No such thing as winter doldrums for us! In January, we marched, lobbied, and connected with our fellow Indivisible groups across the state, and we've got an action-packed month ahead, including:
our monthly Update/Action meeting on February 11
a big celebration on March 1
Read on for details on upcoming events, actions, and important "save-the-dates" to add to your calendar.
Monday, February 11: First Parish in Lexington
7:00-7:30 pm - MI Champions & Steering Committee Check-in
7:30-9:00pm - Monthly Update & Action Meeting
Our first monthly evening meeting is next Monday, February 11. We'll gather at First Parish in Lexington, as we did in December and weekly through last fall. We'll hear updates from members championing the legislative issues we identified. We'll engage in conversation about electoral strategy for 2020, and we'll round out our evening with postcarding for Sister District MA/RI's voter engagement campaign.
Can't wait to see you on Feb 11!
SAVE THE DATE - FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 7-9PM
MINUTEMAN INDIVISIBLE IS HAVING ITS SECOND BIRTHDAY THIS WINTER, AND YOU'RE INVITED TO COME CELEBRATE!
Has it only been two years? Yes, really. Since our founding back in early 2017, Minuteman Indivisible has racked up an impressive list of successes in educating on issues, lobbying for legislation, rallying for causes, campaigning for candidates, and building community.
We celebrating our second birthday on Friday evening, March 1at the Lexington Depot with members, friends, and allies (and wine, beer, appetizers, and desserts). Be there to take credit for all we've accomplished and to get excited about what lies ahead. Save the date and invite friends to join you!
Look for an invitation in your email inbox later this week. Can you help us set up before the party or cleanup afterwards? Sign up to do one or both using this link. We're also looking for a licensed bartender to help at the event - if you know someone who might be willing to volunteer, please email us this week.
Keep Calling Our MoCs even though the Shutdown has Ended
After 35 days, the longest shutdown in our country’s history has ended. Why? Because of people like us. Indivisibles made 16,821 calls (more than 12,000 calls on Wednesday January 23 alone!).
What’s Next?
We won, but this is a short-term deal. We could be back in the same place in two weeks. Part of this deal is that Congress is negotiating, through a conference committee, a final funding package for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If they can't reach an agreement by February 15, we could get another shutdown.
Read Indivisible’s updated shutdown resource for the full details, then continue calling our MoCs between now and February 15 to make sure the government doesn’t shut down again. Thank Senators Warren and Markey and ask them to keep it up and support a conference agreement that has no new funding for the wall.
Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency if Congress doesn't agree to build his wall. See what Congress can do about that and check our website for any late-breaking details on actions to take if the President does declare an emergency.
Support the Green New Deal
Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez are preparing to introducelegislation on the Green New Dealas early as this week. TheSunrise Movement, one of the big leaders behind the push for the Green New Deal, is re-grouping after news that the new HouseSelect Committeeon the Climate Crisis isn't what they hoped for. They'll be live-streaming a discussion of their 2019 Green New Deal strategy this Tuesday, February 5 at 8pm. You can sign up to watch hereor get together with others at watch parties at several locations in the Boston area -scroll down this page to find one near you or sign up to host your own.
Tuesday, February 5: Resist Howard Schultz Peaceful Protest in Cambridge, 5:00-7:00pm
Howard Schultz, the Starbucks CEO who's thinking about self-funding a run for president as an independent, will be at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge to discuss his new book. That event is sold out (there'll be a standby line at the door), but we'll be joining our friends at Indivisible Acton who are planning a peaceful protest to greet him. RSVP for the protest and see suggestions for signs here.
News for our Members in Rep. Seth Moulton's District
Seth Moulton Town Hall,Saturday February 9, 1:00-2:00pm
Join other MI members from CD6 at Rep. Seth Moulton's Town Hall at the Wilmington Town Hall Auditorium to let the Congressman know what issues are important to you. See this link for details.
New Indivisible MA-06 Collaborative Minuteman Indivisible has joined together with five other Indivisible groups representing constituents in Congressman Seth Moulton’s Sixth Congressional District to form the Indivisible MA-06 Collaborative to share best practices and information and to identify key issues for coordinated action. The other groups are:
North Shore Indivisible MA
Indivisible Reading
Indivisible North Reading
Indivisible-I RISE Newburyport
Indivisible Greater Andover
The Collaborative has contacted Rep. Moulton’s District Director to request a meeting during the Congressional recess week of February 18 to present issues of concern from our members as well as to show support for actions that the Congressman may take.
We invite MI members who live in the 6th district to use this link to contact MI member Karyn Roseby February 10 to suggest topics you would like to see covered at this meeting. For example, as a member of the House Armed Forces Committee, he has oversight of VA hospitals including the facility in Bedford.
SwingLeft is kicking off its 2020 campaign and wants you to join!
Our friends at SwingLeft have been sharing their strategy for 2020 at house parties across the area. If you didn't have a chance to attend a party this past weekend, there's still an opportunity to join a house party in Belmont next Sunday, February 10 at 3pm. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, February 27: MI Book Club Meeting 7:15-8:45pm, Lexington Community Center
Join us to discuss An Uncivil War by Greg Sargent. New members are always welcome and we provide a summary of the book for those who haven't had a chance to read it yet. You can use this link to RSVP or to recommend other books to read. See the MI Book Club page for information on the books we’ve already discussed.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE
A CHAMPION FOR MI?
Members of Minuteman Indivisible have been clear about what issues matter to us:
Ranked Choice Voting and Same-Day Voter Registration for MA
Fighting Voter Suppression and Gerrymandering
Voter Education & Registration in MA and around the country
2020 Election
Medicare For All
Green New Deal, Clean Energy, and Environmental Justice
Safe Communities Act in MA
#WhatAboutCharlie
We know that many of you are following an issue closely, receiving information from ally organizations that sponsor lobby days, rallies, and lobbying campaigns, and other actions. Consider becoming MI's "Champion" on an issue by relaying this information to us so that we can keep our membership informed and activated.
Champions are invited to use Slack to post details for our calendar and for publication in the Muster. They will also be invited to a monthly call with the Steering Committee and other Champions to connect and plan together. Let us know if you can be a Champion; send us an email to learn more.
The Muster is coming to your inbox on a biweekly schedule for the rest of the winter season.
Meanwhile, keep checking theMI Calendar on our website for the most current line-up
of events and opportunities.
Andjoin our Slackto stay in the loop!
Your input is welcome!
