Connecticut for Internet Freedom

Top Priority for CT: Set up Meetings

There aren't any public events yet, so the most important thing is to get meetings with Senators. Here's what you need to do:

• Call (860) 258-6940 to meet with Senator Blumenthal, who is a co-sponsor of PIPA.
• Fax: "Attn Scheduling" 866-317-2242 to meet with Senator Lieberman, who is a co-sponsor of PIPA. Call 860.549.8463 to follow up.

Be polite and professional, and request a meeting on behalf of Connecticut for Internet Freedom (the folks in this forum) to discuss the PROTECT IP Act and SOPA.  Make it clear that you want to meet with the Senator during the January recess, and that you'll be bringing others from your group.  Have your calendar open when you call, so you can pick a time that works for you.  When finished, post a report-back. 

For example: "Hi, my name is ________, I'm with Connecticut for Internet freedom, and I'm calling to request a meeting with Senator _______ during the January recess.  The PROTECT IP vote is happening on January 24th, and I wanted the Senator to understand my concerns before the vote happens."

Report back by posting a comment below

IMPORTANT: If you do get a meeting, post another message. That way others can join you in your meeting.  If there's any other specific information we should include in this post, message us and we can add it. 

Sukima

Anyone interested in contacting the senators together. Strength in Numbers. We can do this as long as we have somewhat of a critical mass to meet with them.

StopSOPA-HQ

@Sukima exactly. You can call to start getting the ball rolling. Other people will jump in once that gets started. You can say you are trying to get a group together who are interested in meeting with the Senator, and see if a meeting can be scheduled.

DrewT

Definitely interested. Will gather as many as I can in my area.

tonybaldwin

Has a meeting been scheduled yet?

jordanpeck

I'm in if a meeting can be scheduled.

Zdice

Person at their office said they already received a call and are working to set up a meeting, and will call back with more info. Edit: Blumenthal's office

Mike_L

i want to oppose the law but i really dont have and skills writing formal letters anyone have a cut and paste general opposition argument i can use ??

additionally we should also try to get the top level domain registrars to oppose the bill after all they are the ones who will actually have to do the censoring and if they dont support or actively refuse to follow the law than the internet will remain free even if the bill passes because i don't think uncle sam can shut down the whole internet or sue verisign out of business even if they wanted to. frankly i would love to see uncle sam try to shut down a internet root name server in the US for failing to abide by federal law :) that would be funny to watch

Kasimk

I can call if you all want me to. Just let me know. 

Kasimk

The problem with calling your senator is that you are calling the enemy. It is akin to scheduling a meeting with Hitler to please not put people in concentration camps. But now it is just more covert instead of obvious brute force. 

MarktheShark

When someone does make a meeting, let us all know!  I'm definitely on board!

StopSOPA-HQ

Update: One of the biggest take-aways from our briefing call with Public Knowledge was that you don't have to have a formal meeting set up to talk to a Senators' staffers about your concerns: you can go straight to your closest satellite office whenever you like. So if the meeting requests don't seem to be going anywhere, recruit a few friends and just get in there whenever you can!

karyn888

Hello All!!

I am in Manchester and am available to attend as well.

I will call Monday and see what response I get, post it and get the ball rolling!!

FREEDOM

Gillem_defoe

You have my support from Clinton. Let me know of any meeting that might happen and I'll do my best to be there with as many people as I can gather.

mhodgman50

I'm in Storrs, I'd like to attend. This is absolutely ridiculous 

barefootaccountant

I will attend the meetings.  Please let me know when it is.  Please email me at wbrighenti@gmail.com.  Thank you.

The Barefoot Accountant

Renegade

It is totally pointless 'asking' your Senator to change direction on this or any matter...they do what they want anyway..!! 

aanderson81

Senator Blumenthal campaigned with his AG experiance and fighting for the consumers of the state. I say for his next election someone form a PAC and use this to run ads to run as the counter point to this pro-consumer image that he has worked hard to build up.

 

I am sure that a decent number of donations could be raised towards this goal.

chrisct83

I am in Farmington and I am willing to attend. Its time our Senators listen to their constituents! This is getting ridiculous! 

steveo

it seems to me after reading all the posts, besides the ones that have already given up , most of us are willing but no one is going? Someone has to take the lead, call the office, set up a meeting w/meeting date and get as many as can come on that day at that time...no? Any takers?

bowen

i'm in winsted, i try to stay off the road from dusk 'til dawn (nite vision not the best) i'll go with anyone who would come by.--47bowen@gmail.com

woodchuck

Really? Does Congress not know what to do with their time? I would gladly go to a meeting opposing PIPA and SOPA

Mikemendes

I'm down if there's a meeting scheduled

JulieK

Hi there - blogger from East Hartford. I would love to oppose this as well (although I cannot say I am surprised that our senators are for this!).

PLEASE someone say there is a meeting scheduled?? When & where is it!? Please get in touch!!!

jkrs01 (at) comcast.net

StopCensorship

If there is a meeting sign me up.  I will try and call, BUT I can't be the only one here to try and call and make date .... we are almost out of time.  I just heard about this!!!  When did you all know?????   Everyone is saying yeah sign me up if you hear anything .... if eve4ryone says that there will be no meeting and we stand a chance of losing our rights and we have no one to blame but ourselves!!!!!!  Come on people please!!!!!!!!!  TRY and pick up your phone and make a call.........  I am bad with words to, I am not a speaker, but I am willing to try.

HELP ME OUT!  PLEASE!   Especially you=====  " krs01 (at) comcast.net  PLEASE someone say there is a meeting scheduled?? When & where is it!? Please get in touch!!!"  

StopCensorship

Blumenthal is in DC ....  Now what?  Anyone want to take the ball from here!  At least I tried!

StopCensorship

Since it is too late,  at least we can e-mail them and flood there e-mail box's.  This all started way too late!!

StopSOPA-HQ

@StopCensorship - its not too late! the senator might be in DC, but his staff would be more than happy to speak to you about the issue!

Darken878

A conference call might be a good idea if people can get a list of ideas down that are specific concerns  

RipRap

It is less than 4 hours till the  

anti-SOPA blackout

I guess CT has NOTHING going on.....Well I wrote my letters and made my calls.

Did you? I hope so, because DO NOT CRY when they turn the Internet into the OUTernet.

paulmilano1_

these singular calls arent going to do anything we need to get together and show up on there doorstep and let them know that if they pass the bill were going to do everything in our power to get them out of office  cuz u know the only thing they care about is having power let them know that if they go with us we will do everything in our power to keep them in office these ppl are children all u have to do is minipulate them to the point where they cant say no

dan1123242

im in!

 censored

paulmilano1_

and why do we need a meeting  why dont we meet and make them listen the hippies used to do this all the time u dont ask for permission when they did not  ask us if we wanted our rights taken away we get together converse between ourselfs then take it to them its not like we have anything better to do then protect the rights of us and our children once we lose those we dont have anything else then were just china whats next population control we need to take a stand and even if we have to make a peace march type of thing down to dc they do the crazy bills at this time of season cuz noone wants to go out in the cold well we have to show them that there are more importent issues then ourself e mail me if u want to get together and go to the senators and i dont care if we have a meeting time if we get a meeting time its going to be after the bill is already made and thats not good enough fight strong and fight long but fight the good fight

StopSOPA-HQ

Keep it up, everyone! We've had a huge impact over the past 24 hours, and we need to use that momentum to reach those Senators (like Blumenthal and Lieberman) who aren't responding to their constituents' concerns. Call, email, fax, and (optimally) go to your Senators' local offices and ask for meetings, preferably under the banner of "Connecticut for Internet Freedom." That'll let the Senators' staffs know that there are a lot of you out there, that you're all working together, and that they therefore cannot possibly hope to ignore you. Stay strong out there - we're making progress!

joe_munoz

wow.... all i can say if we have a three term president i am out of here!

Mike_L

looks like it's working according to NPR the bills are falling apart and most of the votes have been pulled