Membership Meeting of ITAA, October 5, 2020 (31 participants) NOTE to all our members: Some members have asked for recommendations on the best way to vote. Here is the advice we have from Indivisible Arizona's chair, Tricia Sauer.
Drop off ballots early, early, early is the best way. That way your county recorder can start counting 14 days before and those results are announced in the 8 pm election night drop.Any votes that happen election day do not get counted until after 8 pm.
We recommend drop boxes in your area as the first choice, second choice the in-person voting centers. Your county recorder has a list of all of those and the date each opens.
Minutes Margo Nichols welcomed all members. She reminded us that everyone is muted until called on and that requests to speak, questions and comments should be put in the Chat box. She recapped activities of our members including text and phone banking, and post cards. The Steering Committee organized a rally on short notice at Senator McSally's office to protest the accelerated consideration of a replacement for Justice Ginsburg. Margo reminded us that we can expect to have other events organized on short notice both before and after the election and asked members to be alert to notices of these events and to participate. Jan Counts introduced our speaker for today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran. Rep. O'Halleran gave brief opening remarks, reminding us that it is time to change the direction of the country with this election. He then answered several questions. Q & A Session: What are your top two priorities if elected? COVID and its ramifications; the need to fix services for our citizens; health care, climate change and averting catastrophes like the COVID epidemic in the future. What are the greatest needs of your constituents? Sufficient broadband capability, health care, education funding, a healthy economy and the ways these issues affect our tribes. What do you need us to be doing during these last few weeks before the election?We must take nothing for granted and to continue to point out the issues and the failures of the President and Republicans. He said it is important that we understand we cannot let up our efforts until after November 3rd, and maybe beyond.We need to keep up the energy all the way through the elections and get people to the polls. Do not relax because pollsters tell us we have won.We do not win until we do. How concerned are you that the election will be contested? Congressman O'Halleran believes that the process dictated by the Constitution will be upheld in the final analysis. He noted that he has asked in Congress for money to uphold the election and replace the election infrastructure, but the bill has been held up by the opposition. Are you concerned about states where they may allow alternate electors to go to the Electoral College? The Democrats are ready to file suit and otherwise contest such attempts. What are the best processes to GOTV? The Arizona Democratic Party has a good process established. They have more volunteers, more social media experts, more texting and more phone banks than they ever have had. On the national scene, he would like more coordination so that we do not duplicate efforts. He urged us to vote early. What is your stance on a woman's rights to control her own health care? Congressman O'Halleran noted that he is endorsed by both NARL and Planned Parenthood. He does see a need to make the ACA clearer to make sure women's health care issues are addressed for all women regardless of economic status, race, or any other criteria. What is your position on defunding the police? Congressman O'Halleran reminded us that he is a former policeman. His focus is on training police on mental health and social serves issues, on de-escalation of dangerous situations and on making sure police departments have some level of civilian input. Training, frequent retraining, adequate supervision and oversight, including civilians, will be things for which he continues to push. What about the border issues and particularly the ability of Native Americans to go back and forth between Mexico and the U.S. to visit sacred sites? We need to have comprehensive immigration reform and to understand the interplay between the countries for those who have relatives on both sides of the border. We need to have appropriately trained individuals guarding our borders. How do we combat the Proud Boys and other white supremacy groups? We need to investigate and prosecute them and to get away from hate. After the thoughtful remarks by the Congressman, we thanked and excused him and moved to other business. Misty Atkins explained the literature drop that we are doing to get out the vote. We will be dropping off literature for Joanna Mendoza and, if we get literature in time, for Felipe Perez. The “drop” involves taping the material to a door with painters’ tape.It is contactless canvassing. She asked those who are doing the literature drop to remain on the Zoom call after the meeting so she can be sure she has all addresses, as those are needed for assignment purposes. On Tuesday, October 6, the Steering Committee will put packets for the literature drop together. On Wednesday there is a training by Zoom for literature drops and use of the MINIVAN. On Friday, we will meet at River Park at 9 to pick up the packets. If you do not want to use the MINIVAN, let Misty know so she can print your addresses. Volunteers will get about 50 addresses and should be able to distribute all in two hours or so. Margo Nichols gave the treasurer's report indicating what expenses we had incurred. We have $87.65 in unrestricted funds left and $387.85 in restricted funds.
Karen Harris reported on volunteer opportunities. She also posted them in the chat room. The list of volunteer opportunities is attached to these minutes. Eileen Hollowell suggested that everyone should talk to family and friends to get them to vote. Keith Brekhus noted that Mission for Arizona has expanded its support efforts in Arizona from Mark Kelly to include Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Representative O’Halleran. Margo Nichols announced that there is a desire to organize another car rally, for either the Saturday before Halloween or the Saturday of Halloween, after the successful car rally last Saturday, October 3rd. Rachel Rulmyr, who organized that rally, reported that they had 72 cars participate adorned with posters, signs and other decorations. They left Riverfront Park at 1 pm and went through Marana and Oro Valley, ending at Cortaro and Silverbell. Anyone wishing to help organize another car rally should email Rachel. She has some great ideas and leads to make this a fun event, but she will be traveling and cannot take this on herself.Her email address is [email protected] Di Alexander asked if anyone had information on the End Citizens United group that is organizing Get out the Vote activities. She had a promising text conversation with someone in this national outreach effort and wanted to know more about the group before getting further involved or encouraging others to do so. Dana Offerman thanked the Steering Committee for their efforts while she has had to be away. The next meeting will be November 2, 2020 at 3:30 pm. Yikes, the day before the Election!
