FEATURED IN THIS WEEK’S MVCAN NEWSLETTER (8/4/19):
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS
CONGRESSMAN JOSH HARDER FEATURED AT MVCAN FALL KICK-OFF MEETING - Sun. Sept 15
PHONE BANK IN SAUSALITO - Every Saturday except Labor Day
SIGN UP TO WRITE POSTCARDS FROM HOME
SOUTHERN MARIN REGIONAL HOUSING MEETING - Wed. Aug 14
MVCAN ECO TEAM - GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE - Sept 20-27
PHONE BANK IN SAN ANSELMO - Sun. Aug 11
CANDIDATE’S TRAINING WORKSHOP - MARIN WOMEN’S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - Thurs. Aug 15
ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM OF MARIN'S MASTER CLASS SERIES
WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHAT WE DID:
“RAD” PARTY AT MVCAN ANNUAL PICNIC
CHECK OUT VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH AIRLIFT’S Danny Altman
ROCKING THOSE PHONE BANKS
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS
1
CONGRESSMAN JOSH HARDER FEATURED AT MVCAN FALL KICK-OFF MEETING!
SUNDAY SEPT. 15, 5PM
At our MVCAN Fall Kick-Off Meeting, we will hear from one of our favorite members of Congress, Josh Harder, from CD-10 (Modesto).
MVCAN Monthly Meeting
Sunday, Sept. 15, 5 - 6:30PM
Mill Valley Golf Course Clubhouse (Note: different venue)
280 Buena Vista Ave, Mill Valley
Come hear our guest speaker, Congressman Josh Harder.
Team MVCAN, DEMOCRACY ACTION MARIN and many other local groups worked hard the entire year in 2018 to help flip this district and elect this impressive young U.S. Representative, turning out >200 volunteers to call and canvass for Josh Harder. He’ll fill us in on his first year in Congress, the legislation he’s introduced and helped pass, as well as news from his district on how we can help defend his seat in 2020.
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PHONE BANK in SAUSALITO - Saturday Aug 10, 2 - 4pm continuing all Saturdays except Labor Day
The phone bank last Saturday hosted a big group of volunteers who are already hard at work reaching out to voters in swing states and districts all over the country. Our thanks to sponsor Democracy Action Marin and co-host Sister District Marin.
Warning: Joining our group of hard-working volunteers may be beneficial to your health and may also give you a good night’s sleep!
Join us for our next phone bank:
Sat. Aug. 10, 2pm - 4pm
80 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 20
Sausalito
Sign up Here to register for Aug 10.
For more info on subsequent phone banks, contact Marti Cermak at marti.cermak@gmail.com.
Please note that on Saturday, Aug. 10, Virginia House of Delegates candidate Karen Mallard will join us at our phone bank live via Skype! You can experience for yourselves what a strong candidate she is.
The entire Virginia House & Senate are up for election November 5, 2019 -- and we have the opportunity to take the majority. Not only would Dems gain a trifecta in VA (Governor, House + Senate control) and block further partisan gerrymandering but we can pass the strong gun safety legislation that Governor Northam brought to the floor, and we could finally pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Virginia is poised to become the 38th and final state needed to ratify the ERA!
Overall, in the coming months we’re focusing on the upcoming elections in 2019 as well as laying the groundwork for 2020:
The Special Congressional Election in North Carolina in September 2019.
The state-level elections in Virginia in November 2019 (we’re joining with Sister District Marin).
Turning Arizona blue in 2020 and helping to elect Capt. Mark Kelly to the Senate.
Remember, our experienced coaches are always on hand to guide you from start to finish. Please bring your charged cell phone AND a laptop, iPad or tablet along with your earbuds with a mic.
WRITE POSTCARDS FROM HOME TO STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION
We have completed all of the targeted counties in North Carolina! So, we are moving on to Virginia, which is having elections in November 2019.
Please contact MVCAN lead organizer Bob Haar at politicalbobh@gmail.com for more info and to get a postcard kit or email with everything you need to get started.
Also, please consider donating to help Reclaim Our Vote, which is a nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaign. This campaign, which supplies the names, addresses and scripts for the disenfranchised voters, reaches out mainly to voters of color on Unregistered and Inactive lists in key voter-suppression states.
Donate here to Reclaim Our Vote.
The Reclaim Our Vote project contacts voters of color in voter suppression states (particularly the South), many of whom are ignored by both major political parties, even during election season.
4
MARIN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE - SOUTHERN MARIN REGIONAL PLANNING MEETING
Wed. Aug 14
MVCAN is a member of the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC), which for the past decade has been highly effective in advocating for the homeless, affordable housing and tenants in Marin. All MVCAN members are invited to this event.
After holding small group conversations with hundreds of residents of Marin within MOC member organizations, this regional meeting is a way to expand learning across group lines.
Marin Organizing Committee advocating for renters at the Marin County Board of Supervisors
Come gather with other leaders from throughout Marin to listen and share our stories about the critical issues facing our families, neighbors and community.
Research will be undertaken to explore potential concrete, winnable issues and take them on. Please join in!
MOC Regional Meeting
Wed. August 14, 6:30 - 8PM
Congregation Kol Shofar
215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon
5
SAVE THE DATE - GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE SEPT. 20 - 27
This September, millions will walk out of our workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. Our house is on fire — let’s act like it!
Stay tuned for details on Marin’s participation in the 9/20 climate strike events.
6
PHONE BANK IN SAN ANSELMO - Sun. Aug 11
This “Reclaim Our Vote” phone bank in San Anselmo is sponsored by SURJ Marin surjmarin.org.
Phone Bank - San Anselmo
Sun. August 11, 10 AM - 12 PM
Sign up Here. You will get details and phone bank address when you sign up.
You will need a laptop or other device and a cell phone.
Community of color voters are being placed on “Inactive” or “Unregistered” lists at a 16% higher rate than whites. The ability to vote of people in minority communities was already being systematically undermined over the last decade, by the imposition of strict new voter ID laws, by the reduction in polling places and early voting, and through many other tactics.
“Reclaim Our Vote 2019” is seeking to increase our impact in states where significant off-year and special elections are taking place (Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi), or where “Unregistered” voters-of-color numbers are particularly high (Texas, Colorado, Arizona).
7
CANDIDATE’S TRAINING WORKSHOP - MARIN WOMEN’S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MWPAC)
Thurs. Aug 15
Are you an MVCAN member interested in learning about running for office? If so, please contact the MVCAN leadership at info@MVCAN.org - we want to know! Also, check out the following exciting opportunity to learn more about what running for office entails.
The Marin Women’s Political Action Committee presents “RUN to WIN,” a candidate’s workshop.
Candidate Training Workshop
Thurs. Aug 15, 5:30PM - 9:00PM
The Club at McInnis
350 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael, Ca. 94903
Cost: $40.00 which includes a pasta buffet
RSVP to bmatas8139@aol.com or 415-234-6140 by Aug. 12.
The workshop will cover the basics of fundraising and running a campaign, including: time management, endorsements, web design and social media.
8
ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM OF MARIN'S MASTER CLASS SERIES- Starting Sat. Sept 7 and finishing April 3, 2020
The Environmental Forum of Marin's Master Class trains people to make a difference. This one-time yearly series of class sessions, field trips, and advocacy trainings focuses on the systemic impacts of climate change in our communities. The class will educate, inspire and equip you to successfully advocate for a healthier environment for future generations. Hear from Master Class Advocates who organized the effort to convert all Marin municipalities to renewable energy!
Starting Sat. Sept 7 and finishing April 3, 2020, the course series will consist of nine compelling meetings with world class speakers.
Also, a special preview class will be held on Sat. August 17.
Cost is $700. Scholarships are available.
For more information or questions, email MasterClass@MarinEFM.org.
MVCAN: WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHAT WE DID
1
“RAD” PARTY AT MVCAN ANNUAL PICNIC!!
Rebecca Brackman - Core team lead
Bernard & Roberta Catalinotto - Cleanup
Julie Carlson - EcoWarrior Recycling, Cleanup
Alicia Forrester - EcoWarrior Recycling
Annie Graham - Setup and Food Service
Frank Leidman - Cleanup
Dorsey McTaggart - Setup
Marilyn Price - EcoWarrior Recycling
And huge kudos to our inimitable event lead - Carol Korenbrot.
We couldn’t do it without ya!!
2
CHECK OUT VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH AIRLIFT’S Danny Altman
Help support Airlift funds for year-round grassroots action. Airlift is an all-volunteer, zero-overhead arm of MVCAN. When you contribute, your funds go directly to the carefully-selected grassroots activist groups that we support via ActBlue.
We know that year-round voter engagement works. If you want to help end the electoral boom and bust cycle, please consider making a donation to enable Airlift-supported grassroots groups to “Keep the Feet on the Street” between election cycles. The earlier the donation, the bigger the impact. Donate Here
Check out Danny Altman’s interview discussing Airlift on PBC in Conversation.
For an excellent article on the crucial importance of supporting grassroots groups, see the Washington Post, “The Best Way for Democrats to Win in 2020? Ignoring the Candidates for Now”
3
ROCKING THOSE PHONE BANKS!
More than 35 activists gathered to call Virginia and North Carolina two weeks ago. Here Lisa Bennett of Indivisible Sausalito addresses the group.
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JOIN AN ACTION TEAM
WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED in a specific issue or support area? Much of MVCAN's work is done in one of our 10 awesome action teams. Click the team name to read their latest news and find their next meeting.
Civil Rights/Immigration battles for justice and fair treatment of women, immigrants, working people and followers of all faiths.
Communications works on strategy, branding, messaging and program development for MVCAN. They are looking for bright ideas and people who want to make them happen.
Eco Warriors are engaged in change at the local, state and national levels, to impact the CA carbon tax, climate change, and community outreach and action.
The Economic Action team runs AIRLIFT, our first national project. AIRLIFT funnels money to grassroots groups in winnable 2018 districts. These are seriously vetted groups that work all year round in their communities–they get tangible results without blowing through millions of dollars. Read about Airlift in the Huffington Post .
Electoral is still celebrating the incredible outcome of the 2018 Midterms. Over the past 2 years, our dedicated group of volunteers called, texted and canvassed voters in our focus CA Congressional Districts along with NV & AZ. They helped win all 7 of the 7 flippable CA Congressional Districts, along with the Senate seats in NV & AZ. As we look to 2019, we are weighing many options which include strengthening the position of our newly elected CA House Representatives, voter registration drives and the state level elections in November--and of course, the Special Congressional Elections which will result in Trump Cabinet members being fired and replaced with Congressional Republicans.
The Events team creates special events to engage our friends and neighbors to take political action with MVCAN.
Health Care is forging ahead after their successful fight over the repeal/replace of ACA.
Tech supports MVCAN through technology.
Women's Rights fundraises and canvasses for NARAL and Planned Parenthood; supports women in public office(s); and engages in local, state and federal legislation for women's protection and rights.
NEW TO MVCAN?
Visit MVCAN.org to learn about the organization and strategies, join a team, read past MVCAN newsletters, and gain helpful Resistance tools.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS OR TALENTS?
Numerous positions and jobs are available – one-time or ongoing. Contact volunteer@mvcan.org.
Thank you for all you do!
– June, Bernard, Eileen, Rebecca, and everyone at MVCAN
MVCAN News brought to you by June, Annie and Eileen
