Dear MAU Mavens and Change Agents,

America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America. The best way to advance America's interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions. This isn't a philosophical point. This is our reality.
--Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her confirmation testimony


MAUs have long recognized our role as world citizens, but doesn't it feel good to hear it from our leaders?! We now have an opportunity to support Secretary of State Clinton in crafting global solutions that benefit the world's children. She will need the support of a powerful constituency to realize her vision. Luckily she has one waiting in the wings: mothers.

Envision 1 million mother leaders shifting policy to create a better world for all children. Why mothers*? Because mothers are the ones primarily raising children around the world, we are already committed and concerned and we recognize that our security depends on children thriving everywhere.

PLUS we have STELLAR negotiating, organizing and communication skills. As MAU begins our second 7-year cycle, we will be promoting campaigns that shift policy to benefit the world's children. Our first campaign is called Stand for the World's Children.

Without further ado, here is your invitation to be one of the 100 Mother Leaders (as sexy as it sounds):Join 100+ mothers who will STAND FOR THE WORLD'S CHILDREN in communities across the U.S. between now and Mother's Day. We are asking President Obama and Congress to fulfill old promises to fund programs benefiting AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children and to designate a Children's Ambassador that reports directly to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Imagine a high-level position in the State Department given the mandate to champion programs that serve children! This is NOT too good to be true.

It's too important to remain an idea.

Here's the glorious truth of Mother Leverage:100Mother Leadersdonate 1 hr/wkthroughMother's Day.Reach1,000,000mothers* through media, social networking and face to face.Shift policy affecting 132,000,000 orphans in the world!

Click here for more info on the invitation.p.s. This invitation comes with all the materials you need (including 100 postcards for your community to sign - no sweat!)We are living in a time of tremendous opportunity; a veritable plethora of possibility.
I invite you to join the 100 Mother Leaders and, as always, send news of your actions on behalf of the world's children and MAU will shout out your glorious news from pillar to post.

In excited partnership, Joellen, on behalf of the MAU Mavens

It begins with energy!

Mamas in support of Obama lets look at our energy consumption. Here in Bend, we can utilize free services to have someone inspect our home and point out areas to improve our energy conservation.
Lets vow to conserve when we can, walk and bike more, buy local to reduce our carbon footprints and stimlate our local economy.
This week I am going to get a worm bin from wonderwormer.com and finally make a rain barrel for out down spouts. Use the glorious spring cleaning energy to revamp our homestead into a sustainable sanctuary.

Obama

It comes in waves. Election Day, Inaugration Day, seeing the Obamas on people magazine when I am in the super market in Central Oregon...
The joy, the amazement, the enlightening belief that we did it, we the United States elected President Barack Obama. We want change, we want to change for our dreams.
I hear many of my friends talking about how happy they feel to be American, for the first time in a long time. We are onto something good. We are listening to mothers and children who want peace, a healthy planet, and a sustainable future. Wow, MAUmas, can we breathe in a collective sigh of thank goddess, that our global villiage is making headlines. We matter to our current administration.
There are so many levels of why this is glorious, who Obama is, what he stands for, his family, his global relationships...
I will work along side him, I will have hope, I will weave motherhood into my politics with new vigor and commitment. I will let this hope waterfall over my dreams.