Monday, January 1: State Senator Emily Couric (D-Charlottesville) and Richmond attorney Larry Framme take office as Co-Chairs of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Wednesday, January 3: The League of Women Voters of Charlottesville/Albemarle County is hosting its annual "Legislative Luncheon" at 12:00 noon at the Boar's Head Ballroom. State Senator Emily Couric, Delegate Paul Harris, and Delegate Mitch Van Yahres will be on hand to give a preview of the upcoming legislative session and to answer questions.

The League hosts this annual event in an effort to give the public an opportunity to talk directly to state legislators and to learn what issues will be on the 2001 legislative agenda.

All members of the community are invited. Cost of the luncheon, prepared by Boar's Head, is $20 non-members, $15 members. (A vegetarian entrée is available; please request when making your reservation). To make a reservation, call the League office at 970-1707 and leave a message or e-mail lwv@avenue.org.

Please make your reservations by Friday, December 29th. Cancellations/refunds cannot be processed after the reservation deadline.

Friday, January 5: March and protest at the nation's capitol as Congress counts the votes of electors.

Friday, January 5: Senator Emily Couric, Delegate Paul Harris, Delegate Mitch Van Yahres, and President Casteen will share their viewpoints about issues facing the 2001 General Assembly including those that impact the future on higher education in the Commonwealth -- at 12 noon at Newcomb Hall Theater at the University of Virginia.

For more information, call 804-924-3377.

Saturday, January 6: Bob Gibson's 'Talkback' show airs on Saturdays from 10-11 a.m. The show is available on the Internet to listeners and callers anywhere. Callers can question guests by calling 804-977-1070 after 10:05 a.m.

This Saturday's guest is state Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke and a candidate for attorney general.

Sunday, January 7: On his Sunday radio show from 11am -12 noon on WNRN 91.9, Rick Moore will feature Mitch Van Yahres and Emily Couric talking about the upcoming General Assembly session.

WNRN can be heard over the Internet at www.rlc.net.

Monday, January 8: The next meeting of the Virginia Pro-Choice Alliance will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood offices at 3415 Floyd Avenue in Richmond.

Wednesday, January 10: The Virginia General Assembly Convenes.

The 2001 session of the Virginia General Assembly is expected to be a hotbed of legislative activity attempting to restrict the reproductive rights of Virginians.

Wednesday, January 10: Experts from Charlottesville, Albemarle and surrounding counties will participate in a panel, "Voting Machines: Does Equipment Make a Difference?", between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Northside Library in Albemarle Square in Albemarle County, Virginia.

The talk is sponsored by the Senior Statesmen of Virginia and the public is invited.

Friday, January 12: Lee-Jackson Day.

NOTE: "Virginia began naming days after its Confederate heroes in 1889, more than two decades after the Civil War ended, when the legislature established Robert E. Lee Day on his birthday, Jan. 19. Jackson, whose birthday was Jan. 21, was added to Lee's day in 1904.

In 1978, the state decided that [Martin Luther] King, who was born Jan. 15, would have New Year's Day named in his honor. Then in 1984, two years before Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a national holiday, Virginia legislators stiched the three men's names together on a single day on which they were to be remembered and revered as 'defenders of causes.'

Last January, in his State of the Commonwealth speech, Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) proposed separate Lee-Jackson and King holidays. The General Assembly ratified his plan during last year's session" (Carol Morello, The Washington Post, January 15, 2001).

Saturday, January 13: The Blue Ridge Irish Music School will be performing a concert of Irish traditional music and dance at the Starr Hill Music Hall from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Starr Hill is located at 709 W. Main St. in Charlottesville (across from the train station). Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $8.00, and will be available in advance and at the door. All proceeds benefit the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. To reserve tickets, or for more information, please call Lori Madden at 804-823-2122.

These energetic performers/ students, who range in age from 7 through 19, will be showcasing tunes, dances and tales from their April 2000 study trip to Ireland. They will be joined on stage by instructors Sara Read, Tes Slominski and Rob Greenway (of the Irish traditional band "Roaring Mary"), as well as some new faces. This fun, exhilarating and inspiring show is the Blue Ridge Irish Music School's thank-you to the supportive community which sent them on their study trip to Ireland. Come join us on January 13th for "The Blue Ridge Irish Music School in Concert: We're Back from Ireland and Better than Ever!"

Sunday, January 14: A friend and advisor of Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Gardner Calvin Taylor will be the keynote speaker at the local Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration at the Charlottesville Performing Arts Center at 5 p.m.

Taylor is senior pastor emeritus of the Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he served as pastor for 42 years before retiring in 1990.

Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King Day.

Monday, January 15: Monday may be a state holiday, but for people concerned about Virginia's natural resources, it will be a lobby day sponsored by the VirginiaConservation Network.

The Day will begin at 11 a.m. at St Paul's Episcopal Church, Grace and 9th Streets, across from Capitol Square. You can join to hear about environmental legislation (bills that are good for the environment and bills designed to curtail environmental protection or public participation), learn about the legislative process and then speak to the House and Senate Budget Committees on state budget concerns and visit your legislator.

At the end of the day, there will be a legislative reception for the environmental community and legislators. Parking is available in St. Paul's garage, entrance on 8th Street.

Wednesday, January 17: Virginia Death Penalty Awareness Day will be held at the Capitol in Richmond. This date coincides with the resumption of executions in 1977 when Gary Gilmore was executed in Utah.

There will have a briefing on the Bills that will be brought up in this years' session at 10:30. (Place to be announced) At 11:30 there will be the traditional rally in front of the General Assembly Building at 9th and Grace St. Afterwards participants will head to the Gallery of the House of Delegates where they will be recognized as a group by the members while in session. After lunch plan on meeting with your legislators and/or their aids in their offices.

For more information, contact Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty at 804-263-8148.

Thursday, January 18: The Arkansas State Society Inaugural Gala honoring President Bill Clinton, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Blanche Lincoln, Senator Tim Hutchinson, Congressman Vic Snyder, Congressman Asa Hutchinson, Congressman Marion Berry, and Congressman Mike Ross will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2001 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill.

Thursday, January 18: Two days before the presidential inauguration, an outpouring of flowers and cards sent from people of all walks of life, from all over the United States, will be arriving at the Vice President's residence [Naval Observatory, 34th and Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC], addressed to: Tipper Gore, "the people's choice for First Lady."

This expression has grown from a small, grass roots discussion group into an action that will involve hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people. Several members of the group, Citizens for Legitimate Government, decided they wanted to find a way to show support, love and gratitude for what Tipper Gore has endured these last weeks. This effort is a symbolic gesture to let her know that in their hearts, she is, and always will be, the "People's Choice for First Lady".

This group believes that had the votes that have now been counted been "rightfully" certified, that Tipper Gore would be the woman standing beside the man that will be sworn in as president on January 20th, and that man would be Al Gore.

Anyone interested in joining this project to send flowers and/or cards to Tipper Gore can visit the web site at http://www.FlowersforTipper.com for more information and to find florists in the DC area who have been alerted to this project.

Friday, January 19: Deadline for applying to participate in The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership¹s Candidate Training Program.

The Candidate Training Program is an intensive three-day program, designed to provide new candidates with the basics of running an effective and ethical campaign. Past workshops have included sessions by UVa political analyst Larry Sabato, well-known Democratic pollster Alan Secrest, and Republican strategist Ray Allen. In addition to sessions on the nuts and bolts of campaigning, the program includes presentations and discussions about campaign ethics. The program provides candidates with a framework for answering the tough ethical dilemmas that they will face as they run. Then, through case studies and group discussion, candidates apply that framework to real campaign scenarios. Unlike most candidate training programs, the Sorensen Institute¹s program is non-partisan and non-ideological.

The Candidate Training Program is open to all novice candidates who are committed to running in 2001. While first-time candidates are given top priority, others will be considered and are encouraged to apply.

The Candidate Training Program will be held February 16-18, 2001 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For more information call (804) 982-4943 or Dale Lawton at (804) 982-4998 or email Lawton@virginia.edu.

There is no cost for candidates accepted to participate. Currently, all program costs are covered through a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. This includes room and board for the two nights and three days of the program in Charlottesville.

Friday, January 19: The 2001 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel from 7:00 PM till 2:00 AM.

Entertainment confirmed as of November 3, 2000 for the 2001 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball includes: Clint Black & Lisa Hartman, Asleep at the Wheel, Tanya Tucker, Lee Greenwood, Mark Chesnutt, Marcia Ball, AZTEX, Reckless Kelly, Duck Soup, Gary P. Nunn, and Blame it on Jane.

Corporate Sponsors as of October 1, 2000 included:

$50,000 Lone Star Partners: TXU, BP Amoco, Enron, Verizon, Reliant Energy, Raytheon, and Nokia.

$25,000 Silver Spur Partners: Texaco Southern Company, Wells Fargo (2), Burlington Northern, Motorola, CC Distributors, Duke Energy, DRS Technologies, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Transcore, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., American Gas Association, The Boeing Company, Edison Electric Institute (2), American Electric Power, VISA USA, American Assn. of Health Plans, Stewart & Stevenson, Ashland, Inc., NCR Government Systems, Austin Republican Women -- Member Texas Federation of Republican Women, American Association of Nurse Anesthestists.

$10,000 Cowboy Partners: Calpine Central, Pharmacia & Upjohn Co., Brown & Williamson Tobacco, Nuclear Energy Institute, Conoco, UST Public Affairs Inc., Henry Gandy, EDS, Monsanto Company, National Retail Federation, Brown & Williamson Tobacco, Entergy, Syngenta Corp., R. Duffy Wall & Associates, Republic Resources L.L.C., Associated Builders & Contractors, Texas Instruments Inc., Honeywell, Microsoft Corp., Quinn Gillespie & Associates L.L.C., AdvaMed, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assoc.

"In a departure from years past, there will be no star-studded presidential gala on the night before the swearing-in. The hot ticket that night will likely be the Texas State Society's Black Tie and Boots bash at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, which has been planned for eight months and will feature top country-western acts" (Roxanne Roberts and Alan Sipress, The Washington Post, December 22, 2000).

According to Rick Meyers, co-chairman of the ball, the food will include "6,000 pounds of beef brisket, 5,000 pounds of smoked ham, 5,000 pounds of chicken, beef and shrimp platters, and 500 pounds of guacamole. All that for more than 8,000 happy people with Texas appetites.

.....

One of the stars of the Texas ball will be Casper, a 7-year-old Brahman bull that is being brought from La Grange, Tex., by his owner, Ralph Fisher. Casper weighs 3,300 pounds but is very tame, Mr. Fisher said, and he expects hundreds of people to sit on the bull or stand next to it for souvenir photos" (Irvin Molotsky, The New York Times, December 31, 2000).

As of January 18, 2001, tickets for the Black Tie & Boots ball were commanding up to $3,000 a ticket. On ebay, tickets for the ball were offered in 39 auctions on Wednesday, January 17th (Donna St. George, The Washington Post, January 18, 2001).

Saturday, January 20: The Albemarle/Charlottesville Democratic breakfast.

Democratic candidates for Virginia Attorney General in 2001 Delegate Donald McEachin and Senator John Edwards and Delegate Whitt Clement and Attorney Sylvia Clute will discuss their campaigns and be available for Q & A at 9:30 a.m. at Jefferson Area Board for the Aging on 674 Hillsdale Drive in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The breakfast is open to the public.

Saturday, January 20: Presidential Inaugural Day.

For information on participating in formal inauguration activities, see the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies web site.

See also www.inauguration-2001.org or www.inauguration-2001.com or call the hotline at 202-484-1771.

Whether you will be celebrating or protesting, please send your comments and pictures to george@loper.org where the most representative will be posted with full attribution.

Saturday, January 20: Don't let the Republicans have all the fun on January 20th! Party with the ADA [Americans for Democratic Action] at their Counter-Inaugural Gala from 7 pm to midnight in the State Room (on the first floor) at The Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

It will feature live music from the Oxymorons, a no-host bar and hors d'oeuvres at $35 a person. And, of course, they promise to party liberally.

For more information, call 202-785-5980.

"The eNaugural.com Ball, dubbed the Dot Com Ball in high-tech circles and a new, fitting gathering for the digital age millennium just begun. Space-age veteran Buzz Aldrin, of Apollo 11, will be honorary master of ceremonies in the National Press Club ballroom, where industry sponsors expect more thant 1,000 to eat, drink and undoubtedly talk business.

It's likely to be the only inaugural fete with live Webcast to the world (www.tvworldwide.com) and the only one with such demonstration exhibits as a chad-less voting kiosk for disabled citizens.

The Bare Buns Family Nudist Club's Inaugural Bash, which, for security reasons, will be at a not-disclosed-here sports club in Northern Virginia. Spokesman Gary Brown says guests have been invited to wear something that is 'barely formal,' such as boots, hats, bow ties and pearls. He predicts that 60 to 80 people will show.

Although the club is an apolitical group, it did venture into politics as relates to nudism this past campaign season. It sent an issues questionnaire to every state and national candidate in Maryland and Virginia. No incumbents responded. Neither did the Republican or Democratic presidential candidates.

'I don't think either one of them would whole-heartedly endorse us,' Brown allows.

Perhaps that is shortsighted on the part of the nation's new leader. At least one past American president enjoyed a regular nude frolic, in his case a swim in the Potomac River. Coincidentally, he was the first president to be elected without a majority of popular votes and, until now, the only son to follow a father into the Oval Office.

Yes, John Quincy Adams" (Susan Levine, The Washington Post, January 16, 2001).

Saturday, January 20: Information on protests scheduled for Presidential Inauguration Day can be found at Inaugurauction.org and at www.iacenter.org/

The International Action Center holds a permit for a Counter-Inaugural demonstration at Freedom Plaza (14th St. and Pennsylvania Avenue NW), the Justice Department (10th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW) and at McPherson Square (15th St. and I NW).

"[Al] Sharpton will hold a rally in Stanton Park on Capitol Hill and lead a march to the Supreme Court for a 'Shadow Inauguration.' Participants will be sworn in at the same hour as Bush, promising to defend voting rights" (David Montgomery, The Washington Post, January 5, 2001).

"About 5,000 people are expected to attend a [counter-inaugural demonstration] at Dupont Circle, about half a mile north of the White House, said [VoterMarch] organizer Bob Rogers. Its focus is a demand for an overhaul of the campaign and election systems" (The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000). The Votermarch Rally is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with the March to occur between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

NOW will be staging its Inauguration Day protest in Washington, D.C. outside the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Ave between 8th and 9th at 7 a.m. [the Navy National Archives stop on the red line.] Signs, etc.,will be provided, although they're on a first-come, first-serve basis -- everyone's encouraged to show up early.

For more information or for information about finding a place to stay, call Summer Spector at 202-628-8669, ext. 145.

For more on the Counter-Inauguration Calendar, see The Nation's Counter-Inaugural Special.

NOTE: "For the first time, the inauguration has been designated 'a national special security event,' which means that the Secret Service is in overall charge of security arrangements. More than a dozen law enforcement agencies will be involved, including the Capitol police, the Supreme Court police, the Nationa Park police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and police forces from suburban Marlyand and Virginia. But the biggest burden will fall on the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia" (David E. Rosenbaum, The New York Times, January 14, 2001).

There will be one police officer every six to eight feet along the parade route. The Archives/Navy Memorial and Smithsonian Metro stations will be closed. And the Park Service is fencing off a large swath of the Mall, from Seventh to 14th streets NW.

The Mall will be closed to the public from Third to Fourth streets NW and from Seventh to 14th streets NW.

The Mall will be open to the public from Fourth to Seventh streets NW and west of 14th Street. The Smithsonian museums will be open on Inauguration Day, but the main entrances on the Mall will be closed. Musems will be accessible from Constitution and Independence Avenues (Arthur Santana, The Washington Post, January 12, 2001).

Locally, Charlottesville Latin America Solidarity Committee will attempt to coordinate carpooling & information. Call 296-2494.

For information on inauguration service on Metrorail and Metrobus, call 202-637-7000 or visit Metro's Web Site at www.metroopensdoors.com.

Saturday, January 20: Other Inaugural Protests include:

The Christian Defense Coalition, urging President-elect Bush to rescind abortion-rights executive orders signed by President Clinton, protest abortion, defend Cabinet nominees [rally in 600 block of Pennsybania Avenue, north side].

Days of Outrage, protesting 'illegitimate' president, defend African American interests against conservative administration [march at 9:30 a.m. from 14th and U streets to Pershing Park at 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue].

Gore Majority, protesting 'stolen' election [gathering in 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, north side at 8:30 a.m.

National Patriot's March, celebrate Bush's inauguration and defend the 'people's will' expressed in the election [rally begins at 9 a.m. at the Supreme Court, then march to the Mall to watch the ceremonies].

Oral Majority, protest stolen election [rally at John Marshal Park at 4th and Pennsylvania].

NOTE: "Altogether, protesters predict upward of 20,000 demonstrators mixed into a parade audience that inaugural planners expect to number 150,000. The Park Service resisted giving permits to demonstrators along America's Main Street four years ago for President Clinton's second inaugural parade. But an antiabortion group sued, and the day before the parade it won a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. This year, citing the case, Mahoney v. Babbitt, the Park Serice approved all 13 requests for demonstration permits. Some groups had applied for multiple permits." (David Montgomery, The Washington Post, January 14, 2001).

Saturday, January 20: An intergenerational and multicultural panel will present their stories about their personal experiences in school from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Thomas Jefferson Memorial Unitarian-Universalist Church, 717 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. Their stories will range from those who were in segregated schools, to those involved in the desegregation of public schools, to experiences of current students. We will move from the past to the present to consider the lessons we have learned about race relations in schools and the community.

Moderator: Marie Coles Baker, Ph.D. Panelists: Jay Worrall, Garwin DeBerry, Olivia Branch, Marjorie Chambers, Tim Roscoe, Tehama Lopez, Sherlethia Johnson.

This event, "Reflections on Race Relations in School: Sharing Our Personal Stories," is sponsored by FOCUS, BW/WW, VOP, MACAA, LINKS and the NAACP.

This is a "dialogue" so there will be ample opportunity for all attendees to share their personal stories in small groups. There is never enough time for connecting, so we encourage you to bring a bag lunch for casual conversation at the conclusion of the program. Soft drinks will be provided. We look forward to sharing the day with you.

Questions: Call FOCUS at (804) 293-2222

Monday, January 22: Virginia NOW will observe the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision with a pro-choice signature ad stating our support for birth control and abortion and also protesting the violence and murder. The exact text of the ad will read:

"We, the undersigned, support a woman's right to safe, legal, and accessible birth control and abortion. We believe these rights extend to all women regardless of economic status. We oppose any and all attempts to weaken the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision and deplore all acts of violence and intimidation directed at women and their health care providers."

The ad will run in the Richmond Times Dispatch (circulation: 220,00). For more information, contact Connie Hannah, President, Virginia NOW 800-824-6690, cjh@exis.net.

Wednesday, January 24: Mitch Van Yahres is holding a press conference at 8:30 a.m. in House Room 5 (in the capital building) in Richmond, Virginia to discuss two bills he has filed regarding restoration of voting rights.

One is a constitutional amendment that will allow the General Assembly to create procedures and the other is a resolution asking the Governor and Secretary of Commonwealth to create procedures and streamline the process of restoration. The bill numbers are HJ583 and HJ582 respectively. To look at the text of the bills you can log onto leg1.state.va.us (no www required).

Senator Toddy Puller has introduced SB873 - another restoration bill! Her bill allows "a person who was convicted of a drug law
violation and was not sentenced to imprisonment to be heard by a circuit court on a petition for restoration of the right to vote." And she will also be participating in the press conference.

Wednesday, January 24: Pro-Choice Lobby Day at Virginia's General Assembly begins at 9 a.m. and will end by noon.

8:00 a.m. Women's Round Table Sponsored by the League of Women Voters, House Room C, General Assembly Building

9:00 a.m. Legislative Briefing and Training,Richmond City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street (across Broad Street from the General Assembly Building)

Moderator: Anne Sterling
Welcome by Legislator:
Lobbying the General Assembly:
Summary of Legislative Issues: Ben Greenberg

10:00 a.m. Lobby Your Legislators

11:15 a.m. Pro-Choice Out-and-About

Noon. House and Senate Floor Sessions : Be Recognized From the Galleries

Afternoon. Lobby Your Legislators and Be Visible.

Please ride the Planned Parenthood bus to the State Capitol. For more information, from Blacksburg contact Susan at 540-951-2013; from Roanoke contact David at 540-562-2370; from Charlottesville contact Rosanne at 804-971-7459; and from Lynchburg via Charlottesville, contact Kathryn at 804-384-2653.

Or, send an e-mail to David.Nova@ppfa.org.

Thursday, January 25: Jonathan Zimmerman, director of the History of Education Program at New York University's School of Education, will speak on "The Other Massive Resistance: School Prayer and the Conservative Revolution, 1962-1984" at 4 p.m. at The Miller Center of Public Affairs in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Thursday, January 25: There will be a meeting of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Walker Upper Elementary School.

The meeting is open to all Democrats even if you do not serve on the committee.

Friday, January 26: Griffin Bell, former United States Circuit Judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, will join Ken Mayer and William Howell in a discussion of "The History of the Executive Order" at 11 a.m. at The Miller Center of Public Affairs in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For more information, call 804-924-7236.

Monday, January 29: David Maraniss, an associate editor at The Washington Post, will speak on "The Clinton Legacy: Reality and Illusions" at 11 a.m. at The Miller Center of Public Affairs in Charlottesville, Virginia.