The End Was Near

To the membership: HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A GREAT NEW YEAR! The staff is on vacation and there are no events planned until the Planning Committee meets on Tuesday, Janaury 3rd, 2012 at 2:00p.m. Be safe and think about taking public transit if you party hard.

Thanks to all who came to our "The End Is Near" Holiday/Year-End/Solstice party last week. We had a good time.  Hope you did, too.

The End is Near!!!

Please join the SF Drug Users Union membership, staff and allies at our "The End is Near" Celebration/Party.  Date: Monday, December 19, 2011 Time: 6:00 p.m.- 8:00PM Space: SF Drug Users' Union office, 149 Turk Street, (between. Taylor-Jones) 

SF drug arrests see steep plunge, while violent crime mostly steady | Ari Burack | Local | San Francisco Examiner

SF drug arrests see steep plunge, while violent crime mostly steady Former police Chief George Gascón said he shifted the department’s focus to target midlevel drug dealers and drug offenses linked to violent crimes.
In 2012 drug user activists will try and get the city & county of San Francisco to stop wasting precious tax dollars on the pointless incarceration of low-level drug "offenders".  This is a coordinated campaign state-wide being organized by the Drug Policy alliance. New numbers: San Francisco saw a 25 percent reduction in drug arrests compared to last year. Former police Chief George Gascón said he shifted the department’s focus to target midlevel drug dealers and drug offenses linked to violent crimes.

Last General Meeting of the Year

The San Francisco Drug Users' Union's next General Meeting will be Monday, December 12th, 2011. starting at 5:30p.m.  

Location: 149 Turk Street. If you like a slice or two of pizza, be here at 5:00p.m.

Since this is the last General Meeting of the Year, a membership led review of the year seems appropriate  (what worked, what could be even better than it is); PLUS San Francisco  Drug Users' Union staff update (who is doing what, now; Program Coordinator position depreciated; expanded volunteer involvement, etc).

info@sfdrugusersunion.org to request to be put on the agenda. 

Hope to see you all, Monday. Isaac

creativity = sf drug users union

Healthcare Manual for

Hospitals  by drug users for healthcare

Wednesday, 12/07/11 w/ Brian

HELP archive OUR CREATIVE OUTPUT: on-going  w/ Isaac



Print our logo shirts: make some
Saturday, 12/12/11 w/ Gary around 11:00 a.m..

GENERAL MEETING: Monday, December 12, 2011>>> 5:00p.m.

149 Turk Street: all EVENTS

info@sfdrugusersunion.org

General Meeting, Monday, November 28, 2011

The San Francisco Drug Users' Union's next General Meeting will be Monday, November 28th, 2011. starting at 5:30p.m.  Location: 149 Turk Street. If you like a slice or two of pizza, be here at 5:00p.m.


Agenda items:

• Jeannie Little, Executive Directer of the Harm Reduction Therapy Center (HRTC): presentation on the relationship between HRTC and San Francisco Drug Users' Union. HRTC is our fiscal sponsor.
• Report Backs: Safe Injection Site Working Group, on-going projects with coalition partners, planning committee reports.
• Solstice party in December!!!

  Hope to see you all Monday night.  
   

Events at 149 Turk Street (Week of November 21, 2011)

Dateline: San Francisco, California

Monday: 5:00 p.m. (11/21/2011): The Dope Project's monthly NARCAN training.  Why? Because sometimes we need an 'undo' button. Repeating this training on overdose prevention can never hurt. (Monthly) 

Tuesday 2:00p.m. (11/22/2011): Special Committee on Safe Injection Site/Drug Consumption Room.  This is a SF Drug Users' Union working group tasked with bringing our members up to speed on the state of safe injection site.  This group will host a design competition in early 2012 that will be open to community members, architects and medical professionals,  The winning design will be presented to relevant stake holders (law enforcement, Harm Reductionists, drug users and governmental officials). Open to the all.

Tuesday 3:300p.m. (11/22/2011):The Group with No Name or Agenda: Free-form Harm Reduction  discussion facilitated by SFDUU member, Johnny.  (This is a weekly event) for members

SF Drug Users' Union: General Meeting

Monday, November 14, 2011

• Report Backs: International reform Conference; 

• November 17th Benefit at Buck's Tavern

• Other issues of interest for our community

SF Drug Users Union office: 149 Turk Street, San Francisco,

Pizza/gathering: 5:00pm Meeting: 5:30p.m. - 6:30p.m.

Planning Committee Meeting, November 8th, 2011

Say, what? Planning Committee meets Tuesday, November 8th
Where: San Francisco Drug Users' Union office, 149 Turk Street, SF. CA .
When: 2:00pm.  Planning Committee meetings are open to anyone who has attended at least two general meetings.

Our weekly Harm Reduction drop-in group starts immediately after at 3:30pm.

Hope to see you there.

Gone Fishin' (but not phising)

The San Francisco Drug Users' Union office will be closed the week of Monday, October 31 until November 7th.  Look for us at the reForm conference in Los Angeles.  Have a Happy Halloween!!

When one door closes

be sure it is really locked!! Seriously, though...Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 3:30pm is the new time for our Harm Reduction Support Group (aka The Group With No Nsme or Agernfas).

October General Meeting set for October 10, 2011

Please join us for pizza and community organizing on drug policy issues with a  San Francisco focus.  The SF Drug Users Union is a membership organization giving a voice to drug users and their allies.    Sf Drug Users' Union members are working locally within the context of a growing political consensus that the war on drugs has been a huge failure that in fact causes more harm than good.   Our General Meetings is a friendly and democratic environment where we figure out together the best way forward based on what we've already accomplished as a community of users and allies.

Don't get hung up on whether or not you've ever been to one of our events before because if  you've survived another drug war day; another day of stigmatization from neighbors who know everything except who you are - then you already have the knowledge to get active. .  And yeah, wouldn't it be wonderful if those "drug user experts in the community" could also stop reading the crime blotter and start reading the US Constitution, but as we all know,  its not about them. Earth to California, this issue is about us drug users.  Continue to ignore them, but never take your personal  power, and our collective potential, for granted. Unless, of course, you are happy with the world as it is.  Then link here.  Everyone else, read on:


Nothing about us, without us!   So come on down to our office at 149 Turk and let's get it done right.. Maybe we didn't start this war on drugs, but we sure as hell can stop it.

Our General Meetings start at 5:00pm as an informal gathering (with a light dinner) then at 5:30pm,, the business meeting begins and usually last an hour.  We have many more events through out each month, so be sure to pick up a monthly schedule and get on our email list serv for events that  just can't wait a whole month for your interest and involvement (see sidebar).

: [SF Drug Users' Union] Upcoming events at 149 Turk Street (When hours feel like minutes or vice versa)

 

Monday: 5:00 pm (09/19/2011): The Dope Project's monthly NARCAN training.  Why? Because sometimes we need an 'undo' button. Repeating this training on overdose prevention can never hurt. (Monthly)

Tuesday 2:00 pm: (09/20/2011): Planning Committee Meeting.  Our decision making group of members and staff. Must have attended at least two general meetings in 2011 before coming to this one. (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month)
Wednesday: 5:00pm (09/21/2011): The Group with No Name or Agenda: Free-form Harm Reduction  discussion facilitated by SFDUU member, Johnny.  (This is a weekly event) for membvers


Monday 5:00pm (09/26/2011): Pizza/social gathering followed by....
Monday 5:30pm (09/26/2011): General Meeting. (2nd and 4th Mondays of every month)
Wednesday 2:30pm (09/28/2011): Special Workshop: How To Talk To the Media and Be Heard
(Event does not repeat)
Other stuff: Drop -In, Turn Up, Speak Out!!
Office Hours (149 Turk Street, SF, CA): Monday / Tuesdays: 2:00pm - 5:30, Wednesday 2:00pm - 5:00pm.  Come down, drop-in, turn up to talk, t-shirts. volunteer, coffee etc. Other days by appointment:

BEING STRANGE - THAT'S OK.  BEING A STRANGER, NOT!

- SF Drug Users' Union

149 Turk Street , San Francisco, CA

June 17th photos

Harm Reduction Therapy Discussion Group Today at 5:30pm

Drug Courts don't work.  Read this and reduce the harm.  To read this link get a sfdrugusersunion.org email address by emailing isaac@sfdrugusersunion.org

Early August meeting schedule for SFDUU

Monday, August 15th, 5:30pm
NEW MONTHLY EVENT: NARCAN Training with the DOPE Project
Come learn how to prevent, and if necessary, rescue people from the throes of opioid overdose. Upon completion of this short training you wil receive NARCAN to administer in case of emergencies involving folks overdosing on opiods. This event is open to everyone who cares about drug users and wants to stop deaths resulting from drug overdoses.


Tuesday, August 16th 2:00 pm
Planning Committee , 
 Among many topics of discussion will be "What will be the best way to provide clean needle access to the community from our office"?
We ask you to have attended two General meetings before attending this meeting. Our next General meeting is August 22, 5:30pm

Wednesday. August 17th - NEW!!!! The Group with No Name:  
Harm Reduction process group facilitated by John  5:30 pm

Stop by and say 'hey' or whatever else is on your mind during our regular office hours: Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday 2:00-5:00 pm

 

General Meeting tonight @ 17:30. Needle xchange, new groups, pizza. SF Drug Users' Union, 149 Turk. No more drug war!!

General Meeting FAQ's

 SF Drug Users' Union hosts two General Meetings (on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month).  If you want to get involved in drug user activism, our general meetings are great way to begin. When? July 11th and 25th. We begin at 5:30pm Where? 149 Turk Street (near Jones).

We welcome everybody who wants to help End the War on Drugs and the harmful consequences of stigmatization and a failed drug war..  Meetings are facilitated by our membership and staff and we do everything possible to give everyone a chance to be heard or ask questions during the meeting. So join us on Monday, July 11, at 5:30pm, 149 Turk Street. Time: 5:30pm.  

Art Against War: San Francisco Artists Respond to The War on Drugs

Art Against War: San Francisco Artists Respond to The War on Drugs: a visual exhibit of  contemporary art (through the September 1, 2011). SF Drug Users Union Hall, 149 Turk Street).

The SF Drug Users' Union is funded through private foundations and is not affiliated with any government program or agency.  
Office Hours: M-F 2-5:00pm (or by appt,) 149 Turk Street, SF,CA 94102
SF Drug Users Union (a membership non-profit organization) is closed to the public on Thursdays and Fridays, when we hold meetings and activities related to its staff/membership, community outreach  and general office maintenance. Closed Saturday & Sunday.  For more information: isaac@sfdrugusersunion.org

When in the Course of human events,...

Hope everybody enjoyed the great weather this Fourth of July Holiday weekend.  Those who do not like our typically cold San Francisco summers certainly had things to their liking these past few days.

Summer is not the only thing the SFDUU is welcoming, as we begin a new month (July). We have new staff member.  Lydia joined us a few weeks ago as our new coordinator.  I know you are going to like her and give her all your support as she grows into the position.  Lydia comes to us with an activist background and many great ideas so stay tuned.

Planning Committee Meeting, Tuesday, July 5 2:00 pm - Drug Users Union office, 149 Turk Street.  Topics: preparation for our meeting with the Mental Health professionals at SF General Hospital on Thursday, July 7th at 2:00pm and  our on-going discussion on our by-laws and high-laws. You must attend this meeting or meet with someone who attends this meeting in order to attend the Thursday meeting. Sorry for the short notice, but we did discuss this a week ago at our last General Meeting.  The holiday weekend, and last minute confirmation by SFGH made a more timely notice difficult.  So come Tuesday and help the Union address stigmatization of drug users at the SFGH ER.

General Meeting, Monday, July 11th and July 25th, Drug Users Union office, 149 Turk Street.  Topics: moving forward on our plan for independence; creation our Bd. of Directors, and other items TBA in the coming weeks.  Your input is welcome.   You have the power!  Talk to us: "what you want? what you got?, what you workin' with"??

- Isaac, Senior Peer Organizer, SF Drug Users' Union

GLBT Event, Sunday, June 26th 12-3pm

The Drug Users Union office will be open from 12-3pm Sunday, June 26th, 2011.  so if you are a member or just curious who we are, drop by and see the art show.

More: Stop the Drug War Rally: June 17, 2011

We had a lot of media coverage over the past week and it is hard to pick and choose.  Stop The Drug War was the first media outlet to cover us and for my activist taste, they still have one of the more comprehensive and serious web sites out there.  Comment, below.  Your thoughts are always welcome. Thanks to everybody who helped in anyway, no matter how large or small.  We did It!!!

Bay Area Rises Up to End the Drug War & Mass Incarceration! : Indybay

Bay Area Rises Up to End the Drug War & Mass Incarceration!

On the Anniversary of the War on Drugs, A Group of Admitted Users Battles Back - The Bay Citizen

To the membership and others who have been to our events:  tell us (in the comments section below) if you think this article is an accurate portrayal of who we are..

TOMORROW! 40th Anniversary of the War on Drugs!!

Don't miss out!

- Friday, June 17, noon, SF City Hall, Rally: Community Rising! Solutions to End the War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration! Don't miss this awesome rally/speakout/march on the 40 anniversary of the disastrous War on Drugs! We've been organizing with some amazing allies including OASIS Clinic in Oakland and CURB to put on a great event. Similar event will be occurring across the country. Thanks so much to the Drug Policy Alliance for sponsoring this crucial day of action! **SPREAD THE WORD!!***

-- Friday, June 17, 6-8pm, 149 Turk: Art Reception! Check out the artwork from our Drug War community workshop series!Light refreshments served!

Voices from the Margin: Drug User Activists in the US | Drugreporter

Voices from the Margin: Drug User Activists in the US | Drugreporter

June Events!

It's already JUNE!!! The month of the 40th anniversary of the War on Drugs.

C

Some Upcoming ways to get involved

-> Tuesday, June 7, Planning Committee, 2pm, 149 Turk St: Help us plan outreach for our huge June 17th Rally & Art Reception

-> Wednesday, June 8 & Wednesday June 15 2-5pm, 149 Turk St: Community Arts Workshops- Reflecting on 40 years of a failed drug war and imagining alternative futures! We're halfway through our art workshop series and so far they have been FANTASTIC! Come by to make art for free! Bring a t-shirt and get it silk-screened with our logo! Don't miss out, we only have two more workshops.

-> Monday, June 13, 5:30pm, 149 Turk: General Meeting- We've got a rally to plan, some updates on our hospital campaign and, somehow, it's already my last General Meeting as Coordinator for the Drug Users Union. As always, we'll have food!

-> Friday, June 17, noon, SF City Hall, Rally: Community Rising! Solutions to End the War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration! Don't miss this awesome rally/speakout/march on the 40 anniversary of the disastrous War on Drugs! We've been organizing with some amazing allies including OASIS Clinic in Oakland and CURB to put on a great event. Similar event will be occurring across the country. Thanks so much to the Drug Policy Alliance for sponsoring this crucial day of action! **SPREAD THE WORD!!***

-> -> Friday, June 17, 6-8pm, 149 Turk: Art Reception! Check out the artwork from our Drug War community workshop series! Light refreshments served!

C

Check out our June schedule

May Events!!

We have so many GREAT things coming up this month, from planning & outreach opportunities to movies and art workshops, I hope to see you!

• Wednesday May 11, 2pm, 149 Turk St: June 17 Rally/Community Art workshop Planning Meeting June 17th is the 40th anniversary of the day Nixon declared a War on Drugs, and the Drug Users' Union along with other organizations nation-wide are planning a day of action to reflect, mourn, and imagine alternative futures! We are planning two events: a rally in conjunction with other Bay Area groups around the obscene cost of incarcerating drug users, and a series of community arts workshops to reflect on the Drug War culminating in an evening reception. Please join us tomorrow to plan! The Drug Policy Alliance has given us a grant to organize these events!

• Friday May 13, 3pm, 149 Turk St: Interview Committee Meeting If you are interested in helping us choose a new coordinator for the Drug Users' Union, come on Friday to help chose questions and criteria. If you want to take part in the interviews, please come Friday or email me!

• Tuesday, May 17, 2pm, 149 Turk St: Planning Committee

• Tuesday, May 17, 6pm, SF AIDS Foundations, 1035 Market St Suite 400- Movie Night with the Speed Project! Showing: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

• Saturday, May 21, 12-2pm, outside 149 Turk: Sidewalks are for People! Protest the Sit/Lie Law! Just like last year, we'll be hanging out on the sidewalk, eating cookies and protesting the criminalization of poor people & drug users! Other events are planned in protest across San Francisco & Berkeley (http://sidewalksareforpeople.org/sidewalks-are-for-people-may-22-2011/)

• Monday, May 23, 5:30pm, 149 Turk St: General Meeting!

• Wednesday May 25, June 1, June 11 & June 18, 3-5pm, 149 Turk St, Community Arts Workshops to reflect on the War on Drugs, more info TBA

• Tuesday, May 31, 2pm: Planning Committee

General Meeting, Monday, May 9th, 2011

James Tracy, community organizer extraordinaire, is scheduled to lead us in a training at the SF Drug Users Union. Where: at the Union office (149 Turk Street, between Taylor & Jones), Monday, May 9th.  Time: 5:30pm What will be the focus of this training?: How to utilize our elected officials in creating social change that benefits our community. Is he the same guy that worked with us last year?  Yes, since then he was published a book, been the lead organizer on the Good Neighbor community organizing effort and has created a special presentation just for our group.  Will the Drug Users Union staff be there?  Of course, no staff, no pizza. Alexandra and Gary will be on hand to facilitate and welcome James to our office.  Umm, what about Isaac...what's up with that? Isaac begins his stint as a member of the Mayor's Task Force on HEP C.  They meet on the second Monday of each month.  Since this is the first session, Isaac, regrettably, couldn't miss it.   Does that mean Isaac is going to miss every other General meeting from now on?  Hopefully not.  Isaac has asked Alexandra to explain the importance of being a member of this organization and to lead the group in voting to change our meetings to Wednesdays  Mondays are not good for other reasons. Having to publicize and do Outreach over the weekend when many places are closed is difficult.  Another reason is as the weather gets nicer, our Outreach staff would like to occasionally have a weekend for themselves to recharge with  their imaginary talking animal friends, who upon waking up from a long, restful winter of hibernation can grumpy without Isaac or Gary to talk to.

San Francisco Drug Users' Union Meeting Schedule (late April)

Planning Committee meeting: Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 - 2:00 pm
General Meeting: Monday, April 25th, 2011 - 5:30 pm Where: 149 Turk Street (between Jones and Taylor)

Facebook | San Francisco Drug Users' Union

Visit our Facebook page and join an on-line conversation with other drug user activists.

4/20 the event!!!

The Drug Users' Union is looking for members to attend the 4/20 celebrations this month...all who wish to attend the event e-mail Gary West , at Gwest@sfdrugusersunion.org . ,and the details can be worked out. Or stop by the Union office to meet in person.

San Francisco Drug Users' Union Meeting Schedule (early April)

• Tuesday, April 5, 2:00pm - Planning Group Meeting: at this meeting, we will work on drafting a document that will formalize our organization's accountability to the membership, as well describe a set of reasonable expectations our membership should expect from each other. (SFDRUU members only)
• Monday, April 11, 5:30pm - General Meeting (Open to the general public)

NEWSFLASH (introducing our newest staff member)

good evening mr and missus tweekers and all ships Lost in space ......dateline San Francisco..........a new soldier has been recruited into the epic, as well as titanic, struggle for the freedom to screw up our lives in what ever chemical way seems best for us..... introducing a man who has struggled up from nothing to a state off complete obscurity, who has succeeded no where else( to the relief off all and can take charge off things, with no idea what is going on, this person is the new peer_organizer for da union and future ruler off the world gary west. To fight this holy crusade against the failed drug war the following authorities have been delegated to him 1, outreach....placing fliers on the streets and delivering them to other organizations, 2) Membership engagement.....union unity aka membership cards, newsletters, etc. 3) planning social events .......4/20.....-party!!!!!! 4) RESEARCHING ........(to be continued)

The real dope on San Francisco Drug Users Union | Melissa Griffin | Columnists | San Francisco Examiner

 The real dope on San Francisco Drug Users Union | Melissa Griffin | Columnists | San Francisco Examiner

The SFExaminer published this article without speaking to any of our members.

February Events

Here are the events for the remainder of February! Hope to see you!

• General Meeting: Monday, February 14, 5:30pm, 149 Turk St We will have an outreach training, speak with Laura Thomas from the Drug Policy Alliance about their upcoming Conference in LA this fall, and announce our new peer organizer!
• Planning Committee: Tuesday, February 22, 2pm, 149 Turk St We will be planning for our upcoming meeting with San Francisco General Hospital!
• General Meeting: Monday, February 28, 5:30pm, 149 Turk St

We are in the office Monday-Wednesday from 10-5, stop by!
For more information on this meeting follow this link.

Meet our new District 6 Supervisor: Jane Kim

Jane Kim participated in our District 6 Voter's Forum that we co-sponsored with the Drug Policy Alliance last fall.  Now that the voters have decided on who will represent District 6, let's come together and welcome Jane Kim to our community. When: January 31, 2011 Where: SF Drug Users' Union office, 149 Turk Street, Time: 10:30 a.m.

General Meeting, Monday, January 24, 2011

Our second general meeting of the new year takes place this coming Monday at our office.  We welcome all current members as well as interested folks who might want to check out us out.  Join the growing world-wide movement of drug user activists.  


Tip O' Week: Where's the good stuff on the east coast? Click on this!

January 2011

We’re back from the holiday merriment and are pleased to announce that there are plenty of things to do for the local drug user activist around town.  Undoubtedly, the best place to start will be the San Francisco Drug Users’ Union.

General membership Meetings are twice a  month (2^nd and 4^th Mondays), so that means Monday, January 10^th and 24^th, respectively.

Time: 5:30 p.m...

Location: San Francisco Drug Users’ Union. Office, 149 Turk St. (near Jones)

SFDUU general meetings open to the public, however voting is limited to members.  For more information, contact Isaac or Alexandra.  Hope to see there,