The breakfast meeting on Friday, January 6th at the Village Deli was packed to the gills--with lots of new members!! There's nothing like a crushing election defeat to energize the PEOPLE. The theme of the breakfast was learning how we can participate, communicate and advocate in our new political world. Jean Capler and Kathy Byers presented on an organization they formed in December called "Call To Action," an "online and in-person organization focused on TAKING ACTION!" Call To Action has set up a secret Facebook page to promote communication, maintains a list of actions accomplished or begun each week, provides activist skills-building training sessions, and facilitates networking with other activist groups. What a great way to begin centralizing the scads of information out there and making sense of how we can effectively and collectively be heard, prevent the undoing of all the progress made in the last eight years, and promote progress not regression.
To be added to the group or learn more about Call To Action, contact Jean and Kathy at [email protected] and [email protected]
Teri Kleine spoke to us about affecting what Congress does with the Affordable Care Act ("ACA"). Teri has been in direct communication with Senator Donnelly's office about it and he is asking anyone and everyone to email or call his office with thoughts on why we need the ACA to continue, and he especially asks for stories of how the ACA has improved your life or the life of someone you know. Senator Donnelly and the Indiana Democratic Party are also asking Hoosiers to participate in the National Day of Action to advocate for the ACA on Sunday, January 15th. For more information, see details in the Events section below. To contact Senator Donnelly, see the Action Items below.
Finally, Kate Cruikshank talked about her work with the IU School of Education to improve civics education for our children. She introduced Josephine McCormick, a senior at Bloomington High School South, who on her own initiative started an effort to get BHSS to educate its students on the importance and the mechanics of voting. She garnered the support of several teachers and her message certainly made an impact. What an exciting thing to see a young person starting to take charge! And what prime illustrations of the power of one person to make significant change. Kudos to Jean, Kathy, Kate and Josephine for picking up the pieces after last November's election and turning them into coherent and concrete action!!!
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Item
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Please sign up for a DWC Committee
The DWC Steering Committee is the group that organizes and manages the business of the DWC. We manage much of our business through committees, and we welcome help from the membership to bring fresh ideas and hands to the work of running our operation. Planning meetings and events, fundraising, communications (the Monday Morning News, website, Twitter, blog, etc), maybe things we haven't even thought of! Please sign up to help us continue to make the DWC great! (Plus, you'll have a lot of fun!) To sign up, go to the DWC website at http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/volunteer or email [email protected] and let us know how you can help out. If you have special skills, please note that as well. We'd love to have you working with us!!
THE PUSSYHAT PROJECT
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2016/12/29/thousands-of-women-knit-pink-pussy-hats-to-wear-at-trump-protest-marches/
Kelly Conway noted at the breakfast meeting that local women are knitting, crocheting or sewing fleece hats to benefit Planned Parenthood. Kelly had a number of completed hats to show us, and several members were wearing them as they ate breakfast. They'll be sold to marchers for a $20 donation to Planned Parenthood! In addition, Yarns Unlimited, the downtown local yarn store, will be having a knit-in on MLK Day (January 16th) from 1-4 pm to make these hats. Check out their Facebook page for more details at https://www.facebook.com/Yarns-Unlimited-119540828126328/
City of Bloomington Seeks Applicants for New Parking Commission
The Bloomington Office of the City Clerk is now accepting applications to fill positions on the recently-created Parking Commission. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. Seven seats are open to Bloomington residents, with varying membership requirements for each seat. Seats are available for residents living within City limits, residents and merchants of the downtown metered zone, residents of a neighborhood parking zone, and a board member or employee of a non-profit organization operating in the downtown metered zone.
To learn more about the Parking Commission or for online applications, go to the online City system for board and commission information known as “OnBoard” at https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/committees. Information and applications are also available at the City Clerk’s Office in Showers City Hall at 401 N. Morton.
The City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women is seeking nominees for the Woman of the Year, Emerging Leader and Lifetime Contribution Awards. The deadline for submission of nominations is January 23, 2017. The awards will be presented during Women’s History Month, March, 2017.
The Woman of the Year Award is presented to a woman who has improved the quality of life for other women through inspiration, community service or professional accomplishments above and/or outside normal job responsibilities. The recipient is also someone who serves as a positive role model for girls and women and has made outstanding contributions to the community. The Lifetime Contribution Award recognizes a woman whose work has significantly advanced the status of women through leadership and service. The Emerging Leader Award acknowledges a woman with a relatively short (less than five years) history of significant achievements and recognizes the potential for future contributions.
Nomination forms are available in the City of Bloomington’s Community and Family Resources Department, City Hall Suite 260 and online at https://bloomington.in.gov/csw, or contact Sue Owens at [email protected]. Nominations should include the name, address, telephone number and email address of the nominee in addition to the reasons why the nominee merits the award and how her community service has benefited women. The nominator also should include his or her name, address, telephone number and email address. Send completed nomination forms by email to [email protected] or by mail to: The Commission on the Status of Women, P.O. Box 100, Bloomington, Ind. 47402
The Emerging Leader Award recipient will be honored at the Women’s Leadership Development event in March, 2017 at City Hall. The Woman of the Year and the Lifetime Contribution Award recipients will be honored at the Women's History Lunch on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Convention Center.
City of Bloomington Seeks Board and Commission Applicants
Several current terms expire in January 2017. If you reside within the city limits and are interested in contributing to one of the 48 boards and commissions the City relies on for guidance, please consider submitting an application. To learn more about each board and commission, including mission statements, membership requirements, current membership listings and term lengths, or for online applications, go to the online City system for board and commission information known as “OnBoard” at bloomington.in.gov/onboard, or by clicking on the “OnBoard” button on the City’s home web page at bloomington.in.gov. All board and commission meetings are free and open to the public. Potential applicants are urged to attend a meeting of their desired board or commission prior to applying. Meeting schedules and locations can be found under the “committee” tab on OnBoard.
Monroe County Seeks Board and Commission Applicants
There are a number of appointments for Monroe County Boards and Commissions that are up for renewal (December / January). Service on county boards and commissions is a fantastic way to get involved with local government. To apply for one (or more!) Board or Commission, follow the link from the co.monroe.in.us home page. For links to each Board and Commission, please visit:
http://www.co.monroe.in.us/tsd/Government/Commissioners/MonroeCountyBoardsandCommissions.aspx Or you may contact Julie Thomas at [email protected] for additional information.
Elections for Monroe County Democratic Party Offices
All Party offices, including Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer will be filled by Democratic precinct chairs and vice chairs at a caucus on March 4th at 10am at the Nat U. Hill room in the County Courthouse. If you have any questions or are interested in running for any of these positions, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
Election of Indiana Democratic Party Chair
Current Indiana Democratic Party Chair (and Monroe County's own!) John Zody recently announced his bid for reelection of the Indiana Democratic Party. If you're interested in learning more about John and following campaign events, please click here for more info.
Election for National Democratic Party
Our own South Bend Mayor extraordinaire-Pete Buttigieg-has announced his intention to run for the Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
For information on Mayor Buttigieg or to help his campaign click on this link: get to know Mayor Pete Buttigieg or contact Drew Anderson at 765-432-3231 or
[email protected]
EVENTS:
Rally at the Indiana Statehouse to Support the ACA
January 15, 2-3 PM at the Statehouse in Indianapolis at 200 W. Washington Street
Flash Phone Bank to Support the ACA
January 15, 3 PM, wherever you are--just use your phone!
Join us at a rally to support the ACA from 2-3 PM on January 15th at the Indiana Statehouse!! Please note that the organizers of this event are currently fundraising to pay for the permit to hold the rally inside. The total cost is $950 and as of Friday they had raised about $230. They have until Friday, Jan. 13, so if anyone is interested and wants to help, and/or to check on the status, see the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/148952888926583/
In addition, whether or not you can make the rally, there will also be a statewide “flash” phone bank. At 3 p.m. on the 15th, call or text five people you know to talk about the importance of keeping the ACA and the dangers of repealing it. Just tell them that if the ACA is repealed more than 30 million Americans will lose their health insurance coverage, 82% of whom are working families. Prescription drug costs would increase by more than $1,000 a year for millions of seniors and disabled people. Companies could deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
For more information on advocating for the ACA in Indiana, contact Teri Kleine at [email protected]
Webinar opportunity -- Advocacy 101: the Power of Story and RelationshipThe Watson's go to Birmingham film and dialogue.
January 15, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Buskirk Chumley Theater
Join The Project School & Bloomington United for a free public screening of the film, "The Watsons Go to Birmingham." Based on the novel of the same title, the film tells the story of an African American family from Flint, Michigan who travel to Alabama in 1963 and are confronted by the realities of the Jim Crow South. Learn about the story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Watsons_Go_to_Birmingham_–_1963. Following the film screening, The Project School, Bloomington United & community guests will lead a dialogue on the Civil Rights Movement & the legacy of Dr. King. Because of mature themes, this film is described as being for ages 9+. However, families may also find it appropriate for younger children.
Inaugurate the Revolution: a Day of Justice and Resistance
Friday, January 20, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or thereabouts, at various venues in Bloomington, IN
Inaugurate the Revolution, a day of workshops, teach-ins, panel discussions, projects, direct actions, a march and a rally will take place on Inauguration Day at the Monroe County Public Library and other venues beginning at 9:30 a.m. Registration is at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 9:00 a.m. Workshops will last 60 minutes, 90 minutes or 2 hours and will include a Food Sovereignty Action Workshop, The Power of Religion to Liberate People, Moving Beyond Capitalism and many more. All events are free, open to the public and accessible to people with disabilities. Free child care will be provided.
Instead of inaugurating a President, we will inaugurate a revolution—a grassroots, proactive resistance to the elimination of our civil liberties and the erosion of democracy itself. Our goals are twofold: transferring power into the hands of the disenfranchised and responding creatively to new political realities. This radically inclusive event is for the lifelong activist and the newcomer, the anarchist and the pacifist, the youngster and the elder and everyone in between. Inaugurate the Revolution will culminate in a march at 5:15 p.m. and a rally at 6:00 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Participants will celebrate this day of unprecedented action and celebrate the future—one in which people rise up across the country to fight for what is right, true and necessary: freedom from those who seek to oppress us. This joyous celebration will serve not as an end but a beginning to a new era of activism—in Bloomington and beyond.
To see the workshop schedule, pre-register, find out about free child care and see full information about the event, go to inauguratetherevolution.com.
Women's MarchesIndianapolis, IN
Saturday, January 21, 2017,
For a ride on the bus from Bloomington to Indy contact Deborah Meader [email protected] asap!
Washington, DC
Saturday, January 21, 2017, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Join hundreds of thousands of women in a March on Washington to show our support for women everywhere and highlight issues of sexual assault, workplace discrimination, and women's equality. We need to let the new administration know that we are here, that we are watching and that we will take action! Unfortunately, the bus from Bloomington to DC is sold out with a waiting list. But it looks like the bus from Indianapolis still has room. Use this link and add your city and state: http://rallybus.net/womens-march-on-washington
Organizational Meeting for New Local Chapter of
National Organization for Women (NOW)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonroeCountyNOW/
Sign up for the Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cwCOMv
Email: [email protected]
ACTION ITEMS
*Join the rally and phone bank to support the ACA in Indianapolis
*Call or Email Senator Donnelly about the ACA
Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
p: (202) 224-4814
f: (202) 224-5011
Indianapolis, Indiana
115 N. Pennsylvania Street Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
p: (317) 226-5555
f: (855) 772-7518
EMail: https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/contact/email-joe
*Attend Inaugurate the Revolution
*March in Indy or DC
and last, but NOT least:
Join the DWC in 2017. It's important to stay organized and energized! Renew your membership today!
The DWC is dedicated to inspiring, recruiting, training, supporting and funding women to increase the number of progressive, pro-choice women in the political arena. We ALL help with this mission, together, collectively. Make sure you have full rights and privileges of membership!
Only $20 for one year’s membership. Join online here: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership
Do you have news items? Send your items of interest to us at [email protected]
Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.
Paid for by DWPAC - Democratic Women's Political Action Committee
Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/