Volume 2, Issue 1 The Newsletter of Minuteman Indivisible Lexington January 2, 2018
Muster (verb) – assemble, especially for inspection or preparation for battle
Dear Members,
As the holiday season draws to a close, we're already well into planning for 2018. In this New Year's issue of the Muster, instead of listing specific actions, we offer our New Year's resolutions and hope you'll share yours. Check out our January events and save the date for a general membership gathering on the 29th, details to be announced soon! The recommended reading section highlights issues that will be on the table in the year ahead, both in Congress and here in Massachusetts. We've got a busy month planned and look forward to seeing you soon.
Wishing you a Happy and Productive New Year,
Your Minuteman Indivisible Board and Devoted Muster Editors
MI New Year's Resolutions
We're an action-oriented organization. To help focus our efforts in 2018, the board and each of our teams crafted New Year's resolutions. We'd love to hear your MI resolutions for the upcoming year! Email them to us using this link - we'll share some of them in future Musters and enter everyone who provides resolutions by 1/9/18 into a drawing to win one of our stylish Indivisible T-shirts.
Minuteman Indivisible Board
We exist to support and promote the work our members are doing. In 2018, we resolve to:
1. Survey our members
2. Explore ways to make it easier for members to get involved
3. Highlight specific accomplishments for each of our teams
4. Continue building the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable organization:
- Fill remaining board seats (secretary, programs)
- Develop a strategic plan for 2018 including the midterms and beyond
- Adopt bylaws
5. Refine and improve our communication tools (website, newsletter, social media channels)
6. Publish monthly board reports in the Muster
7. Help foster the development of Indivisible MA to provide support, training, and coordination for Indivisible groups statewide.
Climate & Environment Team
1. Help pass carbon pricing legislation in Massachusetts
2. Promote clean energy and renewables
3. Develop workshops on these issues for members and outside groups
Constitutional Democracy Team
In 2018, the Constitutional Democracy team resolves to:
1. Support Automatic Voting Registration efforts in Massachusetts by helping execute LIFT EVERY VOTE actions
2. Support Bill S. 365 "An Act Restoring Financial Transparency in Presidential Elections" by attending the meeting with Senator Barrett on January 11 at the State House to understand next steps
3. Activate the "What About Charlie Baker" Campaign
- Follow #StandUpCharlieBaker on Twitter
- Draft letters to the editor
- Lean on Indivisible MA
4. Visit one elected official per month
5. Build closer working relationship with the Elections team to lend support to candidates with platforms focused on issues of constitutional democracy
Elections Team
The Elections Team resolves to make it SO EASY for you to support one of our chosen campaigns in the 2018 midterm elections that we increase our team participation to at least 75% of the 90+ MI members on the Elections Team. Get started by joining us on January 9 at 7:15 pm at the Community Center to ride the #bluewave of 2018!
Healthcare Team
This year, the Healthcare team resolves to:
1. Restore funding for CHIP beyond March 2018
2. Identify the healthcare impacts from the new tax bill
3. Help the Elections team flip Congress
- Package up the big issues from the TaxScam
- Help on campaigns
4. Hold MoCs accountable for their promises and their actions
5. Have special training sessions (e.g., for TextTool, HubDialer)
MI Book Club
For 2018, the MI Book Club resolves to:
1. Select books that help inform members about key issues and inspire us to take action
2. Use our discussions to identify specific actions we can take, individually or as part of our teams, to
- Resist the Trump agenda
- Pursue progressive policies
- Strengthen our Democracy
3. Encourage others to read these books and take action
Weekday Warriors Team
This year, the Weekday Warriors team resolves to:
1. Build the ranks of resisters
2. Work to help promote progressive state laws as well as local and national candidates
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Backpack Full of Cash: Screening and Community Conversation Monday, January 8th
6:30-8:30 PM First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, 630 Mass Ave, Arlington
Free Screening of Backpack Full of Cash, a film about the privatization of public schools, followed by a post-screening discussion led by Jordan Berg Powers, Mass Alliance, Lisa Guisbond, Citizens for Public Schools, and Mary Kelaher Cummings, Massachusetts Teachers Association. RSVP using this link.
Elections Team Meeting Tuesday, January 9th 7:15-8:45PM
Lexington Community Center, Room 232
Join the Elections Team for a working meeting. Bring your laptop and learn how to research specifics about the issues that matter and the weaknesses of the incumbents in our chosen districts. Learn the ins-and-outs of amplifying our candidates' messages on social media. All are welcome!
Meet the Democratic Candidates for Governor - Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie Wednesday, January 10th 7:00-8:45PM Cary Memorial Library, Lexington
Candidates Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie will be speaking and answering your questions. This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP using this link if you plan to attend.
Daring Democracy Discussion Thursday, January 11th, and/or
Thursday, January 25th 7:00-9:00 PM First Parish Church, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington
Join us on January 11th to discuss Daring Democracy, a timely new book about the many ways that people and groups are standing up to preserve and reinvigorate our democracy. We are partnering with First Parish Church in Lexington which will also be holding another discussion of the book with an interfaith panel on January 25th. Everyone is welcome to attend one or both of these events.
Meet the Democratic Candidates for Governor - Setti Warren Thursday, January 18th 7:00-8:45PM Lexington Community Center
Candidate Setti Warren will be speaking and answering your questions. Space is also limited for this event, so please RSVP using this link.
Cambridge/Boston Women's March 2018 Saturday, January 20th 1:00-4:00PM Cambridge Common
On the one year anniversary of the Women's March, come out to show that women's rights are human rights and human rights are women's rights. More details here.
RECOMMENDED READING
What to Expect When Congress Gets Back This Month
In their haste to get out of town for the holidays, Congress postponed a number of key decisions. See this summary from the national Indivisible team about what old and new issues are likely to be on their agenda when they return in January.
What Questions Might Be On the Massachusetts Ballot in 2018
Sponsors of several possible ballot questions for the November 2018 election appear to have collected enough valid signatures (64,750 or more) to proceed, including proposals to raise the minimum wage, provide paid family and medical leave to MA workers, recommend potential amendments to the U.S. Constitution regarding campaign finance reform, reduce the sales tax, and limit the number of patients per nurse.
GET INVOLVED
Learn More about MI Teams
Are you new to Minuteman Indivisible? While it is not required, one of the best ways to get involved is to join one or more of our teams! (See our website for more information on the teams.) If you'd like to contact one of our team leaders, their contact emails are below. (Although many teams have more than one team leader, for simplicity's sake, we list just one contact point.)
If you haven't had a chance to sign up for a team and would like to get more involved, just fill out this form: TEAM SIGN-UPS
Send Us Your Photos and Follow Us on Social Media
We know our members are working hard on a wide variety of issues and spending time at town halls, protests, MI working meetings, and other events. We'd love to feature your photos in our newsletter, on our website, and on social media - just email them to communications@minutemanindivisible.org.
We the peopleof Minuteman Indivisible unite to uphold the rights and dignity of all people. Our mission is to exercise and defend our Constitutional rights and democratic institutions. Our principles are informed by our humanitarian values and respect for well-established scientific knowledge and governance expertise.
