Host a ‘Sicko’ House Party!

On June 29, Michael Moore’s new film ‘Sicko’about the American Health Care System will be opening in theaters across the state. Moore’s film compares the disfunctional U.S. health care system, and those who lose their well-being and sometimes their lives to it, with single-payer systems in other countries. This will be the most important organizing opportunity for the single-payer movement in years, and millions of Americans will walk out of that theater with a new education about how our health care works, but doesn’t work for us.

You can play an important role in helping viewers of Sicko get involved with the movement for comprehensive form, the movement to make health care access a right and not a commodity. Here’s how: hold your own Sicko House Party on June 29 or any time in the following month! Get together a group of people to meet together before hand, walk to the theater, and then leaflet outside afterwards so that everyone else who watched the movie can plug in to the movement. Host a gathering at your home after the movie to talk about what it meant to you, and what we can do from here. Hand around a hat to raise funds for the state-wide movement in Massachusetts.

No effort is too small to have an impact, even if it’s only yourself and a couple of friends. Everything you need to host your own Sicko House Party is right here. Below is a check list of things to do to pull off a successful house party event. Below you can download a formatted version of the checklist, a leaflet to hand out after the movie, and a petition to plug people into the health reform movement so their voices can be heard. Let us know if you’re having a house party, so we can let people in your area know!

Host a ‘Sicko’ House Party in Eight Steps

Step 1: Find out which local theaters are showing Sicko by going to www.fandango.com and entering your zip code. Choose a showing time where there will likely be a packed house.

Step 2: Pick a time about an hour or two before the showing starts, and invite your friends and neighbors over to walk as a group to the theater, and for a house party after the movie! If the showing is likely to sell out, consider purchasing tickets early online or showing up at the theater early.

Step 3: Depending on the size of the movie theater, print out 100 to 200 copies of the Sicko Flyer from SickoCure.org and the Sicko Single Payer Petition for Massachusetts.

Step 4: Make sure there are adequate drinks and snacks at home for a House Party after the movie is over.

Step 5: Walk to the theater together and get seats close to the exit so you can be the first ones out. Enjoy the movie!

Step 6: After you get out of the theater, politely approach others who are walking out to ask if they would like to sign a petition asking their state Senator and Representative to support legislation for universal, single payer health reform. This reform would make health care a right, like it is in most other developed countries. Hand them the Sicko Cure Flyer explaining how single payer reform would work, as it does in Canada and Britain. If they do not know the name of their Senator or Representative, they can leave this field blank and we will fill it in for them. (If you are comfortable having fellow movie-goers in your home, you can even invite people who sign to the Sicko House Party afterwards!)

Step 7: When everyone has left the theater, the party can meet back at your house for food, drinks, and a discussion of the movie.

Step 8: Pass a hat around for those interested in making a financial contribution to support the movement for single-payer health reform. Donations can be made out to Mass-Care to support our political work, or tax-deductible donations can be made out to the Universal Health Care Education Fund to support our educational work. All checks and cash donations can be sent to 33 Harrison Ave – 5th floor, Boston, MA 02111, or we would be happy to collect them in person and talk about how your house party went!

HOUSE PARTY MATERIALS

• Hosting a Sicko House Party Check List
• Sicko Flyer from SickoCure.org
• Sicko Single Payer Petition for Massachusetts

LINKS FOR ‘SICKO’

• SickoCure Website to get involved with national single-payer legislation, and to download flyers and educational materials
• Official Website of ‘Sicko’ The Movie
• Michael Moore’s website to see his national Sicko tour schedule

LINKS FOR SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE

• What Is Single Payer Health Care?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Single Payer
• Massachusetts Studies on Single Payer Reform
• Massachusetts Health Care Trust (State Single Payer Legislation)
• Medicare for All (National Single Payer Legislation)

Robert Kuttner to Speak at
9th Annual Ben Gill Fundraiser

Join Mass-Care and the Universal Health Care Education Fund on MARCH 24 for:

• Robert Kuttner speaking on the future of health care reform
• Honoring single payer advocates Grace Ross and Barbara Sullivan
• Participatory workshops on health care activism

Email director@masscare.org or call 617-723-7001 to RSVP.
Click here to take out an ad in the Ben Gill program book.
Click here to download the 9th Annual Ben Gill Invitation letter.

TIME & PLACE

Saturday, March 24, 2007, 2 to 5PM
Ryles Jazz Club (click here for directions)
41 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA
(Inman Square)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Robert Kuttner is the co-founder and current editor-in-chief of The American Prospect. He is also one of five co-founders of the Economic Policy Institute.

Kuttner was once Washington Editor of the Village Voice, economics editor at The New Republic, and a former member of the national staff at The Washington Post. His nationally syndicated column is carried in over a dozen large dailies, in addition to appearing on The American Prospect website every Thursday. He writes frequently on health care policy and single payer reform.

HONOREES

Grace Ross was the Green Party candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in the 2006 election. Grace was a tireless advocate for Single Payer across the state every time health care issues were debated. Grace has shown poise, integrity, courage, and power in her support for Single Payer and we are very pleased to give her this award.

Barbara Sullivan is our second honoree. Barbara is an RN, and for many years was the Chair of the Health Care Committee of the Massachusetts League of Women Voters. Under her guidance the League became extremely active in promoting Single Payer health care through forums, articles, and local branches of the League. Her leadership gave the Massachusetts Chapter of the LWV a national reputation for being the experts on health reform issues. Barbara is responsible for tireless work to make health care a right for Massachusetts. We are proud to give Barbara this award for her dedication and hard work.

WORKSHOPS

Action-oriented workshops will be held for participants to learn more about health care activism in the state, and to help Mass-Care and UHCEF develop strategy around key areas facing the single payer movement in Massachusetts. Workshops will focus on:

• Health Care and Immigrant Rights
• Responding to Individual Mandates

Email director@masscare.org or call 617-723-7001 to RSVP.
Click here to take out an ad in the Ben Gill program book.
Click here to download the 9th Annual Ben Gill Invitation letter.