Friday, March 23, 2012

English Conversation Time held every Friday at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall at Christ Presbyterian Church (944 East Gorham Street). This informal and cross-cultural gathering gives you the unique opportunity to have meaningful interactions with international students studying in Madison. A light refreshment and childcare will be provided. Contact Jean-Rene at 257-4845 with questions.

This Saturday, The Madison Instiute will hold a Progressive Roundtable book review and discussion on John Nichols book, "The 'S' Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism." The discussion leader will be Ted Kinnaman. He will review how Nichols traces American radicalism from Tom Paine up to the present, and how early radical ideas took on what we today call socialism.  Nichols makes a persuasive case for the persistence of socialist values throughout our history. The talk is 9:30-11:30 AM at the Capitol Lakes Retirement Community located at 333.W. Main St. Parking is free. For more information, call 438-4178.

An upcoming community meeting will feature a presentation by professional hydro-geologist Peter Taglia on possible solutions and challenges posed by groundwater contamination from the closing Badger Army Ammunition Plant.   The community meeting will be held at the Sauk City Public Library on Saturday morning from 9:30 to 11 am.  The event is hosted by Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger.   The meeting will help community members develop their own comments which must be submitted in writing by April 2 to Jeff Ackerman at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53711 or email Jeff.Ackerman@wisconsin.gov . For more information contact Laura at 643-3124.

This Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Alliant Energy Center, Exhibition Hall, ‘Fighting Bobfest’ Convenes.  The focus of this event will be "The Tin Cup Movement." We will start by discussing and attempting to pass a “Tin Cup” platform. We will call on all gubernatorial and state Senate recall candidates to campaign on this platform and stand up for our democracy. Each candidate will be given the opportunity to speak on these issues and will be asked to answer questions. For information go to fightingbob.com.

Help Primates Incorporated raise funds by attending their garage sale fundraiser on Sunday, at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood center on 953 Jenifer St from 7am to 3pm. There will be a variety of items for sale, including note cards, household items, toys, games, and more! Proceeds will benefit Primates Incorporated, the nonprofit organization raising funds to construct an enriching and spacious primate sanctuary in Wisconsin.  Contact Amy Kerwin at 220-2166 for more information.

Class Struggle Lecture Series presents: Protest Versus Power.  Workers in the private and public sector are feeling the economic downturn while students are feeling the crunch of rising fees and privation on campus.  Protesting has not yielded the desired results nor will the recall campaign reverse the contradictions in the economic system or concretely restore rights. This lecture looks at the economic and political situation in Wisconsin while exploring options for solidarity with an emphasis on building organizational power to confront these circumstances.  Presenter is Anthony Collin, who provides consulting for numerous workplace-organizing campaigns. The lecture is Sunday night from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the UW-Madison, Memorial Library Rm. 126 728 State St. This is a free lecture. Call 620-4991 for more information.