Calling all phonebankers! We need YOU to win in 2024!

Do you remember how you felt in 2016 as the election results rolled in, and it became clear that Donald Trump would be our next president? Many people talk about their regret - regret for not having done more to prevent it. Let’s not go down that road again!

Join Indivisible Marin’s Phone Team on April 13th, and every Saturday you are able from now until Election Day, as we make calls to preserve our democracy by taking back the House, holding the Senate, and re-electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. SIGN UP HERE.

In 2024, California is a battleground state for taking back the House with five very winnable toss-up races, the most of any state in the country. We’ll begin by making calls for Rudy Salas in his race to represent California’s 22nd Congressional District. Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Rudy is a fighter for its people - for higher wages, lower prescription costs, local healthcare facilities, and reproductive choice. This will be a tight race; if we take action now, we can celebrate with Rudy at the finish line on November 5th!

Indivisible Marin is also one of the Democratic National Committee’s hubs for the Biden/Harris campaign, so in the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be adding opportunities to call for them - and likely Senate races as well.

Phonebanking is one of the best ways to engage large numbers of voters easily, and it can be done from the comfort of your own home! As always, you know you can count on IndiMarin’s phonebanks for a strong sense of community and small-group training with friendly mentors. People of all experience levels are welcome, and we will refresh your skills and support you until you’re comfortable and ready to begin calling. In these difficult times, we’re being called upon to serve our country. 

Our democracy hinges on voter turnout. If we turn out our voters, we’ll win. It’s as simple as that. Please join us to make calls, turn out our voters, and preserve our democracy in 2024! SIGN UP HERE.

IndiMarin Thanks YOU! Plus NEXT steps to help Dems WIN in November!

Woo-hoo!! 🎉 The final all-out push by grassroots volunteers, including many of our wonderful IndiMarin volunteers, led to a late surge of votes for Rudy Salas in California District 22.! This surge brought his vote tally to just 800 shy of the Republican incumbent and helped avoid the worrisome possibility of a Dem shutout in that very competitive district. Now, Dems are in excellent shape to build on this strong support and help Rudy win in November, adding a crucial additional seat to the Dems (hopeful) House majority! 

California is crucial to taking back the House this year with five winnable races, IF we do the work! Another benefit of our work in CA-22 is that as it became a nationally watched race, we made the Republicans nervous, showing we could get out infrequent voters in the primary and underscoring for the country that California is a battleground state for the House.

A HUGE THANK YOU to the many of you who made calls, knocked on doors, texted, and wrote postcards  for Rudy! Thank you also to all of you who did the same for Adam Gray in CA-13! That district is another very competitive race where we hope to gain another seat in November. The early work you did is invaluable toward that ultimate goal.

Also a HUGE SHOUT OUT to our wonderful canvassing partner, the Bay Area Coalition! The BAC has a fabulous "concierge" program to help all canvassers, including those from IndiMarin, with a range of support including assistance with carpools, lodging, on-site training and more. 

Now both Central Valley candidates are well-positioned, not only with voters, but also with crucial large donors! Much to celebrate!

HOW TO CONTINUE TO HELP OR JUMP IN IF YOU'VE BEEN ON THE SIDELINES!

GAME ON from now till November 5th. It's pedal to the metal, folks!

Face-to-face interactions with voters are widely considered THE most impactful way to influence an election. Here are two great events to get you rolling with the work, or infuse your existing efforts with additional energy. If you are a postcarder, please consider adding either phonebanking or canvassing to your menu of actions. Both are very gratifying experiences!

THIS THURSDAY, 3/21, 5:30 PM PT/8:30 PM ET - Via Zoom -  Walk Team Happy Hour
IndiMarin, together with our canvassing partner, the Bay Area Coalition, has developed a smart, focused approach that maximizes impact as well as offers a gratifying volunteer experience. Join IndiMarin's Walk Team Leaders for an informal group conversation about canvassing in the Central Valley to help win back the House! Participants who have already canvassed will share their experiences, and those considering signing up can ask questions to learn more. We hope you'll join us!  SIGN UP HERE.

Wednesday, March 27, 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET - Via Zoom - Introduction to Phonebanking
Conversations with voters are critical, and phonebanking is the most impactful form of voter outreach after canvassing, which is not feasible in many areas. IndiMarin's phonebanking team has been working in major elections for six years and has created a welcoming and supportive community for volunteers of all experience levels.

Have you phonebanked before but are unsure how to get started this year? Or, perhaps, phonebanking is something you've thought about but have never felt comfortable taking that first step. Most people are surprised at how easy it is and quickly discover they enjoy having meaningful conversations with voters. Join us for this introduction to phonebanking with our experienced phonebank leaders - and learn how you can be a part of one of the most effective forms of voter outreach. SIGN UP HERE.

Or if you are experienced in either tactic, you can jump right in!

For Canvassing - Visit our Canvassing webpage for upcoming canvassing dates. They have already started post-primary!

For Phonebanking - We will restart our Saturday Phonebanks in mid-April and will make calls to voter for Rudy Salas in CA-22. We will also be offering the option to call for Biden Harris and key Senate races later in the cycle. To stay in touch with all things phonebanking, SIGN UP HERE.
We are looking forward to the journey with all of you! Let's WIN IT ALL IN NOVEMBER - the House, the Senate and the Presidency! 

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Laurie, Nanda, Joy, Betsy, Betty, Andie and Susan

WHO WE ARE

Indivisible Marin is a community of over 4,300 volunteers committed to taking action to create a more just, caring and inclusive America. Many of our events and actions are virtual and we welcome volunteers from all locations! In election years, we focus on helping elect Democrats to both chambers of Congress, as well as the White House. In off-election years, we focus on advocacy with elected officials and other influential leaders to promote a government that functions by and for the people. At IndiMarin, we are committed to offering personalized support to both new and experienced volunteers and to building a fun spirit of community.

If this email has been forwarded to you, please join us to be added to our mailing list and kept apprised of ways to take action toward our mission!

Show Your #DemPride Wherever You Go!

Feelin' proud to be a Democrat today? We sure are!

If you've already purchased a "Dems Make Life Better" t-shirt, today's a good day to put it on and get out in the world with your #DemsProud spirit. The slogan on the front of the shirt and the reasons why Dems make life better listed on the back were designed to engender conversations and help each of us be surrogates for President Biden and the Democrats in our daily lives. We have developed this companion toolkit to help you make the most of any conversations that are prompted by the shirt.

If you HAVEN'T already purchased a shirt, today is a great day to do so! Click here, scroll to the bottom, hover on the photo and click again to "go to campaigns" to purchase. Proceeds benefit Movement Voter Project which passes on the money to vetted local grassroots groups organizing to build lasting progressive power.

Exciting update on the Dems Make Life Better campaign!

What started as a fledgling effort a few months back has been enthusiastically embraced by Dems around the country. Substack influencers like Robert Hubbell and Jessica Craven have positively written about the shirt and the overall concept. And feedback from purchasers, including canvassers who tell us the shirt helps them be more productive in their interactions with voters, has been overwhelmingly positive.

Now, we are going ALL IN for this campaign and developing a standalone website, as well as additional merchandise such as baseball caps, car magnets, buttons, and lawn signs.  The website will include pages for participants to submit photos and testimonials of their experiences so we can all keep each other encouraged with this grassroots effort to turn citizens into surrogates.

We expect to launch the new site in a month or so and hope that you will all be part of helping us grow this great program. If you would like to be kept in the loop on DMLB updates, please sign up here.

We hope you will all consider wearing your DMLB shirt and showing some #DemsPride as often as possible and engaging with people you encounter along the way! With our democracy and our freedoms very much on the line, it will take ALL of us to ensure that Dems win big in November. We want a trifecta - the House, the Senate and the Presidency - so that we can pass the needed legislation to indeed MAKE LIFE BETTER for ALL Americans.

If this e-newsletter was forwarded to you, please consider visiting our website to learn more and fill out the Join Us link on our home page to get involved in our mission of taking action to build a more just, caring, and inclusive America.

On Presidents' Day, Let's Resolve to Stand up for Joe Biden!

Dear wonderful IndiMarin Volunteers!

On this Presidents' Day, in this crucial election year of 2024, there is one action we must take, and continue to take every day until November 5, 2024.

Stand up for President Biden.

Please watch this three-minute video, Dear Democrats, It's Time to Stand Up for President Biden. It's a clip from an Indivisible Marin zoom meeting where Susan Morgan, our founder and director, exhorts all Democrats to "play chess," metaphorically speaking, and stand up positively for President Biden in our daily interactions. She also recommends changing our news habits to avoid the fear-mongering, profit-motivated mainstream news and switch to a short list of Substack authors. You can find the list of authors on our webpage, "Five Ways to Stay Positive and Motivated in Tough Times."

Please also read or listen to this blog/podcast, Presidents" Day Audio Tribute to President Biden, by Emory University Professor of Psychology, Drew Westen. He perfectly captures the humanity of President Biden, and why that humanity is the most compelling reason of all to support him in our word and deeds.

We have a choice before us. Do we want to protect our democracy and our freedoms in 2024?  Then we must be outspoken and steady in our support for President Biden in our daily lives and in our conversations with other Democrats who express worries.

Thanks to all of you for your commitment to taking action to build a more just, caring and inclusive America.

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Laurie, Betty, Andie, Nanda Joy and Betsy

Is the news getting you down? We have a solution!

The onslaught of negative and crazy-making news is enough to make many people want to stay in bed with the covers over their heads. Did you hear the latest nonsense about Taylor Swift? As reported in The Guardian, "Far-right influencers claim singer is ‘Pentagon asset’ conspiring to ‘manipulate’ voters after ‘rigged’ Super Bowl favors Chiefs." Just wow.

So what's our proposed solution at IndiMarin? Stop watching news on TV. Delete your phone's news app. Avoid as much as possible the time-suck of the unproductive mainstream media news cycle that is skewing reporting to maximize profits. THEN, spend all the time you'll save TAKING ACTION. Action is the antidote to anxiety and cultivates hope. And this hope will be well-placed since IF we all start investing our discretionary time on action, instead of consuming news, we WILL win back the House, keep control of the Senate and elect Joe Biden in November. SEE BELOW FOR A LIST OF WAYS TO TAKE ACTION.

As an extra bonus, after a day which includes some form of energizing action, you can treat yourself in the evening to some ENJOYABLE TV viewing. We recommend shows that are uplifting, funny and/or inspiring. A few recent recs on Netflix or Amazon Prime include Bank of Dave, A Million Miles Away, and Heather Booth: Changing the World.

Here's to staying hopeful and positive AND doing the work to turn hopefulness into reality.

PS - Be sure to buy a "Dems Make Live Better" t-shirt and spread positive messaging wherever you go! Click here to read more and to purchase.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

CALL VOTERS!
Having CONVERSATIONS with voters is the most impactful way to contribute. Thanks to Zoom, we can have those conversations from our living rooms. Currently, we are calling infrequent Democratic voters in California’s 13th Congressional District to ask them to vote for Adam Gray, provide voting information, and urge them to return their ballots ASAP. Contrary to the many false impressions people have about phonebanking, the following is true: 1) Many people DO answer their phones; 2) We are leaving voice messages and the automated transcriptions are a very cost-effective way to influence voters; and 3) Our calls are APPRECIATED by many of the people we talk to since we are calling with helpful voter information. If you've never called voters before, you can attend one of our phonebanks and just observe, and then decide if and when you are ready to give it a try. Sign up here for any/all of our upcoming Saturday morning phonebanks.

CANVASS VOTERS
IndiMarin is recruiting volunteers to canvass in CA -13 with two of our key partners, the California Democratic Party (CADEM) and Bay Area Coalition (BAC). Not only is CA-13 a tight toss-up district, it is only a 1.5 - 2 hour drive from Marin. We’ll help arrange carpools as desired! You will get a walking list that includes only likely Democratic voters. So you will be talking to friendly people who want to hear from you. This approach has been shown to significantly increase a voter’s likelihood of voting and also to increase the likelihood of people in their house or neighborhood voting. Click here for more details and a list of upcoming canvassing dates.

WRITE VOTERS
The focus of our postcard writing team is both the House and Senate. With six competitive seats in play, California is the road to regaining the House and we will be writing to voters in CA districts all year. The seven competitive Senate races are ours to defend as well. We are excited to be starting in the Nevada Senate race in support of Senator Jacky Rosen and in CA-22 where we are encouraging people to vote for Democrats in the primary with an additional reproductive freedom and democracy message. People who vote in primaries are more likely to vote in a general election. We want to build strong and early support for Dems. Both campaigns have a deadline of 2/21. Click here for further details and all links to get rolling.

Postcarding: NEW for 2024! Postcard Campaigns to CA-22 and Nevada!

It’s 2024! We as individuals will have a huge influence on the outcome. We have been here before - in 2018, 2020 and 2022 - and know what to do…..talk to voters in the most competitive races with compelling messages encouraging them to vote. We are excited about our programs and our expanded team.

Joy and Laurie would like to welcome Annie Fox, Dianne Grubb, and Maryann Ross to our team! Annie, Dianne, and Maryann will be working with Joy on the packet program here in Marin. Laurie will continue to manage the online request system.  

Our focus this year will be on both the House and Senate. With six competitive seats in play, California is the road to regaining the House. Look for campaigns supporting Adam Gray in CA-13 and Rudy Salas in CA-22, as well as the winner of the primary in CA-47, our hold race. Additional possibilities are Will Rollins in CA 41 and George Whitesides in CA 27.  Our Senate focus will again be in Nevada, this year supporting incumbent Senator Jacky Rosen. Ruben Gallego in AZ and other battleground Senate races are possibilities too, depending on how the races develop.

Our New Campaigns: 

Nevada: Our campaign will support Senate incumbent Jacky Rosen with a message to Democratically-leaning voters over age 50 reminding them of her votes on recent legislation that lowered prescription drug prices, including insulin. These postcards need to be mailed by Feb. 21st.  

CA-22  We are excited to be able to participate in a postcarding research project through our partner, Activate America. In this campaign, we will be encouraging people to vote for Democrats in the primary with an additional reproductive freedom and democracy message. People who vote in primaries are more likely to vote in a general election. We want to build strong and early support for Dems. These postcards need to be mailed between February 1st and 21st, so that voters receive them after early voting starts on Feb. 5th.

Everything you need to get rolling - the links, details and background information is all available on the Write Voters page of the IndiMarin website. Please visit the page now to start writing for these two great new campaigns. Also, please bookmark the link for future reference. It is your "go-to" link for all things postcarding!    

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Postcarding - Zoom: We are excited to announce the return of this popular call. We will meet monthly for updates on the races and our current campaigns, as well as welcoming guest speakers. All are welcome to join us, both experienced writers as well as those looking to get started for the first time.  RSVP. 

Writing Together - Marin-based: Join us outdoors twice a month on Tuesday mornings at 10 AM at Panera Bread in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Plaza in Novato. We will be writing in CA congressional campaigns and all supplies will be provided. A 5$ donation per packet is suggested. We share great conversation too! RSVP.

Thank you for working with us to save our democracy!

Let's get rolling! Follow up to IndiMarin's 2024 Kick Off with Guest Speaker Robert Hubbell

Hello wonderful IndiMarin Volunteers!

A huge thank you to the more than 400 people who registered to attend our 2024 Kickoff with Special Guest Robert Hubbell! It was such an honor to have both Robert and SO MANY of his readers from many parts of the country join us for this meeting which set the stage for the coming crucial year.  If you are not already subscribed to Robert's inspiring and informative Substack, we highly recommend doing so. Subscribe here.

All of you who are new to IndiMarin will be receiving a welcome call from a member of our Recruitment & Engagement Team over the next couple of weeks to help make sure you are comfortable plugging into actions that are a good fit for you. You will also be added to our e-newsletter list. But don't hesitate to jump in right away via our comprehensive website.

If you missed the meeting or would like to share the meeting content with others, here are links to both the slides and the video recording.

HIGHLIGHTS OF WAYS TO DO HIGHLY LEVERAGED VOTER OUTREACH WORK NOW

HIGHLIGHTS OF ONGOING WAYS TO HELP DEMS WIN IN 2024

HIGHLIGHTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS - From any location

  • Thursday,1/18 at 5:30 PM PT - Introduction to Reach, a powerful new app from the DNC with guest trainer Victor Rivera, the DNC's Director of Community Organizing - RSVP

  • Saturday, 1/20 from 9 - 11 AM PT and weekly thereafter- Phonebank with IndiMarin to Win Back the House. RSVP

  • Monday, 2/5, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM PT - "State of Play," an overview of the 2024 electoral landscape - RSVP

  • Thursday, 2/8, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM PT - IndiMarin's Volunteer Orientation - A great overview for newbies and old-times alike! RSVP.

And before you go, be sure to WATCH this engaging and passionate one minute video testimonial from our new member (and Robert Hubbell reader) Shawn G about his New Year's Resolution to wear a pro-Biden or pro-Dems t-shirt every single time he makes a grocery run! Let's all follow his lead! 

Thank you so much for your interest, engagement and commitment to taking action to help our country, preserve democracy and our freedoms, and make life better for all Americans!

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Betsy, Betty, Laurie, Andie, Nanda, and Joy





































Happy New Year, IndiMarin Volunteers!

All of us on the leadership team at IndiMarin send our best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy and healthy new year! There's no group of people with whom we would rather spend time in this all-important year.

To paraphrase Betty Davis's famous line in the film, All About Eve, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy year." And indeed it will. There will be highs and lows, anxiety and frustration, and perhaps even times of losing hope. But we must shun the fear-mongering reporting of the mainstream news outlets and instead follow the reporting and guidance of Substack authors like Simon Rosenberg and Robert Hubbell who, with evidence to back up their claims, assure us that we will be broadly victorious in November, IF, we do the work.

A reminder that Tuesday, January 9 at 5:30 PM PT is our 2024 Virtual Kickoff Meeting. We hope all of you will attend!  The theme of the meeting is, "Multiplying the Power of One" and it will be headlined by Robert Hubbell whose work since Trump was elected perfectly exemplifies that phrase.  Many of you may already be readers of Robert Hubbell's Substack blog. If you are not yet familiar with him, he describes himself in his Substack bio in just three words, “Citizen. Optimist. Realist.” 

His newsletter, which is now read daily by over 100,000 Americans, is also described simply: “A reflection on today’s news through the lens of hope." What started in February 2017 as a father and husband’s effort to provide hope and perspective to his family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election, has, via sharing between devoted readers, become a community of like-minded citizens devoted to preserving American democracy. His story is a true testament to multiplying the power of one.

***SIGN UP FOR OUR IMPORTANT 1/9 ZOOM KICKOFF MEETING HERE***

Robert will share his story personally with the IndiMarin community which will perfectly set the stage for what we hope to inspire in all of our volunteers in 2024 - a personal commitment to each do what we can do, to take simple action steps, and to rely on the belief that our collective acts of one will bring about the crucial election wins for Democrats across the board in 2024. Our goal, as always, is a more just, caring and inclusive America with our democracy and freedoms intact and protected for future generations.

Following Robert’s talk, members of the IndiMarin Leadership team will outline concrete action steps in which we can all participate, with a focus on both new and continuing voter outreach programs for the first quarter of 2024. 

Also, please forward this newsletter to any of your friends you think might be interested in getting more involved in 2024. Our Kickoff Meeting will be a great introduction! We also encourage you to visit our Plus One webpage for tips and support on bringing your friends into the IndiMarin community!

      ***ALSO, WE HAVE A NEW YEAR'S GIFT FOR ALL LOCAL VOLUNTEERS!***

Please come by Susan's house in Lucas Valley to pick up a car magnet or two. There will be a box in front of the left side gate. Just reply to this email if you are interested and would like the address.

In closing, we are so grateful for all the tremendous work and camaraderie our volunteers contributed to IndiMarin throughout 2023.  We look forward to more of the same, but "super-charged" in 2024. Our democracy is depending on us!

Again, wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year!

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Laurie, Betsy, Andie, Nanda, Betty and Joy 💙 




Start the New Year by Helping Dems Take Back the House!

As we approach the New Year, it is a good time for all of us to evaluate our respective plans for political giving in 2024. For this reason, we are forwarding below an email below from the founder of Activate America, one of our key partners, to let you know more about their plans for helping to win back the House in 2024. Another of other key partners this year is the California Democratic Party (CADEM) which is the backbone of the efforts to win in six key CA districts crucial to to taking back the House.

When planning for your political giving, two strategies are important to keep in mind, no matter if your budget is large, medium or small.

1. GIVE EARLY. Now is the time when organizations are hiring staff, getting office space, and planning the scope of their voter outreach.  

2. GIVE MONTHLY. Monthly donations allow organizations and candidates to plan their budgets.

We're pleased to let you know that IndiMarin has sufficient funds on hand for the year, so we will not be asking for donations. Rather, we do the research to be able to recommend wise and strategic options for political giving, and make it easy for you to donate with just one click. Hopefully, our guidance is helpful for you in sorting through the broad range of ways to contribute.

Both Activate America and the California Democratic Party do crucial work across the state of California to bring home wins in the six more competitive Congressional districts here. The road to winning back the House runs through California, so these two groups need our financial support and they need it early to build their organizations even further for the intensity of 2024. IndiMarin has been working with these groups for years and we are confident that every dollar will be used effectively. Your donation will be evenly split between them. DONATE AT THIS LINK AND PLEASE CONSIDER A MONTHLY ALLOCATION. (NOTE: This link will be updated as grassroots organizations develop their strategies and as the primary results narrow the candidate field.)

Thank you for giving as generously as your budget allows to help win back a Democratic trifecta in 2024!

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betsy, Nanda, Andie, Joy, Laurie, Betty and Susan

EMAIL FROM DOUG LINNEY, FOUNDER OF ACTIVATE AMERICA

When I founded Activate America in 2017, it was at a moment of despair. I wanted to channel my disbelief and grief over Trump’s election into something practical and useful. I was inspired by the Women’s March. I wanted to use my decades of campaign experience to elect Democrats who could put a check on MAGA extremists.

Since then, we’ve reached voters in swing districts and states nearly 30 million times and helped elect more than two dozen Democrats. We do all of this at the low cost of just 10 cents per contact.

When you invest in Activate America, you’re investing in a proven program that is focused on work that has impact and value. We carefully tailor our communications to Democratic-leaning voters who sometimes stay home on Election Day or Independent voters who can be persuaded to vote for Democrats if they hear the right messages.

As you consider your year-end giving in these closing days of 2023, I’m going to ask you to keep Activate America in mind.

We have big plans for 2024. We think Democrats can hold the Senate, and we’re increasingly optimistic about regaining the House. Stopping Trumpism in all its forms is necessary for the survival of our democracy and the rule of law. In addition, many voters we reach will also be Biden voters in swing states who will also vote to defeat Trump.

Thank you for all that you do to bring hope and justice into this world. We’re inspired by all our supporters who make Activate America a community of purpose.

Happy New Year,

Doug Linney

Exciting news re our 2024 Kick Off Meeting on 1/9!

On Tuesday, January 9 at 5:30 PM PT, we will kick off the all-important 2024! The theme of our meeting is, "Multiplying the Power of One" and it will be headlined with a very special guest speaker whose work since Trump was elected perfectly exemplifies that phrase.

Many of you may already be readers of Robert Hubbell's Substack blog. If you are not yet familiar with him, he describes himself in his Substack bio in just three words, “Citizen. Optimist. Realist.” His newsletter, which is now read daily by over 100,000 Americans, is also described simply: “A reflection on today’s news through the lens of hope." What started in February 2017 as a father and husband’s effort to provide hope and perspective to his family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election, has, via sharing between devoted readers, become a community of like-minded citizens devoted to preserving American democracy. His story is a true testament to multiplying the power of one.

Robert will share his story personally with the IndiMarin community at our 2024 Kick-Off Meeting. It will perfectly set the stage for what we hope to inspire in all of our volunteers in 2024 - a personal commitment to each do what we can do, to take simple action steps, and to rely on the belief that our collective acts of one will bring about the crucial election wins for Democrats across the board in 2024. Our goal, as always, is a more just, caring and inclusive America with our democracy and freedoms intact and protected for future generations.

Following Robert’s talk, members of the IndiMarin Leadership team will outline concrete action steps in which we can all participate, with a focus on both new and continuing voter outreach programs for the first quarter of 2024.

***SIGN UP FOR THIS IMPORTANT KICKOFF MEETING HERE***

     ***PLUS, WE HAVE A YEAR-END THANK YOU GIFT FOR ALL LOCAL VOLUNTEERS!***

Please come by Susan's house in Lucas Valley to pick up a car magnet or two. There will be a box in front of the left side gate. Just reply to this email if you are interested and would like the address.


In closing, we are so grateful for all the tremendous work and camaraderie our volunteers contributed to IndiMarin throughout 2023.  We look forward to more of the same, but "super-charged" in 2024. Our democracy is depending on us!

Ways to Stay Positive and Motivated in Trying Times

As the days grow shorter, and the daily barrage of news seems daunting, it is easy to want to pull the covers over our heads, and be inclined to withdraw a bit from the pressing work in which we are all engaged. And that is ok...December is largely a month to focus on family and personal priorities.

Yet we wanted to share some ways to keep the positive energy and hope flowing throughout the month so that you feel the comfort of belonging to a community, even if presently you are taking a break from the work.

Recently, there have been a number of workshops and coalition meetings focusing on the importance of community and belonging as an antidote to any feelings we may be having of burnout and hopelessness. We hope that IndiMarin is that community for you, and that my having a sense of belonging, and specific ways to take concrete action, we can all keep each other bolstered for the long fight ahead.

Below are five strategies to stay hopeful and positive this month, and in any of the months ahead in 2024 if you feel your spirit is flagging a bit.

💙 💙 💙The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Betty, Joy, Laurie, Nanda, Andie and Betsy

PS - If you find this newsletter helpful, please forward it to any friends for whom it might also resonate, or share this online link. And then invite them to join us and become part of a community of people taking action to create a more just, caring and inclusive America!


5 WAYS TO STAY POSITIVE IN TOUGH TIMES

CHANGE YOUR NEWS HABITS!
We are what we read! In talking to our volunteers, a key factor that discourages and can demotivate is the negativity of the mainstream news. Over the last several years, the news media, under increasing competition, has resorted to focusing extensively on negative news stories which motivate more clicks and eyeballs than positive, or even realistic, news articles. We at IndiMarin highly recommend any or all of the following Substack authors for a more realistic, and hopeful, take on the news and political dynamics of the day:

o   Simon Rosenberg, the analyst who debunked the red wave in 2022

o   Robert Hubbell, a former attorney who started writing his daughters about the day’s news through a “lens of hope” right after Trump was elected. His newsletter, Today’s Edition, is now read by more than 100,000 Americans daily

o   Heather Cox Richardson, a Boston College History professor who reports on the day’s news and adds the perspective of historical context.


STAY ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY - A SENSE OF “BELONGING” IS A KEY MOTIVATOR

o   Check the IndiMarin calendar for opportunities to gather with like-minded people over a virtual glass of wine or in-person over coffee as we write postcards. Together we stay stronger!

o   Reach out to your own circle of friends and try to bring some of them into our community of people taking action! It’s a very rewarding feeling to draw in a new volunteer. Sign up for our Plus One program to get started.

USE YOUR IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY - & THE INDIMARIN WEBSITE - TO STAY ENGAGED
It’s easy to get into a rut with volunteerism, or to lose sight of how to be helpful. Try to keep your action-taking fresh by trying new things. The Take Action pages of the IndiMarin website are a key tool in this regard. Perhaps make a habit of reviewing all of the web pages at the beginning of each month to see if there is new programming that appeals to you, or something that you haven’t yet tried. Try to have a couple forms of action going on at one time to keep the work fresh and interesting.

IN PERIODS WHEN YOU’RE BUSY AND CAN’T TAKE ACTION, DONATE TO THOSE WHO CAN
Of course, there are times when for a range of reasons, we may all need to take a break from direct action. A good way to “stay in the game” during these periods, is to financially support the work that is continuing in your absence. IndiMarin’s single-click Act Blue link is a one-stop way to support voter outreach work across California by contributing equally to our two key organizing partners: The California Democratic Party (CADEM) and Activate America.

REACH OUT FOR A 1:1 CHAT!
The leadership team at IndiMarin numbers nearly 30 caring, engaged volunteers. We want nothing more than to be a resource, in all ways possible to our valued members. We all sometimes need some personal guidance in our activism from someone who “gets it.” That’s why IndiMarin has kicked off a new resource, “1:1 Check-in with an IndiMarin Leader.” We’d love to connect with more of you, one to one, to help you stay connected, active, and motivated!

Donate strategically, and early, to help Dems win in 2024!

  • Are you inundated by requests to “Chip In” to organizations and candidates?

  • Not sure where and how to invest your money strategically to help get out the vote in key states and districts?

  • Questioning which candidates are truly competitive and whether they actually need more donations? 

LET US HELP!

IndiMarin does the research and leg work to determine the most effective donation strategy and provides an ActBlue link that will split your donation (small or large) between a range of strategically impactful organizations and later on some candidates. A key focus for us is helping Dems win in the six most competitive CA districts so that we can take back the House!

In general, here are some guidelines for strategic political giving:

1. GIVE EARLY. Now is the time when organizations are hiring staff, getting office space, and planning the scope of their voter outreach.  

2. GIVE MONTHLY. Monthly donations allow organizations and candidates to plan their budgets.

3. GIVE TO VETTED GRASSROOTS GROUPS. These groups know their voters and are working in the swing states and districts that will make a difference.

5. GIVE ANY AMOUNT. No donation is too small. Organizations and candidates gain credibility with large donors by citing how many donors they have.

Currently, in this pre-primary period, we are recommending donations to our two key partners in our voter outreach work - Activate America and the California Democratic Party. Both organization do crucial work across the state of California to bring home wins in the six more competitive Congressional districts here. The road to winning back the House runs through California, so these two groups need our financial support and they need it early to build their organizations even further for the intensity of 2024. IndiMarin has been working with these groups for years and we are confident that every dollar will be used effectively. Your donation will be evenly split between them. DONATE AT THIS LINK AND PLEASE CONSIDER A MONTHLY ALLOCATION. (NOTE: This link will be updated as grassroots organizations develop their strategies and as the primary results narrow the candidate field.)

Thank you for giving as generously as your budget allows to help win back a Democratic trifecta in 2024!

We're grateful for YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving to our wonderful volunteers!

We, the leadership team at IndiMarin, express to each other on a continual basis how grateful we are to have found each other - a community of like-minded people, now friends, who help encourage each other to stay motivated to keep up the hard work of political advocacy and voter engagement to build a more just, caring, and inclusive America. 

This weekend, as we all give thanks for the many aspects of our lives for which we are grateful, we want to be sure to let you know how grateful we are for YOU, our dedicated volunteers. 

Knowing that there are nearly 4,000 people in the IndiMarin community who share the same values, and the same commitment to making our country and the world a better place for our children and grandchildren, helps keep us motivated each day. 

The movement that started following the election of Donald Trump, originally referred to as The Resistance, has continued to grow every year since 2017 and is now a mass movement of engaged citizens who believe that taking action to protect our democracy and our freedoms is a civic responsibility. For a movement to become a mass movement requires mass. And each and every one of you make our mass movement possible, by making the conscious decision to add yourself, your voice and your labor and to the collective effort. TOGETHER we have increasing power and impact for the greater good.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being part of the Indivisible Marin community, and part of the broader community of citizens committed to taking action. 

With love and gratitude,
~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Joy, Andie, Nanda, Betsy, Betty, and Laurie

💙 ✊ When we organize, we win!

Good morning to our fabulous family of action-takers!

The mantra one of the greatest organizers of all time, Heather Booth, is, "When we organize, with love at the center, we win." Last night's results were yet another resounding affirmation of her wise words!

Last night was a clean sweep of everything we wanted - and with relatively dominant margins. A few weeks ago, the early vote in VA was terrible grassroots volunteers like us stepped up to the call for increased GOTV phone calls and fundraising, and that made all the difference.

Other wins were the first black congressional representative from Rhode Island, the first black LGTBQ mayor in Philadelphia, a runoff between 2 Dems in Houston, and the first openly transgender state senator in VA and the first out transgender person elected to a state Senate anywhere in the South.

Below are a round up of quotes from news outlets and two of our favorite political commentators. Read on and celebrate the sweetness of this victory, and give yourself a much-deserved pat on the back for any and all actions you took to help these victories become reality.

There is SO much work that lies ahead over the next year, but enjoy today! You've earned it!

With great appreciation,
The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Laurie, Betty, Betsy, Nanda, Joy, and Andie


Key Quotes:

Axios - "Last night's off-year elections proved the post-Roe staying power of abortion rights to bolster Democrats — even in the red states of Ohio and Kentucky, and in Virginia under Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Abortion rights have won every time they've been on the ballot since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The Virginia GOP's failure is a blow for Republicans hoping to prove that what they believe to be a middle ground on abortion will win over voters."

Politico - The results on Tuesday — taken together with a string of special elections throughout the year that showed Democratic candidates outperforming Biden’s vote shares in districts across the country — serve as a powerful counterpoint to the party’s doom-and-gloom over the president’s poll numbers. Democrats’ victories won’t make those polls go away, but they should prompt a rethinking of the current political moment, with a year to go until the next general election.

Simon Rosenberg - Another Big Night - 2023 Has Been A Very Good Year for Democrats
"November 2023 was another remarkable election for Democrats. We’ve been on an extraordinary run since the spring of 2022, and as we all hoped last night saw that strong performance continue across the US. We may end up calling it a blue wave when it is all said and done, as there is lots of evidence of Democratic success down ballot all over the country, including, wonderfully, in school board races against extremist MAGA school board members.

We will have time to dig into the data in the coming days but what is sticking with me most this morning is how much our success is coming from the bottom up, the “Democratic grassroots” (we need a better term - I prefer proud patriots), regular people who’ve decided they are going to do everything they can to ensure that our freedoms and democracy don’t slip away. Over these last few months hundreds of thousands of every day Americans ran for school board, donated, texted, called, postcarded, canvassed, info warriored/spread Hopium, and many many more voted. All of you made this election happen, made our success in elections throughout 2023 happen, made our success in 2022 happen - all of you are doing the work, getting it done, and we are winning, for our country, for democracies and freedom everywhere, for our kids and our grandkids. In a time of enormous challenge for our country, Americans of every stripe are standing up, answering the call and fighting hard. And we are winning my friends, we are winning and I am so proud to be in this fight with all of you."


Robert Hubbell - Turning the Tide of History
"I have begun writing on Tuesday evening before we know the results of several major elections. But this much is clear: The work by grassroots volunteers across the nation has ensured that Democrats can claim victory on Tuesday—the only question is how broad and deep that victory will be. Indications are good, but we must await the result in races that may be decided by a few hundred or thousands of votes.

As we wait, every volunteer and donor who helped make this outcome possible should take a moment to reflect on their part in helping to turn the tide of history. It is often difficult to know “in the moment” what events will matter in the long run. But we know tonight that the collective victories on Tuesday will matter. Together with victories in 2018, 2020, and 2022, Democrats are turning the tide against reactionary forces making a last stand against the march of America toward a more tolerant, just, and progressive nation.

Progress toward a more perfect union is neither inevitable nor easy. It is purchased through the dedication and hard work of millions of Americans who are willing to step outside themselves, to look beyond their self-interest, to be “prophets of a future not their own.” It requires sacrifice, selflessness, vision, courage, and stubborn optimism.

We shape the future by the accretion of small acts of resistance and faith. Postcards. Calls. Texts. Knocks. Yard signs. Registrations. Small donations. Big donations. Zooms. Backyard gatherings. Protests. Letters. Kitchen table conversations. Curing ballots. Litigating. Not being afraid to be seen and heard as a proud Democrat.

To everyone who participated in any way in the victories of Tuesday evening, thank you. As a father and grandfather, thank you. As a husband heading into retirement with his wife, thank you. As a citizen who cares deeply about what our generation will leave to the next, thank you.

Take a deep breath, pat yourself on the back, and reflect for a moment on how you are helping to turn the tide of history."

💙 ✊ 💙 ✊ 💙 ✊ 💙









November 1, 2023

One of our primary national electoral advisors, Simon Rosenberg, is still sounding the alarm re Virginia saying, "In terms of the early vote, we are not where we need to be."

And why does Virginia matter so much with all we are worried about and dealing with right now? It matters immensely because it is a bellwether battlefront in the GOP's relentless pursuit of outlawing reproductive freedom. The governor in VA, if the GOP wins enough legislative seats on November 7, has promised to enact an abortion ban. It will set the stage for the GOP to push for a federal ban in 2024. In the map below, you can see that if VA becomes a state where women can not get an abortion, the entire Southern region of our country will have been taken over by this extremist agenda that is not supported by the vast majority of the American people. Simon's interview on MSNBC with Joy Reid is worth a listen.

Simon's ask, which we echo, is to please consider one or both of these ways to help:

1) MAKE CALLS TO VA VOTERS with Sister District - Shifts taking place every day at multiple times.
2) DONATE WITH ONE CLICK to a roster of six VA candidates that Simon has endorsed.

Keep in mind, we cannot control the polls which always include a margin of error. We CAN control our margin of effort! And that will make all the difference! Let's do this!

Thank you for your commitment to action to protect our democracy and our freedoms.

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betty, Andie, Laurie, Joy, Nanda, Betsy, and Susan

It's time to JUMPSTART '24! Please get involved NOW to help Dems win in November

We hope you will join us as we jumpstart our efforts for 2024! Yet again, it is the most important election of our lifetimes. The goal is another trifecta, but this time with sizable enough majorities in both chambers to pass crucial progressive legislation! With the anticipation of very close races up and down the ticket, early voter outreach work is more important than ever!

We have an important opportunity for impact in California which is one of the two most pivotal states in the country in the imperative task of winning back the House. Work in CA must begin early and we must work harder, smarter and more inclusively than ever before! Wherever you live, you can have impact by working to flip House seats in CA!

We recently hosted our Fall kickoff meeting, JUMPSTART ‘24, where we introduced a range of ways to get involved in the early work needed to secure the goal for 2024. If you missed the meeting, we encourage you to watch the recording or scan through the slides and then go to the Take Action section of our website, select some actions that resonate for you and sign up to get rolling! If you were at the meeting, THANK YOU for coming and please visit the Take Action pages of our website to get started making a difference!

With the anticipation of very close races up and down the ticket, early voter outreach work is more important than ever! Please visit the following links to sign up for IMMEDIATE opportunities for impact:

Phone voters - Sign up for phonebanks with our new partners, Bay Area Coalition and CADEM: All phonebanks include training for newbies and volunteers are reporting having very positive conversations with voters. If you are new to phonebanking and would like some 1:1 coaching with an IndiMarin mentor, sign up here.

Register voters - Sign up for our Field Trip to UCMerced on October 3-4. A group of us already registered students in Modesto a couple of weeks ago and had a GREAT experience. The students were friendly and receptive and we, together with other allied groups registered nearly 200 students in CA-13, a congressional district that Dems lost by just under 600 votes in 2022. We can have major impact with this upcoming Field Trip, and fun too! Click here for more details and to sign up!

Write voters - Sign up to write postcards for Ohio's 11/7/23 Special Election on Abortion Rights. We have a range of options to either write on your home from the comfort of your home, or join an outdoor in-person gathering to write together with fellow volunteers!

Plus One - Recruit a Friend - We’re hoping all of you will take this action in addition to doing voter outreach work!  By doubling our numbers, we will double our impact.

We’re excited to get rolling with you all to help bring about a trifecta in 2024 to protect our democracy and our freedoms!



Opportunities to stay cool while helping Dems prep for 2024 elections

Hello wonderful IndiMarin volunteers!

As you know, IndiMarin has decided to take a semi-hiatus this summer to restore and rejuvenate in advance of the intense year ahead of the 2024 elections -  we're calling it "IndiMarin Lite." If that is working well for you, we encourage you to follow your instincts on what is right for you.

However, we're hearing from some members that staying somewhat active in our ongoing work is of interest and we want to support that attitude and desire! Plus, with a very hot weekend ahead, it may be a good chance to chill indoors and jump onto some impactful zooms! ☀️🥵

Impressively, the California Democratic Party (CADEM) if off to a very early start with some great phone banks and text banks designed to have conversations with voters in key districts about issues and listen as much as talk. IndiMarin team leaders have tested out both the phone and textbanks and have had a very positive experience engaging with voters. The Central Valley includes two of the most flippable districts in the state - CA-13 and CA 22 - and voter outreach there is a great way to have early impact!

Call Voters in CA-13 - These virtual phone banks will inform Valley voters about the issues and encourage them to get involved. Whether it’s your first time making calls or you’re a veteran phone banker, you can help! You will need a computer/laptop and your phone to make the calls. Training is provided. Sign up here. For additional phonebanks in other CA districts and a range of time offerings, visit our Phone Voters page.

Text Voters in CA District 22 - Join volunteers from around the South Central Valley to text young voters ages 18-30 about the issues that matter to them. Training is provided. Sign up here.

We also have some IndiMarin events planned throughout the summer to keep our community connected and active! 

WRITING TOGETHER: We are excited to host summer outdoor postcarding in person events - we would love to have you join us!

  • “Write to Win” group postcarding at Panera Bread in Novato - Every other Tuesday at 10 AM. RSVP HERE. 

  • “Wine & Sign Postcarding” in Lucas Valley - 7/20 and 8/17 at 5:30 PM - RSVP HERE.

WRITING ON YOUR OWN: The Ohio Republican legislature has placed an issue on the ballot to increase the threshold for passing ballot measures from 50% to an extremely daunting 60%. The impetus: They are hoping to kill a November ballot measure protecting abortion rights that is supported by the majority of Ohio voters. Like other state votes on abortion, this race will be closely followed and covered by the media as a sign to watch in advance of the 2024 elections!

FROM JULY 10 - JULY 27TH WE ARE OFFERING AN ONLINE GOTV CAMPAIGN TO OHIO IN ADVANCE OF THEIR SPECIAL ELECTION ON AUGUST 8TH. WE ARE WRITING TO DEMOCRATS WHO ARE LIKELY TO SUPPORT ABORTION RIGHTS. THE DEADLINE TO MAIL THESE CARDS IS JULY 27TH.  PLEASE REQUEST ADDRESSES HERE. 

NOTE: We will continue to offer voter registration postcarding throughout July. Our July in person postcarding events will feature the Ohio campaign.

MORE SUMMER EVENTS:

  • Monthly Zoom Happy Hours the first Thursday of the month at 5 PM PT  - If you just want to check in and talk politics, please join us at our monthly Zoom Happy Hours. Hear the latest news and share movie recommendations. RSVP HERE.

  •  And finally, SAVE THE DATE for our 2024 Kick Off where we will launch our 2024 programs - September 6 at 5 PM: RSVP HERE.

As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions! Have a wonderful summer! 

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Susan, Laurie, Joy, Betsy, Amy, Nanda, Betty and Andie

Phonebank to prevent the MAGA dafault!

Kevin McCarthy has allowed MAGA-Republicans like Matt Gaetz to take over the Republican party and control vital pieces of their platform and agenda. Now, we are facing the threat of defaulting on our debts for the first time in American history due to those same extremists holding our economy hostage.

Join Indivisible National for a phonebank into Unrepresentative districts this Wednesday, May 17 at 1pm ET/10 am PT.  The Unrepresentatives are the 18 Republican Members of Congress who represent districts that Biden won in 2020. They are uniquely vulnerable to persuasion from their constituents because they know that their re-election campaigns will sit on a razor’s edge of possibility.

This is where you come in! Time is tight, and we need everyone to take action in order to prevent a default that would hurt our seniors, our schools, our veterans, and our economy.

At this phonebank, you will be calling into Unrepresentative districts to talk to voters about how MAGA Republicans are trying to slash over 100,000 K-12 teachers’ jobs and cut healthcare for seniors and disabled children. At the end, we’ll connect them directly through to their Reps and encourage them to speak up to the people elected to represent them. We need to make sure that the voters in those districts are activated and loud, so their representatives know exactly what is going to happen if they choose to allow a default -- they will be voted out. 

We hope you will join Indivisible National this Wednesday May 17 at 1pm ET/10am PT for this phonebank into Unrepresentative districts.

And we'd love to hear from you afterwards about how it went. Please drop us a line at info@indivisiblemarin.org. 

Thanks for all you do for our country and our democracy!

~ The IndiMarin Phone Team - Amy, Betty, Susan, David, Jane M, Neal, Angela, Laurie, Betsy, Jane B, Anne, and Giselle

Hello CA Volunteers!

We are pleased to announce that IndiMarin is hosting our new Assemblymember, Damon Connolly, in a "Virtual Conversation" this Thursday, May 18 from 5 - 6 PM. SIGN UP HERE!

California, as it often has, will likely lead the nation in addressing challenges such as climate change, affordable housing, mass transit, and public education. Join us in conversation with Assemblymember Connolly to hear how he defines and plans to address these crucial issues of our time.

Connolly has served as a school board member, city council member, county supervisor, and now state assembly member. In the past, he applied state laws at the local level to solve problems, and he’s seen what works for the people and what doesn’t. Now he has the opportunity to shape the laws that shape the lives of Californians.

In fact, Assemblymember Connolly is already making a big impact in opposing a terrible bill which would regionalize California's electric grid and tie our climate agenda to that of neighboring coal-dependent states like coal-burning states like Wyoming, Utah and Montana. Read this Marin IJ op-ed by IndiMarin founder Susan Morgan to learn more. 

Please come to hear from Damon Connolly and to ask your questions. SIGN UP HERE!

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Amy, Betsy, Betty, Joy, Andie, Nanda, Laurie and Susan

A bright line has been crossed - Stand with the Tennessee representatives!

This week has brought us many sweet victories. But it ends with a 5 alarm fire for our democracy. We must rise up and respond.

Yesterday, at a State House in America, two duly elected Representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson who are both Black men, were expelled by the Republican majority for exercising their right to free speech in joining protests, along with their constituents, advocating for gun reform laws. This unprecedented action left 130,000 citizens in Tennessee without representation. A third representative, Gloria Johnson, who is a white woman and also joined protests, was not expelled.

For context, it is important to recall that in 2016, dozens of Members of the U.S Congress, led by Congressman John Lewis, staged a sit-in on the House floor in protest of the GOP leadership’s refusal to allow a vote on a gun control measure following the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Both Justin Jones and Justin Pearson plan to re-run for their seats immediately. Senator Chris Murphy has created a fundraising page that will split the money raised evenly between the two. Any small amount will send a signal that we stand by the Justins and upholding our democratic norms. DONATE HERE.

Also, please take two minutes to watch Representative Jones' passionate remarks following his expulsion.

Yesterday's events underscore the urgency and relentlessness of our fight. In the words of the late great Congressman Lewis," Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”