Pennsylvania for Internet Freedom

StopSOPA-HQ

Top Priority for PA: Set up Meetings

• Email scheduler Danielle Joos at danielle_joos@toomey.senate.gov or fax (215) 241-1095 to schedule a meeting with Senator Toomey, who has no public position on PIPA yet. Call (610) 434-1444 to confirm.
  
• Fill out this form to meet with Senator Casey, a co-sponsor of PIPA. Call (717) 231-7540 to follow up.

Be polite and professional, and request a meeting on behalf of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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. 

Ranger135xp

Meeting with my Senator (Senator Bob Casey) would just be pointless and a waste of time. He would agree with my opposition but would vote however he wants anyway. How about we just fire these people and follow our Constitutional rights? The US Constitution's second amendment grants us the right to bear arms, but it's intention is to protect ourselves from an oppressive government, I.E., the one we have now! Also, the Constitution also states how we should have a revolution every 10 years... we're long overdue!

StopSOPA-HQ

Actually, you'd be shocked how well Congresspeople respond to massive public outcries. Lots of these Senators simply aren't informed on the issue. Lets try taking a diplomatic solution here...

Mobius_118

It's no use how well they respond if they can't meet the entire state face to face; Can I video confrence either of them from here in Pittsburgh?

Melkior

Why video conferance when you can do an in person meeting? People respect you more in person, and are more easily swayed by your arguments. I'm underageb& so I can't participate in this step, but I would if I could.

StopSOPA-HQ

It more useful to meet with a member of their staff face-to-face than to video chat with them. They need to know that the citizens opposed to this bill have faces. That being said, if another group gets a meeting in Philadelphia and you want to try and set up a video chat interface, there's nothing wrong with asking. Still, it'd be more useful for you to request a meeting at either of the Senators' Pittsburgh offices.

LouP

I would participate if the meeting were nearby.  However, I am 120 miles from Philly and over 200 miles from Pittsburgh.  Not willng to do this on my own.  I don't think any of these Idiots (Casey or Toomy) have a clue what their voting on, nor do they care.

MariaR

With going back to college in a couple of days there's no way I'd be able to get there. I really wish that weren't the case, though.

chadoh

I requested a meeting with Senator Casey for this coming Monday (it made me request a specific date on that form). I neglected to read all of the information on here before scheduling, so I did NOT say that I was with Pennsylvania for Internet Freedom. Nor did I mention the vote coming up on January 24th, or that I specifically want to meet during the January recess (though hopefully the date I requested makes that clear). If it's bad form to now bring other people, since I requested the meeting as an individual, I would be perfectly willing to go alone. Advice on this? (I'll let you know if I actually get this/a meeting.)

chadoh

I requested a meeting with Senator Toomey using the example message ("Hi, my name is ________, I'm with Pennsylvania for Internet freedom..."). I'll let you know if I get a meeting.

Sskooter

Would all of these meeting be in Harrisburg?

WurmD

Ok, I requested a meeting with Toomey, filling the form 
http://casey.senate.gov/contact/scheduling/  with this text:

"Hi, my name is Dario Figueira, I'm with Pennsylvania for Internet freedom, and I'm writting to request a meeting with Senator 
Casey  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.

Warm regards"

For: Any time from today up to the 23rd

In:Anywhere in Pittsburgh 

And sent an email to danielle_joos@toomey.senate.gov with this text:

Subject: Concerns on PROTECT IP vote

Text: "Hi, my name is Dario Figueira, 

I'm with Pennsylvania for Internet freedom, and I'm writting to request a meeting with Senator Toomey 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.

Warm regards

Dario"

DO IT!

And request meeting in places you can reach Sskooter

Toddy_Only

Seriously this only took 10 minutes of my time. WE HAVE A VOICE!! Me personally I can atleast have a clear concious about putting up somewhat of a fight the best way I can. We all should be doing as much as we can even if its reposting links on social networks. Together WE have a chance to stop this!! We are losing our freedom

Sadron

ARGH If I had the necessities to go I would! Someone has to take these MFs out. Unfortunately, all I can do is cheer you guys on and hope you make sure these bastards don't do something stupid.

StopSOPA-HQ

Awesome! Great job @Toddy_Only and @WurmD.

chadoh

I got a call back from Casey's office but haven't had time to call back to schedule an actual meeting. I tried to rally up some coworkers to the cause, but none of them believe that our democracy is functional enough for them to make a difference. Should I wait until I find people to go with me, or should I call back as soon as possible? This whole participating-in-my-democracy thing is new for me.

StopSOPA-HQ

@chadoh where are you located and where are you thinking about having the meeting? Scheduling the meeting is the easy part - say you're with Pennsylvania for Internet Freedom and that some of your members would like to meet. If they ask you how many will be attending, ask how many they can accomodate, and that you can't currently confirm how many people will be in attendance, but that you will give them the full list of names once the list is finalized. Hope that helps!

chadoh

I am in West Chester, so the meeting would be in Philadelphia (not a chance I could get him to come out closer to me, is there?). Who else is interested?

StopSOPA-HQ

Unless you've got a conference room to use, they'll probably request that the meeting be at their office, which is why you should ask them how many people they can accommodate.

jkrout555

I just sent a request form to Sen Casey requesting a meeting anytime from now until the 23rd in either HARRISBURG, LANCASTER OR YORK. Will post update when I hear back. Also sent an email to danielle_joos@toomey.senate.gov

Ekreagan

Chadoh, I live near Reading, PA. Assuming the timing works out (I'm very busy next week and I go back to college on the 25th) I would be interested in trying to go to your meeting with Senator Casey.

Skott

If there's a group meeting in Philly, I'm very interested in going. Please keep us posted. If not, I'll call during the week and set up something for myself.

StopSOPA-HQ

@Ekreagan @Skott - you guys have to set up the group meetings at the office closet to you! Once a meeting is scheduled, then more people can jump on board. Even if someone has requested a meeting near you, it doesn't hurt to request another one under the PA for Internet Freedom baner, that way the office will know that lots of constituants want to meet about the same subject.

Corrupted

There definitely needs to be a meeting at Philly in the near future. You can count me on board if a date is officially scheduled and I'm sure I can get a few supporters from my school as well. Unfortunately, I believe I'm a bit young to request an appointment myself :/

Jordan

I'm pretty sure that you don't have to be above the age of 18 to request a meeting with your congressperson.  In any case, it won't matter at all who makes the request if multiple people show up to the meeting.  So (a) don't feel like you can't/shouldn't request a meeting, no matter what your age, and (b) make sure to come to meetings that are taking place in your area, to support the people who set them up!

gianmichaeld

It's simple.

I sent an e-mail to both Senator's office's. They called me back two days later to sched. a time for a phone mtg. Senators are not untouchable - they're exactly the opposite. They represent us. They don't know everyone thinks this bill is bad unless we tell them.

So tell them!

TMAC16

STOP THIS BILL!!!!!

Seanmccormick

Any meetings in Philly get scheduled? I will go.

Dracobolt

Anyone who schedules a Pittsburgh meeting, I'll show up for that. I'm not the sort of person who can take the lead in these things, but I'll lend my support once things get started.

ejam50

Pittsburgh! It's such a technological hub, I'm surprised there isn't a more organized movement here yet.

StopSOPA-HQ

@TMAC16 @seanmccormick @Dracobolt @ejam50 - You guys are the movement! You've got to schedule meetings at the Senators Pittsburgh and Philly offices! It might seem scary, but the Senators want to hear from their constituents, and the staff are very friendly. To schedule a meeting at Senator Casey's office all you have to do is fill out an online form. The more people they hear from, the more likely they are to grant you a meeting. 

feick

I have filled out the form located at http://casey.senate.gov/contact/scheduling/ to schedule an appointment with Senator Casey in the Pittsburgh area. I haven't been contacted yet, but I will post here once I have a date and time scheduled if anyone else would like to join. In the mean time, feel free to schedule additional meetings as well so they understand the severity of this.

rsubasic

As feick above, I used the form at http://casey.senate.gov/contact/scheduling/ to request a meeting for January 16th (I also explained that I would be happy with any day before the 24th) in the Pittsburgh area at any time of day. I have not yet heard back, but will post if I do.

mstolzer

If anyone in the Pittsburgh area gets a meeting, I'd love to come along - please let us know. Otherwise, I'm going to try and set up a meeting myself with some of my colleagues from Carnegie Mellon.

Dragonic

If anyone in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York area can get a meeting I am most certainly willing to come along as well as many other I know.

deannaj

Emailed the noted staff at Toomey's office requesting a meeting anytime between Monday (16th) and the 23rd.

Also sent in a request for a meeting with Casey at his Pittsburgh office as well, linking and mentioning this forum as proof that other constituents would like a meeting.

Hope someone gets a meeting in Pittsburgh.  I'll definitely attend.

cljones05

I live in Chester PA and I requested a meeting, very professionally, for January 19th @ 2pm. I will update further if I hear anything back. Kill SOPA/PIPA!

EMP2014

I did fill out the form for Senator Casey, and intend to send a letter to Senator Toomey's offices tomorrow during daylight hours.

I simply said that I would like to request a meeting and offered several times that I could do so, pointing out that I can be as flexible as possible concerning times as long as I am not supposed to be in my law school classes during the potential meeting.

I added that if Senator Casey was unable to meet with me before the January 24th vote, that I would appreciate it if he considered again the global impact legislation like this would have, and that if legislation is necessary to "protect" the US from foreign internet "threats" it must be far more closely regulated and controlled than the wording of PIPA provides. In the worst case scenario I asked that the Senator vote "nay" for now to allow further discussion about the propriety of passing this legislation before a final decision is made.

Will comment again if I receive a response.

Zach

I requested a meeting with Senator Casey on January 20 in Philly stating that I am an enterprise software architect and I'd like to help inform him. Senator Casey is one of the sponsors of PIPA so it'll be difficult to get him to vote nay, I'm taking the educate and amend approach here because of this. 

If anyone gets a date in Philly please post here, I'll see if I can attend it.

Chris1776

Emailed Casey. Meeting offered in Harrisburg PA.:-)

JessaBessa

Please let me know when the philadelphia meeting is. I would love to attend.

miseichan

I live in Erie, It is not possible for me to travel anywhere for meetings, But I wrote detailed emails to both Casey and Toomey. The voice of the individual can be powerful if multiplied. Even if you can not attend a meeting, please write to express your opinion. I believe this is a powerful ethical dilemma for them both. I hope my small voice can appeal, if not to their "better" sides, then at least to their appetite for public approval. Even those indiviuals who are "underage" can write. They are also American citizens and potential voters. And politicians always need voters, right? Good luck everyone.

feick

On 1/12, I filled out the form requesting a meeting with Senator Casey. I asked for a meeting anytime before the vote at any location in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. I received a phone call today, 1/17, in response to my request. One of Senator Casey's aides told me that because of a high demand for meetings, he was unable to schedule anything. However, he offered to contact me for a conference call to discuss my concerns with SOPA/PIPA. The times and dates he offered for the conference call were 1/20 at 12PM and 1/23 at 11AM. I will be participating in the conference call on 1/20 at 12PM. I don't know anymore information about it, but please feel free to contact Senator Casey's office and ask for more information about these conference calls and get involved. We have to use whatever platform we can at this point, whether it is a phone call or a meeting.

centralpageek

@chris1776, We're in Lancaster. When is your meeting with Casey in Harrisburg?

cljones05

I have a teleconference scheduled for Monday the 23th @ 11am with Senator Casey. His aide explained that he would call in a few days to give me the conference numbers to call, as well as any further necessary details. I am interested in attending your teleconference feick, if possible. If anyone is available to attend mine, please contact me via this page so we can coordinate the details. Zach, I would absolutely love for you to attend due to your specific experience and willingness to educate. #GetUpStandUp

cljones05

I would also ask that anyone able to attend these conferences read the actual bill @http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/text 

Dracobolt

I can make those conference calls. I'll do my best. And in the mean time, I'll read the actual bill, as suggested.

cljones05

Teleconference moved to tomorrow @ 3pm. As of now, I will be speaking with the Senator's office alone. I very strongly encourage anyone who wants to be heard, to call the Philadelphia office @ (202) 224-6324 anytime before the 24th. Ask to speak with John. Here is a very easy-to-follow demonstration of this bill, and the potential problems it presents.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzqMoOk9NWc

cljones05

SOPA/PIPA is D.O.A.. Now we can all breathe easy..Just spoke with the Senator's office, and was told that the bill will not be voted on, and has been scrapped : ) We can make a difference people! Don't ever let them make you think otherwise!