Maine for Internet Freedom

Top Priority for ME: 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:

• Fill out this form or call (207) 874-0883 to meet with Senator Snowe, who has no public position on this yet.
  
• Call (207) 780-3575 or fax 207-828-0380 to meet with Senator Collins, who has no public position on PIPA yet.

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

Rilriia

Senator Snowe of Maine most certainly DID have a position against censorship. She merely voted the other way, as do most lying politicians. . .

StopSOPA-HQ

@Rilriia well then its time to give her or her aides a piece of your mind! It's really easy to schedule a meeting with Snowe, just fill out this form! 

hkivhk

I requested a meeting with Senator Collins regarding SOPA and they required that I email them a notice about it including how many people would be in my group.  I would like to know if anyone else in the Bangor area has expressed any interest in meeting with Senator Collins regarding this issue and, if so, how many.  I have no qualms whatsoever about meeting with the Senator by myself, or as spokesperson for a group or as part of a group with no spokesperson.  I want Senator Collins to know that I believe our Constitutional rights are, yet again, about to be trampled upon.  By the way, check this out:

http://qkvllzx.tumblr.com/post/14744787029

How can a country so firmly founded on basic freedoms have wandered so far from those foundational tenets??  Benjamin Franklin, James Madison and the rest of the authors and signatories of the Constitution of these Great United States would be dumbfounded and speechless to see what is going on right under our very noses.  Is anyone else as angry and fearful as I am???

StopSOPA-HQ

@hkivhk can you call to follow up to see if they can meet with you?

Iwantour_countryback

Tomorrow I will contact the offices of Senator Snowe, Senator Collins, and Congressman Michaud to inquire of positions, possible public events, and the possibility of meeting with them on this recess.

@hkivhk I'm willing to go to Bangor (from the coastal area) to meet with Senator Collins to add to your group size.  I might be able to gather a few people as well.  Please update us on a possible meeting date.

It appears money is directing most of our political results these days.  If sopatrack's numbers are right, here are sad indicators of how our representatives will be leaning on this issue:

http://sopatrack.com/state/maine

Iwantour_countryback

Snowe's office said to use the form on her web site (same form listed above) to request a meeting.  She still has not announced a position.  No events either.

Collin's office had me email maria_plakoudas@collins.senate.gov regarding a meeting.  She also has not announced a position yet.  No events either.

Michaud's office didn't have answers regarding his position or possible public events.  They would get back to me with that.  As far as a meeting, they told me they would have their scheduler (Diane Smith) contact me.  His website has a form for requesting a meeting.

rosawood

I'm not able to attend any meetings, but I'm very concerned about this.  Whoever is meeting with either of the Senators or Congressman Michaud, please be my spokesman. NO internet censorship of any kind. Tell the government to keep their meddling hands off the last bastion of freedom.

ThisIsMyTag

@hkivhk, I live in the Bangor area and am interested in attending a meeting with Ms. Snowe. Please keep us in the loop in regards your progress with attaining a meeting time. Thanks for taking the initiative! 

Iwantour_countryback

Today a representative from Senator Snowe's office called to say that Snowe would not be available but a senior staff member would.  Allison Geagan is supposed to call me to set up a time to meet in Bangor.  Allison will want a detailed list of who will be attending with me.  I was told this would be a 20 minute meeting and should have 4 or less people - it is not a public forum.

I have not heard from Senator Collins' or Congressman Michaud's offices yet.

StopSOPA-HQ

@Iwantour_countryback - excellent! Please post back once you know the details of the meeting time; hopefully @hkivhk and @ThisIsMyTag can join you!

Iwantour_countryback

I just spoke with John Graham from Michaud's office. 

Short answer:  the more the merrier, write emails via his website for his staffers in DC

Long answer:

There will be no meeting with Congressman Michaud.  I'm told Tuesday he is going back to D.C.  I made it clear I am interested in a face to face meeting.  I was told perhaps on one of his return trips we can meet.  This is important to me as there are other issues I wish to discuss (as my tag name would suggest).  I'm told they will get back to me.

John said there have not been many calls about this and he was happy to have my call. I asked of the congressman's position and was told he will not have a position until after the house judiciary comes up with the final bill.

With John I pointed out this SOPA/PIPA effort is flawed for many reasons with potential of dire consequences and pressed about why the Michaud does not even have a position against this effort as it stands and wants to wait until later to take a position.  The answer was informally that Michaud is not for this but has learned bills can change a lot in the process and wants to see what results from the judiciary committee.  I tried to communicate that the position should be there is no need for this discussion at all...the discussion should be to close this out...not what might or might not be in the bill.

For now, it's wait and see.  Email his staffers in DC.

StopSOPA-HQ

@Iwantour_countryback - that's awesome, thanks for the update. A lot of Representative are the same way. The language of PIPA in the Senate is a little more finalized, which is why we're more worried about it at the moment. However, it seems like the House Judiciary Committee with resume their mark-up on the 18th, and then we'll finally see what SOPA turns out to be.

Thanks for all your work!

ThisIsMyTag

@Iwantour_countryback - Please let me know the particulars of the meeting you discussed with Ms. Geagan. A private message is fine if posting here is inappropriate. 

Kallysandra

I am unable to attend any meetings, but I strongly feel that censorship of any kind is unconstitutional and just plain wrong.  Not to mention, being able to punish a person or company with out proof ?  Sorry, but who made them judge, jury and executioner?  Last time I checked, that was ALSO rather unconstitutional. Many of the biggest complainers of infringement are some of the biggest hypocrites.  I'd like it if you could be my spokesperson as well.  Please keep us updated.

Iwantour_countryback

@kallysandra - Please email Senators Snowe and Collins as well as your Congressman.  They need to hear your concern.  Calling their staff would be good too.  They really need to hear a rumble from the streets or they will let it happen.  MAYBE Obama carries through with a veto threat but given how far down the rabbit hole we've gone I wouldn't want to have to count on it.

Go to www.congress.org and put in your zip code and they'll provide links to your representatives.  You can go to their web sites and submit your thoughts.  It will only take a few minutes.

Iwantour_countryback

@ThisIsMyTag They told me they would contact me.  I have not heard back from them yet.  I'm trying to reach them.  I'll let you know when I hear something.

Iwantour_countryback

I've emailed to Maria at Senator Snowe's office.  I tried calling the office but they're closed for MLK holiday.  Still no word on when she might meet with me/us.

I'm still trying to get just a response from Sentator Collins' office.  Still no word if they'll allow any kind of representation from the People.

I'll call both tomorrow morning when they reopen.

Iwantour_countryback

I've heard from Senator Collins' office and we're trying to firm up a meeting with Senator Collins for Friday afternoon in Bangor.  I'm waiting to hear how much time there will be and if this is only for me or for multiple people.  I'll post more when I hear it.

Iwantour_countryback

The Friday meeting with Senator Collins starts at 2:20 at the Bangor office and will last 20 minutes.  I will need to provide the office with names of attendees.  Contact me if you want to try to join in.

rosawood

I won't be there, but list my name as someone who opposes any censorship whatsoever.  Joy Metcalf, Northport.

mdr3d

The plan: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-against-SOPA/304313362953003?sk=info 

first step:

1._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a under copyright item
2._ No subscriber to this group will ever go to a cinema
3._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy film on pay tv
4._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a book (paper or e-book)
5._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a news paper
6._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a magazine of any kind
7._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a CD
8._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a DVD

Iwantour_countryback

@rosawood if you want to write something I will hand deliver it.  Otherwise I'll mention your name/town but don't think it will mean much to her.  You certainly can email her.  Sorry you can't make it.

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 convince Senators like Snowe and Collins that PIPA is not only "unacceptable in its present form," but that it is rotten to the core. Call, email, fax, and (optimally) go to your Senators' local offices and ask for meetings, preferably under the banner of "Maine 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!

Grey

 Hopefully this bill will be thrown out with the bathwater. It goes entirely against the moral grounds of democracy and freedom of choice. What is more, it merely makes the lawmakers nothing more than lackeys, for the film and music moguls, together with publishing house proprieters. PLEASE, all you American voters who access the net, STOP this bill. It not only affects YOUR freedom of choice, but it affects mine as a British/Limey freedoms too. Which would make your congress more of a dictatorship, than a democratic organ of government.

I remain, with respect.

Grey

thoth

after letting NDAA (bill S.1867) pass without a hitch and now trying to pass sopa and pipa its time to replace some of these senators that have forgotten what there jobs are and  what america stands for. by taking these rights away from the people, they mock everybody that has ever fought and died for this country.

this is no differant than hitler burning books.

ps  we all thought obama would veto the NDAA, but surpise!!!  lets not let sopa or pipa get that far.