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.