Monday, September 9, 2019

INCO Weekly Newsletter 9/9

HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST LAUNCHES
How do we get young people engaged with democracy? INCO wants them to commit to voting in every election!

Students in grades 9-12 in Clatsop and Pacific Counties are invited to submit an original personal essay called "Why I Will Always Vote." Essays should be 500 words max, 
double-spaced with 12-point font. A cover page should include the title, your name, age, grade, school, email address, and phone number. Winners will be announced at the end of October.

Thanks to generous contributors,  the first prize is $250; second prize is $150; and third prize is $100.
 Essays are due by Monday, October 7 by midnight. Submit via email toiwillvoteessay@gmail.com. Complete rules are here at iwillvoteessaycontest.com.

This contest is a nonpartisan Vote the Future project of INCO and the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Astoria.
Lisbon, Portugal climate strike, March, 2019

INCO'S GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE WEEK
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
INCO GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE RALLY

Noon - 1 pm
SEASIDE: At the orange chair, Highway 101 and Broadway
Bring your signs to this peaceful rally.


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
"PARIS TO PITTSBURGH" 

Columbian Theater, Astoria
Doors open at 2:30. Film at 3 pm

A free public screening of the 2018 documentary film about climate change
In conjunction with INCO’s Global Climate Strike Week. 
Directed by 
National Geographic filmmaker Sidney Beaumont
"Paris to Pittsburgh reveals the inspiring steps communities across the country are taking to confront the severe health and economic threats posed by climate change...this documentary provides a hopeful roadmap for the future."  Hosted by INCO.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
INCO GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE RALLY

Noon - 1 pm
ASTORIA: On Marine Drive between 16th and 18th
Bring your signs to this peaceful rally.
ELECTION SECURITY: SEPTEMBER 17 DAY OF ACTION
Call your U.S. Senators at 833-413-5906

Bills to safeguard the security of our elections in 2020 were passed by the House of Representatives, but Moscow Mitch McConnell is preventing a vote in the Senate. Even Oregon's elections could be at risk. Senator Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, “As of right now, 2020 will make 2016 look like child’s play” in terms of the potential for hacking and other abuses. He is urging us to create a “tidal wave” of support for the SAFE Act and HR 3351. These bills will provide states with more than $600 million, along with enforceable standards for election security. 

Go 
here for more information and to get talking points and be connected with your senators’ offices. Tell them you want the Senate to secure our elections now by passing the election security bills already passed by the House. Info at https://secureourvote.us.

You can also write a letter to your local paper in support of election security. Go 
herefor talking points for a letter to the editor (LTE). Send your letter toeditor@dailyastorian.com. Include your full name and contact info; the paper will call to confirm.
OUR FORESTS, OUR FUTURE
INCO's forestry/climate advocacy group - Our Forests, Our Future - is official launched, with Carolyn Eady and Margaret Minnick as co-chairs. The group asks INCO members to advocate for cancellation of the proposed Norriston Heights Timber Sale. Adjacent to Hug Point, this 77-acre plot is the only Oregon Department of Forestry coastal property in Clatsop County. Clearcutting will negatively affect the scenic value of the area, the habitat of the endangered marbled murrelet, and the water quality for several homes. For details on how you can register your opposition, click here

Other forestry events this month:
 On Saturday, September 28, North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection (NCCWP) will present "LOOK UP!  IT'S A WATERSHED MOMENT!” at the North County Recreation District building, 36155 9th St, Nehalem from noon to 9:00 p.m.  For more information contact:  
glenna@nehalemtel.net 
(And for even more information on this event, see below.)

On Sunday September 29, join Oregon Wild and North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection on a Cape Falcon Ancient Forest Hike.  Learn more and sign up at 
  https://oregonwild.org/events/cape-falcon-ancient-forest-hike


More information in the current hipfish monthly.
Kudos to the 25 Indivisibles who wrote 278 postcards at our first postcard party, on September 6.  Our colorful postcards are winging their way to Louisiana voters.
 POSTCARDS TO VOTERS 
INCO's weekly postcard parties 
Fridays,  2 - 4 pm

Mary Blake Playhouse, 1226 Avenue A, the brown wood house across the street from the Bob Chisholm Community Center, Seaside
Please park in the BCCC parking lot. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you live.

INCO encourages you to postcard on your own. Text (484) 275-2229, email  join@TonyTheDemocrat.org, or go to PostcardsToVoters.org and fill out the web form under the Volunteer tab to become a verified postcarder.  
INDIVISIBLE OREGON'S TUESDAY CALL OF THE WEEK
Tell your Members of Congress:
The Trump administration is committing human rights abuses at the border. Congress must act and defund hate: cut ICE/CBP budgets to FY16 levels, put guardrails for human rights on the funding that is provided. And while Congress defunds hate, the House must have impeachment hearings that address Trump's illegal treatment of our neighbors at the border. 

Senator Merkley's DC office: 202-224-3753. Senator Wyden's DC office: 202-224-5244
Congresswoman Bonamici's DC office: 202-225-0855

Join other Oregon Indivisibles and call your MoCs on Tuesday. Contact info is here.
CANDIDATE TOWN HALL AND DEBATES
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Thursday, September 12  • 5 pm Pacific Time
Presented by ABC News and Univision, from Houson
Hooray for everyone who took time to attend Representative Tiffiny Mitchell's town hall Sunday at the college. We all learn when we listen to each other. And hooray for Rep. Mitchell for holding frequent town halls so she can hear from constituents.
HAPPENINGS
Details on our events page.
Everyone is welcome to all these events.

THIS WEEK
Tuesday, September 10 - Seaside-Gearhart Community Group monthly meeting6:30 - 8 pm, contact Kathleenannmacdonald@yahoo.com for location.

Thursday, September 12 - Presidential Candidates Debate, presented by ABC News and Univision, from Houson.

Friday, September 13 - Indivisible National Day of Action: Defund Hate. Details here.Contact your Members of Congress.

Saturday, September 14 - Warrenton Community Group monthly meeting11:30 - 1 pm, El Compadre Restaurant119 South Main Avenue, no purchase necessary. Contact Meridee about road pick-up details.

UPCOMING
Wednesday, September 18 - Vote the Future (VTF) monthly meeting,  6:30 pm, Seaside Library Board Room

Friday, September 20 - Global Climate Strike Rally, noon - 1 pm, Orange chair at Highway 101 and Broadway, Seaside. Bring signs.

Sunday, September 22 - "Paris to Pittsburgh," Doors open at 2:30; film starts at 3; Columbian Theater, 1114 Marine Drive, Astoria. Free public screening of National Geographic climate documentary hosted by INCO in conjunction with INCO's Global Climate Strike Week.

Tuesday, September 24 - National Voting Registration Day, 10 am - 2 pm. INCO activists will be at the Astoria Senior Center and Clatsop Community College to register voters and to assist if voters need to change address or party affiliation. Update your voter registration on your own - new address, party affiliation - at Oregon's official site, My Vote.


Friday, September 27 - Global Climate Strike Rallynoon - 1 pm, 16th and Marine Drive, Astoria. Bring your signs.

Thursday, October 3 - Forestry/Climate Advocacy Group7 - 8:30 pm, Astoria. Contact incoregon for directions. 

Saturday, October 5 - Astoria Community Group monthly meeting, 10:30 a.m. - noon, WineKraft, on the Riverwalk at the foot of 10th. It’s OK to bring your own food and drink. 

WEEKLY
 Fridays - Postcards to Voters Postcard Party, 2 - 4 pm, Mary Blake Playhouse, 1215 Avenue A, across from the Bob Chisholm Community Center, Seaside. Write postcards to voters across the country for issues and candidates. INCO and Postcards to Voters provide supplies, addresses, and text. Please park in the BCCC parking lot. 

NOTE for September 27th INCO Postcard Party in Seaside: Due to the Global Climate Strike Rally in Astoria that day, the INCO Postcard Party in Seaside will be from 3 - 4:30 pm, September 27 only. 
INSIGHTS
"If history teaches us anything is that change never starts in the center. But it always starts on the fringes with people who are first dismissed as crazy and unreasonable and ridiculous."
-- Dutch historian Rutger Bregman
DO SOMETHING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
How will your Members of Congress (MoC) and state legislators know what you want if you don't tell them? Contact info here. Contact ONLY elected officials who represent you so you don't dilute the power of actual constituents. Tell your MoC when you agree with their positions and votes.
 
Write a Letter to the Editor about an issue. Effective letters focus on one topic and can propose solutions and positive actions readers can take. Editor@dailyastorian.com.
 
OTHER ACTIONS THAT MATTER
•  Be a postcarder! See info above about Postcards to Voters.
•  Get active with organizations that strengthen our communities.
•  Donate to causes that defend our democracy.
 
•  For current action items, visit 
www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org.

•  Update your change of address or party affiliation at Oregon's official site, My Vote.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Get active with INCO's Advocacy Team, Vote the Future Team, and Community Groups. 

INCO has 3 websites: our 
main oneVote the Future; and Really Do Care INCO Under 40s.
 Join INCO's closed Facebook group. Really Do Care also has a Facebook group. 
Sign up for emails from national Indivisible at www.indivisible.org.
Questions, suggestions, & photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com

Deb Vanasse and Laurie Caplan, INCO Co-chairs
INCO Weekly Newsletter  September 9, 2019