What a weekend! We are all feeling hope that we are not alone. We are the overwhelming majority and we will prevail! The Women's March promises to be the first of many marches. Marches have a tremendous impact on media and public opinion, and help sustain a resistance movement. Look for MVCAN's involvement in more.
MVCAN is at 300+ members and growing fast! Sister groups are growing fast around the Bay Area and the U.S. We continue to increase our effectiveness.
PUT THESE EVENTS ON YOUR CALENDAR (details below):
• CALL AND COFFEE FRI FEB 3, 8-9:30 am (Note: NO COFFEE 1/27)
• MULTIPLE COMMITTEE MEETINGS- see below
• MVCAN MONTHLY NETWORK MEETING, SUN FEB 12, 4-6pm, 142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley. SAVE THE DATE!
READY FOR ACTION – TAKE 10 MINUTES AND CALL TODAY!
Phone calls and in-person visits are the most effective ways to influence our members of congress and public policy.
"I've seen smarter cabinets at Ikea" – Sign at SF Women's March
We want our MOCs (Members of Congress) to slow down and, where possible, to reject Trump's evil cabinet choices, in particular:
ACTION #1 DIANNE FEINSTEIN MUST OPPOSE JEFF SESSIONS for Attorney General. Senator Feinstein, as the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee can take an important stand by voting against Jeff Sessions. Reports are that her office has gotten relatively few calls on this critical issue.
On Tuesday she asked for a 1-week delay in the Committee vote in order to more closely examine Sessions' record and recently submitted documents. The massive marches on Saturday appear to have had an effect on her: "[Women] have had to fight for everything we have won throughout history. Nothing has been easy," she said. "Our history in this march and what we're going to do on the Attorney General is really very important."
Tell her you are glad she asked for a delay in the vote, but that it must result in a NO vote for this bigoted man with a clear history of opposing women's, immigrants', and voting rights.
Remember: Even if you've called before, her office counts each call regardless of repeats by issue or by individual.
Feinstein SF office 415-393-0707, Wash DC: 202-224-3841, or Fresno 559-485-7430.
ACTION #2 Oppose the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary. She is uniquely unqualified for the position and is an enemy of public schools. Her nomination is stalled due to pending ethics reviews of 100+ potential conflicts of interest.
Use this script and calling list to call the Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Importantly, ask your friends who live in those Senators' states to make calls!
Extra Credit: Have more time? Riled up? Pick another Cabinet Nominee and call the appropriate Senators to oppose him/her.
ACTION #3 Subscribe to 1 national and 1 local news outlet that you admire. We need real journalism now more than ever. Remember that a free press is not free!
UPCOMING ACTIONS: As soon as Trump's Supreme Court Nominee is proposed, we will issue a critical action alert. So stay tuned and get your phone charged!
Thank you! Every call makes a difference.
See more call actions on our web site: www.mvcan.org
THE BIG ASK
Many of you have said you want to do more to Resist Trump. Now's your chance!
MoveOn, Working Families Party, People's Action and others are promoting #ResistTrumpTuesdays with actions every Tuesday that feature rallies at U.S. Senate offices to show Democrats, Republicans, and Trump that the resistance is strong, vibrant, and visible. Do you have a few hours to spare each week? MVCAN seeks a volunteer to organize a group to participate in Resist Trump Tuesday actions. Contact Bernard Catalinotto for more info.
This action is right out of the Indivisible Guide, a practical Resistance handbook from former Congressional staffers. Every member of MVCAN should read it!
WHAT MVCAN DID THIS WEEK
Over 40 MVCAN members joined 1.2 million people in a magnificent rally and march in Washington, D.C. Over 200 MVCAN members joined 400,000+ people in powerful rallies and marches in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Rosa, San Jose, and elsewhere. Thank you, especially, to Larry Litvak for arranging seamless transportation from MV to the SF Rally and March. See photos on our Facebook page.
MVCAN also participated in San Rafael is Marching, on Inauguration Day, and Bridge Together Golden Gate, among other efforts.
Let's continue the momentum and stay active in resisting Trump and his policies. MVCAN has lots of ways for you to join in!
Outreach and networking to various local Resistance groups. MVCAN is coordinating with other Marin grassroots groups, new and old.
Multiple team meetings. We do most of our work in teams, so please do not be shy: feel free to contact team leaders of the team(s) you are interested in, or just show up at a meeting of your choice.
ACTION TEAM REPORTS
Civil Rights/Immigration works with the multiple local and national organizations and communities to work toward civil and racial justice.
Next team meeting, with a guest speaker from the ACLU Sun. Jan 29, 4-6pm at the Waste Management Treatment Agency, 450 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley. Contact Diane Goldman for more info.
Dump Trump’s 35 team members are working on ways to "remove and replace" Trump, to defeat him and his unacceptable agenda, especially by focusing on corruption and Russian ties. This committee has groups working on impeachment strategy; Russian treachery; emoluments; and a boycott strategy targeting national brands connected to Trump business interests. Dump Trump meets every week, rain or shine. Passions run high: one group is working on "lightning bolts" to help mobilize the public against Trump.
Next team meeting Sat Jan 28, 10am. Good Earth, Mill Valley. Contact Bernard Catalinotto for more info.
Environment/Climate Change is engaged in change at the local level, with a plan to leverage the team's experience and success county- and state-wide, and perhaps beyond. The group will lobby state and U.S. legislators on climate issues as well as educate on and engage with numerous local initiatives and groups.
Next team meeting TBA. Contact Edi Dor, Linda Haggerty or Doug Brown for more info.
Outreach/Communication provides graphic and promotional support for MVCAN, and helps our large meetings be organized, rewarding experiences. A group is attending a talk by Berkeley Cognitive Linguistics Professor (and longtime Trump watcher) George Lakoff in Sonoma Sun., Jan. 29. Tickets are still available.
Next team meeting Sat Jan 28, 10am. Good Earth, Mill Valley. Contact Danny Altman dan@ahundredmonkeys.com or Kelly Horner for more info.
Women’s Issues is leveraging the energy from the SF Women’s March by gearing up to support Planned Parenthood, oppose the anti-abortion bill (HR 490) in the House, and oppose any Supreme Court nominee that does not support women's rights. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm as this group gets underway. Women's Issues is seeking a co-leader.
Next team meeting Sat Jan 28, 1pm. Good Earth, Mill Valley. Contact Leigh Ann Townsend for more info.
Education is actively opposing the nomination of anti-public school fanatic Betsy deVos for the Cabinet. The Education team has also been focused on calling the offices of all CA state Democratic legislators to ask each her/his position on school vouchers. After compiling that data, they will discuss follow-up action.
Next team meeting TBA. Contact Kelly Horner for more info.
Health Care is focusing on actions being taken to repeal the ACA, and addressing what comes next with regard to health care coverage.
Next team meeting Sun Jan 29, 7-8 pm. Home of Elyse Foster. Address at this link. Response through this Doodle link preferred. Contact Elyse Foster for more info.
Electoral The Electoral group is planning actions for the next 2 years, with a focus on retaining and flipping strategically important legislative seats in 2017 and 2018.
Next team meeting Sat Jan 28, 11am. Good Earth, Mill Valley. Contact Eileen Fisher for more info.
EVENT DETAILS
CALL AND COFFEE FRI FEB 3, 8-9:30 am
Come and make calls together on time-critical issues. No experience necessary, we will train you. Bring a laptop and cell phone.
Please RSVP by Weds., Feb 1, if you can make it. Host: June Cooperman , email for exact address. 415-389-1306.
NEXT MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING Sun., Feb. 12, 4-6 p.m. 142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley. We will have MVCAN 5-Minute University Speakers, team meetings, actions, and other ways to meet your neighbors, get involved in resistance, and impact social and political change.
Closing Thought: The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. – Barack Obama
Thank you for all you do!
– June, Bernard, Suz, Danny, Eileen and everyone at MVCAN
See MVCAN’s website
