"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage." — Dale Carnegie
After the Storm Action
As we clean up our yards and share our gratitude for Jacksonville's escape from the worst of the storm, we are mindful of all the individuals and communities devastated by Hurricane Ian. If you're looking for ways to help, take the time to write our representatives in DC to urge their full support for disaster relief to Florida and other affected states & territories. And write or call our reps in Tallahassee to urge thorough and realistic answers to the state's deepening property insurance crisis. As you write them and haul trash with neighbors you rarely agree with, Heather Cox Richardson makes excellent points you may want to use about how the storm and its aftermath shows what's at stake in this election: two dramatically different views of government's function. A strong reminder of why we need to win. If you want to donate to storm relief, consider:
The Florida Disaster Fund is a state sponsored program funding immediate response & recovery efforts by distributing money across Florida-based service organizations.
Metropolitan Ministries is partnering with World Central Kitchen to distribute 25,000 meals a day from the Metropolitan Ministries kitchen in Tampa Bay.
The American Red Cross is often first on the ground with a range of relief services. The link above is to their Hurricane Ian fund.
Countdown to Critical Midterms
We have just 4 weeks until the start of early voting, barely 6 weeks until November 8, Election Day. Many races in Florida and across the country are too close to call. But, as Michael Moore explains in this encouraging video, we have many good reasons to be optimistic as long as we do our part.
Click here to confirm your voter registration & be sure you know your polling place. (Some changed with redistricting.)
Look through the activities listed below & find at least one you can do this week.
Contact at least 5 progressive friends and share these ways to push this election toward a critical victory for sane policies, safe elections, and fairness for all.
Monday, 10/3 @ 5-7 PM - Meet US House Candidate L.J Holloway
LaShonda “L.J.” Holloway is a fourth-generation Floridian with a wealth of Federal experience. She is courageous, competent, pro-choice, and running for Congressional Seat #4. As Beaches residents, we can't vote for LJ, but can still celebrate and support this chance to flip a seat Blue in ‘22! Click here to register & learn more.
Monday, 10/3 @ 7 PM - Beaches Watch Candidate Forum
For years, Beaches Watch has hosted excellent candidate forums to educate our community about local races. If you missed BAM's Mayoral Forum last month, or simply want to hear more from both the 3 mayoral candidates and the 4 AB Commission candidates, join Beaches Watch this Monday night at Beaches Vineyard Church, 751 Atlantic Blvd. And mark your calendar for their Neptune Beach forum on 10/12, back at Beaches Branch Library. Registration is not required but click here for more info.
Tuesday, 10/4 @ 6 PM - Text Out the Vote
Texting registered Democrats is a simple & effective way to remind them of the upcoming election & motivate them to vote. Join other Duval Dems this week for a Zoom-directed text campaign you can do from home. Register here.
More Action Options with Duval Democratic Party
Tuesday, 10/4@ 7-8 PM - Conversation with Lakesha Burton. The Jax Young Dems are hosting a Zoom meeting featuring updates on their election-related action - and a chance to get to know Lakesha Burton, run-off contender for JAX Sheriff. Register here.
Wednesday, 10/5 @ 11:30 AM- 4 PM - DWIN Empower & Engage. Join the Democratic Women's Information Network in person at DEC Headquarters (3120 Beach Blvd.) or via Zoom. Meet other active Dems and reach out to voters via phone, postcard & more. Register here.
Daily Phonebanking - The Duval Dems have set up a phone bank you can use to call & activate voters on your own schedule every day - without using your own phone number. Click here to learn more.
Election Security Volunteer. With all of the GOP's efforts to suppress the vote, Poll Watchers, Vote Curers, Canvassing Board Observers, and other trained volunteers will play a critical role in this election. The Florida Democratic Party is training for all these roles. Click here to learn more & register to help.
Thursday, 10/6 @ 6:30 PM - Florida Redistricting Challenge - Public Briefing
The League of Women Voters has joined Florida Redistricting Coalition partners Black Voters Matter, Equal Ground and Florida Rising to challenge the Congressional map approved by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor DeSantis.
Come learn how the new maps affect our community, what's happening with the litigation challenging them, and how you can get involved. Registration & more info here.
Saturday, 10/8 The People's Abortion Rally 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Join Women's March, NOW, Florida Action Network, Planned Parenthood, and a host of angry Floridians as we remind voters (and politicians) what's at stake this November.
Save the Date - Next BAM Meeting Thursday, 10/13
We'll be meeting in person this month at Adele Grage Cultural Center (716 Ocean Blvd, Atlantic Beach) at 7 PM. We plan to use this last meeting before the November election to focus on action. We'll have updates on all the ways you can help energize & get out the vote. And a key part of the evening will be a major postcarding party.
BAM plans to postcard the more than 2200 Duval Dems in Districts 3, 4, 11 & 13 who cannot be reached by canvassers because they live in gated communities or secured apartment complexes. BAM's outstanding crew of postcarding volunteers will complete some of these cards working individually before we meet. (Email now if you aren't already on that list & want to be.) But we'll need a group effort to complete what will be our biggest postcarding campaign so far. We'll provide the cards, the postage, and the GOTV message. But we need your help to address and personalize each card. Stay tuned for more details & plan to join us for an evening of socializing AND productive work.