 Camden residents answered the Call to Service at a standing room only Summit on April 1 held at the Rutgers-Camden campus. Citizens turned out to get the knowledge and power they need to save their city (watch interview). Camden Mayor Dana Redd called Camden citizens to service in an inspiring keynote address. She urged citizens to get involved and apply for appointed office positions including the Camden school board. "I am truly encouraged by all that I see, and I know that you are not only going to answer the call, but you are going to make a difference in the city of Camden" said Mayor Redd. (Watch Mayor Redd's speech)
Former Governor Jim Florio, a Camden Native, received the Alain Daniels Civic Responsibility Award, and gave an inspiring speech that received a standing ovation from the crowd of over 300. Florio said "There is a need to cultivate traits to deal with these unique times. A need for intellectual courage, the ability to question. The ability to have an inquiring mind, the ability to question traditional wisdom, which is sometimes more about tradition than it is about wisdom." (Watch Gov. Florio's speech)
After the inspiring speeches, citizens attended workshops were they stayed well past the event ending time, asking questions and handing in pledge cards to take the next step and become leaders. Photographer John M. Flores came to the Summit and took these great shots. Click here to check out the photo album. 
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Studies show the wasteful practice of pay to play is declining in NJ |
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Studies show that The Citizens Campaign State Pay-to-Play Reform Law is having a significant impact. As reported in the Star Ledger and every major newspaper, for the fifth year in a row political contributions by contractors have dramatically decreased to a total of 40% since our State law went into effect. Contractor contributions are at an all-time low. Pay-to-play is when a company uses political donations to win government contracts, so the awarding may not be based on merit and best price.
 The Citizens Campaign began the Pay to Play reform movement for greater accountability in government contracting more than 10 years ago, and the hard work of hundreds of citizens and our Legal Task Force is paying off. Lauren Skowronski, picture, the Citizens Campaign State Director noted, "Citizens throughout the state who made this movement happen by making presentations and helping in petition drives should be proud of the significant impact their effort has had at reforming the practice of pay to play in our State." More than 100 towns have adopted our model ordinance and our state law is credited as being the strongest law in the nation. Recently, there has been major movement on local Pay-to-Play Reform, with victories in Atlantic City, Paterson, Lawnside, and Camden. You can propose Pay to Play reform, just visit the People's Tool Kit and contact Lauren at lauren@thecitizenscampaign.com for support from the Citizens Campaign.
Now citizens are taking this proven formula for success and applying it to reforming how insurance contracts are awarded. Visit the People's Tool Kit to download the local insurance reform presentation kit, and help clean up insurance contracting just like you did with government contracting.
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Citizens Campaign Chair says its time to "Get up offa that thang" |
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Members of the Citizens Campaign's leadership have personally spearheaded insurance contracting reform in their own backyards and the results are savings projected in the millions that are helping their towns to avoid service cuts. Robert Shinn, the Co-Chair of Camden County, took charge in Cherry Hill and Frank Kenny, co-chair of Ocean County, took charge in Toms River.
A Gannet news article published on April 4th describes the successful initiative for insurance contracting reform that the Citizens Campaign Chairman Harry Pozycki facilitated in his hometown of Perth Amboy. A group of residents came together as Citizen Legislators, and proposed a model Insurance Reform to the school board. The model resolution was developed by the Citizens Campaign's Law and Policy Task Force, empowering citizens to take charge and get results by cutting waste in school district insurance contracts. The measure was adopted by the school board and is projected to save Perth Amboy $3 million.
 "The Citizens Campaign offers tools and training and expert coaches to help anyone with the gumption to take charge and get results," Pozycki said, pictured. Quoting James Brown, Pozycki urged his fellow citizens to "Get Up Offa That Thang" as he called on all followers of the Citizens Campaign community to step up and take charge and propose the model insurance reform to their school boards. Seize the opportunity before school boards budgets are voted on April 27th to propose this cost cutting measure. Download the Model Local Insurance Reform Kit now. Sign up to present the insurance reform at the next school board meeting. Contact Lauren at lauren@thecitizenscampaign.com for support in making a presentation.
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You don't need to be an elected official to get things done! |
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Most people do not know that beyond voting, there are things they can do as citizens to get results on the issues they care about. Our new brochure helps to illustrate with examples how using our tools and training, you don't need to be an elected official to get things done. If we can empower more people with this knowledge, New Jersey will be able to solve its problems and become an example for the Nation. Click here to view the brochure online now! Forward it to a friend, or your staff. Spread the Word! |
May 16th Celebration of Service honoring Gov. Byrne and Kean |
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Perhaps the states most outstanding and longest serving examples of civic service, Former Governors Brendan Byrne and Tom Kean, will be honored for their substantial and continuous support of The Citizens Campaign's mission to build a democracy for the 21st century. The Citizens Campaign will present its awards to them at a cocktail celebration at The Palace at Somerset Park on Monday May 16th at 6:30pm. Join us in appreciating their support. Come and celebrate their service!
Governor Byrne, pictured, called 1300 citizens to service last June at the Jersey Call to Service Summit (see pictures). He has kicked off virtually every major event of the Citizens Campaign over the last 6 years, inspiring citizens to get involved, while creating a fun warm atmosphere that gets citizens motivated and feeling good. We appreciate his great speeches at our events.
Governor Kean, pictured, helped bring credibility to the movement for citizen empowerment, by writing a compelling review of the Citizens Campaign's civic empowerment book, The Citizens Manual, "The Citizen's Manual charts the course for constructive citizenship and the fulfillment that comes with it." Most recently he has been a spokesperson for The Citizens Campaign's Call to Service on the radio and TV (watch) , and can be seen bidding people to Answer the Call on a New Jersey Turnpike Billboard near Exit 11 Southbound. Governor Kean has described the Call to Service as critical to the survival of our democracy. |
Felix Moulier joins The Citizens Campaign
as the new South Jersey Coordinator |
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Felix Molier, pictured greeting Governor Jim Florio at the Camden Call to Service Summit on April 1, has joined the Citizens Campaign staff as the new South Jersey field organizer. A Camden native, he helped organize the huge turnout for the Camden Summit. "I really sensed there was a absence of role models in Camden. That is why I decided to get involved. I try to motivate as many people as possible by leading by example. I am a strong believer in Cornel West's Quote ""You can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people if you don't serve the people." I love the people of my hometown and serve them as much as I can. I would love to make Camden a model for other post industrial cities to follow, that is what I want to achieve." Felix can be reached at Felix@thecitizenscampaign.com or 856-979-6915. |
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Visit the website or our Facebook page to find and share information about upcoming events!
Wed April 13 6:30pm Palmyra Call to Service Summit
Wed April 20th 10:30am Forum on TownStats.org & the Municipal Budget Process
Wed April 27th 6:30pm Trenton Call to Service Event
Mon May 16th 6:30pm Celebration of Service, The Palace at Somerset Park
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Check out the Citizens Campaign's Hyperlocal News Sites
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