Please help!

[ray of light]

You may remember Andy Stephenson from his primary run for Washington Secretary of State. You may also know Andy from his work on Black Box Voting and electronic voting issues. Andy has been a leading advocate for electronic voting reform, and is personally responsible for much of the attention this cause has received.

Andy has been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his pancreas, and requires surgery, which will be performed the second week of May. Because of Andy’s sacrifice for the cause of electronic voting reform, he does not have health insurance and is unable to cover the costs of this surgery.

Andy is at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and they require $25,000 upfront to schedule this surgery. As of this writing, Beth Ferrari has negotiated with Johns Hopkins to schedule the surgery if we can provide $15,000 this Monday, May 2, and $10,000 soon thereafter. The entire surgery is slated to cost $50,000. Beth has done amazing work in negotiating with Johns Hopkins.

If you are able to contribute in any way, please don’t hesitate.

1) via USPS:
send a check or a money order to:
Andy Stephenson
P O Box 25624
Seattle, WA 98165-1124

2) via Paypal:
(You must have a Paypal account)
http://www.paypal.com/
After logging in, choose "Send Money" and enter Andy's email address
as the recipient [email protected]

3) via Amazon
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/P2TRHRVBGX9KOX/102-6873839-90473\53
Just enter the amount and click "pay now"

!!!IMPORTANT!!!
If you can contribute, please email Beth Ferrari at [email protected] so she can track how much has been raised and report to Johns Hopkins.

Activists are working with Johns Hopkins to secure a fee reduction, and we are working with members of our Congressional delegation to secure their help in this matter as well.

In the meantime, Andy needs your help. I was contacted this afternoon and asked to spread the word about his situation, and I’m asking you to join me in helping Andy. Please forward this email to everyone you know, and please help financially. Over $11,000 has been raised in the last few days, and we need to keep pushing. This is a national effort.

Ray Minchew
Executive Director
Democracy for Washington

[babylonsister]

1. DU is on it-see this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3561640

[ray of light]

4. Thank you! I was just very worried that Andy get help immediately! n/t

[merh]

2. Cool

What a great post.

Hopefully the mods will see that this is a true issue of the party and will another thread continue with this message.

Thank you for posting and Welcome to DU! :hi:

[merh]

6. kick this thread

:kick:

[merh]

30. kick

:kick:

[hiley]

73. hey ! merh looks like

a good time to kick this for ray and andy !
I hope everyone checks out the link ray put here about tips for writing letters and op/ed's.
here's the link: htt://www.democracycellproject.net


:bounce:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Thanks for giving a summary of how one can contribute! n/t

[troubleinwinter]

5. Great to know good organizations are helping to try to get word out!

[EFerrari]

7. Hi there, Ray!

I hope my emailbox EXPLODES!

lol!

Thank you so much for your help,
Beth :hi:

[ray of light]

9. I hope it does too.

We lost our insurance right before a planned surgery. But we are lucky that we've gotten the insurance back and the surgery is rescheduled for this summer. My thoughts, prayers, and heart go out to everyone who is in this type of situation. I wish I could do more to help all of them. I'm sure you and Andy feel the same way, as does everyone else here.

[EFerrari]

23. Sure do. Maybe out of all this, some light can shine on the issue.

I've never had health insurance at all!

Okay, gotta scoot.

Thanks again!

[ray of light]

12. Please check out kos on this too.

Somebody named dragon slayer posted on kos. Can you give advice to them if amazon is not working?

[EFerrari]

22. The amazon account must have hit a low limit because it's new.

I've never posted at dkos, but will go try! Good call.

Beth

[mn9driver]

8. Amazon account gives me an error message

when I try to pay. I'll try again in a bit.

[merh]

10. If Amazon doesn't work

will you consider snail mail?

The Amazon account has been causing fits to many.
Thank you for wanting to help. If you do snail mail, please send a pm to sfexpat2000, she is trying to keep up with this. Johns Hopkins needs to know what he can pay or they won't let him have the surgery.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

thank you again :hug:

[ray of light]

11. Can you post this information on Dailykos?

Somebody named dragonslayer posted it too and people there are saying amazon is not working.

[troubleinwinter]

13. I have done that.

[merh]

15. TroubleinWinter posted the Amazon advisory.

TIW is very quick, usually beats me to the punch.

Thank you for your post and your concern! :hug:

[ray of light]

17. Actually, I am concerned!

As I said before, I know what this is like for Andy (and others). I agree with dragon slayer on Dailykos, we have to all become activist and work to spread the word about our elected officials and why this stuff IS important. Can I make a suggestion to everyone here who is concerned? Take this time to check out the dcp to learn how to write op-ed, lte's, or become the local media. Health care reform IS an issue that shouldn't be ignored. And when somebody you love faces a serious illness without insurance it's a slap in the face! So maybe after donating to Andy's cause, you can check out the dcp and write those letters. Thanks all!

Oh..here's the link: htt://www.democracycellproject.net

[merh]

19. Thanks for the link.

I will check it out.

I have been honing my LTTE skills this last year. It never hurts to get some pointers.

[EFerrari]

35. I will! Exactly right. We have to do it if we want it done. n/t

[hiley]

70. thank for the

link ray and I will enjoy tips and pass along your link.
:applause:

[mn9driver]

18. Sent via my online bank

Paypal and Amazon are both being uncooperative today.

[merh]

24. Thanks so very much

Did you let sfexpat2000 know an amount. I know it sounds a little strange, but she has to be able to have an amount for the JH accounting office.

Thanks again! :hug: You are so smart to think of the online bank, I would never have thought of that.

:hi:

[mn9driver]

26. PM sent. I hope there's enough to get him on the surgery schedule.

Things like this need to happen fast. I'll be thinking about him.

[merh]

27. Help from people like you convinces me this will happen.

It is amazing what we can accomplish when we work together.

:grouphug:

Post a note of encouragement on his thread. He will appreciate it. :hug:

[Catherine Vincent]

14. Thank you!

[greentrees]

16. Let's All Pray for Andy

This is a terrible thing and I hope the surgery is successful. Andy will surely be in my prayers.

I didn't know hospitals could be so crass as to require payment up front just to schedule surgery. That seems so cruel.

Maybe Andy should shop around, or something.

[ray of light]

20. Yes, hospitals need the money to exists...

But some states have assistance to help people, and some states don't. This is why our country needs universal health care. I believe I read somewhere that if you added up the total amount of uninsured people it would be the equivalent of 26 states. I think this is why John Kerry spoke of this as a MORAL issue--a value! And it is.

Same with the pharmaceutical coverage too. Not everyone can afford medicine or has any coverage at all. (I am one!) But this is another MORAL issue--sure, let people live (or fetuses according to the neoCONS and fundies) BUT let them starve, suffer from terrible diseases, and offer them no medicine to help them feel better or recover. That's why we need to take back the meme of "pro-life" because we CARE about the LIFE on earth; whereas they only care about the life in uterus.

[merh]

21. Johns Hopkins is the best for the procedure and treatment

necessary. Why should any American be required to shop around for their medical care?

It's not like its their automobile or washing machine.

Welcome to DU! Thanks for your support! :hi:

[ray of light]

25. Oh HEY, you're new! WELCOME!

Not too long ago, I was new too!

[greentrees]

28. New

Well, I was REALLY new in 1986, but that makes me blush. :blush:

[ray of light]

29. WAIT--1986?

Thanks NOW I FEEL OLD! My kids were born in 1987 and 1988. I'm glad to see you're interested in our country. I think D.U. is a terrific site for becoming informed. Are you interested in becoming an activist too? We really need people your age helping educate people of your age. Join the democracy cell project too. These two sites are my favorites.
http://www.democracycellproject.net

[greentrees]

50. Thanks

Thanks to everybody for making me feel so welcome.

I'm not much into groupie type stuff so I don't think I'll be joining any of those groups you mentioned. I'm here to learn because my professor said this was a good place for us taking a Poli Sci course and all.

My name refers to all the trees around us when I was growing up. My dad checked them all and counted something like 18 different types of trees just on our lot ... we lived out in the woods and had lots of wild animals around, too.

My professor said there might be other people here who also had special feelings for natural things like trees and animals.

Got mid-terms this week, so I have to go now.

[newyawker99]

36. Hi greentrees!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ray of light]

31. Please keep the donations coming in for Andy!

[EFerrari]

32. ray -- is it possible for someone to post at dkos for me?

I tried but can't seem to figure out how to do it, and am burning rubber already.

We're at $19K right now! And I just wanted to thank you and everyone. I've never robbed a bank before and have been staying up nights wondering if that was going to be my only option. You all changed that.

:loveya:
Beth

[ray of light]

33. I can

[ray of light]

37. Ray....

Looks like dragon slayer already did it for you!

[EFerrari]

34. Thank you! n/t

[EFerrari]

38. DUers: If you haven't already, PLEASE blast Ray's OP or

Will Pitt's letter ( http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=22#more-22 ) far and wide. It's Sunday afternoon and we're not there yet. Please go through your address books!

peace,
Beth

[ray of light]

39. Ok, I just posted on 4 other blogs.

Everyone, call your family or friends and tell them about this. You can help spread the word the "old fashioned way." You know there are lots of people who CARE but do not have internet access on a Sunday. Take their pledge and give them the snail mail address then you can contact Beth with the donation.

Call it a "phone-a-thon for Andy"

[understandinglife]

41. Thank you for all you are doing, Ray!! (nt)

www.missionnotaccomplished.us -- May 2 2005 is just the BEGINNING OF MNA

[hiley]

74. It is great how everyone is coming together !

www.missionnotaccomplished.us -- May 2 2005 is just the BEGINNING OF MNA

[EFerrari]

42. ray, thank you!

Things are slowing down a little. Let's pick it up!

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Thank you, Ray

[ray of light]

45. Good News, It's now on the Kos recommended diaries

[understandinglife]

40. Thanks for the link to Will's letter at PDA! (nt)

www.missionnotaccomplished.us -- May 2 2005 is just the BEGINNING OF MNA

[dzika]

43. Mike Malloy asked for donations for Andy on his show!

April 29, 2005

Audio - Mike Malloy speaks out for Andy Stephenson on AAR

On his Friday night broadcast, Mike Malloy focuses his attention on DU's Andy Stephenson. Andy is one of our leading election reform activists. Andy is in need of Cancer surgery and some DU Members are collecting donations in this thread. Mike Malloy read a wonderful letter from Will Pitt and also posted an action alert for donations on his website.

This audio clips last about 12 minutes.

Listen in MP3 format

Listen in Windows Audio format

Listen in Real Audio format

[ray of light]

44. Do you get Stephani Miller?

I don't get her locally, but if somebody does, maybe they can email/call her and talk to her first thing tomorrow money!

[merh]

46. Good idea.

I am trying to see if we can make the contact. (Computer stream of her show is available)

Thanks again Ray for your help! :hi:

:hug:

[EFerrari]

47. fyi: 4:30 PST: $20,164.50! We're so close! n/t

[hiley]

75. ray you are a good guy and there are so many others

:applause: who care so much too.
We have to keep fighting for Universal Health Care as well as Andy !

[savannahana]

48. thanks for this thread, ray of light, & for all you are doing

and welcome to DU! :hi:

:kick:

[ray of light]

51. You too savannah

I started out today with a lot less posts but I really understand what they are going through. Due to medical expenses and insurance issues, we had a lot on the line too. So please everyone, there are SO many people who don't have internet access, but you can call them and have them either give you a check or send a check. So...I'm still making those calls. Who's with me?

[savannahana]

55. calls, messages, & emails out today to family & friends

Thanks again, Ray, for all you're doing!

:thumbsup: :hi: :kick:

[ray of light]

58. kick...

where do you get that little donkey?

[savannahana]

62. about that little donkey, & lots of other neat emoticons...

Hi again Ray :-)

When you hit "reply" to any message, and your blank message screen comes up, look just above the subject-line field and you'll see a blue hyperlink: "Smilies lookup table". Click on that and let it load (it's pretty quick, & gives you a box-screen that you can minimize & bring back up for more clicks, as you enter your chosen Smilies).

Just click on any Smilies you'd like to add to your post, and the code will appear in your text-message box. To make sure they appear as you'd like, and to proof-read your message before posting, use your outer <browser> scoll bar, scroll down to the bottom of your message-text, and you'll see buttons for "Check Spelling" (never a bad idea in my case LOL), then "Preview" -- "Preview" puts your message-as-structured (with smilies visible in their graphics-form) up at the top of your browser window. Scroll up there, & if you like what you see, go back down & hit "Post Message". If on Preview you want to make changes, then just edit directly in your message-text-field, hit preview again, and you can then "Post Message" with confidence B-)

Two donkeys are there in the Smilie list: the "Dem" one and the "Kick" one ("translations" of the intent of each emoticon are listed beside each one in the Smilie window).

If you forget to insert a smilie (sequentially) in the body of your text as you type, click on any other smilies you want to use, and these will appear at the bottom of your text window. From there just highlight any smilie, then use your Edit drop-down, choose "Cut", then place your cursor where you want that particular Smilie to appear in your text, use drop-down Edit > choose Paste, and your chosen Smilie will fit right into the body of your remarks :-)

Took me a bit to figure out but it's great fun to use, and with a little practice, the manipulations of placements & the amplification of your message, all becomes easy to do.

Hope this helps -- also remember *do NOT check/toggle on* the line that reads: "Message Format Check here if you want to format your message in plain text." (visible above your text box when you've opened the "Reply" interface).

Have fun! and I'm glad you asked -- took me some time & playing around to figure it out, too >>> & at this point I'm clicking to insert one of my favorite smilies >>> :+

...and having spaced down i'm adding these, apropos of this probly really clumsy, ridiculously-wordy explication >>> :eyes: :think: :crazy: :silly: :dunce: :shrug:

and a :hug: to you for all your great efforts on Andy's behalf & your super communications here today! :yourock:

best to you,
savannahana :loveya:

:kick: :dem: :patriot: :dem: :kick:

[EFerrari]

49. kick for a kind gesture and for our comunity!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

52. get back up there

[ray of light]

53. still making these calls!

[ray of light]

54. don't forget to send emails

[ray of light]

56. Everyone, tomorrow at work see if you can find people who will donate.

every little bit helps!

[ray of light]

57. ok fellow d.u. r's --keep this kicked please we need your help!

I have to get to bed...must work tomorrow. Who will help get these donations? We're still short and we need help.

Are emails sent? Phone calls made? What other ideas can you think of? Does anybody have a rich aunt or uncle to call?

Common' gang...let's keep this kicked!

[ray of light]

59. kick

[GardeningGal]

60. We still need about $4,500 last time I checked

We're so close.....can you help out a little?

[ray of light]

61. thanks gardening gal.

You're new like me! I love gardening myself. I hate weeds in the garden but love them in the field!

Ok...keep up the good work for Andy and welcome.

[merh]

63. I hate weeds in the WH.

Especially the weed-that-would-be-king!

Because of his evil, greedy ways, we have to conduct a DU-a-thon so a true patriot can have much needed surgery.

[ray of light]

64. Well, have hope

I'm sure everyone is making calls and sending emails. And I think it's only 5 somewhere, so someone will see this there!

[ultraist]

65. Well done Ray!

http://democracyforwashington.com/index.php

:kick:

[AmyDeLune]

66. Kick! n/t

[rhite5]

67. Kick

[EFerrari]

68. Thanks again, ray. Kick it for our community!

:kick:

[hiley]

69. ray of light

seems like you might be an angel ...

O8)

[ray of light]

71. gotta work now folks

Be an angel and keep calling friends, family, and email people too. I'm asking at work. Keep this kicked, please.

[hiley]

72. Thanks ray of light !

:kick:

[hiley]

76. last update 2:10am PST: $ 23,241.63. Thank you, DUers!

and we will work for health care for all Americans
:grouphug:

[ray of light]

77. Keep the donations coming, please.