Global Warming; Iowa Bus to 350.org President’s Day Demonstration, Feb. 17^th, Washington, DC

Hi all,

I am organizing a bus from Iowa to attend the Feb. 17^th anti-global warming demonstration being organized by 350.org on Feb. 17^th in Washington, DC. 

I am sending this to everyone who has expressed interest in attending to date.  And to others who are helping to spread the word.  Please pass this along to your contacts and your friends, etc.

If we only do a trip with interested Iowans, we most likely will not have enough for a bus.  So it would have to be vans.  Cost of a 7-8 passenger van per person is estimated to be $130 with gas and we would share driving.  Each van could decide if they want to stay overnight(s) at a motel.   I am in contact with a group from South Dakota and Nebraska (BoldNebraska) that currently has 20-25 people interested.  I currently have 6-7 people who have expressed considerable interest.  Good chance we will be able to fill a bus if we want to join with these two groups.  I’m not sure what that cost would be but I’m estimating somewhere in the $225-$250/person range and we would be sleeping on the bus (not sure about that either as it would depend what BoldNebraska may choose to do, they may choose to have one overnight stay).

All this is a bit of a “chicken and egg” situation as the bus lines require prepayment ………….and most bus organizers including myself do not have the $10,000 + required to prepay……………so people have to fully commit with payment at least 2 weeks prior to the trip date.

I am also in contact with Heather MacKenzie with the national Sierra Club who are presently engaged in trying to coordinate all the buses and vans and to help the various groups cooperate with one another.

Just a note:  If you reserve soon enough, plane fares to DC from Des Moines are in $230 - $240 range.

The rally itself is now scheduled to start at noon and end at 4 PM on the 17^th of Feb.

I’m thinking that what makes sense is to go with a bus load plan in cooperation with SD and Nebraska (and maybe Illinois……….pickup stops along I80) as Plan A, estimated cost of $225- $250 per person.  Plan B would be van(s), estimated cost of $130 per person including gas.  Plan C would be Plan A plus Plan B for any overflow more than one busload.  Please let me know ASAP if you believe you have serious interest in either Plan A or Plan B or C.  Please also feel very free to share this email with others.

Maybe pickup stops for riders in Omaha, Des Moines, Iowa City…………..and also perhaps Davenport if we get people from that area.

Thanks

Steve