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

A great line up of inspiration for you Friday Morning, 7:30 am, Village Deli!  

We will focus on just how we can participate, communicate, and advocate!  Folks who have resources for local, state, and national issues and actions will be presenting concrete things we can do right now, some from the comfort of our homes, to help monitor, inform, act and resist if necessary. If you've been bombarded with items on Facebook, locally, through friends and moms' groups... come to breakfast to help sort out some of the most effective and meaningful ways to participate in our democracy.

Jean Capler and Kathy Byers will talk about their Call to Action effort and how you can get involved.
Kate Cruikshank is back with information on just how to monitor the state legislature's actions this year.
Kate is bringing a young woman who will talk about her organizing efforts with new voters before the election.
There will be people with pink hats dotted around the Deli... know what that's about?  Come find out!

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.  Bring your dues to the breakfast Friday, or
Join online here: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership

THE PUSSYHAT PROJECT

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2016/12/29/thousands-of-women-knit-pink-pussy-hats-to-wear-at-trump-protest-marches/

#pussyhat
Yeah, it might be a little silly....  but it can be SO much more than that!
It's public art.
It's a rallying cry.
It identifies friends in a sea of people.
It does GOOD!
Local women are knitting, crocheting or sewing fleece hats to benefit Planned Parenthood! They'll be sold to marchers for a $20 donation to Planned Parenthood! Stay tuned for more info on the local hat project!
If you can create one of these hats this week, bring it to the breakfast meeting on Friday.  Email [email protected] for information.


EVENTS:

HIDDEN FIGURES film opening on Friday, January 6th
Hidden Figures is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. This will be at the Westside Showplace.

Legislative Update this Saturday!
January 7, Saturday, 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 N Morton
State Legislators representing Monroe County and the area are invited by the League of Women Voters to share their ideas for this legislative session. Legislators will share information on bills they have submitted for this session, will give their ideas on how the session will proceed, and will take questions from the audience. This is an opportunity that is essential to understanding just what happens during the general assembly session. Plan on going!
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/

Congratulations to newly sworn elected officials supported by the DWC. Pictures from the January 1 ceremony can be found on our Facebook Page!

Our constitutional democracy demands our participation,
not just every four years but all the time.
— Hillary Clinton, November 9, 2016

Keeping in tune with the above statement, our breakfast meeting on Friday, January 6th, (7:30 am at the Village Deli) will focus on just how we can participate, communicate, and advocate!  Folks who have resources for local, state, and national issues and actions will be presenting concrete things we can do right now, some from the comfort of our homes, to help monitor, inform, act and resist if necessary. If you've been bombarded with items on Facebook, locally, through friends and moms' groups... come to breakfast to help sort out some of the most effective and meaningful ways to participate in our democracy. (And check out the two - city and county - calls for Board and Commission members below!)

We'll also be sharing information on the January 21st WOMEN'S MARCHES!

THE PUSSYHAT PROJECT

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2016/12/29/thousands-of-women-knit-pink-pussy-hats-to-wear-at-trump-protest-marches/
#pussyhat
Yeah, it might be a little silly....  but it can be SO much more than that!
It's public art.
It's a rallying cry.
It identifies friends in a sea of people.
It does GOOD!
Local women are knitting, crocheting or sewing fleece hats to benefit Planned Parenthood! They'll be sold to marchers for a $20 donation to Planned Parenthood! Stay tuned for more info on the local hat project!
If you can create one of these hats this week, bring it to the breakfast meeting on Friday.  Email [email protected] for information.

*****JUST IN! 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! *****

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Item

We're half way through December and nearing the beginning of a new era. It's time. Really. Right Now. Time for each of us to think about how we are best called to serve our country, because our country needs us now more than ever. In fact, the world needs us now more than ever--just consider what mayhem is in store for our planet if the gentleman the President-in-waiting has proposed for head of the EPA is installed. OK.  Let's not get all depressed because we're over that and it's not productive. Let's figure out what we do, individually and collectively, to set a course correction. Though it's tempting, we can't hide and hope it all goes away. Just remember--the DWC started small, in our small town, in our (some might say) backwater state, but look what we've accomplished, and think about who knows about us and emulates us now, around the country. So...All you deep thinkers, dreamers and planners out there, send us your ideas for changing course at [email protected]

It's up to us. The world awaits.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
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Events
Action Item

To our DWC Members and Friends at IU --

Vote for your 2017 Steering Committee members at or before the December 2 breakfast meeting.  If you can't make the breakfast, email your vote to [email protected].  Make sure you are a member!  You can email Vicky Sorensen to double check: [email protected]

Program:
The League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County has been studying the redistricting process. President Kate Cruickshank has agreed to spend our December 2 breakfast meeting with us to fully brief us on the process up to now, and to talk about the next course of action.  Your homework before December 2? Check out the LWV information site on redistricting at this link: http://bmclwv.org/index.php?action=&go=redistricting


ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
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Events
Cartoon
Action Item

Shock, denial, anger, bargaining, and depression—each stage of grief is important to the healing process.  But the final stage of grief in this case isn't acceptance—it's organizing. WE HAVE GRIEVED AND SHARED OUR WORRIES. NOW WE ARE CALLED TO ACTION.

You may want to read Sheila Kennedy's thoughts from Sunday: https://www.sheilakennedy.net/2016/11/facing-up-to-reality/
 
Since the election, we've come together to commiserate, to support each other, and to start figuring out our course of action. And the Honorable Vi Simpson lit the fire for starting the process by fixing our nightmarishly gerrymandered voting districts that prevent any political progress or conversation.

The League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe County has been studying the redistricting process. President Kate Cruickshank has agreed to spend our December 2nd breakfast meeting with us to fully brief us on the process up to now, and and to talk about the next course of action.  Your homework before December 2? Check out the LWV information site on redistricting at this link: http://bmclwv.org/index.php?action=&go=redistricting

REPORT ON WOMEN's SUMMIT FOR CHANGE
Like our own reactions to the November 8th election, women in Indianapolis (and frankly, around the state) have gathered together to discuss what we need to do in Indiana to preserve and expand women's rights. Deborah Meador, Penny Githens and Regina Moore drove to Indianapolis to attend a Women's Summit for Change. While the organizers thought about 100 women would attend, it's been reported that over 500 people were there. Our friends Sheila Kennedy, Betty Cockram and Christina Hale spoke. An attempt at a discussion was well handled, even with that many women in one large room, and several items of action came to the front of the agenda. They decided to settle on reproductive health issues as they may be even more threatened by the new administrations, redistricting and gerrymandering (as the report from a summer study committee will be forthcoming), and keeping in touch and monitoring the actions of our state legislators and congressional representatives. The very first question was about getting more women to serve in elected offices. They're in the process of organizing this group and any others interested in making positive changes in our state.
You can follow this group on Facebook by joining the group: Women 4 Change Indiana.
Use this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1721704234817169/?pnref=story

Lastly but not least, The Women's March on Washington, January 21, 2017.
See local information below.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
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Events
Action Item

WE HAVE GRIEVED AND SHARED OUR WORRIES. ENOUGH.        
NOW WE ARE CALLED TO ACTION.

It has been a surreal, sad and fearful week for many Americans, and it's not over yet. The Presidential election did not go our way, and we Hoosiers lost big at the state level, too. So. We can continue to grieve and worry and talk amongst our like-minded friends about what could possibly have gone wrong. In the meantime, mean-spirited fellow citizens are painting swastikas on our public trails and defacing the Democratic Headquarters. Every sane, thinking person of any political persuasion knows this is not acceptable and that our beautiful political experiment and our very society will not survive if we let our standards of civility be trashed by misguided hooligans.

Well now, enough then. It's time to stop moping, pick ourselves up and do something about it. About 80 DWC members and friends met at Grazie on Friday for lunch to debrief and just be with each other. It was therapeutic (literally--there were several therapists who spoke). Charlotte Zietlow reminded us that this too shall pass. She has seen many political ups and downs in her lifetime and we will get through this, but it requires action. And Vi Simpson lit the fire for starting by fixing our nightmarishly gerrymandered voting districts that prevent any political progress or conversation. 

And this is the key. OUR COUNTRY NEEDS US DESPERATELY. We are some of the best informed and activated citizens anywhere, and yes, we are local, but as we well know, everything begins with local. Our polling places are local and that's where individuals pulled the lever (or didn't) and got us where we are today. We are exactly where the work needs to begin. So let it begin. It's your time to step up, yes we mean YOU. Each of us must figure out where we can find common ground, build bridges, influence others and change the world for the better. And let's not forget that there is strength in numbers. DWC--we are best together, sisters and brothers looking forwardand outward to an America that we KNOW IS ALREADY GREAT but needs a little help finding its way again.

Here's a song to get us on our way. It popped up Thursday on this editor's iphone like a sign from a better future.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5tWYmIOWGk


ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
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Events
Action Item

Here we are --

This image says so much about this election, the women on whose shoulders we stand today and tomorrow, the woman who will become the President of the United States, and the future women who will carry on.  It's parts of this image, sprinkled with those of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and cousins, teachers and mentors and friends that we'll carry into the polls with us on Tuesday. And the women who are running for office this year, also hold the work of these women with much inspiration.
To find out more about the creation of this image and the women depicted (can you name them before you look?!) use this link:
http://www.womenyoushouldknow.net/inspired-illustration-feminism-at-work-pays-tribute-to-pioneers-who-moved-womens-history-forward/


Now there's only one thing left to do. THIS IS IT!

Let's work to find just a few more votes for our endorsed candidates.  Just an hour or two could help!
You've heard the folks talking about the difference a couple of votes per precinct makes. It adds up to a win!
HELP PROMOTE DWC CANDIDATES ON ELECTION DAY.
Please sign up to help in two-hour shifts, distributing a "point of sale" flyer that highlights all of the DWC candidates. We have an online sign up through a doodle poll at http://doodle.com/poll/k2vq2skzgpqtem9r.  The polls we're planning to staff are:

Unitarian Universalist Church  2120 Fee Lane
Union Center  445 N Union
IU Football complex 45/46 Bypass
Genesis Church  801 E SR 45/46 Bypass
Bloomington High School South  S Walnut
Summit Elementary School 1450 W Countryside Lane
Binford Elementary School 2300 E 2nd St
Fairview Elementary School 500 W 7th
University Elementary School 1111 N Russell Road
Evangelical Community Church  503 S High Street
Free Methodist Church  Grimes/Lincoln

This effort REALLY helps. It's amazing how often people come out of the polling place indicating they voted for our women!!  
Just two votes per precinct can make a difference in the outcome!
Please contact Jillian Kinzie at [email protected], or Philippa Guthrie at [email protected]. We will make sure you are signed up.

If you see these women before, during or after Election Day, please thank them for running!!
We're proud of their dedication and hard work in these races!

PENNY GITHENS, candidate for State House District 60   [email protected]
JESSICA McCLELLAN, candidate for County Treasurer    [email protected]
AMANDA BARGE, candidate for County Commissioner 3  [email protected]
JULIE THOMAS, re-elect to County Commissioner 2  [email protected]
LEE JONES, re-elect to County Council at-large  [email protected]
CHERYL MUNSON, re-elect to County Council at-large  [email protected]
JOANI SHIELDS, candidate for County Coroner  [email protected]

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Item

Breakfast Friday, November 4th. 7:30 am, Village Deli

It's the final week. The 2016 election ends Tuesday, November 8th. BUT before then, there's still LOTS of work to do.***
For a bit of an inside look at campaigns, and campaigns at the congressional level, we have some very special guests coming to share their experiences with us.
Megan Caska is working with the Yoder campaign and is from the DCCC.  
Heather Boaz-Meloy is also on site and has been sent in from the Sierra Club.
They'll both give some background on their work, their perspectives from their unique positions.
Very, very special guest will be Jill Long Thompson, former Congresswoman from Indiana. Jill's known Shelli since her days in congress (1989 to 1995.)
AND if you get to the breakfast really, really early, you might catch Shelli Yoder before she runs off to teach her early class.

So how special is that! Only 7 women ever to serve in congress from the state of Indiana... and Shelli will make 8.  AND we'll have two of the eight in the same room at the same time!

And if that isn't enough to celebrate, our own former State Senator Vi Simpson will be on hand to tie it all together for us!

Our 2016 DWC Endorsed Candidates (Penny Githens, Jessica McClellan, Amanda Barge, Holly Harvey, Lee Jones, Cheryl Munson, and Joani Shields and Julie Thomas) hope to be present if their work schedules allow them to.  

Please come, early if you can, and let's send these women off for the final days with the biggest round of support we can!

***Bring your calendar, your checkbook, your spare single dollar bills, and a pen! There's lots to do to support our candidates on Tuesday.
DWC has a few shifts left at selective polls for folks to hand out a little piece on our endorsed candidates. You can sign up on Friday at Breakfast, or you can sign up for a shift at  http://doodle.com/poll/k2vq2skzgpqtem9r

NOTE: If you haven't seen or liked our Facebook Page Democratic Women's Caucus, please do! We're featuring endorsed candidates there with blurbs and special new videos. We've reached over 4,000 people just this week!  And then please share widely!

Please join us! Bring a friend!

We know this election is a monumental one in so many ways. As we watched the convention with our mothers, or with our mothers in spirit, with our daughters and sisters, the sense of change, equality, the excitement and relief over the prospect of a woman as President of the United States was absolutely real. We heard it. We talked about it. We talked about the things we hadn't talked about in ages in regards to the way women had been treated in the past regarding employment, economic and financial matters (credit cards?!)
Fast forward to our working so feverishly and fervently for local candidates, Shelli Yoder and the DWC endorsed candidates. Making calls, walking and knocking on doors, attending forums, coaching candidates.  We'd almost, just a little, lost focus for a few minutes.

This week our young friend Maya Szakaly told her parents, Mike and Veronica, that she wanted to dress as a suffragist for Halloween.
Here is the result of their efforts -- in grey tones except for the splash of a pink Hillary button, a green Yoder yard sign.

Here's Maya, a young woman, taking inspiration from women on whose shoulders she is standing. Susan B Anthony, Sophia Travis, and Shelli Yoder -- all with ties to Bloomington.
THANK YOU, Maya, for helping us focus on the continuum of women working together: from the past, with our current efforts in the present for our collective future -- for you and your friends and all our children.   
This last week of the campaign, I'm taking my inspiration from you, Maya.
So, who's predicting a Senator Szakaly in the future?

Just a couple of hours help could make the difference for our endorsed candidates.
You've heard the folks talking about the difference a couple of votes per precinct makes. It adds up to a win!
So, HELP PROMOTE DWC CANDIDATES ON ELECTION DAY.
Please sign up to help in two-hour shifts, distributing a "point of sale" flyer that highlights all of the DWC candidates. We have an online sign up through a doodle poll at http://doodle.com/poll/k2vq2skzgpqtem9r and will also circulate it at the breakfast meeting on Friday, November 4th.
At this point the polls we're planning to staff are:
Unitarian Universalist Church  2120 Fee Lane
Union Center  445 N Union
IU Football complex 45/46 Bypass
Genesis Church  801 E SR 45/46 Bypass
Bloomington High School South  S Walnut
Summit Elementary School 1450 W Countryside Lane
Binford Elementary School 2300 E 2nd St
Fairview Elementary School 500 W 7th
University Elementary School 1111 N Russell Road
Evangelical Community Church  503 S High Street
Free Methodist Church  Grimes/Lincoln
This effort REALLY helps. It's amazing how often people thank us for the useful information and then come out of the polling place indicating they voted for our women!!  Just two votes per precinct can make a difference in the outcome!
Please contact Jillian Kinzie at [email protected], or Philippa Guthrie at [email protected]. We will make sure you are signed up.


PENNY GITHENS, candidate for State House District 60
Can you help her win this district and oust the incumbent?!!
Penny notes: "My campaign is responsible for the GOTV effort for Morgan County, which includes not only my campaign but John Gregg's, Glenda Ritz's, etc.  We're looking for people to help canvass and make calls on November 5 & 6, and to make calls on November 7 & 8.  We're also in need of people who can help feed the crew, especially on November 5 & 6 -- lunch and supper.  The wonderful Dems of Monroe County have been bringing in food at the combined campaign, and I have seen how it really makes a difference."
Please?!
Use this link: https://goo.gl/forms/dZrsTaAvuWQnhysV2
Contact Morgan Murphy at [email protected]  Contact Penny at [email protected]

JESSICA McCLELLAN, candidate for County Treasurer
Help by signing up for the POS program above.
Contact Jessica at [email protected] or through Facebook. Visit www.votejessica.com.

JOANI SHIELDS, candidate for County Coroner,
Help by signing up for the POS program above.
[email protected]

AMANDA BARGE and JULIE THOMAS, County Commissioner (running from different districts -- You can vote for BOTH!)

Amanda Amanda asks that you share her information on social media and that if you vote early, you share that you voted for her.
She also asks that you sign up for the DWC Doodle Poll to work Early Voting and Election Day. "And thank you DWC'rs!!!"
Text 812-606-6540 OR email [email protected]
 
Julie is asking people to sign up with the DWC Point of Sale program. She offers one of her special Julie Thomas for Commissioner campaign T-shirts for anyone who will do this for her. You've seen them! They have a SPINE on the back of the shirt! Get a spine! Contact: [email protected]

CHERYL MUNSON and LEE JONES, re-elect to County Council at-large
Cheryl: "I am asking people to go to hand out the small POS flyers at the polls. (I know what a difference this made in the primary; I worked all day, and hundreds of people thanked me for info). I believe it will be the same on Election Day as well, for the many people who (sadly) are not knowledgeable about or feel connected to County government."
Contact Cheryl at [email protected]. Lee can be reached at [email protected]


ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Item