VANGUARDIANS ‘The price of freedom is eternal vigilance’ Thomas Jefferson

VANGUARDIANS The 4 Stages ‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win’ Mahatma Gandhi

VANGUARDIANS The vision is to live in a City where all people, regardless of geography, background or economic status, can enjoy accountability, integrity, effectiveness and responsiveness from our elected officials and each of the city's departments.

VANGUARDIANS Watching out for our community ‘Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys’ P.J.O’Rourke

VANGUARDIANS Why Vanguardians is needed  Once in office Council tends to forget that it is the voters who elected them  Elected officials need to be reminded that we are informed voters  Public Officials need to know they are accountable to the public

ARE YOU TREATED LIKE THIS? An opinion should be the result of thought not a substitute for it. Frazz

VANGUARDIANS The mission is to: #1 Provide, without bias, the timely dissemination of information and knowledge of government activities to the community and elected officials

VANGUARDIANS The mission is to: #2 Build, train and empower a knowledgeable, aware and involved city-wide group to monitor the integrity, performance and responsiveness of elected officials and each of the city's departments

VANGUARDIANS The mission is to: #3 Encourage, by example, a community free to exchange facts and opinions on public issues by facilitating open debate and discussion on the issues

VANGUARDIANS The mission is to: #4 Demand accountability, effectiveness and responsiveness from our government without which there is a system out of control and ripe for corruption

VANGUARDIANS The mission is to: #5 Make government acutely aware there is a community watching, monitoring and measuring their activities

VANGUARDIANS It is our duty to watch over the actions and activities of … government and to insist that, in words as well as in deeds, the interests of our constituency … are served. Honorable Diane E. Watson Member of Congress

VANGUARDIANS The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure. Albert Einstein

VANGUARDIANS Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people. - Henry Clay

VANGUARDIANS Which is worse? Failing to Vote Failing to be an Informed Voter ‘Why do reason, logic and truth seem to play a diminished role in the way America now makes important decisions?’ Al Gore

VANGUARDIANS Issues: Fiscal Accountability Enforcing Existing Laws CUP/Variance Reducing Fear of Government Traffic, Mobility & Parking Campaign Finance Reform Representing the public fairly Open & Transparent Government Transportation ADA Compliance

VANGUARDIANS Integrity starts with the individual

VANGUARDIANS Benefits 1. Your Advocate for Accountability 2. Keeping you ‘in the loop’ 3. Dissemination of Critical issues 4. Knowing where and how your money is being spent 5. Enjoying a prospering community & leaving it that way for your children and grandchildren

VANGUARDIANS  – not just a pocket that the city thinks they can keep going deeper into. We don’t complain when water and electric rates go up, or when the telephone, cable and cell phone bill show new taxes and fees. We just shut up and pay. We don’t get new services and the old ones deteriorate.

VANGUARDIANS  The budget is supposed to reflect the vision of the council. But the budget is prepared by management. We need to look at the expenditures as to what is being funded and who is receiving the funds.

VANGUARDIANS You can participate… Host Programs Publicity Be an Advocate Fund Raise

VANGUARDIANS Will  Host debates, discussions and trainings, forums on candidates and issues  Disseminate information via and Website  Engage Government and Community leaders and groups  Promote Community Outreach

DON’T LET THIS BE YOU Get your facts first and then you can distort them as much as you please. Mark Twain

VANGUARDIANS The Beacon for Accountability Lobbyists: If you can’t eat their meals, drink their liquor, sleep with their women and then vote against them, you have no business being a politician. Jesse Unruh

VANGUARDIANS Follow The Money

VANGUARDIANS No job is so simple that it can’t be done wrong

VANGUARDIANS Vanguardians Community Team POB Glendale, CA