Josh Marshall posted an important piece on Talkingpointsmemo about some Democrats feeling discouraged. This came into my inbox just a few days after a note about Tony the Democrat dropping a campaign because he does not have as many people writing postcards these days.

If you are reading this, you are part of the solution, not the problem (as we said in the 60’s). The Virginia election is coming, Tony and Votefwd have Democratic campaigns in their sites. We are the ones who keep other Democrats from giving up. We are the energizing bunnies for our friends and those around us who get distracted from the main goal—electing every Democrat we can all the time all the way up to the White House.

We are the ones who will meet today to move forward on fund-raising for Virginia. We have a special postcard campaign in process as well. I am so looking forward to seeing you all–the ones who do NOT let down their energy. Discouraged?? No–we are too busy!

Please note: Sorry for the delay in posting minutes.

Next meeting: Sunday April 14th 4:30-5:45

1. We started off with a lively discussion answer some questions from Indivisible Headquarters about 1) do we want to endorse a particular candidate (to which we said no, but we did list several we all liked in a hierarchy of top tier and second tier and 2) which issues are most important to us. At some point Bruce, our scribe, will post a summary here. Interesting points made all around.
2. We talked about our two fundraisers. Jane is going to catalogue all of the items for our political auction. Please pass a list of your donations on to her (jane@donjelinek.com). Emily is going to make the handout about Virginia elections for the Quiet Evening fundraiser. More on both fundraisers soon.
3. Bill reported that something is going between with our CA 13 Sister District group and the main Sister District group. He will give us a report after an upcoming meeting which has been set up to explain the situation.
4. We talked about buttons and postcards. We are ordering 750 postcards with the color-in design for those who want that one and we will also order some of the Our Vote is Our Voice for those who like that one. The Elmwood Post office is already out of postcards so we recommend everyone buy when they can. Design a new button contest is on (Bruce has sent in some great suggestions and we want to move forward so if you have an idea, send it to Andy (drlaz@me.com)).
5. For our action item we all looked as the http://www.Votefwd.org which most of the group was not familiar with. They have some important campaigns on now such as a special election in Pennsylvania. Even if we lose some of these campaigns they get getting people in the habit of voting.
6. Michael passes this additional action item on to everyone:

Support our hungry neighbors in Puerto Rico. [h/t Mi Familia Vota]

The president is blocking food aid to Puerto Rico where nearly 43% of the population relies on food stamps.
Donate: To the Food Bank of Puerto Rico (Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico)

Call: Your Feinstein and Harris (202) 224-3121
Script: Hi, I’m calling from [ZIP] to support relief for Puerto Rico. Our fellow Americans are starving due to the president’s biases and Congressional inaction. I’m asking [name] to show mercy toward our fellow citizens, support immediate passage of S. 572 to address the situation, and ensure Puerto Rico receives all promised financial support.

I have emerged from the world of grading into the world of politics and we have lots to talk about on Sunday, such as …….

Indivisible in the Primaries? The Big Questions

US Indivisible has asked local groups to complete a survey by April 15 on what should be the posture of Indivisible in the primary election season around both candidates and issues.  Do we want to endorse a presidential candidate? If so, on what criteria? How much do the candidates’ campaign values or practices matter? What about their stance on specific policy issues? What are the pros and cons of endorsing—both for Indivisible nationally and for us locally? How about other types of engagement in the primary process? And how would we rank the current candidates if we were to endorse any at this point?

On Sunday, we’ll spend some time on a questionnaire covering these issues.  It should be an interesting conversation.

Wow! We made lots of plans. Here is a summary put in a more sensible order than happened at our meeting. Next meeting Sunday March 31st 4:30-5:45

1. We decided not to participate in the Sister District Virginia over-scripted postcard campaign but are going to do two fundraisers for Virginia over the coming months: 1) A Quiet Evening at Home Fundraiser– for a donation information about Virginia to read, a nice snack and no need to put on your shoes or schlepp somewhere and 2) an auction of political items like old buttons we all have hoarded –items already offered include the New York Times from the day Nixon left the White House and a Hubert Humphrey shopping bag. Interested in leading either of these endeavors? We need volunteer coordinators.
2. Bruce had two items for us. First, Indivisible wants us to Call Barbara Lee to Support National Carbon Pricing Bill |urging her to support HR 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, a bipartisan carbon fee and dividend bill introduced in the House. HR 763 is probably the strongest and most comprehensive climate bill ever introduced in Congress, and it deserves strong support. The bill sets fees on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and other sources. Second, please check out the new video narrated by Jennifer Lawrence: Unbreaking America: A NEW Short Film about Solving the Corruption Crisis.”   Described in the Washington Post as “a 12-minute lecture … that’s part civics lesson and part rallying cry,” it introduces the non-partisan anti-corruption group RepresentUs and invites citizens across the political spectrum to help “fix our broken elections, stop political bribery, and end secret money.”  If it makes sense to you, forward the message to others who might like it. (This idea was enthusiastically seconded by our group and we are going to test the video by emailing it to centrist and Republican friends and relatives.
3. Time for a new button design. Bring your ideas to our next meeting or send them to me and we’ll pick the new design at the meeting. We can include them in the Quiet Evening at Home Fundraiser as mini gifts.
4. Judy brought us up to date on a great plan to replace the Alameda sheriff. We’ll link her proposal to another blog post due to various linking issues. More on what we can do to support this at future meetings.
5. Finally, Michael brought us this action item:

Speak up for your hungry neighbors by April 2. [h/t FRAC]

Write: A comment on the Federal Register.
Modify this script: Comments are not counted if you cut-and-paste. Use the ideas below to get started.

The Agriculture Department has proposed new limits on states’ ability to waive work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, even when not enough jobs are available. 

Last fall, Congress rejected this provision that would deny food to 755,000 people, many of whom work in low-wage, unstable occupations.

I want my tax dollars to assist my neighbors in need. 

I support a robust SNAP program for adults because [share why you believe stricter time limits are harmful].

Cite SNAP strengths. 

I oppose new SNAP rules that would increase hunger and poverty in communities across the nation. 

State (not federal) government is best qualified to determine when local employment conditions warrant a change to work requirements.

Our next meeting is this Sunday, 4:30-5:45 at our house (2745 Elmwood Ave). Lots to talk about regarding Virginia, special elections, CA bills and our priorities for MOC who call us.

1. Meanwhile, the National Resources Defense Council urges us to urge our California reps to support Senate Bill 1 to protect the environment. What better way to support all the youth out on the streets today about global warming? Log on to act.nrdc.org for a letter to send.

2. Our texting leaders (Open Progress) are looking for people to study and prepare info about voting records for upcoming elections: Volunteer link

Help fight for Net Neutrality with The Electronic Frontier Foundation.

3. 34 Mile March for Fossil Fuel Freedom from Palo Alto to San FranciscoSaturday March 16-Sunday March 18
Saturday, March 16 – March starts in Palo Alto Saturday morning. Route on sidewalks and shoulders along El Camino Real. Overnight in San Mateo.

Sunday, March 17 – March continues along El Camino Real and Mission Street. Overnight in San Francisco (Excelsior).
Monday, March 18 – March continues into San Francisco. Major rally at Wells Fargo Headquarters at lunchtime.

You can join any part of the march
Tell Wells Fargo to defund Big Oil and reinvest into a 100% renewable energy future. Marchers will spend two nights in church and community halls, with delicious vegan food provided at every stop. Support vehicles will accompany the march to carry gear and flagging marchers. Supporters are invited to join the marchers for meals, and to cheer them on at the twelve “stagecoach stops” along the way. More information and RSVP here. Sponsored by 350.org

1. Josh Harder called again to talk about sending interns to his district. We’ll go over this at our next meeting. No Sister District action items today since I included lots last time and more is coming soon. Meanwhile…..
2. Tell your senators to end unauthorized US support for the war in Yemen by voting yes on S.J. Res. 7. The Senate is scheduled to vote on this resolution this week, and it’s expected to be close. Call your senators and tell them to make history by voting to end the illegal, immoral US war in Yemen. Read more and find a call script here.

3. From the ACLU We took the Trump administration to court over its decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census – and in January, a federal court ruled in our favor. But the fight continues: The Trump administration appealed and now the Supreme Court will take up the case next month.

Our work isn’t done: The government just announced it will accept public comments until March 15.

That means you have 5 DAYS to submit your public comment. Tell the government the census citizenship question is unlawful, anti-immigrant, and goes against the census’ purpose of counting everyone – citizens and noncitizens alike.

4. From the National Resources Defense COuncil

In two days the Trump administration will close the public comment period on the sham Environmental Impact Statement for their plans to hand over the heart of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.

Trump and his acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt are pushing hard to open the Arctic Refuge to reckless drilling, and this draft EIS is the next step in their march to open America’s most pristine publicly owned wildlands for Big Oil companies to ravage for profit.

Please, speak out now on behalf of the cherished wildlife of the Arctic Refuge, including wolves, eagles, Porcupine caribou, and polar bears … the region’s Gwich’in people who consider these lands sacred … and our climate.

FUN FACT: In the recent special election in Kentucky SD 31, the Democrat lost BUT the Democrat’s 6-point loss was 57 points better than Hillary Clinton’s 2016 performance!

1. 􏰗TONIGHT: Thursday, March 7, 7-9 pm
   Move Your Money: Reduce Climate Risk in Your Investments

Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave, Piedmont
Break Up with Your Bank – Reduce Climate Risk in Your Portfolio

2. Sister District: Support Cheryl Turpin. She is a MAJOR republican target. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 15, 6:30-10pm, at our fundraiser  in Piedmont, with Irish food, drinks, and live music. To attend, donate $75 HERE. (Address will be provided upon RSVP.) See the flyer by clicking here. This is an event you really don’t want to miss!

3. Sister District has multiple postcard campaigns that require postcards to be batched and returned to the porch at 1934 Parker St. Berkeley. Email sdp.ca.13.postcards@gmail.com to get your script and addresses. Make sure you let us know how many addresses (minimum 50) and which of the following campaigns you prefer:

1. Cheryl Turpin Legislative Accomplishments:  Postcard to solid Democratic supporters of Cheryl Turpin to let them know that, amid the chaos of current Virginia politics, she is working for them and her bill just passed into law.
2. Sister District Action Network (SDAN) official postcard project:  Postcard as part of a larger experiment into either Louisiana or Mississippi to help people get registered to vote.

4. Sister District Project national is supporting Pam Iovino in an April 2nd special election to flip Pennsylvania State Senate District 37, which is nested almost entirely in Conor Lamb’s congressional district. They are asking for Donations here, and there is more info about Pam here.

Important Advert before minutes from our meeting: We are ending our Facebook postings soon and encourage everyone to sign up at Indivisibleelmwood.org which will be our main mode of communication soon. We hope to get rid of email as well.
Energized by the Cohen hearings, we had a lively meeting yesterday and launched our new campaign.
Our MAIN GOAL for this group is to elect every possible Democrat every time there is a special election, in the Virginia election this fall and then in 2020. 
1. Sister District Campaigns: The main lines for our campaigns in VA House District 85, VA House District 83 and VA Senate 07 are literally still being drawn, but everyone can easily log on to the Supported Campaigns link just under the photo on Indivisibleelmwood.org and make a donation to help Cheryl Turpin (remember her—the first candidate to call us directly to say thanks) for her re-election campaign. ADDED BONUS: This week you can also donate to the very important campaign in Penn House district 114. Every dollar counts for these campaigns. We will have a presentation Why Virginia? at a future meeting. FLIPPING the state house and senate will really feel good. 
2. Very important special election for the Supreme Court in Wisconsin. Send letters via www.votefwd.org. 
3. We decided to start collecting funds to send some young student interns to help out in the Virginia election this fall, in part because it will be hard for most of us to make it out there. Our very own Bill is working on this project so he will give us details about the plan and Andy will work on how to collect the funds in a legal manner. Getting young people involved in campaigning is great so this is what we call a Double Mitzvah.
4. Bruce brought us up to date on Indivisible and will be suppling us with one action item for each subsequent Monday posting. He will also continue to do general postings on our blog which will be a great help. We decided not to sign on to a general California Indivisible letter to the Newsom since we did not think we had enough info, but are open to do this in the future.
5. Andy updated us on the website. If anyone has any questions, please email him directly at drlaz@me.com. He posted instruction on how to get emails for every posting IF you want them. Dump facebook and join us on the web. 
6. Michael gave us a review of Hillbilly Elegies and we all decided to check our family trees for hillbillies we might want to have chats with (I have many in my tree). We’ll revisit this issue at the next meeting.
7. Jane volunteered to help with the letter writing at Piedmont Gardens and Bruce G. recommended that we help other retirement homes get active. 
Next meeting: Sunday March 17th 4:30-5:45 at our house. Meanwhile, Think Virginia.  Naomi

Didn’t this week make you GLAD we took the House back?!?! It’s time to get moving on the next set of elections. We are a famous group—Josh Harder called again today. Time to put some more people in office.

1. Next meeting this Sunday, March 3rd 4:30–5:45 at our house.
2. The move to our webpage continues: Indivisibleelmwood.org. Many of you are already followers (hurrah!). If you need help signing up, email Andy at drlaz@me.com.
3. Our donation link on the website for the next week is collecting funds for the special election in Pennsylvania Assembly district 114 where there is an important election on March 12. Even small donations go a long way on these local campaigns.
4. Tony the Democrat’s new IMPORTANT campaign:
   What? Election
   When? Tuesday, April 2
   Who? Judge Lisa Neubauer
   For? Supreme Court
   Want addresses? Email Janice at janice@weingrod.com
5. VoteForward is also working on the Wisconsin election available  at www.Votefwd.org
6. Send a thank you to the supervisors who rejected Urban Shield.

This has been a very disturbing week in American politics and it is good to know that we are gathering soon to discuss action items.

1. Our next meeting is this Sunday Feb 17th 4:30–5:45. We will discuss organizing by Indivisible about the Emergency proceedings, Bruce’s op ed project, an upcoming special election in Pennsylvania we can get involved in and how to make our move to our new website work and much more.

2. Meanwhile, hopefully everyone has received an invitation from Andy to log-on to our new website. Please do so before our meeting so we can move to the next step by showing everyone how to participate in the website. [Andy adds: we will review how to post to the new site at the meeting.]

More detailed notes after our meeting.

Naomi