IMV Postcard Party on Thursday Aug. 31
This is What Democracy Looks Like
Once again we want to thank everyone who participated in the NY22 Congressional Forum on August 17th. While it was a good way for all of us as voters to see the Democratic congressional candidates on stage together and hear from them on a variety of topics, our primary goal with this event was to show the media and the public how united and engaged our groups, parties, and voters are when it comes to supporting local Democratic/WFP candidates in 2023 and defeating Brandon Williams in 2024. We did it, thanks to all of you!
HERE is what WKTV aired following our forum.
The Daily Sentinel also covered the event; even without a subscription you can see the front page article.
The event was even covered by The Auburn Citizen, which serves the western end of the NY22 district.
If you are receiving this weekly IMV email newsletter for the first time, it may be because you registered for the Forum. The email lands in your Inbox every Friday morning and contains a variety of action items and events related to:
elections and political campaigns (mostly in Oneida and sometimes Herkimer or Madison) county,
public policy issue advocacy (such as for addressing the climate crisis, affordable housing, reproductive freedom and healthcare) and
our priorities including voter education and engagement, holding elected officials accountable, and supporting ally groups and causes.
our values and purpose to make political activism bite-size, local, and fun.
We are committed to anti-racism and to non-violence in all our work. We hope you'll take a look at the calendar of progressive political events and join us!
"No More Williams Wednesday" on August 30th
NY-22 Congressman Brandon Williams stands for a racist, xenophobic, and backwards agenda that doesn't represent the real people of Central New York. He has been actively voting against the interests of the working Black and Brown families he is paid by our tax dollars to represent.
Brandon Williams and the other MAGA extremists in Congress have threatened to cut or raise requirements for programs like Social Security, veterans' services, SNAP, and more, while making it harder for parents to feed their young children, opposing reductions in health insurance costs, making seniors pay more for medicine and work longer hours for basic food benefits, and voting to protect the ultra-wealthy and corporate tax cheats. Central New Yorkers deserve better than Williams and his kind, and it's time to let them know!
Please join CNY Citizen Action at No More Williams Wednesday this August 30th at 12pm outside his Utica office (421 Broad Street) to protest his MAGA agenda! Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/citizenactionny/event/574978/
Write Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Postcards to 2023 Voters Thursday
We ordered thousands of postcards to get Democratic and unaffiliated women to the polls to vote for women candidates in targeted election districts in the Mohawk Valley. Now it's time to handwrite messages on those cards and get them labeled and stamped. We'll be having a series of postcard parties in the coming weeks starting Thursday, August 31st, 3-5:30 pm. Please join us at the New Hartford Library, 2 Library Lane, New Hartford for a fun, social event. And yes, of course, it's always possible to pick up postcards and write them at home.
Celeste Friend for Mayor Campaign
Celeste's campaign team is inviting all her volunteers, friends, and supporters to join the Canvassing Team! In IMV we have long believed in and practiced neighborhood canvassing as a way of listening to and respecting voters, engaging people in community and civic life, and impacting elections in ways that align with our values and improve all of our lives.
Join the Purple Posse Canvassing Team
We encourage everyone to sign up today for the last in this round of canvassing orientations on Thursday, Sept. 7th. 5:15-7:30pm if you have not already attended one. The sooner the better, because there are a lot of voters to meet in every ward in Utica. Click this link to RSVP: https://forms.gle/hfurKbDPFT4dRirX6.
All canvassing volunteers join a Ward Team and receive support from their Ward captains to get out their and talk to voters as many shifts a week as possible. Canvassers go out in pairs, and you'll get to go out with experienced canvassers before you try it yourself. Voter education at the doors is a lot of fun--and it's what democracy is all about!
Annual Celeste Friend Ice Cream Social
Come get a sweet treat and support Celeste's campaign at the same time. Saturday, August 26th, 2-5pm. Tickets are $40, but kids under 12 eat for free. There will be fun activities for kids, the Vision Board, and all sorts of ice cream treats. Buy your tickets here!
Will You Join the March to End Fossil Fuels on September 17?
This has been a summer of climate disasters, one after another. One of the main drivers of this crisis is the fact that we continue to burn fossil fuels even though the evidence is clear about how damaging this is.
That’s why climate activists from across the country and the world are gathering this September to fight for an end to the era of fossil fuels and to achieve a world powered by just and resilient clean energy, with good jobs, clean air and water, and a healthier planet for all.
The main event will be a massive march in New York City on September 17 just preceding the UN Climate Action Summit on September 20. This march is sponsored by a coalition of well over 300 organizations. To find out more or to sign up, see https://www.endfossilfuels.us/.
A number of us from the Indivisible Mohawk Valley Climate Crisis Working Group plan to attend. If you are able to join us, feel free to contact Jennifer Geiger at jgeiger777@gmail.com if you would like to coordinate transportation arrangements, which are still being organized. Buses will be going from Albany, and possibly Syracuse, as well as some car or train options.
Together, we will send a clear message to our world leaders – including President Biden– that it’s time to put an end to the era of fossil fuels and invest in a clean and sustainable future for all. Together we can demand change to create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.
Volunteers needed for Voter Registration at Jervis Library in Rome
Jervis Library in Rome needs volunteers from 12 noon-6 pm on September 19th, National Voter Registration Day, to assist patrons with registering to vote and providing voting information. Information given to those registering to vote must be accurate and non partisan. Please email Jervis Librarian Annamarie Evans at aevans@midyork.org if you would like to volunteer. Let her know that you are volunteering through Indivisible Mohawk Valley and your experience level in voter registration.
More Stamps Needed
Thank you to everyone who has already contributed generously to our postcard stamp fund! We are so excited that we are going to send eye-catching, positive postcards to women voters across Oneida County before the 2023 election to remind them to go to the polls and vote for Democrats in key races. There will be a lot of postcard parties to write messages on the cards, label, and stamp them. We still need more stamps though, so please send a check (or postcard stamps) to IMV c/of Deborah Wilson-Allam (Treasurer), 2 Laurelwood Drive, New Hartford, NY 13413. Thank you!
What's Ahead
We are working on the schedule for IMV's Sunday afternoon canvasses for September and October. We will show up for a local candidate each Sunday and help them reach their voters at the doors in their very competitive races. Our goal is to knock doors on one or more Sundays for Caroline Reale and Crystal Faria who are running for Oneida County Board of Leg, Julie Gederos and Celeste Friend who are running for Utica Common Council At-Large and Utica Mayor respectively, and Shelly Gardner, who is running for Rome Common Council
Please save your Sundays for these canvassing events
Support the candidates in the meantime with contributions and volunteering.
We know many of you are already talking to voters at their doors about Celeste. Her campaign has the most doors to knock. Thank you!
You are always welcome to join CAFE Friday for some good political conversation over Zoom. The link is below in the calendar.
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
