News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for September 9, 2024

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. THIS COMING SUNDAY! – Skagit County Democrats Annual Picnic, Sunday, Sep 15, 1:00pm, The Lodge at Hillcrest Park, 1717 South 13th Street, Mount Vernon
" In lieu of our Saturday meeting, you are invited to join us on Sunday September 15th at Hillcrest Park for a picnic starting at 1 pm! This is your chance to hear from our inspiring speakers, meet your local candidates, and celebrate our vibrant community in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

We’re especially excited to honor our First Responders, who have gone above and beyond for our community. Let’s come together to express our gratitude for their dedication and service.  

This is a family-friendly event with something for everyone! We’ll be grilling up delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, and fresh salmon. Bring your family, friends, and a hearty appetite!

Please RSVP (Click Here) and let’s make this a day to remember! Feel free to bring your own reusable plate and utensils if you would like to help us lower our environmental impact."

2. The Fidalgo Democrats next meets Tuesday, Sep 10, 5:30pm, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
"Fidalgo Democrats will host a Presidential Debate watch party on Tuesday, September 10 at the Anacortes Library. The program will start at 5:30pm with social time, announcements, and candidate information. You are invited to bring light snacks to share (chips, fruit/veggies, cheese, and crackers, etc.). Yes, there will be cookies. The door will close promptly at 6:00 so that we can watch the debate uninterrupted. For those who would like to stay for the Governor’s debate between Bob Ferguson and Dave Reichert, that will start at 8:00."

3. The Skagit County Democrats Executive Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sep 12, 6:00pm, via Zoom
Please register in advance for this meeting (Click Here). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

4. UPDATED – The Skagit County Democrats Membership Meeting is cancelled in lieu of the Annual Picnic (see above)

5. The 10th Legislative District candidates have scheduled a Joint Canvass Launch, Saturday, Sep 14, 2:00pm, Rotary Park, 898 Northeast 4th Avenue, Oak Harbor
Click Here for the flyer.

6. NEW – The 39th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board meets Tuesday, Sep 17, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.

7. NEW – 10th Legislative District Representative Clyde Shavers Meet and Support Event, Thursday, Sep 19, 5:30pm, Village Pizza, 807 Commercial Avenue, Anacortes
Click Here to RSVP and donate. Click Here for the flyer.

8. UPDATED – Campaign Information

Ferguson-Reichert debates: Here’s what you need to know – Tuesday, Sep 10, 8:00pm, KING 5 and Wednesday, Sep 18, 6:00pm, KOMO News 4

New phone bank link & Training for Janet St. Clair: Here's a new link for making calls for Janet (Click here to get started making calls!). This list included moderate to strong democrats in rural parts of the district that we will not be able to contact in person. We've also scheduled our first general election phone banking training (Click Here to register) for Sep. 15th at 4:00pm on Zoom."

Team Harris-Walz Phone Bank – "Join us to make calls for Kamala Harris and Democrats up and down the ballot!" Click on the "Show More" link to see all the dates/times available.

Harris/Walz signs and pins are now available at the Skagit County Democrats Headquarters Office, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104. A suggested donation of $20 is requested for the signs.

For those wanting to donate to the Harris campaign via snail mail (USPS), please use the following address: Harris Victory Fund, P.O. Box 96663, Washington, D.C. 20077-7085

9. Volunteers needed to staff our Headquarters Office
If you would like to volunteer in the office by answering phones or questions that people may have, please sign up here.

10. Yard Sign Etiquette
As election season heats up, it is crucial to be mindful of proper yard sign etiquette to ensure we all show respect for our community while supporting our candidates. Here are some helpful do's and don'ts to keep in mind:

• DO:
  • Place signs on your own property or with the permission of the property owner.
  • Ensure signs are set back from roadways to avoid obstructing visibility or traffic.
  • Remove signs within 10 days after the election, as required by RCW 29A.84.040.
• DON'T:
  • Place signs on public property, such as parks, medians, and sidewalks, or private property without permission from the property owner.
  • Block sidewalks, driveways, or other access points.
  • Put signs in areas that violate local zoning laws or homeowner association rules.

11. UPDATED – PCO Recruitment
We need more PCOs for the 2022-2024 biennial to help us Get Out the Vote in this critical election year and to help us build a strong Skagit County and 10th, 39th, and 40th Legislative District Party Organizations. You can get involved in a big way by becoming a PCO.

• Step 1: Find Your Precinct. You can use the Skagit County iMap to find your precinct.
• Step 2: Check the list of vacant precincts. THIS LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED.
• Step 3: Application: complete this form for Skagit County and email chair@skagitdemocrats.org.

12. REPEAT – Once again spoofers are attempting to connect to our members by email while purporting to be from Lynn Campbell
The latest attempt was a simple email with this innocent-looking sentence: "Will you be available at home between 4 and 5:30 pm? Please confirm." The FROM line showed: Lynn Campbell – "president.post6373828@gmail.com". Obviously, this is NOT Lynn's email address. A reply would simply have allowed the spoofer to harvest the victim's email address, making them vulnerable to further exploitation.

13. Fact Check Websites
With all the misinformation and disinformation floating our there this political season, it is important we not only ensure we are getting true facts, but that we are sharing true information to those we talk to about politics. Arm yourselves with corroboration! Here are some reliable websites for checking things out:

• https://factcheck.org
• https://verifythis.com
• https://snopes.com
• https://apnews.com/hub/ap-fact-check
• https://reuters.com/fact-check
• https://politifact.com
• https://leadstories.com
• https://opensecrets.org

Most of these sites have a search function where you can enter a few keywords to find the story you are attempting to investigate. Look for a search bar or a "magnifying glass" icon.

14. NEW – Links of the Week
The Links of the Week provide in-depth pieces and resources the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.

• Battery farms, the energy industry’s new darling, line up to enter Pacific NW
• Democrats and Republicans on K-12 education: A comparison
• What is spear phishing? Extensive guide with real-life examples
• How Russia covertly hired U.S. influencers to create videos
• Amazon Skagit County facility opens after lengthy delay

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Concrete School Board Vacancy
"The Concrete School District is seeking a candidate to fill an opening on its school board. Board member, Jessie Mattingly, who holds District #1 position, has resigned as of August 29, 2024. Applicants must live in District #1 (Birdsview/partial Concrete area), be United States citizens and qualified voters residing in the school district and within director district #1 . . . Applications must be received by or before Friday, September 20, 2024." Click Here for more information.

2. NEW – Oyster Run 2024, Sunday, Sep 22, 8:00am, Commercial Avenue, Anacortes
Click Here for the flyer.
 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Coffee & Cards, Wednesdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm, Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon
Coffee and Cards meets on Wednesdays from 10:00am – 12:00pm. This is the group that was previously led by Carol Sullivan and is now led quite capably by Judy Farrar and Judith Chilcote. The group is a way for us to express ourselves about issues of importance to us all.  

We will write messages of encouragement and support to people who are making positive contributions as well as messages of concern and opposition to people who are negatively impacting our world – this includes legislators on the local, state, and federal level as well as CEOs of corporations and other people having a significant impact in our world. We will share ideas for people to write to and issues to address.  

Postcards and stamps will be provided, but we ask that people bring money to cover the cost of the postcard stamps which are currently $.56. Coffee will be provided or bring your own. As Carol always reminded us, “We are stronger together.” Our office is located at 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, 360-336-1555."
 

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