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VANGUARDIANS. ‘The price of freedom is eternal vigilance’ Thomas Jefferson. VANGUARDIANS.
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VANGUARDIANS ‘The price of freedom is eternal vigilance’ Thomas Jefferson
VANGUARDIANS From The Glendale News Press 12-29-2003 “…the beginning of Accountability in Glendale. Claiming that the city needs better oversight to monitor its finances and actions, [Barry Allen] is calling on city residents to form a watchdog group to look into everything, “I think an outside, independent agency that isn't funded by the city; that's funded by a grass-roots initiative, is what we really need.”
VANGUARDIANS The 4 Stages ‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win’ Mahatma Gandhi
VANGUARDIANS Our visionis to live in a Community where all people, regardless of geography, background or economic status, can enjoy accountability, integrity, effectiveness and responsiveness from our elected officials and each of the agency’s departments.
VANGUARDIANSWatching out for our community ‘Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys’P.J.O’Rourke
VANGUARDIANS • Purpose: To Inform, Educate, & Motivate people for their Non-Violent Involvement, Engagement & Advocacy in local government.
VANGUARDIANS Why Vanguardians is needed • Once in office elected officials tend to forget that it is the voters who elected them • Elected officials need to be reminded that we are informed voters • Public Officials need to know they are accountable to the public
VANGUARDIANSAre you treated like this? An opinion should be the result of thought not a substitute for it. Frazz
VANGUARDIANS Ourmissionis to: #1Provide, without bias, the timely dissemination of information and knowledge of government activities to the community and elected officials
VANGUARDIANS Ourmissionis to: #2Build, train and empower a knowledgeable, aware and involved community-wide group to monitor the integrity, performance and responsiveness of elected officials and each of the agency's departments
VANGUARDIANS Ourmissionis to: #3Encourage, by example, a community free to exchange facts and opinions on public issues by facilitating open debate and discussion on the issues
VANGUARDIANS Our missionis to: #4Demand accountability, effectiveness and responsiveness from our government without which there is a system out of control and ripe for corruption
VANGUARDIANS Our missionis to: #5Make government acutely aware there is a community watching, monitoring and measuring their activities
VANGUARDIANS It is our duty to watch over the actions and activities of … government and to insist that, in words as well as in deeds, the interests of our constituency … are served. Honorable Diane E. Watson Member of Congress
VANGUARDIANS The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure.Albert Einstein
VANGUARDIANS Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people. -Henry Clay
VANGUARDIANS Which is worse? Failing to Vote or Failing to be an Informed Voter ‘Why do reason, logic and truth seem to play a diminished role in the way America now makes important decisions?’ Al Gore
VANGUARDIANS Being an informed voter means understanding all the issues and each candidates vision and interests
VANGUARDIANS Issues: • Fiscal Accountability • Enforcing Existing Laws • Reducing Fear of Government • Campaign Finance Reform • Representing the public fairly • Open & Transparent Government • Transportation & Housing • ADA Compliance
VANGUARDIANS Integrity starts with the individual
VANGUARDIANS Benefits • Your Advocate for Accountability • Keeping you ‘in the loop’ • Dissemination of Critical Issues • Knowing where and how your money is being spent • Enjoying a prospering community & leaving it that way for your children and grandchildren
VANGUARDIANS We arenot just a pocket that the government thinks they can keep going deeper into. We don’t complain when water and electric rates go up, or when the telephone, cable and cell phone bill show new taxes and fees. We just shut up and pay. We don’t get new services and the old ones deteriorate. .
VANGUARDIANS The budget is supposed to reflect the vision of the council. But the budget is prepared by Management. We need to look at the expenditures as to what is being funded and who is receiving the funds.
VANGUARDIANS You can participate… • Host Programs • Publicity • Be an Advocate • Fund Raise
VANGUARDIANS • Hosts debates, discussions and trainings, forums on candidates and issues • Disseminates information via Email, Website and Streaming • Engages Government and Community leaders and groups • Promotes Community Outreach
VANGUARDIANS Don’t let this be you…. Get your facts first and then you can distort them as much as you please. Mark Twain
VANGUARDIANSThe Beacon for Accountability Lobbyists: If you can’t eat their meals, drink their liquor, sleep with their women and then vote against them, you have no business being a politician. Jesse Unruh
VANGUARDIANS No job is so simple that it can’t be done wrong
VANGUARDIANS Vanguardians Community Team POB 11202 Glendale, CA 91226 818 243 1502 info@vanguardians.org www.vanguardians.org IRC 501(c)(3)