“We must be more than an audience…
We must be the authors of the history of our age.”

 – Madeleine Albright

Indivisible-RISE Actions and Events

 Fundraiser Fun

Join us on Friday, May 13th at 7:00pm for an I-RISE fundraiser and enjoy desserts, drinks, conversation and laughs. We’ll be gathering indoors and outside at a home in Newburyport, and we’re excited to get together again!

Your donation of $25 (or more!) to attend the fundraiser will be used to help I-RISE keep operating and working hard to make a difference in the upcoming midterm elections. We use these funds judiciously to pay for things like space rental, a Zoom subscription, and postcard stock. It also will be allocated toward donations to non-profit organizations dedicated to voter protection like Common Cause and the New Georgia Project. Indivisible National will match up to $500 in donations, a generous contribution that will go a long way.

Please put this event on your calendar and click here to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you!

If you are not available for the fundraiser, the matching period runs through May 31st, and we’d appreciate all donations!

Spotlight on Battleground States (Part 2)

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, May 17, 2022

7-8 pm. Register here.

Join us at our May meeting to hear in-depth insights about the key issues and races in two more of the battleground states where we are focusing much of our effort this year:  

• Georgia: Martha Shockey, one of the leaders of the Indivisible Georgia Coalition, will speak in depth about what’s happening there. What will it take to reelect Senator Reverend Rafael Warnock? How can we help elect Stacey Abrams as Governor? Martha will explain what’s needed.

• Wisconsin: Viola Niyizigama, Organizing Director for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, will give us the lowdown about Wisconsin where we need oust Senator Ron Johnson and elect another Democratic Governor now that the current governor is term-limited. Let’s find out how we can make a difference in this state.

Register to join us on Zoom and hear these informative reports.

Ask a Friend to Write Postcards With You!

We’re writing postcards two ways: At Action Hour every Friday at 4-5 pm, and through our Postcards-to-Go program. Please write with us one or both ways and invite a friend to join the team with you.

Action Hour is every Friday at 4-5 pm at the Congregational Church on Titcomb Street. Packets of 10 postcards with addresses, scripts and postage for $5 a packet (covering the cost of stamps).

With Postcards-to-Go, you pick up a packet of 50 postcards, we’ll email addresses and scripts as you need them, and you provide postage. To learn more and join our Postcards-to-Go team, please email us at indivisible.rise.newburyport@gmail.com.

If you have been writing with our Postcards-to-Go team, we’d love to also have you join us at Action Hour for the camaraderie. Packets of 50 cards will be available during action hour in addition to the regular pick up option. 

 Phone Banking is Fun - Really, it is!

There are lots of reasons why people don’t phone bank. Lots of understandable reasons. Phone banking, though, is not one size fits all. Whatever you dislike or worry about with phone banking, there are options to alleviate those concerns. Maybe you…

• Don’t like that so few people pick up your call. There are phone banks that allow voice mail messages, so you’ll feel productive even when people do not answer. There also are dialing systems that only connect you to actual people.
• Don’t want to use your own phone number to make calls. There are ways to block your number or get a separate number just for phone banking (at no charge). There also are ways to call through your computer using a number local to the area that you are calling.
• Are concerned that people will be nasty. There are phone banks that only call people who previously volunteered for Democrats or democratic causes. These are friends!
• Think you will not know enough to answer questions. Many phone banks are not candidate specific. For example, there are voter registration phone banks that provide all the information you need about dates, deadlines, and helplines for voters who need more information. 

The list of concerns and ways to address them goes on. Phone calls are proven to be productive and helpful. We hope you will join one of our phone banks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Just click on your preferred day for more information and to register. Email us at indivisible.newburyport.rise@gmail.com if you have questions, would like to train individually, or want to learn about more phone banking options.  

Texting Hour

 Thursdays 3:00-4:00 pm. Register 

Come join us to train to send political texts, refresh your skills if you haven’t texted in a while, raise questions, seek pointers, or just share friendly conversation and some laughs. We partner with Indivisible Acton Area to host these weekly gatherings, with interesting campaigns through Movement Labs. We’ve been texting people in critical states to register voters, encourage people to run for local office, increase awareness and enthusiasm for upcoming elections, get out the vote for primaries, and more. Register here to join us on Thursdays at 3-4 pm.
 

Knock on Doors in NH  

Living so close to the swing state of New Hampshire offers us a unique opportunity to make a real difference in a swing state. Talking to people in person is the most effective way to encourage them to vote. To help keep Maggie Hassan in the Senate and Chris Pappas in the house, we plan to join forces with Win Blue NH to canvass in NH. 

Win Blue NH is canvassing every other Saturday 10 am -1 pm to identify supporters, move the needle toward Democratic candidates and clean up voter rolls. Canvassing is in Manchester on May 7 and May 21. Email indivisible.rise.newburyport@gmail.com if you’re interested in carpooling and canvassing in pairs, or click here to register directly with Swing Blue Alliance. 

You can learn more about how we can help beat Republicans in NH in this year’s elections at the Win Blue NH monthly meeting on Monday, May 2 at 7-8 pm. Register here for the Zoom link.
 

 Thanks to Our Inspiring Speakers

At our April meeting, we heard from several I-RISE activists about what motivates them and keeps them going, and how they turn their passion into action. Their inspiring words helped us all reenergize and reengage, which is perfect timing with campaign season underway and heating up!

We learned that some activists are motivated by hope and love, and some by anger. Some act out of emotions, and some are fact-based and data driven. Some are lifelong activists, and some became active as a result of the 2016 election. Whatever the "why and how", let's all stay motivated and active! As a couple of our speakers said, "If not you, then who?"

Please sign up here to volunteer with I-RISE. Choose among numerous options and devote as much or as little time as you prefer! Every bit makes a difference! 
 

• Bookmark our Event Calendar for events sponsored by Indivisible-RISE and allied organizations.
• Find us on Facebook  and visit our website.