News from the Skagit County Democrats
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for 17 August 2020
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. NEW – The Democratic National Convention is this week, Monday, Aug 17 – Thursday, Aug 20
The bad news is that not much will be actually conducted in Milwaukee. The good news is that since most of it is being done remotely we can all “be there” as well.
- Click Here for the schedule and speakers
- Click Here for information on how to watch the convention. Options include live streaming to TV, computer, mobile device, or smart speaker.
- Click Here for the Biden-Harris campaign fact sheet
2. NEW – Watch Party with 1st U.S. Congressional Representative Rick Larsen, Thursday, Augu 20, 5:00pm via Zoom
Join Rick and fellow Democrats for a virtual watch party to kick off the final night of the Democratic Convention, where Joe Biden will officially accept the Democratic nomination. Donate $5, or whatever you can, and we’ll send you a link to join in. Please RSVP to Todd at todd@ricklarsen.org or 425-610-8731. Click Here for Rick’s donation page.
3. ATTENTION – An Endorsement General Meeting is scheduled to endorse Angie Homola for 10th Legislative District Representative, Position 1, Thursday, Aug 27, 5:30pm via Zoom
This meeting will fall outside our scheduled meeting dates. The meeting will be held 10 days from notification pursuant to our By-laws. This will need to be a credentialed meeting so for those attending, please log in up to an hour early (you can then get yourself a cup of coffee until the meeting actually starts) to be credentialed. Be on the lookout for an email with the Zoom login instructions.
Editor’s Note: we will post a complete list of endorsed candidates once the Auditor completes the ballot count.
4. NEW – Ryan Johnson’s 39th LD Happy Hour, Saturday, Aug 22, 7:00pm, via Zoom
“Round 4 of my Zoom Happy Hour, come as you are, grab a beer (or many), and come and ask whatever you would like. I will be having IBEW 77 open this meeting to discuss their apprenticeship program, and they are accepting apprenticeships. If you know someone looking for a new career, please have them attend this meeting, as lineman jobs are an amazing career.”
- Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86298914416?pwd=dTdza3RhQVR4M0RubW5NZUtnSGdWQT09
- Meeting ID: 862 9891 4416
- Passcode: 253010
- One tap mobile – +12532158782,,86298914416#,,,,,,0#,,253010# US (Tacoma)
5. NEW – Latino Town Hall / Foro Público para la Comunidad Latina, Hosted by Vote Debra Lekanoff for 40th District, Wednesday, Aug 26, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, streamed on the Vote Debra Lekanoff page
“Join Debra Lekanoff on Facebook Live as she hears from a panel of experts on public safety, the COVID-19 response, and workers’ rights within the Latino communities in the 40th LD. This event will be presented in both Spanish and English – big thanks to Vanessa Malapote from the Latino Caucus with the Washington State Democrats for interpreting!”
6. The Washington State Democrats’ annual Warren G. Magnuson Dinner will be held virtually on Thursday, Sep 24
Click Here for more information.
7. NEW – Sign locations needed for the Mark Lundsten campaign
“We need help with good sign locations in your neighborhoods. You know the people and the traffic patterns in your precinct. We have small yard signs and large 4-foot x 4-foot signs. This will be a county-wide effort. Please call Maggie Sullivan with the name and phone # of the person who wants a sign (so she can contact them about the exact sign location) or give her directions for the location on a well-used road. Contact information: Maggie Sullivan, 360-724-3158 or maggie@fidalgo.net.
8. NEW – Ballot Drop-Boxes
David Cunningham, Skagit County Auditor Elections Supervisor has asked that we disseminate the following information as widely as we can. All ballots left in drop-boxes are then picked up and delivered to the Auditor’s office by the staff of Skagit County Auditor’s Office. They do not go through the mail. We should encourage use of our ballot drop-boxes as often as we can.
9. NEW – How can you help? Postcard writing!
Several Skagit organizations are contacting their members asking for volunteer card writers. By working together, we can get more people writing to voters who, in turn, will make a difference for our candidates. If you don’t want to phone bank or text message, and you can’t do yard signs, then card writing is for you! To become a volunteer card writer with Stronger Together Skagit (STS) card writers, please email Carol Sullivan at carolosully@yahoo.com. Campaigns who will use STS Card Writers include: Helen Price Johnson, Dave Paul, Angie Homola, Mark Lundsten. More will be announced later. If your candidate for a particular office was not endorsed by Skagit County Democrats or 10th LD Democrats, you can contact their campaign directly. We are helping only candidates endorsed by these organizations.
10. Do you know a U.S. citizen living outside the U.S. or in the military?
Military and overseas ballots are mailed out Sep 18 (very early). Here are two resources for registering to vote for these folks.
11. Any Tech Questions?
Any Tech Questions? is a weekly Zoom meeting hosted by the Skagit County Democrats to assist anyone in the community with technical questions about the use of Google Apps and Zoom. It also includes some other topics specific to the Democrats’ mission to nurture democratic values in our elected officials. The sessions are scheduled for every Wednesday at 5:00pm. The Zoom link is available by emailing Tech@SkagitDemocrats.org.
To learn more about how to use our Google Drive, Click Here.
12. Coronavirus Face Mask Fundraiser
For a donation of $20 you will receive a hand-made face mask especially designed by an engineer/industrial designer at the request of the Medical Director of Pediatrics at Mission Hospital in California. The masks provide full coverage and are comfortable. Click Here or Here to see examples of the masks. If you would like to donate, Click Here. Under purpose on the donation, please indicate “Mask” and indicate which fabric you would like: #1 first on the left, #2 the middle, #3 on the right (for example: “Mask #3”).
13. UPDATED – The Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 300A South First Street, Mount Vernon, will be staffed from 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
It will not be open to the public. Staff will be able to hand out campaign signs without admitting entry. We ask that masks be worn at all times when ordering from the door and during pick up. Call ahead to the HQ phone (360-336-1555) and staff will pick them and have ready at the door. You may also email staff@skagitdemocrats.orgafter hours and the message will be relayed to the volunteers staffing the HQ. Some pick ups can be arranged outside of open hours. Just call or email to inquire. Most campaign signs are free.
NOTE: Biden signs ($10 each or 2 for $16) are now available. Inslee’s signs have ARRIVED! FREE but limited quantities. In addition we have some Biden swag (bumper stickers, etc). Also signs for Debra Lekanoff are now available. We are awaiting Inslee signs. Please remember to practice safe distancing and DO NOT ENTER THE OFFICE when picking up signs.
14. National 2020 Caucus/Primary and Debate Schedule
- August 17 – 20 – 2020 Democratic National Convention, Milwaukee (and on-line)
- August 24-27 – 2020 Republican National Convention, Charlotte, NC (and on-line?)
- September 29 – First presidential debate, South Bend, IN
- October 7 – Vice presidential debate, Salt Lake City, UT
- October 15 – Second presidential debate, Ann Arbor, MI
- October 22 – Third presidential debate, Nashville, TN
- November 3 – Presidential election
15. NEW – Links of the Week
The Link of the Week provides in-depth pieces the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.
- Voting Guide 2020: Issues That Matter to Seniors from RetireGuide.com
- Why Wikipedia Decided to Stop Calling Fox a ‘Reliable’ Source
- The Federal Government Gives Native Students an Inadequate Education, and Gets Away With It
- The Tragic Physics of the Deadly Explosion in Beirut
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – New Farmers’ Market opening in Conway, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00am – 4:00pm, 19193 State Route 534 (Conway to Lake McMurray)
“New farmers’ market opening up in Conway, formerly Skagit River Produce, is a proven location with previous produce and arts clientele. The first month will be free for vendors, crafters welcome, lots of room for social distancing. Refrigeration, commercial kitchen, inside spaces & garden space is also available. Please e-mail skagitriverproduce@gmail.comor message us on Facebook under Skagit River Produce.”
2. Blood Drive, Saturday, Aug 22, Salem Lutheran Church, 2529 North Laventure Road, Mount Vernon
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, donors must make an appointment before donating blood. Potential donors may visit this site and enter sponsor code 509B, or call 1-800-398-7888 to schedule a one-hour donation slot. Different components of blood — red cells, platelets and plasma — are taken from each unit of blood, meaning each unit could potentially help several people. Click Here for more information.
3. Census – Everyone should be counted!
If you have not yet completed the Census, Click Here to complete it on-line. It only takes a few minutes and it is important that everyone participates!
4. Concrete’s Cascade Days 2020 has been cancelled
5. Drive-through COVID-19 testing is now open 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, at the east parking lot of Skagit Valley College
Online registration is no longer required. No appointments are needed. Spanish speaking interpreters on site to assist with registration and testing. Skagit County Public Health will test anyone seven years of age or older that feels they should be tested, and is encouraging anyone who fits into the following guidelines to get tested:
- Those who are essential workers
- Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms
- Anyone whose physician recommended they be tested
- Anyone who lives or works in a congregate setting
- Pregnant women
- Anyone who is a close contact or has a known exposure to COVID-19
Click Here for more information.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Listen to We Do the Work, Tuesdays, 5:00pm, and Sundays, 5:30pm at KSVR, 91.7 FM or KSVU, 90.1 FM
A weekly local worker radio program that features news, interviews, music, and comments, “We Do the Work” believes American workers are at the heart of our economy and culture, deserving dignity, respect, and a decent family wage. To hear our other shows, go to We Do The Work Archives. Questions about interviews? Email – ksvrwedothework@gmail.com.
NEW – We Do The Work’s program for Tuesday, Aug 18, 5:00pm and Sunday, Aug 23, 5:30pm – Cindy and Nemesio (Jr) Domingo and Garry Owens, LELO, Part 2 and “Learn Yourself” with Conor Casey, Labor Archivist for the Labor Archives of Washington
Interview by Mike Dumovich: Nemesio, Cindy, Garry, and Conor explain LELO, its history, and the deaths of two labor activists: Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes. For more information, go to http://www.lelo.org/index.phpand to buy Cindy Domingo’s book, “A Time to Rise”, go to https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295742021/a-time-to-rise/or https://www.amazon.com/Time-Rise-Collective-Democratic-Filipinos/dp/029574202X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539635832&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Time+to+Rise
We Do The Work Comments:
- Frontline workers are dying.
- Trump has now passed 25,000 lies.
- #LaborRadioPod
2. Listen to Speak Up! Speak Out! Radio
Listen to Speak Up! Speak Out! – a half hour weekly radio show committed to community, peace, justice, and non-violence issues. The show airs on Community Radio stations (times subject to change) – KSVR91.7 FM (Skagit Valley College), Wednesdays 5:00pm, rebroadcast Sundays 8:00pm; KSVU90.1 FM, Hamilton, Sundays 8:00pm and Thursdays 8:00am; KMRE102.3 FM, Bellingham, Sundays 11:00am and Wednesdays 7:30am. Our shows are available online. Stream or download a show at http://speakupspeakoutradio.org/anytime.
NEW – SUSO August 19 – Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (https://www.nwirp.org/) presentation about the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
We’ll hear from Tim Warden-Hertz, Directing Attorney of our Tacoma office, Staff Attorney Lesly Avila, and Executive Director Jorge L. Barón, about their clients’ resilience and how we are standing alongside them during this critical time. Many thanks to NWIRP for offering this presentation and providing SUSO with permission to use the audio and release the video. Here is a link to the recording, and here is a link to the transcript.
Partner organizations to check out:
Donate to the Fair Fight Bond Fund
3. Coffee ‘n Cards
Coffee ‘n Cards is temporarily “Coffee – no cards” via Zoom from 10:00am – 10:30am on Monday morning. Contact Carol Sullivan by email (carolosully@yahoo.com) for invitation that will include Meeting ID and Password. There is no screen sharing, participants enter thru waiting room (muted), the and meeting is locked when all are in attendance. 2020 card total: 3,116; Grand total: 11,272.
NEW – Angie Homola will be our guest at Coffee ‘n Cards Monday, Aug 17, 10:00am via Zoom.
You are invited to this informal visit with candidate for 10th Legislative District Representative, Position 1. Meeting ID: 728 6695 7807, password: 3G1teP
4. Anacortes Weekly Demonstrations
Do you have a cause or a candidate that you are passionate about? If yes, join us at the “protest corner” in Anacortes, 12th Street and Commercial Avenue (the Safeway Corner) EVERY Sunday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm – wet or sunny, hot or cold, all year around. Bring your own signs or use one of our extras