Minutes
8/3 Open Zoom Meeting of the Climate Action Initiative on Getting Out the Vote
Present: Kent, Dorie, Gary, Julie, Betsy, Lee, Kathe, Emma, Dan, Ray, Carol, Emanuel, Cynthia, Dick, Tony Ruscio
1. Unfortunately, we had technical difficulties initially with the meeting. We were delayed by 15 minutes consolidating the attendees into one Zoom meeting, but we are sure that we lost some along the way. We believe that this attendance underrepresents actual interest among our congregation and friends of King’s Chapel.
2. Dorie’s presentation set the tone for the imperative of meeting the Environmental/Climate Crisis by taking action to elect leaders with environmental vision and values. Asked what are we to do as a faith community.
Her excellent, informative slides addressed the history of eligible voters not registered, not participating and revelations of the long history of voter suppression, both in the law and in the unfair requirements at the polling place.
3. Mobilization of the vote, and inclusion of all is the moral imperative and there are many groups working toward the same goal, using different techniques. A list of such organizations may be found at
box-pew-climate.freeforums.net/post/105/thread.
4. Discussion focused on these organizations. Dorie described her experience in volunteering for Vote Forward and Reclaim our Vote. Dan Taylor spoke about the Environmental Voter Project. Gary Riccio spoke about UU the Vote.
• Vote Forward: Helps volunteers write heartfelt handwritten letters to unregistered and unlikely voters. Letter to be mailed in Oct. 2020
• Reclaim our Vote: Focuses on contacting voters of color in voter-suppression states to help them register and vote.
• Environmental Voter Project: Aims to significantly increase voter demand for environmental leadership by identifying inactive environmentalists and then turning them into consistent activists and voters. Uses phone banking and texting.
• UU the Vote: Non-partisan faith initiative to support congregations and UU organizations in activating thousands of Unitarian Universalists to mobilize for electoral justice at the local, state, and national levels.
5. Several others described their interests and suggestions:
• Carol: focus on gun control
• Lee: focus on a particular state
• Dick and Cynthia: organize a focused effort for the group as a whole so that we might feel we made a difference.
• Gary: A variety of approaches work for different people. Lots of ways to get this done, but helpful to focus on several, perhaps those under the UU umbrella, to help people find what is comfortable for them. Gary sees potential crisis in the counting of votes and the staffing of polling places and that young people might be just the target demographic to help with that work and would get them to the polls.
• Emma – Eloquently described her population of students at Bunker Hill Community College. These college kids are eligible but NOT participating for a variety of reasons. It’s hard for them to register and to vote in spite of help and encouragement.
6. The wardens are prepared to promote the G.O.T.V. initiative at Parish Council Thursday, Thanks to Betsy, outgoing and to Mike Bergeron incoming. Julie will attend to help answer questions. CAC and Amanda may jump in.
Immediate Next Steps:
1. Tentative title of our effort/initiative: “KC Voter Action Team”
2. Quickly prepare and circulate chart providing succinct info on 3 volunteer opportunities with idea that person can select group that most appeals to them or another of their choosing (Dorie & Gary)
3. Advertise KC Voter Action Team in BeSun to provide info to entire congregation and hopefully attract more parishioners to participate (Kent, Jennifer R, Dorie): need “strong, clear message that hooks you on the first page with clear action steps”
4. Wardens to speak about this emerging initiative at Parish Council meeting on 8/6/20
5. Provide follow-up resources (including Powerpoint) and meeting minutes to those who participated in 8/3/20 meeting or who have otherwise expressed interest