Weekly Call To Action - August 28, 2022

Quote of the Week:

​“In 2020, you and 81 million Americans voted to save our democracy. That's why Donald Trump isn't just a former president. He is a defeated former president.

[Republicans] have made their choice to go backward, full of anger, violence, hate, and division. We've chosen a different path: Forward, the future, unity, hope, and optimism.” -- President Joe Biden, 8-25-2022

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​Electoral Actions:

Doorbelling for Kim Schrier in Covington

This is a Federal race in our own backyard that we need to win. Olympia Indivisible supports Kim Schrier for US Congress. We need her to be re-elected to continue a pro-democracy majority in the US House of Representatives. 

Kim provides a vital voice as Congress debates women’s healthcare, reproductive rights, and children’s health. She corrects MAGA Republican misinformation, and champions investment in public education, clean energy, and much more and is endorsed by the The Seattle Times.
​
Action: Sign up and doorbell with OI members on Sept 10 from Noon to 3:00 in Covington to re-elect Dr. Kim Schrier. How?

1. Sign up on Rep. Dr. Schrier's campaign website 
2. If you want to carpool from Olympia, register here. 
3. After carpool registration, we will email you the gathering address, more information and list of items to bring.
4. We will leave from a gathering point at 10:45 A.M. and likely return by 4:30 PM.
5. If you are driving up on your own, let us know so we can meet at the Schrier launch point. Email OlyIndivisibleComs@gmail.com. ​

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Conversation with Kim Schrier
When: Tuesday, August 30 at 7 PM
Where: Anyone on or off Facebook
What: Event by Washington Indivisible Network Public
Register: at https://bit.ly/Schrier_Aug2022
Please join us on NEXT TUESDAY, August 30 at 7pm where we'll talk with Congresswoman Dr. Kim Schrier, Washington's 8th Congressional District. 
Organized by Washington Indivisible Network and moderated by Stephan Cox, Washington Indivisible Podcast. This public webinar will be recorded, and the video (YouTube), audio (podcast), and chat will be publicly available.


Mary Hall Celebration/Fundraiser (Thurston County Auditor)
When: Monday, August 29, 5-8pm 
Where: Home of Sen. Sam Hunt: 4030 San Mar Rd., Olympia
What: This event will feature great Northwest food, luscious libations and soft drinks, special guests, door prizes, comedy, the Mary Hall quiz, a small live auction and silent auction and other surprises!
Live music by Danielle Westbrook and Richard Williams! 
Questions/comments? Contact Tom Best at 360-688-6082


Tye Menser and Marilyn Strickland Picnic
When: September 17, 2022 from Noon - 2:00 pm
Where: Tumwater Falls Park
What: Campaign Picnic hosted by Tye Menser and Marilyn Strickland

Tye needs help organizing the picnic. Sign up at Tye Menser’s Volunteer page if you can help in any way.

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​Local Actions:

Push Port Commissioners to Hold Public Forum 
for Citizens to Voice Concerns about 
Renewal of Log Shipping Lease

Weyerhaeuser logs at the Port’s Marine Terminal in Olympia awaiting shipment to Asia. ​

Background
For decades, Weyerhaeuser, a multinational corporation, has leased acres of waterfront property from the Port of Olympia to store and ship logs to Asia. This operation has resulted not only in huge financial losses at the Port’s Marine Terminal, but it has caused serious environmental degradation. The financial loss at the Marine Terminal – $1 million dollars a year – has been subsidized by taxpayers in Thurston County. 

Citizens filed a lawsuit against the Port for storm water pollution from bark debris in Budd Inlet and South Puget Sound. As a condition for settling the federal lawsuit, the Port was forced to take corrective steps to prevent the pollution. Weyerhaeuser log operations continue to cause air, light, water, and noise pollution as well as road damage. 

Weyerhaeuser’s lease is up for renewal in September. 
Before the Port Commissioners discuss and potentially vote on renewing the Weyerhaeuser lease, they need to hear from citizens who are deeply concerned about the Marine Terminal’s financial loss and environmental impacts from log shipping. At this forum, a better use of property on the Port peninsula, especially in the context of sea level rise, might also be discussed. 

Action: Send an email to Port Commissioners by Wednesday, Sept 7. 

Send to all Commissioners: Commissioners@portolympia.com

Or Send to Individual Commissioners:

• Chairman Bob Iyall BobI@portolympia.com
• Joe Downing JoeD@PortOlympia.com
• Amy Evans-Harding AmyE@portolympia.com

Script: As a resident of Thurston County, I am deeply concerned for financial and environmental reasons at the prospect of the lease renewal with Weyerhaeuser. I ask that you, as elected Port Commissioners, provide a public forum at which time I and other members of the community can discuss our concerns with you about the Weyerhaeuser log shipping operation at the Marine Terminal. 

In addition to an in-person public meeting, I ask that a virtual Zoom option be available. And I request that the public forum be held prior to your internal discussion or vote on the Weyerhaeuser lease renewal.

Thank you,
(your name and city where you live)

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A Rally to Stop the Clearcutting of Washington’s Last Remaining Mature Legacy Forests

​Groups from all over Washington are working to stop legacy forests from being clear cut on state lands. This rally provides a chance for us to tell the DNR that we want our forests to be managed for climate change and biodiversity, not just for timber profits. The State Supreme Court just ruled that the DNR can manage public lands for multiple uses to serve all the people of WA and are not limited to only timber harvesting. 

The time is now to tell the DNR that “Washington forests are for all the people!” At the rally we will be sharing a “Call to Action” that lays out seven changes that we want DNR to make.

Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser has agreed to speak at this rally.

Action: Rally to stop the clearcutting of Washington’s last remaining mature legacy forests.

• When: Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 8:30 AM
• Where: In front of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Olympia: 1111 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98504.

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​Have You Scheduled These Events?

Drinks and Democracy Every Saturday
OI-Co-Founder Lisa Ornstein invites Olympia Indivisible members to her cozy back patio in SE Olympia for a Drinks and Democracy Happy Hour! From 5:30 to 6:30pm, come enjoy a signature house drink on a democratic theme. Non-alcoholic beverages will be on hand as well. Come raise a glass of cheer, catch up with your fellow Indivisiblers, unwind, and build our fellowship. 

Please note that you must be vaccinated and boosted for COVID in order to attend. These events are about spreading good cheer, not germs! 
For details and address, RSVP to drinksanddemocracy.rsvp@gmail.com. 

Action Cafe, Every Monday at noon
Please come to tomorrow's Action Cafe! This weekly Zoom lunch hour gathering is a place to meet, eat, build fellowship and take actions together.
Register HERE. We will send you a Zoom link and tomorrow morning, we'll send you our "menu" with live links for the actions we'll take together. 

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​You Might Also Like to Attend:

Sandy Kaiser for State Representative of LD35
When: Tuesday, August 30th, 5:00-7:00 PM
Where: The Home of Karen Fraser, 7806 Cooper Point Rd NW, Olympia 
RSVP appreciated but not required. For questions or additional info., please contact Callie Labey at FriendsofSandyKaiser@gmail.com
What: Sandy’s win in the primary shows it’s possible for a Democrat to win this seat. The 35th LD includes much of Thurston County. She needs our help. Join us for a fun summer evening with delicious hor d’oeuvres and a beautiful view of Budd Inlet and Mount Rainier.

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​From the Department of Good News: 

​Olympia Indivisible Keep it Blue in 22 Reunion Picnic– a Smash Hit!
We’re delighted to report that over 70 OI members turned out at yesterday’s Keep it Blue in 22 Picnic. We shared lunch, lemonade, laughter, news, and cake. We honored our teams and their amazing 2022 accomplishments to date. And…folks signed up to join teams and do electoral work to Keep it Blue in 22. 

For those who couldn’t make it: you can still sign up to help Keep it Blue in 22. Winning these midterms is about ALL of us showing up–that means everyone! So if you weren’t at the picnic, or didn’t have time to sign up–send an email to olympia.indivisible@gmail.com with the subject line: I want to Keep it Blue in 22 and choose an activity from the following list. We’ll get in touch with you to provide details!

• Phone banking
• Canvassing or literature drops
• Volunteering at campaign events
• Putting up signs at right-of-ways
• Helping Rep. Kim Schrier win in CD-8