Montgomery County Democracy for America

If you participated in the Women’s March in Philadelphia or DC or merely watched the thousands and thousands who came out in cities across America to raise awareness not only of women’s rights but of the pending attack on our fundamental rights, you know that there is a growing movement to organize against the disastrous policies of the Trump presidency.  Do you want to be part of the Movement? Do you want to join with other groups in opposing the Trump/Republican agenda?

Join us on February 2 to discuss our response and begin organizing.

Ken

Ken Mirsky
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

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* AGENDA *

1.    Report on the Women’s March
2.    Report on Happy Hour Power Up – a progressive millenial group
3.    Discussion of proposals for action including “Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda’ – https://www.indivisibleguide.com/download-the-guide
4.    Discussion of grassroots organizing and role of DNC

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* WHAT * WHEN * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s February meeting
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017
7:30 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

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Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

On January 5th, TODD EAGEN, the first announced Democratic candidate for a seat on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, will speak to us about his campaign and the importance of electing Democrats to the Court. Mr. Eagen is an attorney in Scranton who specializes in representing unions and working men and women across Pennsylvania.

Next, there will be a presentation concerning the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (Obamacare), the benefits the Act provides and the impact repeal will have on millions of Americans.  Resistance rallies are slated for Sunday Jan 15 called “OUR FIRST STAND: Save Health Care.” These rallies are being organized by Sanders, Pelosi and Schumer who are encouraging their colleagues to join in. Your can read their letter at: https://berniesanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/161222-Dear-Colleague-Health-Care-SIGNED.pdf

Join us on January 5 to discuss our involvement in the rallies and to begin organizing against Trump.

Ken

Ken Mirsky
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

 

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* WHAT * WHEN * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s January meeting
Thursday, January 5, 2017
7:30 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

………………………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

MontcoDFA is joining with Public Citizen, MoveOn and other groups to pressure Senator Toomey to publicly tell Trump to sell his business and put his assets in a blind trust.

During the campaign, Pat Toomey advertised himself as an independent Republican willing to stand up to his party. Let’s put him to the test and see where he stands on Trump and his conflict of interests. We’ll tell Toomey’s staff that he needs to publicly declare that Trump should fully divest himself of all business interests.

We’ll make a fuss at Toomey’s Center City district office at 1628 JFK Blvd (17th & JFK) from noon to about 1 pm. We’ll hand out flyers to passersby and get cars to honk if they want Trump to Sell It All. This action is part of a series of events around the country organized by Public Citizen on the day that Trump is due to disclose how he’ll separate himself from his businesses (as if).

MontcoDFA members and other interested people are encouraged to attend the protest.

Ken

Ken Mirsky
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

.

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* JOIN US *

Our progressive values are under attack. Social Security and Medicare are in danger. The struggle for the environment, social justice, voting rights and increasing the minimum wage are all being challenged. We need to fight back. We need to organize. We need to take action.

Montco DFA’s  national organization, Democracy for America,  states it well:

“We have a lot of work ahead of us to delegitimize, obstruct, and stop Donald Trump from moving forward on his agenda, regardless of the issue.”

“It is time to begin a mass mobilization of the American people to oppose Donald Trump and his hateful, destructive agenda.”

There are many progressive issues that need to be defended. Help us decide. Will you join the movement?

Join us on December 1 to begin our fight against the Trump agenda.

In the meantime, there is one undecided Senate race. Louisiana votes on Dec 10 in a runoff election. If you want to support the Democrat in the race go to http://www.fostercampbell2016.com/donate/

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* WHAT *   * WHEN *   * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s December meeting
Thursday, December 1, 2016
7:30 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

Working on the big picture together,
Mary, Ken, and Bev

Steering Committee, Montco DFA

…………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

The most bizarre — and consequential — presidential campaign in living memory is finally nearing it’s end, and the final push is ON to help HILLARY defeat He Who Shall Not Be Named. And right alongside it, is the crucial US Senate race to replace the extremist former Wall St. trader and head of the rightwing Club for Growth, Republican Pat Toomey, with an environmental and reproductive justice champion, Democrat  KATIE McGINTY. Down-ballot, ALL the Democratic candidates from US Congress to our state legislature can make an enormous difference in the direction of our state and country.

It’s crucial that we all get out and work to get Democrats elected, up and down the ballot. So Montco DFA is CANCELLING our Nov. 3 meeting  so we can all maximize our time and effectiveness for volunteering.

HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

• CANVASSING is far and away THE most effective way to mobilize voters

• PHONING is THE most effective way to mobilize voters who cannot be reached by door-knocking, such as in apartment buildings with locked outside doors.

• Dropping off snacks, bottled water, and/or food is also helpful and much appreciated.

• (Want to drive voters who need a ride to the polls? This is being organized separately from the GOTV. Call 878-777-3861.)

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* The Best Way to Sign Up to Volunteer in Montco *
The  Hillary Coordinated Campaign in Montgomery County says that the best way to sign up to volunteer from here to the finish line is:

1. Choose the 3-hour shift(s) that you want to volunteer for:
• Today through Monday, Nov. 7 — shifts start at 9:00am, 12:00 noon, 3:00 pm, and  6:00 pm
• ELECTION DAY, Nov. 8 — shifts start at 8:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 5:00 pm

2. Decide what action(s) you want to do:
Canvassing and/or Phoning and/or Donate food/bottled water.

3. Call or email to sign up:
• Kristen Johnson — Kjohnson@PAvictory.com, or 910-257-1873
• Nathanial Lewis — Nlewis@PAvictory.com or 330-622-1634

4. Kristen or Nathanial will let you know where to be! There are many offices and staging areas being set up to maximize all our efforts.

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Montco DFA’s NOVEMBER meeting
Thursday, May 3, 2016
is CANCELLED so we can all go VOLUNTEER!
See you all on December 1st!
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Let’s make this HAPPEN!
Mary

Mary Clark
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

…………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

From the start, Montco DFA has been about restoring citizen ownership of our democracy through bottom-up grassroots activism. Well, no time like the present!

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* PEOPLE POWER NIGHT *
Join our October 6th meeting for a fun evening working together in support of two of our 2016 endorsees. We’re taking on some nitty-gritty campaign tasks that are as basic to campaigns as the volunteering workhorses of phone banking and door knocking.

For AL DERMOVSESIAN‘s campaign for PA Rep in the 152nd we’ve taken on prepping one of his mailings so it’s ready to go out on schedule. Al Dermo’s opponent is getting worried enough that he actually started door knocking for the first time since he took his seat ten years ago. Al Dermo has him on the run — let’s help put his campaign over the top!

For MARY ELLEN BALCHUNIS’ campaign for US Congress in the 7th District, we’ll be assembling lawn signs, so they’re ready to be distributed to supporters to build name recognition and support in her district. Mary Ellen ran two years ago and established a solid foundation for this year’s run. And it’s paying off: her race is gaining real ground. Let’s add a little more wind under her wings! (Tip for volunteers: The sign wickets give off black dust, so wear old clothes, and bring gloves if you have some.)

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* WHAT * WHEN * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s October meeting
Thursday, October 6, 2016
7:30 pm to 9 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

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* AND MORE… *
CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS in Montgomery County before the registration deadline of October 11. Go online to:
https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/voterregistrationstatus.aspx

VOLUNTEER AT MONTCO’s COORDINATED CAMPAIGN OFFICES
Be part of the big push to November 8! Volunteer and help EVERY candidate on the ticket by working through the Montco Coordinated Campaign Offices:

LANSDALE Coordinated Campaign Office
14 East 6th Street, Lansdale
Contact: Alexa Williams at 703-965-7375 or alwilliams@PAvictory2016.org

NORRISTOWN Coordinated Campaign Office
9 South Forrest Ave., Norristown
Contact: Marlou Taenzer at 603-727-8622 or mtaenzer@PAvictory2016.org

ELKINS PARK Coordinated Campaign Office & EASTERN MONTCO HQ
170 Yorktown Plaza, Elkins Park
Contact: Dean Anthony at 678-646-7097 or danthony@PAvictory2016.org
Abington  Evelyn Williamson — ewilliamson@pavictory2016.org
Abington    Melissa Edberg— medberg@pavictory2016.org
Ambler    Rachel Pollak— rpollak@pavictory2016.org
Cheltenham    Nathaniel Lewis— nlewis@pavictory2016.org
Cheltenham    Kristen Johnson— Kjohnson@pavictory2016.org
Horsham    Riju Das— rdas@pavictory2016.org
Springfield    Kara Gooley— kgooley@pavictory2016.org
Upper Morland    Max Kramer— mkramer@pavictory2016.org
Whitpain/Lower Gynedd    Carla Pierre— cpierre@pavictory2016.org

Come on out — let’s make some history together!
Mary

Mary Clark
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

…………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

Copyright © 2016 Montco DFA, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Montco DFA
PO Box 7102
Elkins Park, PA 19027

Our already-momentous 2016 election cycle is about to ramp up — big time. On September 1st, join us in getting a handle on opportunities for using our grassroots activism to best advantage.

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* Feeling the Bern… the Struggle Continues *
Did you see Bernie’s August 24 roll out of his new independent progressive organization OurRevolution.com? Share your sense of the launch, the goals, the potential in the short and long term for impacting elections, issues, and public policy.

As Bill McKibben said about the presidential, “Our job is not to elect a savior. Our job is to elect someone we can effectively pressure.” [NOTE: MLK’s movement for voting rights would not have succeeded that same way if Goldwater was president rather than LBJ.]  Our Revolution will be part of that pressure, especially if we achieve a more progressive Democratic-controlled Senate and a wave of down-ballot progressives, through issue campaigns on the TPP, etc.(!), and through citizen actions on critical issues. Montco DFA, DFA national, and many progressive organizations share that mission. (Interested in some How To’s? Check out DFA’s Political Revolution Night School online learning.)

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* Eastern Montco Coordinated Campaign Offices *
To maximize the effectiveness of our Democratic candidates’ volunteers and voter mobilization efforts across Montgomery County, the Clinton campaign is opening a growing number of field offices under 3 Montco Regional HQs. (See a partial list of offices and organizers below.)

DEAN ANTHONY, the Regional Field Organizer for Eastern Montco for the Clinton campaign, will come fill us in on their big voter registration push that’s already under way, and how they see crucial grassroots volunteer efforts unfolding for Democrats from top to bottom through Nov. 8.

MONTCO DFA ENDORSEES who are already working with the coordinated offices include:
Statewide — Katie McGinty for US Senate, Josh Shapiro for Attorney General, and Joe Torsella for PA Treasurer.

PA House — PA Rep Steve McCarter‘s District, PA 154, which has a long tradition of running its own combined campaign office, is also joining forces with Clinton’s Eastern Montco Coordinated Office this year. Joe Ciresi for PA Rep in the 146th and Rachel Hendricks in the 147th are working alongside the Clinton campaign already, and are looking toward a local office to open near them. Leon Angelichio in the 53rd helped open the Lansdale Coordinated Office.

It’s all gotta happen! The more progressives in elected office, the better odds we have of adding our grassroots pressure to their efforts.

My best advice? Volunteer and/or donate (large or small) for voter reg and the candidates that “call your name” the loudest — it’ll make you happiest for keeping up your own efforts through November 8.

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* WHAT *   * WHEN *   * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s September Meeting
Thursday, September 1, 2016
7:30 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

Gearing up for a BUSY fall,
Mary

Mary Clark
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

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* MONTCO COORDINATED OFFICES *
As of 08/26/16:

LANSDALE Coordinated Campaign Office
14 East 6th Street, Lansdale
Contact: Alexa Williams at 703-965-7375 or alwilliams@PAvictory2016.org

NORRISTOWN Coordinated Campaign Office
9 South Forrest Ave., Norristown
Contact: Marlou Taenzer at 603-727-8622 or mtaenzer@PAvictory2016.org

ELKINS PARK Coordinated Campaign Office & Eastern Montco HQ
170 Yorktown Plaza, Elkins Park
Contact: Dean Anthony at 678-646-7097 or danthony@PAvictory2016.org

Abington    Evelyn Williamson — ewilliamson@pavictory2016.org
Abington    Melissa Edberg— medberg@pavictory2016.org
Ambler    Rachel Pollak— rpollak@pavictory2016.org
Cheltenham    Nathaniel Lewis— nlewis@pavictory2016.org
Cheltenham    Kristen Johnson— Kjohnson@pavictory2016.org
Horsham    Riju Das— rdas@pavictory2016.org
Springfield    Kara Gooley— kgooley@pavictory2016.org
Upper Morland    Max Kramer— mkramer@pavictory2016.org
Whitpain/Lower Gynedd    Carla Pierre— cpierre@pavictory2016.org

…………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

Please join Montco DFA in a phone bank for
 ………………………………………………..
* JOE CIRESI *
Candidate for PA House #146
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Joe has served as a Director of the Spring-Ford School District for ten years  and was elected its vice-president and president. Find out more about Joe at http://ciresiforpa.com/

Joe is needed to flip our PA House to a Democratic majority
to help Gov. Wolf produce progressive gains.

WHEN:
Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at 7 pm

WHERE:
At the home of Mary Clark in Elkins Park
We will email specific directions to all who RSVP “Yes”.

Please bring your cell phone and charger. We’ll supply dinner.

RSVP:
Kindly RSVP so that we can prepare materials and food accordingly.
Email:  mary.montcodfa@gmail.com
or
Call Mary @ (215) 756-2664

Phone bank not an option for you? How about helping Joe with a donation?
http://ciresiforpa.com/contribute/

We need Joe in Harrisburg working for us. Let’s get him elected!

*

Produced and paid for by volunteers

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Join us at Montco DFA’s
Post-Convention
* POT-LUCK ICE CREAM SOCIAL! *

BRING A PINT
of your favorite cold dessert to share
~~~  along with your reflections and opinions  ~~~

and join us to celebrate (and/or criticize) the historic, mind-boggling event
that was the 2016 Democratic Convention!

(We’ll provide the spoons and napkins!)
*

On August 4th, we’re throwing a summery, pot-luck Ice Cream Social where we can share our reactions to the Dem Convention, how it has impacted our sense of where this election cycle is headed, and most importantly, what we progressive activists can DO to get the best results, both in November and beyond.

So come share some cold dessert, along with your stories, your hopes, your personal action plans, and brainstorms for how to use our MDfA meetings from here to election day!

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* WHAT *   * WHEN *   * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s May meeting
Thursday, August 4, 2016
7:30 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

Eyes on the prize (and tomorrow, on the ice cream)!
Mary

Mary Clark
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

…………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm

“THIS IS A LANDMARK BOOK.
[It] puts a name on…a powerful method for making real change fast.
And real change fast is in fact what our world requires.”
— Bill McKibben, author, co-founder of 350.org,
and Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic Platform Drafting Committee

Meet co-author Mark Engler
on Thursday, July 7th
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Elections and public policy never happen in a vacuum.

LBJ didn’t sign the Voting Rights Act out of the goodness of his heart (though that probably helped) — the nonviolent uprising by Martin Luther King Jr. and millions of Americans built the context that forced his hand. The British certainly didn’t leave India because they believed in democracy — Ghandi and the Indians’ strategic nonviolent non-cooperation turned the tide, and made Britain withdraw.

People with few resources and little conventional influence are making transformational progressive change more and more often, through creative, strategic nonviolent civil resistance. Think Ghandi and MLK, Serbia, the Arab Spring, Occupy, the AIDS struggle, Marriage Equality, the KXL Pipeline, Black Lives Matter, and so much more. Think also about the nonviolent power of 2016’s activated, progressive, small-donor voters, and the massive increase in understanding and influence that WE have gained through Bernie Sanders’ inspired efforts.

This new book gives us powerful, fresh insights about “How.” It does it with compelling analysis and stories of mass movements, told with excitement and hope, like few have told them before:

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* THIS IS AN UPRISING: *
How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the 21st Century
by Mark Engler and Paul Engler
Published by The Nation Books, February 9, 2016

Join us for this special chance to meet in person with co-author Mark Engler for a presentation and discussion of this acclaimed new book.

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* WHAT *   * WHEN *   * WHERE *
Montco DFA’s May meeting
Thursday, July 7, 2016
7:30 pm
Jenkintown Library    (Park and enter at rear.)
460 York Road    (across from IHOP)
Jenkintown, PA 19046

We can learn How to better harness our People Power together, with the optimism and resilience it takes. Indeed, we must.

Mary

Mary Clark
Acting Chair, Montco DFA

…………………………………..
Paid for by Montco DFA, Ken Mirsky, Treasurer
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 pm