I have been saving corks for many years thinking I would someday make cork boards for people....and well, I havent so I wanted to find someplace that would use them for something other than landfill.

I found Recork America.....

We are partners in recycling. ReCORK by Amorim (previously ReCORK America) is a natural wine cork recycling program. The ReCORK program is sponsored by Amorim of Portugal, the world's largest producer of natural cork wine closures, SOLE, a leading manufacturer of footwear products, and Amorim’s U.S. sales affiliates – Amorim Cork America and Portocork America. The goal is to recycle corks and to educate and inform our audiences about
 the crucial role cork forests play in curbing climate change....... recycled cork can become flooring tiles, building insulation, automotive gaskets, craft materials, soil conditioner and sports equipment

To locate a drop off location for your corks, visit the Recork America website .

Volunteer Night at the Redwood Empire Food Bank
Thursday, September 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
We need volunteers! We will pack boxes of donated food
assembly-line style. It's a lot of fun and a great way
to meet some new friends and give back to the
community. Spouses, friends and teens over 14 are
all welcome to come help. Please wear close-toed
shoes for warehouse safety.
To sign up or for more information, contact Emily Vincent

emilyvincent@hotmail.com

I was just reading the "Santa Rosa Recycling News" and there was an article about responsible electronic waste recycling.  I started looking at some information online and came across the "60 Minutes" story that aired in November about what REALLY happens to some to the e-waste we think we are recycling.  It's really worth taking a look at, http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4586903n&tag=mncol;txt

I thought this was really beautiful and thought provoking.  Hope you enjoy.

The new Obama Administration has set up a website for people to get connected to the needs of their community (local and global) with usaservice.org. 

This national day of service will fall on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2009 and, unlike past calls to service, President-elect Obama is calling on all Americans to do more than just offer a single day of service to their cities, towns and neighborhoods.  He is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face. This website is designed to help promote these events and for Americans to make their commitments, build communities, find opportunities to serve and share their results. These can be events that engage people in direct service, or bring people together to reflect on Dr. King's legacy and how they can commit to becoming more engaged citizens.

If you are interested in receiving updates about service projects that you can become involved with, you can sign up for information at usaservice.org 

So does anyone have plans?

Here's the movie of the month.  Watch it when you can and comment here.

New for 2009!

 We've talked about it, now's the perfect time to start.  Each month we'll pick a documentary film to watch and then we can talk about it here.   Kind of like a book club, but with movies instead and instead of meeting in person we can talk about it here.  I know a lot of us have been inspired by some great documentaries. Such as An Inconvenient Truth, need I say more?

So for this first month go to the bottom of this page and vote (only once please!) for the movie you think we should all watch.  In about a week I'll post the winner and we can go from there.

 This is open to EVERYONE.

Happy New Years to all!!!

On December 7, we are hosting a Amnesty International Write A Thon at our house from 10 - 1 where we will try to write as many letters as possible in the name of human rights around the world. I hope you can join us.

This will be an adult event so either Cam or I will take the kids out while one of us stays here to write letters. 

December 10--International Human Rights Day--marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can honor this important day by participating in Amnesty International's Global Write-a-thon--the world's largest letter writing event. Write letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders at risk of severe human rights violations. Join thousands of people across the United States and around the world for this monumental event.

Today I participated in my first protest.  Actually my family and I did.  Calvin, the boys and I, went downtown to march in support of gay marriage.  I'm so glad we went.  There was such an outpouring of love and support.  Prop 8 was a big step backwards for gay rights, but I was so impressed with the way this protest was conducted.  One of the main reasons it was organized was to say THANK YOU to the people who voted aganist Prop 8, and in favor of gay marriage.  Everyone we talked to was so kind and so positive.  I know we'll get there.  

This event was a great thing to expose our young boys too.  I want them to know some people are gay, some are straight.  It really doesn't  matter.   I loved that they started doing one of the chants that was done call and response style during the march, just before bed tonight:

WHAT DO WE WANT?

EQUALITY!

WHEN DO WE WANT IT?

NOW!

 (BTW, I have pics from the march on my Facebook page.  Jennifer Wofford Krug.  I have trouble getting my own pics up here.)

I am becoming really passionate about the whole marriage for all issue.  I guess I didn't spend too much thought on it before the election because it seemed like such a "no-brainer" to me.  I was sure Prop 8 would be defeated and that voters would not stand for this backwards step.  

I've often wondered if I were alive during the time Blacks were figiting for basic civil rights, what my role would have been.  Would I have been on the sidelines silently wishing them the best?  Or would I have been out with them helping them to obtain the same rights I enjoyed?

I think this is my chance to do the right thing.  I don't know what to do.  But this weekend I'm going to a march to demonstrate my support.  I will feel priveliged to stand up with the people who just want the same thing I have.  I can be there for support, and I can say, "I'm here to help."

 Here the information about Saturday's event, if you feel moved to join me:

Hello all, Great news. We officially have the permit for Saturday. We will meet on the Eastside of Courthouse Square(4th & Mendocino) at 10AM on Saturday morning and we begin the march at 10:30. We will be marching up 4th, to D, past the state building, and down to the steps of City Hall. We must stay on the sidewalks and observe traffic lights. There is a group which has a permit for Courthouse Square which is not affiliated with our group. We do not wish to disturb them or infringe upon their group (which is going to be on the Westside of the square) as they did have a permit before us. There will be a support group at the Glaser Center located at 547 Mendocino beginning around 12:30. We are able to stay on the steps of city hall until 2pm. A few reminders for the protest: This is a peaceful gathering. Please do not bring signs which will vilify any one group, we are not protesting against any group. We are demonstrating our RIGHT to be married, we are showing that we will not take being second class citizens. We also want to THANK Sonoma County for voting so strongly against Prop 8.  Please do bring: Signs, No on 8 or homemade ( please see Jointheimpact.com for suggestions on this), american flags, & your camera/video camera. I look forward to seeing ALL of you there and let's make this the best rally Sonoma County has seen!  For updates see. http://www.myspace.com/jointheimpactsantarosa

PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA (I love saying that) has a new website now.

Now that we have probably all had a moment to breathe a big sigh of relief after Tuesdays results, we as a country still have tremendous issues we have to deal with. I have been thinking about the promises made to change our health care system, the war in Iraq ending (hopefully soon), national energy changes and the environment.....

Here is a website that outlines the Obama administration's ( I really love saying that) focus and plan to deal with all these issues and more.  I like this website because it gives you the sense at least  of transparency in our government and also makes you feel like your voice and opinion matter to our leaders.

I encourage everyone to take a look around.

So is anyone else out there just a little excited?!

I sure had a nice experience today.  I had my pile of voting information with me and I was looking through it, making my decisions in a coffee house today.  A group of seniors saw what I was doing and were very interested.  We ended up talking about some of the things on the ballot and it was great to hear their perspectives.  Even if we did not agree on every issue, we all shared excitement, and hope about the election tomorrow.