MONTHLY MEETING Sunday, Mar. 5, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Tam Valley Community Center, 203 Marin Ave. Mill Valley.
Arrive early. We expect space to be tight.
Watch highlights of our Feb. meeting on MVCAN's new YouTube Channel!
Missed our Feb. monthly meeting? Read How and Why to Call Your Representative, and How Our Calls Are Working, which includes tips from MVCAN's recent meeting with Senator Feinstein's State Director.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS: Details below as noted
- MULTIPLE ACTION TEAM MEETINGS, see action team reports
- DISCUSSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, Thurs. Mar 2, Mill Valley, see Environmental, below
- RESISTANCE MEETING AND TRAINING, Sat. Mar 4, San Francisco, see Civil Rights, below
- STANDING WITH STANDING ROCK, Benefit for Legal Defense Fund, co-sponsored by MVCAN, Sat. Mar 4, San Anselmo, see Environmental, below
- INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY STRIKE, Wed. Mar 8, Everywhere, details here
- MVCAN EVENT: CALL & COFFEE, Fri. Mar 10, Mill Valley, see bottom of email
- SOLIDARITY WITH STANDING ROCK RALLY, co-sponsored by MVCAN, Fri. Mar 10, Mill Valley, see flyer below
- ACLU NATIONWIDE RESISTANCE TRAINING, Sat. Mar 11, Everywhere, see bottom of email
- TOWN HALL WITH CONGRESSMAN JARED HUFFMAN, Mon. Mar 13, NEW LOCATION San Rafael, see Health Care
- JARED HUFFMAN HOOTENANNY FUNDRAISER, Mon. Mar 13, Petaluma, see bottom of email
- MARIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY RAGIN' CAJUN SHRIMP BOIL, Sat. Mar 18, San Rafael, see bottom of email
- SONGS OF HOPE AND FREEDOM, ALIZA HAVA AND RITA GLASSMAN IN CONCERT with Alex Kelly, Cellist, Sat., Mar 18, Mill Valley, see bottom of email
- SIGNS OF HOPE ART AND ACTIVISM SHOW, Fri. Apr 14, Art Works, San Rafael. Contact Angelique Benicio btweenmargins@yahoo.com for more info and to contribute protest signs.
NEW TO MVCAN?
Visit MVCAN.org to learn about the organization, teams and strategies; read past MVCAN newsletters, and gain helpful Resistance tools.
HELP WANTED
MVCAN is growing! There are multiple ways you can help today, whether you're on a team or not. MVCAN seeks the following. Contact MVCAN's Volunteer Coordinator Laura Boles: boles9552@gmail.com
SHORT TERM - DRUPAL Programmer needed for web development team.
WEEKLY - Only on Tuesday Want to get right in the action? Volunteer to organize carpools for Noon-1 rallies in the city–this is a great job to do with a friend!
MONTHLY - Videographer needed to capture our meetings and edit footage into short videos.
Thank you to those who have stepped up so far! Your assistance is most appreciated!
Got a skill, talent and/or time? Contact Laura Boles, boles9552@gmail.com and let her know how you might be able to help our growing Resistance group.
READY FOR ACTION! ACTION 1: Advocate against hate crimes spreading across our country.
Why This is Important
This urgent issue strikes particularly close to home. The Osher Marin Jewish Community Center in our own community has been evacuated due to bomb threats TWICE in recent weeks. The most recent evacuation occurred on Feb 27 as part of a wave of bomb threats to 23 Jewish community centers across the country. Jewish cemeteries have been desecrated as well. More violently, hate crimes have escalated to the arson of mosques in Texas and Florida and the horrific killing of an Indian-American engineer in Kansas.
What to Do - Action Item 1
Call Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division, Criminal Complaints Line: +1 202-514-4609 (9am-5:30pm EST)
Alternatively, send a postcard or letter to:
Office of Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights 950 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 5643 Washington, DC 20530-0001
Suggested Script:
Hi, my name is ______and I'm a concerned citizen from ______ (City, Zip). I am calling today to ask for a full and unified investigation into the multitude of recent hate crimes, such as the mosque burnings, Jewish Community Center bomb threats and the racially motivated shooting of an Indian engineer. These bomb threats have directly affected my community in Marin County, California, and must be investigated immediately to ensure our safety and a safe America for everyone.
(If leaving a voice mail: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.)
ACTION 2: Advocate for an independent, bipartisan congressional investigation of the Trump Administration's illicit connections to Russia.
Why This is Important
Congratulations to all who called last week urging Congressional Intelligence Committee members to pursue rigorous investigations into the Trump Administration’s Russian connections. We want you to continue calling this week since the White House has been putting illicit pressure on Republican committee members to make public announcements designed to minimize Trump administration culpability.
The recent statements by the Chairs of the House as well as the Senate Intelligence Committees (Republicans Nunes and Burr, respectively) clearly show that those committees are being pressured by the White House to abrogate their responsibility towards impartiality. To illustrate, Chairman Nunes of the House committee made an exculpatory public announcement informing the press that he had seen no evidence from the intelligence community that there was contact between Russia and the Trump campaign. Read more.
We need to ask members of congress to push as strongly as possible for the formation of an independent, bipartisan committee with subpoena powers that can carry out a politically objective investigation into allegations of illegal activity by Trump and his associates.
What to Do - Action Item 2
Contact Congressional Intelligence Committee Members and other selected members of Congress:
Suggested Script:
I urge Senator/Representative______ to push for an independent, bipartisan committee to impartially investigate the role that the Trump administration played in Russia’s attack on our democracy both during the campaign and after the election. It is only through a special, independent committee that Americans can be assured of a transparent, objective investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence our election and any possible collusion by Trump and his associates in subverting our democracy.
Senate Intelligence Committee
Richard Burr, Chair (Republican) NC DC Office--202 224-3154 Winston Salem--800-685-8916 2000 West First Street Suite 508 Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Mark Warner (Ranking Democrat) VA DC Office--202-224-2023 Norfolk---757-441-3079 101 W. Main Street Suite 7771 Norfolk, VA 23510
House Intelligence Committee
Chair Devin Nunes (Republican Chair) 22nd District, CA DC Office---202-225-2523 Clovis---559-323-5235 Visalia---559-733-3861 113 North Church Street Suite 208 Visalia, CA 93291
Adam Schiff (Ranking Democrat) CA DC Office---202-225-4176 Burbank---818-450-2900 or 323-315-5555\ 245 E. Olive Avenue, #200 Burbank, California 91502
California Members of Congress
Jared Huffman (D) CA DC Office --- 202 225-5161 San Rafael --- 415 258-9657 999 Fifth Ave. Suite 290 San Rafael, CA 94901
Dianne Feinstein (D) CA DC Office---202-224-3841 SF---415-393-0707 LA--- 310-914-7300 San Diego--- 619-231-9712 Fresno--- 559-485-7430 email: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact One Post Street, Suite 2450 San Francisco, CA 94104
Kamala Harris (D) CA DC Office---202-224-3553 Fresno---916-448-2787 SF---415-355-9041 LA---213-894-5000 San Diego---619-239-3884 email: https://www.harris.senate.gov/content/contact-senator 50 United Nations Plaza, Suite 5584 San Francisco, CA 94102
Thank you! Every call makes a difference.
ACTION 3: If you're not on Twitter, sign up at www.twitter.com. There will be a Twitter training at the next MVCAN monthly meeting.
WHAT MVCAN DID THIS WEEK
1. Ongoing Leadership Training MVCAN Leadership continues to train with national organizations like Indivisible for strategic guidance and best practices.
2. Phone Banking 50 Electoral Team members made 1000+ calls to reach voters in key races. We made a huge difference in a Connecticut state race this week, which is showcasing the resurgence of the Democratic Party! In the last 4 special elections we've worked on in 2017, our winners won by bigger margins, and our losers lost by smaller margins. The turnout by Democrats has increased markedly, largely due to the work of MVCAN and nationwide Electoral teams.
3. Outreach and Communication with various local resistance and community groups, including Organizing for America, United Marin Rising and multiple Indivisible and other community groups.
4. Multiple Team Meetings, Actions and Guest Speakers 30 people attended the talk by Dr. Steven Schroeder on the ACA, hosted by the Health Care Team (pictured). The Environmental Team hosted Tamra Peters, Executive Director of Resilient Neighborhoods, and Danielle Staude, Senior Planner for the City of Mill Valley. We do most of our work in teams – please join in! Contact team leaders or attend a meeting of your choice. Read more below.
ACTION TEAM REPORTS
Civil Rights/Immigration has been involved in meetings with United Marin Rising and Organization for Action to collaborate with efforts to resist the executive orders on immigration. Many members are planning to attend the Bay Area Resistance Meeting and Training at Mission HS, SF on Saturday, March 4 from 1:30-5:30 PM. https://actionnetwork.org/events/bay-resistance-march-4th-mass-meeting-trainings
This group also urges you to write or call to Support SB 54: The California Values Act. Learn more and call script here.
Next team meeting Sun. Mar. 12, 4-6 pm at Marin Horizon School, 305 Montford, Rm 201 at top of the stairs. Driveway for parking off Melrose, Mill Valley. Sara Matson, from the Canal Alliance, and Khadija Hansia from the Muslim community will be featured speakers. Please complete the Future Projects form and return to dgold94941@aol.com asap so we can solidify future actions at the meeting.Contact Diane Goldman (dgold94941@aol.com) for more info.
Communications welcomes new leader Ken Pontac. The group is planning the March 5 MVCAN monthly meeting. Comms. uploaded videos to The Rachel Maddow Show and Indivisible. They are working on concepts for an ACA viral video campaign. Comms. seeks more video resources--people to shoot and edit short video interviews at demonstrations and team meetings.
Next team meeting Sat. Mar. 4, 9:30-10:30 am, Good Earth, Mill Valley. Contact Ken Pontac (kpontac@hotmail.com) for more info.
Dump Trump’s 55 team members work on ways to resist and remove Trump: especially by focusing on corruption and Russian ties. This committee is currently working on impeachment strategy and the Trump campaign's collusion with Russian agents, by supporting Congressional investigations that they hope will bring about his removal. They are calling key MOCs and organizations nationwide and pushing selected local MOCs, particularly in light of breaking news about Russiagate. The team meets every week, rain or shine. Passions run high, but they focus on practical actions for all team members, such as the calls specified in today's Wag.
Next team meeting Sat Mar 4, 10-11am. Mill Valley Community Center Manzanita Room. Contact Bernard Catalinotto (bernardcatalinotto@gmail.com) for more info.
Next team meeting Sat. Mar 11, 10-11am, Alain Pinel Realty, 32 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, guest speaker re. commercial property tax TBA. Contact Kelly Horner (keho@sonic.net) for more info.
The Electoral team's mission is to flip the house in 2018 and make state legislatures and governorships blue in 2017. The group is continuing phonebank training and calling.
Please join us to organize a fund raiser for Kimberly Ellis, the dynamic contender for the head of the California Democratic Party! We are meeting this Saturday at 9am at Good Earth. We have a super-motivated team gathering to bring new life to the Democratic Party.
Next team meeting Sat. Mar 4, 10:00 am - noon, Sausalito. Contact
Eileen Fisher (eyefish9@arksf.com) for more info and for directions to the meeting.
Environment/Climate Change is engaged in change at the local, state and national levels. The group is lobbying CA and U.S. legislators on climate issues and educating on and engaging with numerous local initiatives and groups. Action items for the team members and the MVCAN general membership are being decided by the group and will be announced soon.
MVCAN members participated in the 350 Marin lunchtime demonstration on Wednesday February 16th at the Shelterpoint Business Center in Mill Valley to tell SPO Partners and Wells Fargo to stop funding fossil fuel infrastructure and development projects. About 50 people participated in the event at the Seminary drive exit from Southbound 101. They also marched around the building so they could demonstrate outside the SPO Office in the back of the building. Every person had a sign, drums were played and cars honked at us in solidarity.
Don't miss these upcoming events:
A FREE DISCUSSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE FROM LOCAL TO NATIONAL ISSUES Thurs. Mar 2 at 1:00 at Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club, One W. Blithedale at Throckmorton. Hear a presentation from environmentalists Huey Johnson and Debra Moskowitz from the Resource Renewal Institute. Click this link for more information.
STANDING WITH STANDING ROCK Benefit for Legal Defense Fund, co-sponsored by MVCAN, Sat. Mar 4, 6:30 pm. First Presbyterian Church, 72 Kensington Road, San Anselmo, Panel discussion with attorneys Larry Bragman and Ford Greene in conversation with Erin Schrode (all observer-participants at Standing Rock last fall). Also featuring Cherokee-Metis and singer-songwriter Jane De Cuir. Please join for a special reception immediately following the event, with organic food provided by Good Earth Natural Foods. MVCAN is a sponsor of this event. Details here: https://tinyurl.com/j8hvmqs
SOLIDARITY WITH STANDING ROCK RALLY Co-sponsored by MVCAN, Fri. Mar 10, 1-3 pm, 591 Redwood Highway Frontage Road, Mill Valley, see flyer above
Next team meeting TBA. Contact Edi Dor (edidor@outlook.com), Marilyn Price (mprice@the-acorn.com) or Doug Brown (homerandharriette@gmail.com) for more info.
Health Care Approximately 30 people attending the Feb. 26 meeting. Dr. Steven Schroeder provided an eloquent discussion of health disparities and the key components of the ACA (photo above). The group will be making the slides available, as well as an interview with Dr. Schroeder. They discussed the team's mission and strategic plan, which they will be finalizing over the few days. Many of the members have been participating in OFA sponsored phonathons calling constituents in red states and encouraging them to share their stories.
Many members will be attending the Jared Huffman Town Hall, which will focus on Heath Care and Social Security. Mon. Mar 13 Noon - 2:00 P.M., NEW LOCATION Marin Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Click here to RSVP.
Next team meeting TBA. Contact Elyse Foster (fosterel22@gmail.com) for more info.
Women's Issues established a GoFundMe site to support specific Planned Parenthood clinics, which will be live within the week and will distributed via MVCAN channels. The team is also monitoring the NARAL site and AB 569 (Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act), and brainstorming how to celebrate International Women's Day (March 8th) and support Kimberly Ellis's candidacy, and a Planned Parenthood fundraiser May 5 in Napa.
Next team meeting Sat. Mar 18, 11 am, Location TBA. Contact Leigh Ann Townsend (townsendleighann@gmail.com) for more info.
EVENT DETAILS
MVCAN EVENT - CALL & COFFEE FRI MAR 10, 8-9:30 am Come and make calls together to key Congressional and other decision makers, on time-critical issues. No experience necessary, we will train you. Bring a laptop and cell phone. Please RSVP by Thurs., Mar 9, if you can make it. Host: June Cooperman - email juneellenc@aol.com for exact address. RSVP 415-389-1306.
ACLU NATIONWIDE RESISTANCE TRAINING, Sat. Mar 11, Everywhere. ACLU invites everyone to organize in their communities to watch the livestream launch of their new People Power initiative to engage grassroots volunteers across the country. Details here: https://go.peoplepower.org/signup/host
JARED HUFFMAN HOOTENANNY FUNDRAISER, Mon. Mar. 13, 6-8 pm, Lagunitas Brewing Company, 280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. Tickets: https://jaredhuffman.ngpvanhost.com/form/-6738662074676279296
MARIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY RAGIN' CAJUN SHRIMP BOIL, Sat. Mar 18, 5:30 pm, Marinwood Community Center, 775 Miller Creek Rd., San Rafael. Keynote Speaker : Mike McGuire, California State Senator for the 2nd District. Tickets $45 in advance, $50 at door. Contact barbaramatas272@gmail.com or pay through Act Blue: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/shrimpboil
SONGS OF HOPE AND FREEDOM, ALIZA HAVA AND RITA GLASSMAN IN CONCERT with Alex Kelly, Cellist, Sat., Mar 18, 7 pm, Homestead Valley Community Center, 305 Montford Ave., Mill Valley. Rita Glassman will be performing at our Mar 5 MVCAN meeting.
Thank you for all you do!
– June, Bernard, Suz, Danny, Eileen and everyone at MVCAN
See MVCAN’s website
