We're Meeting with Sen. Gillibrand on Zoom

Join IMV and rural friends from across New York for a Rural Discussion with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Zoom starting at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 19th. She’s answering questions about the Rebuilding Rural America Act and Farm Bill. We’ll get time with her staff as well to dive deeper into how we can make a difference in our own communities when it comes to making sure we get available funding that can make a difference. Let’s all show up together!  Here's the info:

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 19th, 5 - 6pm

Register for the Zoom meeting HERE.

Invited: Rural Indivisibles in NY, NY Democratic Rural Conference, NY Dem committees, rural activists in NY

Format:  30 minutes with Sen. Gillibrand and 30 minutes with her staff for a deeper dive. 

This is rural New York Indivisibles’ first meeting with Sen. Gillibrand, who is on the Agriculture committee and leading sponsor of the Rebuilding Rural America Act. This virtual event is open to all rural Indivisibles in NYS, members of the Democratic Rural Conference and their respective town committees, plus rural activists in New York. It’s an opportunity for Sen. Gillibrand to get to know the rural progressive audience better and for us to build a relationship with her (psst…she’s up for re-election in 2024). 

Learn more about the Rebuilding Rural America Act here.  Unfortunately, text for the Farm Bill hasn’t been released yet. RuralOrganizing.org will provide more information that will be sent out to everyone who RSVPs so they are familiar with terms and the bills. Remember to register now for this Sept. 19th event.  
 

Monday, Sept. 18th Zoom: NYS Coalitions Helping Us to Win Big in 2024

Join IMV and friends who are fired up for New York to take back the House and protect our freedoms! Join us at our NY Coalitions Helping Us Win Big in 2024 Panel on Monday, September 18 from 7-8pm on Zoom. Register here. Hear from the directors of 4 coalitions as we learn about their focus, how they are organized, and how people and groups can get involved. 2024 will be the Year of New York, so everyone who is ready to make it happen should attend this event.  The coalitions are: 

• New Yorkers for Equal Rights

• New York for Biden+Harris

• Battleground Coalition

• NYS Democratic Coordinated Campaign

We know this makes TWO Zooms at the start of the coming week, but we think both this coalition meeting on Monday and the meeting with Sen. Gillibrand are critical for our work.  Please join us! Register HERE for Monday's 2024 Coalition Zoom and HERE for Tuesday's Zoom with Sen. Gillibrand.  
 

Poll Workers Needed

Democratic election commissioner Sarah Bormann reports that the Oneida County Board of Elections urgently needs poll workers in Vienna, Verona, Vernon, and  Bridgewater. More Democratic poll workers are also needed in Rome, Deerfield, Marcy, Westmoreland & Western.

These are places that generally have no trouble finding Republican poll workers, but for elections to work, there need to be poll workers from both parties at every polling location.  And remember, it is one of our progressive democratic values that there should be lots of polling locations so that people can vote easily, conveniently, and without waiting in long lines.  Can you help?

For information on hours and pay, see https://ocgovboe.net/become-an-election-worker/. It is probably also a good idea to call the Board of Elections (315-798-5765) and let them know that you are filling out the form.  
 

Caroline for County Fundraiser

We're sharing this invitation from Caroline Reale who is running for reelection to the County Board of Legislators representing New Hartford and a small corner of Utica.  We helped her win in 2021 and we want to help her win again.  It will be a tough race, but with our help, she can do it!

"Hello IMV!

I would like to invite you to my (first ever!) campaign fundraising event on October 5th at 6pm at the Fort Schuyler Club in Utica. Here's the link to purchase tickets: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/carolineforcounty

IMV has taught me the importance of people power and I wouldn't be where I am today without IMV.  Working on projects across Oneida County has been a rewarding experience, and I'm not ready for it to end! I want to continue working on what I've started in my first term, serving on the Childcare Task Force, delivering flood mitigation grants, and working with the Planning Board to update community infrastructure. Together your continued support allows me to be the voice in government that speaks to our values and dreams for the future. I'm here to give it everything I've got and your partnership is one I am sincerely thankful for.
With Gratitude, Caroline"

P.S.  If you want to knock doors for Caroline Reale, IMV will join together to canvass for her on Sept. 24th 3:00-5:30 pm. We really need as many people to show up as possible.  You can just show up, but if you plan to be there, email jgeiger777@gmail.com as soon as you can so that we can be sure to have enough turfs. 
 

Celeste Friend for Utica Mayor Purple Posse Events

Who do you think is ready to join the Purple Posse?  Are you?  If you are already involved, can you get a friend to show up with you?  Remember that Thursdays after canvassing there is a fun community dinner at Celeste's house and all are welcome.  Sign up to volunteer or donate to the campaign here: https://www.uticaforall.com/.  

Kennedy Plaza Campaign Pop-Up Meet-and-Greet
Sunday, September 17th ⋅ 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location: 2 Kennedy Plaza off Cordelia St.
Calling all event volunteers... come help register voters, distribute groceries, and create another little party.

Ward 2 Pop-Up and Canvass
Saturday, September 23rd ⋅ 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location TBD

Gilmore Village Campaign Pop-Up and Canvass
Saturday, October 7th ⋅ 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location 929 Hillcrest Ave., Utica, NY.

Please also encourage friends who live or work in Utica to attend the upcoming Utica Mayoral Debate, Tuesday, Sept. 19th, 6 pm-7:30 pm to be held at MVCC's Utica campus (1101 Sherman Drive, Schafer Theater).  More information HERE.  

Can You Help Write Postcards...Or Buy Stamps for them?  

Thanks to everyone who has been showing up for IMV postcard parties or picking up postcards to do at home. It's fun to do them together!  Or, if you can't stay for the Thursday event, you can pick up and drop off postcards at the parties (below) or if you want to arrange to pick up postcards at another time, email Carole Gehrig (cgehrig_1@yahoo.com).  She can have a bunch ready for you in her box in Whitesboro.  

We've held three successful postcard parties so far. There are just two left, both at the New Hartford Library, 2 Library Lane.  

Thursday, September 21st 4:00-5:30 pm (please note the later start)
Thursday, September 28th 3:00- 5:30 pm

Thank you to everyone who has been donating stamps and money to buy stamps.  We have been making progress toward our goal but still don't have enough to send all 5000 postcards. Each batch is specifically targeted to help us elect a local Democratic woman to office by communicating directly with women voters.  If you can contribute please mail a check to: Indivisible Mohawk Valley c/o Deborah Wilson-Allam, 2 Laurelwood Drive, New Hartford, NY 13413.
 

IMV Candidate Canvass Sundays

IMV has scheduled two canvasses so far to help candidates win county legislator seats. Please try to join one or both. Voter contact at the doors is critical in races that voters will never hear about on the news but that may have a big impact on their daily quality of life in Oneida County.

Sunday, Sept. 24th 3:00-5:30 pm. Canvass for Caroline Reale for County (District 15-New Hartford and part of Utica)  We really need need as many people to show up as possible.  You can just show up (location TBD), but if you plan to be there,emailjgeiger777@gmail.comas soon as you canso that we can be sure to have enough turfs.  

Sunday, Oct. 1st 3:00-5:30 pm, Canvass for Crystal Faria for County Leg District 10 (Town of Westmoreland and parts of the towns of New Hartford and Kirkland). If the area is rural, it can be great to have a pair--one to drive and one to go to the doors.  Again, please email jgeiger777@gmail.com if you can volunteer.  
 

Climate Crisis Working Group Updates 

We wish safe travels to everyone who is headed to NYC for the big "March to End Fossil Fuels" this Sunday. If you want to go and need transportation, please email jgeiger777@gmail.com. 

Can't go to NYC for the event this weekend but want to do something for climate in solidarity? We have a critical call for you to make. This is from our friends at Divest NY:

It's time to divest from Exxon!  Call NUS Controller DiNapoli on Monday, September 18th: 518-474-4044.  Tell him: "Divest from Exxon and all Big Oil & Gas. Stop funding climate destruction. It's time to end the era of fossil fuels."

Thanks for making this week's critical climate call. 
 

Brandon Williams and the MAGAs Want to Shut Down the Government

But we have a plan to respond. Please save the date of Monday, Oct. 2 from 3:30 -5:00 pm for a CONTINGENT public protest against the MAGA Republican House (Brandon Williams) shutdown. 

If Williams and his cronies proceed with their goal to try to make government fail by depriving it of funding, it will be our friends, family, and neighbors who will suffer. Starting Oct. 1; millions of Americans who work as civilian employees in the federal government will suddenly not get paid. And millions more will not be able to receive help with filing for Social Security or Medicare or getting other basic, essential services provided by the federal government.  

One thing we can do now is write LTEs demanding that Rep. Williams NOT play chicken with a government shutdown for the most basic reason that workers in his own district, (DFAS and Rome Labs in Rome are two examples), will not get paid and therefore won't have money to pay for their rent. mortgages, utilities, or food for their families. 

Any letters to the editor that appear this month about this MAGA-made ticking time bomb are like an inoculation against the MAGA disinformation that somehow President Biden is the reason for the shutdown. We'll keep you updated about this looming MAGA threat and our reckless Member of Congress, Brandon Williams, as Sept. 30 approaches. 

Speaking of LTEs, Judy Jerome had a terrific letter about Williams' vote to keep fraud George Santos in Congress published in both the Daily Sentinel and the Syracuse paper. Thanks, Judy, and the LTE working group for participating in "Santos September"  There is a reason that lying fraud is still in Congress, and it is Brandon Williams, who didn't have the guts to send him packing. 

The calendar this week is packed.  Show up for what you can when you can, whether it's on Zoom or in person.  But SHOW UP.  Democracy is not a spectator sport.  
 
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.