Hello amazing family of community concerned and action people who have joined this growing list. I have attending some open mics in the area rehearsing some new tracks and sharing forward. I really enjoy Blairstown PostTime Pub's first and third Thursdays. My friend Erin Shroll and I have taken on the task of organizing a March Against Monsanto parade this year. Our mission is to educate and inform NJ that Food Matters and empower them to speak against all the threats to Food. Currently, we have a team of amazing sponsors and co-sponsors; Food and Water Watch NJ, Genesis Farms, Foodshed Alliance, Air, Soil, and Water, Sussex County Co-op, Transitions Newton, and Skylands Group- NJ Sierra. We are also performing poetry and song as The Friendly Neighbors sporatically! As for Wendie's Words this last year I have joined friends in the NWNJ music scene and shared some new poems we hope to record before 2016. Personally I have shared them in many venues and some have been uploaded onto YouTube both musically and hmmm politically, as I included one in [ublic testimony at the DRBC. I wish you all well in your endeavors and thank you for joining me here. I was blown away this month by how many of you cared to sign up. Thank you. Wendie W Goetz Here is your invitation to cultivate change and love one another. It is up to me and you! April 16, 2015 This May 23rd we are marching for FOOD JUSTICE. This is your invitation to cultivate change and plant seeds of community activism. The following is our update on your regional NWNJ gathering to March Against Monsanto, The Food Matters March, May 23rd in Sparta, NJ. We, Erin Shroll and Wendie Goetz, are organizing a Food Matters March In Solidarity Worldwide with the March Against Monsanto this year. Our mission is to educate, and inform NJ that Food Matters, and to empower to speak the truth regarding all threats to our Food. We are very excited that we have received final permits from Sparta Township! To kick off our Food Matters March, we are inviting people to bring a food item to donate to the local Presbyterian Church food pantry, at the start we will have a truck to load! On May 23rd, we plan to arrive at the Municipal Building with our offerings, posters, banners, rolling art (no motorized vehicles), and align in the contingencies FOOD, SEEDS, MAM, SOIL, WATER, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES, AIR, AND TRADE-STOP THE TPP. We will march to the Post Office corner of Route181. The March will conclude with a gathering at Dykstra Park. Therefore, we have obtained an event permit as well so that we have a stage and field for speakers, skits, puppet shows, and any forward tents that each organization would like to set up. We are finalizing the parade route map and parking alternatives. Currently, we have a team of amazing sponsors and co-sponsors; Food and Water Watch NJ, Genesis Farms, Foodshed Alliance, Air, Soil, and Water, Sussex County Co-op, Transitions Newton and NWNJ, Skylands Group- NJ Sierra,The Delaware Riverkeepers, GMOFreeNJ, and Environment NJ. Our sponsors are stepping up to take on important tasks, they will be present and participatory at the March and we have received unsolicited donations to help with March costs from a sponsor organization and private citizens. We are now officially launching our fundraising campaign as we need to raise another $1,300 to go forward with our current plan to March Against Monsanto. Sparta Township is requiring funds for policemen, the permit, and a groundsperson at Dykstra Park. We hope that your organization and members will help with a donation to become a sponsor or co-sponsor of this event as well as bring out your communities to Sparta. We are working diligently to drive funds! We are accepting donations at our fund drive events including the movie Food Matters with the Skylands Group, NJ Sierra in May. We are selling unique Non GMO magnets, Non GMO buttons and Bee hats that we personally created! Dozens of organizations will be contacted and together we can raise the funds necessary. Erin and Wendie anticipate pre-paying all of the necessary permit costs and printing tasks. To learn more about this Food Matters March, to find out how you can get involved, build up your contingency, and to support your local March Against Monsanto through monetary donations please visit with us at our upcoming events. The Frisky Goat April 19th 2-5pm Petitions, Planning, Fundraising https://www.facebook.com/events/476568219161196/ The Unitarian Fellowship Newton April 24th 3:30-6:30 Puppet Making https://www.facebook.com/events/1003585529660386/ Sparta’s Winter Farmers Market April 25th 10am-1pm http://winterfarmersmarketatsparta.com/ Earth Day Festival at CSG of Genesis Farm April 25th 11am-4pm http://csgatgenesisfarm.com/ Skylands Group- NJ Sierra May 12th 7-9pm Food Matters Movie https://www.facebook.com/events/517411885066028/ But the bottom line is …we welcome and need your assistance in our fundraising efforts as we are working hard to make sure that this Food Matters March on May 23rd makes a regionally strong statement. We are Northwest New Jersey and this is Our Food; don’t you think Food Matters? This page has been created for easy sharing and quick donating. http://www.foodmattersmarch2015.myevent.com/ Please visit our Facebook event page for more information about this spectacular event: https://www.facebook.com/events/822273424506393/ Thank you for joining us now and on May 23rd. Please forward this invitation to anyone you feel would like to contribute to the cause in some fashion. Rejoice in our voices to make a difference, trust in our hands to cultivate change and know in our hearts that we can do this! It is up to us! This is our Land, this is our Food. Thank you so much! Sincerely with love and hope for 7 generations forward, Wendie and Erin