FEATURED IN THIS WEEK’S MVCAN BULLETIN:

KICK-OFF FOR MIDTERM ELECTIONS / MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING -
New Location: Mill Valley Golf Clubhouse - Sun. Aug. 12, 6 pm
MVCAN’S ANNA PLETCHER DA RACE ENDORSEMENT and WED. SEPT. 5 CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
ELECTORAL TEAM PHONE/ TEXT BANKING
COME CANVASS WITH MVCAN IN TRACY!
WEST VALLEY DETENTION CENTER (RICHMOND) PROTEST - Sun. Aug. 12
FUNDRAISER FOR CONGRESSWOMAN JACKY ROSEN (NV) - Mon. Aug. 27
JOIN MVCAN FOR MASS CLIMATE MOBILIZATION IN SF - Sat. Sept. 8 plus Affiliate Event at College of Marin - Sat. Sept. 15
SAN RAFAEL FUNDRAISER A GREAT SUCCESS FOR JOSH HARDER (CD10)
SING-ALONG FOR A PEACEFUL WORLD, The Redwoods - Wed. Sept. 5

1 KICK-OFF FOR MIDTERMS

MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING

SUN. AUG. 12 - Note NEW TIME & LOCATION

Help us launch an awesome All-MVCAN effort to mobilize in support of Democratic candidates. STOP WORRYING, START DOING!

KICK-OFF FOR MIDTERMS / MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING

Sunday, August 12, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Mill Valley Golf Clubhouse (NEW LOCATION)

267 Buena Vista Avenue, Mill Valley

(Location info at: mvgolf.com. The Clubhouse is across the street from the golf course.)

MVCAN is working to scale up our already substantial electoral capacity so we can influence midterm races and take back the House in November 2018. Already, in the past few weeks, the team has signed up more than 100 interested new MVCAN volunteers!

We invite you to attend a Welcome and Orientation for all MVCAN members who want to participate in the midterm election work. At this Kick-Off Event (which will also serve as our regular MVCAN monthly meeting), we will highlight the key races, explain how campaign support activities will play out over the next three months, and help you plan and prepare for your involvement.

Guest Speaker:
Marin District Attorney candidate Anna Pletcher will also join us and speak about her candidacy and local justice issues.

Please come enjoy aram (wrap) sandwiches and salad with us.

RSVP to let us know you’re coming using this link: MVCAN Midterm Election Volunteer Form

Midterm Task Force hard at work to prepare for MVCAN Aug. 12 launch. Photo: Eileen Fisher

2 MVCAN ENDORSES ANNA PLETCHER

FOR MARIN DA

Anna Pletcher (second from right) with members of MVCAN's leadership.

Mill Valley Community Action Network (MVCAN) Endorses Anna Pletcher for Marin District Attorney in the November 6th Election.

Marin’s criminal justice system does not reflect the values of Marin voters. Our jail is full of defendants too poor to post bail. In Marin and throughout California people of color are arrested, prosecuted and sentenced in grossly disproportionate numbers. A recent study found Marin to be the state’s worst county in terms of race-based disparities. Fortunately, District Attorneys have the power to fix many of these wrongs in their jurisdiction.

Anna Pletcher is the sole candidate endorsed by the Marin Democratic Party and the only one who believes it’s her duty to implement progressive values and reform our broken criminal justice system.

Anna pledges to “expand restorative youth justice alternatives and collaborate to break the cycle of homelessness.”
Anna will make “sure that Marin joins regional partners to protect our environment and build safer schools.”
Anna is “the only candidate committed to reforming our cash bail system and providing rape kit exams in-county.”
Anna explains that “these smart reforms [will] make us safer, stronger, and save taxpayer resources.”

As a result of Anna Pletcher’s commitments to make meaningful, progressive changes to the Marin County criminal justice system, MVCAN is joining the Marin Democratic Party to endorse Pletcher and work for her election as Marin DA.

To learn more about why MVCAN is supporting Anna Pletcher and how she will make Marin County safer and more just, see here.

“This election is both critical for Marin and highly competitive, so MVCAN is proud to campaign for Anna Pletcher,” stated MVCAN’s Core Team. “We believe Anna is an exceptionally strong, progressive candidate and a clear contrast to the status-quo Sheriff-endorsed candidate, Lori Frugoli.”

The status quo is not working and the Marin Sheriff is out of touch with our values. To learn about how Marin County Sheriff Doyle’s actions have lead to excess ICE referrals in Marin, see the SF Chronicle, May 25, “While SF Jail Snubs ICE, Marin County Does the Opposite.” We can and will do better in Marin County with Anna Pletcher standing up for immigrants!

MVCAN Members are invited to attend the launch meeting for Anna’s campaign. Let’s join in and help get her elected!

ANNA PLETCHER CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

Wednesday, September 5, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

VenturePad - 1020 B St, San Rafael, CA

RSVP here

For more information, see www.AnnaPletcher.com.

If you have questions, please contact Peter Graumann (petergraumann@yahoo.com), MVCAN’s contact for Anna Pletcher campaign activities.

3 ELECTORAL TEAM PHONE/TEXT BANKING

Phone bankers and texters at work. Photo: June Cooperman.

We are gearing up for an intensive fight leading to taking back Congress at the midterms! Let’s all work together and create a more just America for all.

The coalition that is forming among different Resistance groups with different approaches indicates that the various shades of blue that make up the Resistance can come together–both around the state and around the country, to help flip both the House and Senate in November.

UPCOMING PHONE/TEXT BANKS

The Electoral Team’s experienced leaders are always on hand to help guide you through the process, and if you're new to calling or texting voters, they will teach you step-by-step.

Please bring your charged cell phone and a laptop, ipad or tablet, and earbuds with a mic to the phone/text bank.

MVCAN PHONE/ TEXT BANKING IN SAUSALITO

(directions sent upon registration)

Sat. Aug.11, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Sausalito

Sat. Aug. 18, 12:00 - 2:00 pm, REFRESHER TRAINING in phone banking 101, Sausalito

Sat. Aug. 18, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Sausalito

PHONE/ TEXT BANKING IN CORTE MADERA

(directions sent upon registration)

Mon. Aug. 13, 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Corte Madera

PHONE/ TEXT BANKING IN SAN RAFAEL

Marin Dems Headquarters: 1334 4th Street, San Rafael (at D St.)

Wed. Aug. 15, 4:00 - 6:00 pm, San Rafael

Lots more phone/ text bank dates through August! Please continue to check the MVCAN Phone/ Text Bank page to sign up for more.

We will be calling for California Congressional candidates in the flippable Districts.

For more information, visit the MVCAN Phone/ Text Bank page.

4 CANVASSING IN TRACY for Josh Harder

Sat. Aug. 11 and Sat. Sept. 8

Gratified and well-fed group of MVCAN canvassers following lunch after July 14 Tracy canvass. Photo: Larry Litvak.

There are lots of great opportunities coming up to canvass voters in CD10 (Tracy, Modesto, Turlock) to help flip Congress in the 2018 midterms.

MVCAN members will continue canvassing for Josh Harder for Congress in Tracy on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Canvassing in Tracy with MVCAN

Sat. Aug. 11, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sat. Sept. 8, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

More information and sign-up: Canvass in Tracy.

Join MVCAN members who canvass for Josh Harder in conjunction with Swing Left Marin and the Greater Tracy Democrats. You don’t need prior experience – training and an experienced partner will be provided.

Email Larry Litvak (llitvak@aol.com) for more info, including carpooling to Tracy.

If you wish to canvass in Tracy on alternative dates and times (other than with MVCAN group on the second Saturday of each month), you can sign up for a variety of dates at Canvass in Tracy.

For more information, visit the MVCANCanvassing Page.

5 “LET OUR PEOPLE GO” PROTEST

Photo: Congregation BethEl, Berkeley.

Next #LetOurPeopleGo Protest

Sunday, August 12, 11 am

West County Detention Facility

5555 Giant Hwy, Richmond, CA

Please join us at this “Let Our People Go” protest. We will be protesting for a change in policy so that immigrants being held at the West County Detention Center will be released immediately, rather than being transferred to out-of-state or remote California locations that increase the anguish for family members who lose access to visitation.

Visit the MVCAN Civil Rights/ Immigration Team page for more info about this and other actions.

The next Civil Rights/Immigration Team meeting will take place on:

CIVIL RIGHTS/IMMIGRATION TEAM MEETING
Sunday, August 12, 5:15 - 6:00 pm (before the big MVCAN Meeting at 6 pm)

Mill Valley Golf Clubhouse

267 Buena Vista Avenue, Mill Valley

(Location info at: mvgolf.com. The clubhouse is across the street from the golf course.)

Newcomers are welcome!

6 FUNDRAISER FOR US SENATE CANDIDATE JACKY ROSEN

(D-Nevada)

MEET CANDIDATE Congresswoman Jacky Rosen of Nevada, who is running to unseat one of the most vulnerable Republican Senators, Dean Heller. A victory for Jacky Rosen in November will pave the way to flipping the US Senate in the midterm elections!

You are invited to a reception at a private residence in Mill Valley:

Meet Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

Monday, August 27, 5:30 - 7pm

Mill Valley

Click Here to RSVP and/or make a donation.

Suggested donations range from $500-$3,500. The event will be family-friendly, and children are welcome.

Congresswoman Rosen is a champion of the environment and education. She currently sits on the House Committees for the Armed Services and for Science, Space and Technology. Please join us for evening of Q&A with Jacky Rosen and help to flip this seat!

7 MASS CLIMATE MARCH IN SF - GET ON THE BUS!

JOIN FELLOW MVCAN MARCHERS Sat. Sept. 8

Photo: Suz Lipman.

Please join MVCAN in turning out for the People’s Climate March in San Francisco, Saturday, September 8. The March will precede Governor Brown’s Global Climate Action Summit from Sept. 12-14 in San Francisco.

We in the Bay Area have a chance to help create the biggest climate protest on the West Coast ever! We hope to march as an MVCAN contingent. We will keep you updated on plans through the newsletter.

Buses sponsored by “RISE for climate, jobs and justice” will be available to take you from Marin to the SF March and back.

TO BUY BUS TICKETS, sign up here. See you in the streets Sept. 8th!

Get more information and RSVP for the March here.

September 15th Affiliate Event from the Global Climate Action Summit

“Getting to Paris Without Stopping in Washington” in Marin!

MVCAN is co-sponsoring a global action climate summit event on Saturday, September 15 at College of Marin:

Fabulous Nationally-recognized Guest Speakers:

Architect of the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement Christiana Figueres

California EPA Secretary Matt Rodriquez

Berkeley Professor Daniel Kammen

Congressman Jared Huffman and other climate leaders.

Come participate in a forum on how citizens and communities can take charge of solving climate change.

Marin Climate Action Showcase
Saturday, Sept. 15, 5:30 pm - sample local drinks and tastes - 7:00 pm speakers
College of Marin Gymnasium, 835 College Ave, Kentfield

For information & tickets: www.leadonclimate.org

8 SAN RAFAEL FUNDRAISER A GREAT SUCCESS

FOR JOSH HARDER (CD-10, Modesto)

CONGRATULATIONS to the many MVCANers that attended the JULY 29th fundraiser, where more than $30,000 was raised for the Harder campaign.

Even more exciting were Josh’s speech and Q&A session. We were all just floored by his authenticity and the brilliance of his platform and delivery. Meeting him in person made us want to fight all the more for his candidacy!

9 MVCAN IS FRIEND OF SING-ALONG AT REDWOODS

Sing for a Better World, Sept. 2017. Photo: Fabrice Florin.

Join “Sing-along for a Peaceful World” Wednesday, September 5, 7-9 pm, with Reed Fromer at the Redwoods Retirement Community Auditorium, 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. Hosted by Mill Valley Seniors for Peace & the Freedom Singers,

All attending will sing together to celebrate struggles and visions for a peaceful world. View the flyer here. RSVP to Marilyn Price (mprice@the-acorn.com).

JOIN AN ACTION TEAM

WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED in a specific issue? 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.

Dump Trump 's 25 active team members work on ways to remove Trump from power, with special focus on Russia collusion. This topic is hot!

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 focused on the 2018 Midterm Elections, when all 435 seats in the House plus 33 Senate seats are up for grabs. We intend to grab as many as possible. The Electoral team works to elect Democratic candidates for federal and state level elections using phone/text banks and travel to targeted districts to talk with voters through phone calls, texts, door-to-door canvassing, voter registration, and campaign volunteering.

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 Debra Newton, our Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@mvcan.org.

Thank you for all you do!
– June, Bernard, Suz, Danny, Eileen, Rebecca, and everyone at MVCAN

MVCAN News brought to you by June, Annie and Suz