Dear Florida CODEPINK Activist,

Hey, it's Lydia in Tallahassee. I'm writing to invite and encourage you to go to Washington, DC and stay at the CODEPINK Activist House and take action with CODEPINK in the halls of Congress.

In March CODEPINK rented a house in DC for a year so that we can have a constant presence in Congress and around town for peace! The house was empty when we moved in, and now after two months it's fully furnished and operational. Next week seven of us CODEPINK women from Florida—-representing CODEPINK from Tallahassee, Orlando, and Sarasota—-will be traveling to DC to live in the house and participate in CODEPINK actions for Mother's Day...

Already I've been to the house a few times, helping to plan actions, create visuals, cook meals, and even sew curtains for the windows! It's a really great place to be, and an excellent group of women to be working with! Click here to find out more about the DC Activist House and how to apply to live at the house. We are doing creative actions in Congress every day! Check out our DC blog at http://codepinkdc.blogspot.com.

This summer in June and July CODEPINK is hosting weeklong activist trainings at the DC house. Immerse yourself in the busy and exciting actions CODEPINK is creating in Congress every day; learn how to do media work, create giant pink slips, and speak effectively about ending the war. Plus, hear from experts about the current situation in Iraq, find out how a bill really becomes a law, and discover how you can make a deeper impact with CODEPINK's campaigns in your home city. If you are interested in building the skills and confidence to organize locally and deepening your commitment to peace work, please apply to join us in DC this summer. Click here to find out more about the summer trainings.

In DC, we not only bring a flash of hot pink to the sea of drab gray and black Congressional suits but we are busting through the inside-the-beltway politics with a refreshing dash of people power. We invite you to join us on "The Hill" and helping us paint the town PINK! Between 10-20 women stay at the 5 bedroom house and it is a staging point for our exciting actions. We have a "Peace Room" in the basement where we make banners and hold meetings. The women at the house are from 20 years old to over60 years old. Things run pretty smoothly with so much happening all of the time. CODEPINK staff travels so much and are used to living close to each other; they are an inspiration to all of us. It's active, busy, inspiring, and just very nice.

The neighbors are very helpful and kind. Couldn't park? A neighbor helped. When to put out recycling? Aneighbor helped.

There is a nice grocery store about a mile from the house. Someone usually goes up every couple of days. A pharmacy is 4 blocks away, a cafe/coffee shop 2 blocks away. Only 10 blocks to Capitol Hill. We walked a lot but you can get a taxi anytime.

The house has a phone and a TV (usually set on C-SPAN). There's a washer, dryer and a clothes line out back. There is always plenty of hot water. Towels, sheets, blankets, blow-up mattresses - it's all there waiting for you to rest your weary head.

Activism from the CODEPINK House is such a blast. You will probably be out the door early and ready to take action in Congress. The three CODEPINK cofounders have a great presence at the house. Medea helps us organize lots of actions—never a shortage of things to do! Jodie swings in regularly with something awesome to do and keeps us inspired through conference calls from her office in LA. And Gael lives in DC--She will keep you busy as much as you want.

Mornings are pancakes or oatmeal with nuts and raisins, or whatever YOU might want to make for the group (if you like to cook). Coffee is good and hot.You don't have to eat a certain way, there's butter and meat and fruit and veggies. People at the house chip in $5-10 a day for food. Lunch is usually at one of the cafeterias under the congressional buildings. Dinner could be out with another woman/women, at a local progressive restaurant, Bus Boys and Poets, for music and great food, or a community dinner at the CODEPINK house. Or, just fix yourself a salad. Most nights end with working on a plan for the next day.

There is plenty of time to rest. Plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. Plenty of time to plan strategy for the next day's actions (and an entire basement for making banners and props). Plenty of time to learn more about how to access government and political information. Heck, I had time to roll my hair when I wanted to. It's all about doing a full week (if you can) of focused Congressional education.

If you are at all worried about knowing what to do to keep up, please don't. I just learned to jump in on the actions that felt good to me. Desiree, a CODEPINK organizer from Texas, is the house mom and she always needs help with house stuff (you'll have to catch her in between actions - she likes to go to everything). Sometimes doing "house stuff" centers me a bit. Not required though.

Remember, your housing is free, or very low cost if you are participating in a weeklong summer training. Just fill out the application online and the house coordinator, Rae, will be in touch with you. CODEPINK will also help you find housing with a local activist if you prefer.

Please come to the CODEPINK House when I will be there. I will show you all around. Maybe we could drive up together from Florida. Give me a call at my home if you'd like to make some plans, 850-385-5322, or email me at codepinktally(at)yahoo.com. Or, go to the CODEPINK website - http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=1854

I'll see you in DC!

Bye for now and Peace always,
Lydia Vickers
CODEPINK Tallahassee Coordinator

P.S. Join us in Atlanta this summer, June 27-July 1, at the first ever US Social Forum! CODEPINK and hundreds of peace and justice groups will have trainings, panel discussions, and events that you don't want to miss! Click here for more info and to sign up to join our CODEPINK delegation to the US Social Forum this summer! - http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=303

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