-2178 so that we can plan for the number of attendees.

It may be of interest to you to know that we now have 160 paid members on role-- pretty surprising and gratifying! If you know of someone who would like to be a member have them send a check for $10 to Mary Canavan our treasurer (made payable to her) at  1 Shellworth Crossing/ 31411.

Our blog at http://skidawayabigails.blogspot.com/ is a great way to know what has and will be happening with Skidaway Abigails-- please check it "early and often".

All of us on the Leadership Team thank you for your support and encouragement this past year and we hope you will look forward to 2014 as a time to continue to come together as liberal, progressive women in comfortable social environments with opportunities to freely discuss sociopolitical issues.

Carol Bowen, Social Co-chair, for the Leadership Team

Abigails' Holiday Social a Whopping Success

Sue Barnett, Mary Canavan & Mary Vernick welcome partygoers.

Our founder, Brenda Turner and her daughter, Meredith Anton

Carol Bowen welcomes Abigails.

Marianne Kosiewicz, Robin Rackoff, Deidre Meehan and Abigail  friend.

Linda Fisk Morris, Lannie Williams

Maureen Gordon, Jane Thimme, Elizabeth Neufeld

Sue Addington, Lannie Williams

More than 90 Abigails enjoying holiday drinks and goodies.

Beverly Westhelle, Marianne Kosiewicz

Marianne Shutz, Gerry Bilik

Carol Walsh, Joan Wade and Shar Trenkamp

Message from GREENPEACE

Hi there,

Fifteen armed Russian security forces agents descended from a helicopter, boarded and seized the Greenpeace ship the Arctic Sunrise on September 19, following a peaceful protest of a Gazprom drilling platform.

The ship was towed to the Russian city of Murmansk where the 28 Greenpeace activists from around the world along with two freelance journalists who were onboard were charged with piracy and hooliganism by the Russian authorities. If convicted, each could face several years in a Russian prison. 

Your voice is needed -- and in a way that might seem a bit unusual, by asking Shell CEO Peter Voser to speak out on the Arctic 30's behalf.

EMAIL Peter Voser and Shell RIGHT NOW >>

Shell has a key role to play here, because they're one of Gazprom's biggest partners in the world.

To break open the Russian Arctic, Gazprom needs Shell. They've just done a deal, so Shell will bring its money and expertise and Gazprom will bring its access to the Russian Arctic.

That puts Shell in a hugely powerful position to influence Gazprom.

So if we can all get Mr. Voser to speak out for Shell in support of the human rights of the Arctic 30, we think it can make a huge difference -- by moving Shell in the right direction, and getting Gazprom to realize that it should support the Arctic 30's freedom.

The Arctic 30 need your voice today -- please email Peter Voser right now >>

Thank you,

Nicky Davies
Campaigns Director
Greenpeace USA