March on Washington June 2008

Dear Bimmer,

We may be missing many 15 months from now, but we will have well over 200,000 more diagnosed by then.

Please do not give up hope.  We need you so much.  You have a gift of expressing our feelings so well.  We need your voice and your passion.  You speak for those we have lost and those fighting to hold on day after day.  Your words make us weep and bring us joy.  We need you to help us put our Memorial March into words.

Love,

Bren

I would recommend the 2009 date. 

Just FYI, the Vietnam Memorial is in a heavily treed area for the most part.  It has been about three years since I've been there, but it does not have the largest open spaces in which to gather, although larger spaces are nearby.

Random organizational thoughts:

1.  The simplest thing is to have everyone arrange their own accommodations and travel.  (This would not preclude groups from getting together, it just means that the central organizers would not have to appoint someone from each state to organize it.)

2.  Registration is essential and would allow t-shirts, buttons, etc., to be sent in advance.  Would need to charge a bit for this to cover cost of items and postage.  Therefore, someone or some entity would need to take payments and front the cost of mailing things out.  From the previous discussions about the shirts, it almost sounded as though we could have a vendor handle payments and delivery of the shirts for us?  Is that correct?

3.  We will need organized volunteers on-site to take day of registrations and sell the T-shirts.  (And/or hand out the buttons, sign making materials, etc.)

We would want to have short range walkie talkies or lists of cell numbers, and a schedule of the walk and any other events that may arise (such as a bc.org reception afterwards, for example).

Just some thoughts.

BTW, the Komen groups use hired race organizers to run their races in some cases.  

Hope M. 

GREAT NEWS!!

The Mods are working on the best way to handle a forum for the Memorial March.  We just need to be a little patient ... it's coming around for certain though!!!

Hi Dotti,

We'll make it!!

I think we have two goals ... to honor the 40,910 lost each year and to draw attention to the fact that there is no cure.  Congress and the House may not pay attention to us, but millions of people who are surivors or who have family members who are, will see us and hopefully be inspired to contact their representatives to take action.

Hopefully, with enough time and organization, we'll have an abundance of publicity well in advance of the event.  Many of us are working very hard to see this happen. 

I, too, thought the Vietnam Memorial was a good visual respresentation of the numbers.  However, the Memorial is physically located well off the beaten path at the Mall.  No one would see us except those visiting the Vietnam Memorial.  Bimmer wrote a beautiful note which compared those numbers.  Our hope is that he will be writing a speech for us just like that note. 

Geez ... I sure hope they notice us on their news stations! 

Hope and LAPhoenix - Thanks for the great ideas as well!

Bren

Hi Felicia,

We're gonna use you!!! 

Tami, Melissa and the Mods are working on it and trying to find the best way to set this up.  Won't be long now.  Also, I talked with Rick Merryman, Chief, Division of Park Programs last week about the date at the Mall.  They're working on this as well.  He's going to call me back on Tues.  Sheesh ... they've already cashed the check I sent them for the permit fees!! 

Thanks so much for your offer ... you rock and roll!

Bren

Speaking of Komen . . . I noticed that they had their national cancer walk in D.C. in early June 07--50,000 on the Mall.  I don't know if they do one in D.C. every year, and if it's always in June, but there might be a timing conflict.  

There was an article in the LA Times recently about a prostate cancer group that protested in front of the FDA and got media attention that way.  They were protesting a specific drug-related issue, but it might be something to consider.   

Amy

Bren,

Here's the Times article. 

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-prostate31dec31,1,1894021,full.story?coll=la-headlines-health

Yeah, it would be nice if we had a specific issue to protest in front of the National Cancer Institute or FDA, since they're the ones who are funding, researching and developing the drugs and therapies.  I'll do some poking around to see if there's anything promising.    

Amy

I haven't checked this thread for awhile and scanned through but did not see if a date (month/year) was decided.  Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, I'll be there no matter the date!

I, too, am excited about this MOW.  I appreciate all the hard work and hassle that y'all are willing to endure.  You are awesome.

Good morning. Im still thinking this is such a wonderful project and might be getting the energy to march with all of you.

Bren:  thank you very much.  I am now singing the yellow rose of texas and its only 7 am.

Nicki (aka chemosabi)

Wow--This is really going to become a reality thanks to all your dedication.

Denisa--I think your idea of a sea of black with the camo-ribbons would make a great stark visual statement about the reality of this horror.

If you are still considering different months I would suggest May.

There are many of us battling side effects of medicines and debilitation.

How is the heat and humidity in DC in June?

I hope I can join you.

Denisa - Thanks for your support!!  Yippee!  More gals on board!!!  Your suggestions were great.  Diane aka badboob is working on the t-shirts.  We'll get you two together.

Pearl - Great thinking.  Already checked into different funds.  Agree with you 100%.  I won't make any moves in that direction until we get a day, get a little more organized, more info on different funds and a consensus about even starting a fund.  An idea to think about would be a board of directors type of thing with a handful of folks from varying backgrounds.  Perhaps set the fund up as an ongoing thing so we can have the March each year.  Just throwing ideas out. 

Saluki - I'll look into May dates too.  Didn't hear back from the Park man, so I'll need to f/u this week. 

Thanks everyone,

Bren

PS -Has anyone heard from Bimmer lately? 

Ladies I believe the Komen National walk will be on Saturday June 7th.  The Komen Champions for the Cure will be during the week leading up to that date.

Hey All.........Canadian girl right behind you on this. I posted in another thread that pink has got to go!!! It's just to "pretty" and detracts from the ugliness underneath.......I guess pink makes it not look so bad but they need a big eye opener! Boy, it should be a nation wide march and hopefully one day across the continent! Take control of what we can......make voices be heard and people be seen.....Take off the pink!!! How about posting on facebook to......many users there! Good luck and I'll be watching if it catches on here too!

Bren,AND valerie,

Don't forget I am In Also Sweety!

Don't know what I can do to help, But will do anything I can!

Puppy

Have you heard from the parks dept?