Hello Indivisibles,

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Paddles Without Borders event at the Blue Paddle Bistro on Sunday.  The skies cleared just in time and the event was a great success.  Everyone had a chance to mingle and meet new people.  We welcomed several of our Canadian neighbors.  We had yummie burgers and dogs and sides from the Blue Paddle, and surprise chocolate mousse from a generous and talented member.  Andy Julow, Executive Director at Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation, gave a Welcome address and filled us in on the facts and figures of our economic ties to Canada and the impacts this summer from the Trump Administration’s attacks on our valued ally.  We listened to music by Canadian artists.  Everyone had a grand time.  AND the event was covered on the WCAX and WPTZ local news!

UPCOMING EVENTS: There are two events on our radar right now.  

August 16, 11:00 am:  International Day of Freedom, at the Vermont – Frelighsburg, Quebec border, near the border station.  I previously sent you information on this.  Several of our members have expressed interest in attending.  They are also looking to see if there could be a corresponding event on the US side of the border.  I will let you know if that comes together.  

September 5, 5:00 – 7:00 pm “Artful Justice”, at Afterthoughts in Waitsfield, Vt.  Hosted by Indivisible Mad River Valley.  A silent auction fundraiser for Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund.  Music.  Food available.  I will forward their email with all the details.  ATTENTION ARTISTS:  They are looking for additional donations of art for this very worthy event.  A chance to have your art seen by a whole new audience and help fund legal support for people detained by ICE, at the same time.

Post Card Writing Campaigns:  We now have some members who are organizing interested Indivisible Champlain Islands members into a group of volunteers who will send postcards to constituents in various states as the need arises.  I will be sending out a recruiting email from them in a couple of days.  You can respond to that email to join the team.  This activity will become increasingly important over the next year, but there are already special elections, etc. happening now.  Watch for that email.

ONE MILLION RISING:  I hope you were able to join the second session of One Million Rising last night.  If you missed Session 1 or Session 2, you will be able to find them at Indivisible.org. (Session 2 link will post soon).  Session 3 is on August 13 at 8:00 pm.  Register now and mark your calendars.  And, yes, members are already starting to plan and host small gatherings at their homes.

OTHER TOOLS:  There are many other tools we will be employing in the struggle against this Authoritarian take-over.  I want to say a few words about one of them: Donations.  Money is personal and no one likes to talk about it, but I suggest you set some ground rules for yourself.

 In the upcoming months there will be three main categories requesting support from you: 1) Candidates running to overturn the MAGA control of state and federal government (such as Jon Osshoff and Roy Cooper)

 2)  Organizations actively fighting Trump actions, mainly in the courts  (such as ACLU and Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund)

3)  Organizations which have had funding stripped or are being attacked  (such as NPR and other independent new organizations or Planned Parenthood, or food banks)

Because Trump’s attacks have been so broad based, affecting nearly every aspect of American life, the number of options for donating support will become overwhelming.  If you have the resources and are planning to use this tool as part of your resistance to Trump, now is the time to stop, take a quiet hour, and plan your attack.  Do some research.  Set a budget.  Make a plan.  Decide how you can best use this tool for maximum effect.  This is your personal weapon.  These are your personal choices.

Warning:  Be very aware of SCAMS.  This is fertile ground for crime. It has already started.  Don’t respond directly to emails or texts.  Go to the actual website of the recipient and donate there.  

Also, be aware when you make your plan, that many expenses may increase due to actions by Trump and the GOP Congress.  Electricity and home/car insurance costs will rise.  Health Insurance costs and health care costs will go up dramatically.  Cost of consumer goods may go up.  Many businesses and jobs may become unstable.  Be sure you take that into account and set sufficient reserves if you plan on making donations in the coming year.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY:

There is plenty of bad news without me reminding you.  But there is also good news, not the least of which was Roy Cooper deciding to run for the Senate seat in NC.  

And then there is the just plain ridiculous, like the GOP candidate who announced this week that he is running against Jon Ossoff in Georgia.  He put out a campaign flyer – but he misspelled Georgia on the flyer!!!  No one remembers his name, they are all laughing too hard.

Together we are strong.  Take care of each other.  Enjoy the Vermont summer.

Cheers,

Marilyn Lagrow