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

Blake Caldwell Speaks to Abigails About the Affordable Care Act

       On Monday, October 28^th, 105 Skidaway Abigails and guests met at the Messiah Lutheran Church to hear Blake Caldwell, MD, MPH speak about the Affordable Care Act.  Blake is a physician and scientist (and Landings resident) who retired in 2010 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. She is a pediatrician but her early career included eight years in the Navy doing bacterial research. She joined the CDC in 1989 and her long career there included epidemiological research in HIV, health quality care and health care policy.

       The emphasis of her talk was on how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act makes changes in the delivery of health care. At present, the U.S. spends more on health care than any other developed country but the outcomes do not match the costs.

       Blake outlined five key themes of the A.C.A. The first of these is expanded coverage. By 2014 the number of uninsured will drop by 18 million. When states do not opt for Medicaid expansion it will negatively affect the health care of those who are Medicaid eligible.

       The A.C.A offers new consumer protections and choices. It guarantees coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, prohibits “rescission” (dropping coverage), bans lifetime limits, and expands consumers’ rights to appeal denials. The law also makes health care more affordable by offering subsidies through the Exchanges, closing the “donut hole” in Medicare, decreasing the cost of medicines next year, and requiring rebates for consumers if insurers spend too little on health care.

   Improvement of health care quality and controlling costs are important goals of the A.C.A . New organizations such as the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will test the efficiency of new drugs, medical devices, clinical tests and medical proceddures (compared to those in use).  The new agency will not itself do any testing.  It will only assess the vilue of new tests and deveices which have been introduced to the public.  

The new Accountable Care Organizations will coordinate care to Medicare patients and avoid duplication of services while preventing medical errors. Providers in this program will share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program.

       The formation of Patient-Centered Medical Homes will provide access to “one stop shopping” for patients. This not only improves care, but will save money.

       Finally, the A.C.A. calls for the formation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board. This has been attacked as being the infamous “Death Panel” and has been accused of rationing care when in fact this Board recommends to Congress measures for lower cost care options.

       According to the Congressional Budget Office the net effect of the A.C.A will be a deficit reduction of $143 billion over the next decade. In contrast, $109 billion would be added to the federal deficit if the law were repealed.

       In summary, the A.C.A. changes everything. “It begins the journey of paying for health and good medical outcomes….most importantly, it offers hope for millions to obtain affordable care, and removes the terror of financial ruin that currently accompanies a serious illness for many American families.”

Blake’s presentation was enthusiastically received and was followed by a brief Q and A.

Reported by Joyce Lopez

Photos from Blake Caldwell's talk with the Abigails about A.C.A.

Abigails Check In

Blake Caldwell, preparing to speak

Abigails gather for the event

Blake makes ACA more understandable

"Yes, exactly!"

More than 100 Abigails came to hear Blake speak.

Question & Answer time was valuable to everyone.

So many questions about ACA.

Abigails Current Policy on Political Campaigns

Abigails, for your interest only, below is a notice about an upcoming event.  

The Abigails current position on campaigns for political office is that we don't endorse or provide funds to any candidate.

Abigails July 2013 Survey Results

Abigails July 2013 Survey Results Q 1. If Abigails expand their activities for members, which of these would interest you? (Check all that apply.)       Total Respondents: 84 ·        attending social occasions such as lunch, cocktails, coffees 82%         ·        participating in discussion groups on social and political topics 79%         ·        taking part in political issues and activism 42%         ·        none of the above 1%           Q 2. If you participate in a discussion group, which of these topics would you like to discuss? (Check all that apply.)       Total Respondents: 75 ·        voter registration 57%         ·        reproductive rights 64%         ·        affirmative action 31%         ·        immigration 69%         ·        poverty 63%         ·        none of the above 0%           ·        don’t want to participate in discussion groups 8%           Q 3. If you want to take part in political or social activism, which of these areas appeal to you? (Check all that apply.)       Total Respondents: 67 ·        voter registration 51%         ·        reproductive rights 54%         ·        affirmative action 16%         ·        immigration 37%         ·        poverty 36%         ·        none of the above 1%           ·        don’t want to participate in activism 27%         Q 4. Would you attend presentations by outside subject matter experts?                 83 respondents, 82 said yes. Q 5. Would you agree to pay a small Abigails membership fee for administrative expenses?                 100% of respondents said yes.