NEWS FROM OUR AUGUST MEETING:

80 people turned out for our August meeting at the Tam Valley Community Center. (Photo by Fabrice Florin)

ELECTORAL TEAM PRESENTS STRATEGY FOR TAKING BACK CONGRESS IN 2018

Congressional Districts:

CD-10: FLIP—Jeff Dunham (R), Turlock, Tracy, Modesto

CD-7: DEFENSE—Ami Bera (D), Sacramento

CD-21: FLIP—David Valadao (R) Hanford, Fresno, Bakersfield

NV-3: DEFENSE—Open (D), Henderson, South Las Vegas

Senate:

NEVADA: FLIP—Dean Heller (R)

ARIZONA: FLIP—Jeff Flake (R)

Susan Bolle lays out electoral strategy at the August meeting (Photo by Fabrice Florin)

Meanwhile, the immediate focus for the Electoral Team is the state house elections to be held November 2017 in VA and WA. In Washington state, we have the opportunity to elect a Democrat in the November special election which would give us the 7th Trifecta in the U.S.! We will kick-off our phone banking for these state level elections Saturday, August 12, from10:30am-12:30pm. Please RSVP here for further details and directions: https://demaction.us/events/36808142144/

On Saturday, August 19, the Electoral Team presents phone bank training: a workshop in Personal Story development. Creating a Personal Story helps us connect more authentically and effectively with voters when we canvass or make calls. Please RSVP here for further details and directions: https://demaction.us/events/36808187279/

YES WE’VE BEEN AT THIS FOR 9 MONTHS!

Fabrice Florin presented plans for an MVCAN anniversary party in November—an evening of comedy, music and storytelling. We’re looking for volunteers for tasks like event planning, promotion, ticket sales, volunteer coordination, video production, poster design, set design, art decorations, food & drinks, etc. Fabrice is a gas to work with! Please contact him to help at fabriceflorin@gmail.com

THINGS YOU CAN DO: WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

SF Chronicle: Barbara Solomon (Women’s Rights) nails State Sheriff’s Association for opposing rape kit bill as an “unfunded state mandate.” You can read the letter here.

REPORT FROM NETROOTS NATION IN ATLANTA

MVCAN’s June Cooperman at Netroots Nation with Leah Greenberg, one of the founders of Indivisible, and other activists

MVCAN members June Cooperman and Larry Litvak are in Atlanta attending the big progressive political convention NETROOTS NATION 2017. Here’s June’s report on Day 1:

“The high-power panels and training workshops are addressing many of the organizing issues we have in Marin. So far we have heard analysis of the ACA success and state voter suppression tactics, as well as awesome keynotes from Rep Barbara Lee and inspiring Democratic candidates from around the country. Looking forward to hearing Elizabeth Warren and Al Gore speak—along with many unsung heroes of the progressive movement.”

MARIN COUNTY FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST EVERY MAJOR OIL COMPANY YOU CAN THINK OF

On July 17th, the County of Marin filed a lawsuit against 37 oil, gas and coal companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP to fund billions of dollars in projects outlined in the Marin Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment.

As one legal expert reports: “Each of the complaints presents the same simple, compelling storyline: These fossil fuel companies knew. They knew that climate change was happening, that fossil fuel production and use was causing it, and that continued fossil fuel production and use would only make it worse. They knew this, but they hid it. And then they lied about it, and paid other people to lie about it for them. All the while they profited from it, and plotted to profit more. The defendant companies should be held liable and forced to pay, both for the costs the local governments are incurring to adapt to sea level rise and for the companies’ own willful, deceptive, and malicious behavior.”

Stay tuned for further developments here.

SEPTEMBER 10TH MEETING SPEAKER

Our guest speaker will be Matt Singer from Movement 2017. Matt spoke at DemLabs in San Francisco and inspired the Economic Action team to find high leverage investment opportunities in the emerging resistance movement. Matt is an organizer, writer, entrepreneur and strategist. Matt was instrumental in passing the nation’s first automatic voter registration bill, He also helped to pass measures to fund criminal justice, clean energy, education and housing, and ran online organizing for upstart Jon Tester’s senate campaign.

ACTION TEAMS

Much of MVCAN's work is done in one of 10 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. Read more.

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. Read more.

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! Read more.

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. Read more.

The Economic Action team is here to answer the question: “Where can my money make the biggest difference?” They are focused on finding high leverage “investment opportunities” in the emerging Resistance movement. The team's recommendations will spotlight organizations that are laying the groundwork now for electoral victories in 2018 congressional races. Read more.

Education will be working on a series of salons to discuss critical education issues with MVCAN members. We anticipate these will begin in the fall. Read more.

Electoral works to elect candidates for the 2017 state house and governor races, and other targeted races from now through the mid-term elections, following the recommendations of the flippable.org team, who are analyzing and selecting winnable races. The Electoral team uses phone banks and travel to targeted districts to talk with voters through phone calls and door-to-door canvassing, voter registration, and campaign volunteering.

Note: The Electoral Team is kicking off phone banking Aug. 12 to win the important state house elections this Fall as well as hosting training Aug. 19: Developing Your Personal Story to authentically connect with voters. Read more.

Health Care is regrouping after the failure of the repeal/replace of ACA. Read more.

Tech supports MVCAN through technology. Read more.

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. Read more.

NEW TO MVCAN?

Attend the MONTHLY MEETING SUN., September 10, to learn how to get involved!

Visit MVCAN.org to learn about the organization and strategies, join a team, read past MVCAN newsletters, and gain helpful Resistance tools.

Help wanted! MVCAN seeks volunteers with web and video skills; people to table at public events, and people to welcome new members. In a few hours a week, you can make a huge difference! Interested? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Laura Boles.

Thank you for all you do!

– June, Bernard, Suz, Danny, Eileen, and everyone at MVCAN

Please note: The Wag will be published occasionally through the summer. Continue to look for Action Alerts from MVCAN.

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