SWIMMail JUNE 2024 NEWSLETTER

Updated: Jul 1

SWIM AND PARTNERS UPDATES

See SWIM's website here for more news and events!

SWIM BI-MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING - CANCELED!

We will not hold our regular Member Meeting in July, but have several alternative activities. We’re excited to announce two special upcoming events that promise to be highly informative.

First, Save The Date for August 28 from 7-8 pm ET for a joint SWIM/Grassroots Collaboration Project "Forum on Michigan". We're working on special guests who will address critical issues in our state, examine what we need on the ground locally leading up to November 5, and bring national activists on board to help in Michigan!

Secondly, stay tuned as we’re working on organizing a separate session featuring candidates for office including the open US Senate seat. We plan for this to be an information session where you can engage directly with those seeking elected office. This is an opportunity to further enrich our understanding of our state political landscape.

We look forward to your participation in these special events. Keep an eye out for more details coming your way soon!

WHAT'S UP WITH OUR MICHIGAN SENATORS?

Our next Senatorial update from Senator Debbie Stabenow's Regional Manager, Terry Campbell is July 11 at 6:00pm ET. You can register here! Terry is the epitome of what "representation" means - these meetings are not to be missed; they are always a feel-good reminder that government IS working for us! We only have THREE meetings left before Terry and the Senator retire - sign up now! Please submit any questions ahead of time so we can pass them along to the senator. You can send your questions to info@statewideindivisiblemi.com.

If you missed the meeting with Senator Peters staff, on June 13, there were some great questions and resources shared. We discussed what the Senator is doing with the northern border. You can read more about this issue here. We also discussed the current situation in the Supreme Court. You can read more here. If you would like to share your concerns about SCOTUS you can do so at this website.

MEET WITH BARBARA MCQUADE

One of our member groups, Indivisible Huron Valley, will be hosting Barbara McQuade on July 10 at 7:00pm. This is an in-person meeting, but will have a Zoom option. They would like to open this up to the entire Indivisible community. Ms. McQuade is know for her work on disinformation, something we are all concerned about. Please consider attending as she discusses her new book Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. You can register here to receive the location and Zoom link.

IF YOU GET YOUR EVENTS FROM MOBILIZE, FOLLOW SWIM'S MOBILIZE PAGE HERE!

CALLS TO ACTION

VOTER EDUCATION TIME! What a Tabling Group at a PRIDE Event Discovered About Voters' Understanding of New MI Laws (spoiler: voters don't know much!)

Democratic Precinct Delegates of Oakland County (DPDOC) staffed a table, as usual, at a local PRIDE event recently. They were shocked to report back that virtually every voter they spoke to did not understand our new voting laws, like early voting and absentee ballot changes. We know what we have to do on the ground: EDUCATE our voters! That is the focus of many groups' work around the state, and is apparently desperately needed!

The other discovery relates to the recently reported "ballot roll-off" phenomena that has been talked about nationally - voters who vote the top of the ticket, then seem to get bored or distracted and don't finish the ballot. Voters at this event told DPDOC that they were excited to hear that they can take their absentee ballot to an early voting center and feed it into the tabulator themselves because it takes the pressure off them in the voting booth. Yes, that's right, our voters are stressed about taking time to analyze the entire ballot in the voting booth, even when there's no line waiting to vote! Another talking point for educating voters and encouraging them to sign up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List so they can complete their ballot at home with no stress, then take it to an early voting center to feed it in, making sure there's no errors!

INDIVISIBLE NATIONAL'S Neighbor2Neighbor Canvassing Tool

Neighbor2Neighbor might just be the most impactful and easiest way to make a difference this election – by talking to your own neighbors.

Pre-Register here!

As a Neighbor2Neighbor volunteer, instead of being given a long list of strangers, you’ll get a short list of your own neighbors, along with a simple script, some best practices, and a printable handout. There’s no app to download and you can have these conversations on your own time. When you’re done, just sign up to receive the next 10 closest doors! Read more about the program here. An informative video can be accessed here. Join thousands of Indivisibles across the country. It’s going to take neighbors talking to neighbors to fight back against MAGA extremism and secure our rights.

Great Scott (Ickes) to the rescue: Bring him your concerns or ideas you need help with!

Scott Ickes with Indivisible National is the definition of a great Regional Organizer who works hard on our behalf. He has prepared everything from an upcoming Michigan Leaders meeting with Ezra Levin, Indivisible Co-Founder on June 25th from 7-8 (register here) to information on weekends of action and the tool kits to support these activities. You can access the full list of resources here.

Reach out at scott@indivisible.org, with any questions you may have.

GRASSROOTS COLLABORATION PROJECT: Four Initiatives in Four Months

Our partners at GCP believe we're Better Together, and have identified four initiatives over the next four months - that will each only take a few minutes of your time - to help us all reach the finish line on November 5 together and successfully! These initiatives fill holes that activists across the nation have identified in the efforts of the Dem party.

In June, they launch “Man Up”, to recruit more grassroots volunteers. They've designed a resource that will make it easier for MEN (sorely underrepresented in our community) to participate. Check it out here and here! COME TO THE MAN UP LAUNCH ZOOM on June 18, 8-9pm ET and see Congressman Jamie Raskin's message to men as our first Man Up endorser. RSVP here!

Watch for GCP's July initiative - making the case for combining registration and canvassing. Among other innovations, a new app allows canvassers to combine voter registration and canvassing. Details to come!

CALL & EMAIL MICHIGAN HOUSE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE

Last week, sponsor Rep. Rheingans presented National Popular Vote (NPV) to the House Democratic caucus. It was reported that there were several people who jumped up and expressed support! While it is early, NPV believes it has the votes to pass the bill and get it to the Senate. The Dem Caucus is working on support. It isn’t exactly clear what unfolds from here but we do know there are four legislators and the Speaker who could use some encouragement.

If you or your group can help NPV generate messages into the following House Democrats it would have a big impact. They need to hear from constituents that passing National Popular Vote before the summer break is important.

Rep. Nate Shannon - district 58 - nateshannon@house.mi.gov - (517) 373-1794

Rep. Peter Herzberg - district 25 - peterherzberg@house.mi.gov - (517) 373-2275

Rep. Tulio Liberati - district 2 - tullioliberati@house.mi.gov - (517) 373-1776

Rep. Will Snyder - district 87 - WillSnyder@house.mi.gov - (517) 373-0842

Rep. Joe Tate (Speaker) - district 10 - joetate@house.mi.gov - (517) 373-0857

ARE YOU ITCHING TO WRITE TO VOTERS? WE GOT YOU, BOO!

Just a quick heads up, in case you did not already know, postage is set to increase in July 14th. Since we all love our postcards you may want to get your stamps early!

SWIM AND FIELD TEAM 6 PROTECT THE HOUSE PROJECT

SWIM and Field Team 6 are partnering to help likely Michigan Dem or left-leaning folks get registered to vote. We are holding postcarding events targeting Michigan House Districts where our incumbent Democratic Representatives won by less than 2000 votes. Our outreach will increase voter registration with these low-propensity voters - we need this demographic to win in November!

The House Districts targeted are 27, 31, 38, 44, 58, 61, 103 and 109. For extra credit we are also trying to flip Republican-held House Districts and you can write to those folks in districts 28, 29, 54, 55 and 57. If you're in one of those district, or want to help out in those districts, sign up for one of our Postcard Parties on Sunday nights from 6 - 7 pm. Here's a special link for SWIM members to register.

POSTCARDS TO SWING STATES WITH MICHIGAN WOMEN FOR BIDEN-HARRIS 2024

Michigan Women for Biden Harris is organizing postcard writing to re-elect Biden-Harris 2024 through Postcards to Swing States. Don't miss out! Sign up NOW so we can let you know about your area's events, volunteer opportunities and more - including postcarding underway now! Sign up here.

AND MORE POSTCARD ORGANIZATION OPPORTUNITIES

When talking with member groups, it was evident that postcarding is something all groups enjoy. Here is a list of other organizations providing postcard opportunities.

There are some great postcards and materials available for order on line - other lists to check out are here and here.

VOTE FORWARD >>>> We all know how important it is to get "souls to the polls"! Vote Forward's data shows that letters can boost voter turnout by as much as 3.4% This is BIG! Want to become a writer? Sign up with Vote Forward's well-established campaign here.

OTHER WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

INDIVISIBLE'S NEW MEMBER PIPELINE If you missed this in previous newsletters and emails, be sure to sign your group up for National's New Member Pipeline - easiest sign-up ever. National will forward contact info for folks in your zip code who sign up with them. Do it today!

INTERESTED IN SOME CULTURAL OUTREACH? TRY A SHORT PRODUCTION OF A SHORT PLAY IN ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SPACE!

Civic engagement with our current state of affairs is critical to this year's election. Check out this modernization of Sinclair Lewis' 1936 minimalist play on fascism. The history lesson alone is fascinating! Brought to you by the Writer For Democracy Action, "It Can't Happen Here - Again" is a 30 minute, 5-person script that can be read by a group in a living room or coffee shop or town square. Easy, inspiring, and fun! The goal is to have as many "productions" as possible across the country on July 19, the last day of the GOP National Convention! A fun and impactful statement!

RESOURCES TO AMPLIFY YOUR MESSAGING

PARTNER TOOL KITS

ADD YOUR GROUP TO THE GRASSROOTS COLLABORATION PROJECT DIRECTORY

We've all been at that exhaustion point in the last 6 years; don't let it get to you this year - there's a lot to do! But let's work smarter, not harder. Collaboration is the key to getting many efforts off the ground and building effectiveness in what we do. Networking helps us achieve that. Sign on to the Grassroots Directory here and find other activists willing to help your project!

ALSO FROM THE GRASSROOTS COLLABORATION PROJECT: A NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY!

We are all familiar (and grateful!) for Indivisible National's GROW Grants! Here's a new opportunity from Clean and Prosperous America for up to $2,500 to assist your grassroots efforts in Michigan for voter engagement efforts and state-level presidential and senatorial campaigns, as well as CD-7, CD-8, and CD-10 (looking at you, Lansing, Midland, and Macomb)! Application looks easy, check it out!

NOT SURE HOW TO PHRASE MESSAGING OUR VALUES?

Check out this Guide to Messaging Our Freedoms from We Make The Future and ASO Communications (Anat Shenkar-Osorio). They provide sample messages for a wide range of issues from our freedom to vote to our freedom to be our true selves.

And here is a link to Anat's latest toolkit: From the Indictments to the Courts: Freedom Over Fascism Toolkit!

USING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO AMPLIFY GOOD NEWS

Use these terrific resources to pick up memes to spiff up your messages, use great .gifs in your newsletters and social media posts, and gather talking points for your discussions:

Into Action Labs allows you to download and add your own message(s).
MI Right to Read offers a toolkit of graphics.
Demcast Michigan has a wealth of rich, sharable content.
Field Team 6 takes the fear out of posting on social media with this fun video explaining simple step-by-step simple instructions to social storming - at whatever level you want to dive into! FT6 also has a Field Team 6 Current Storm page with prepared posts that can be one-click shared across many platforms.
Indivisible's Trainings-to-Go include materials such as slides, handouts, or discussion questions, as well as facilitation notes/directions for the person leading the space. Start with a pilot batch of 3 Trainings-to-Go: Recruitment 101, Indivisible 101, and Tools for Building Inclusive Groups - and more are coming! These are located in the Support Hub along with a lot more! Questions or suggestions can be sent to training@indivisible.org.

STAY CURRENT ON SWIM ACTIVITIES AND PARTNERS' EVENTS

Here are some ways to share them with your network:

Bookmark the Website: www.statewideindivisiblemi.com. New events from SWIM and our partners are posted regularly! The website is designed to be a central repository of the resources and network partners that SWIM has amassed since 2016.

Members: Send us your announcements, events, photos or writings by using the "Comment" link at the top of the homepage or click here! We need to share our successes.

Follow us on Facebook: SWIM private group is open to all interested members. Simply answer a few simple questions on the page and you are in! This is a great way to keep current on events and issues in between newsletters. This is the sole Facebook page for SWIM so join the group today-our past public page has been archived.

Follow SWIM on X (Twitter) @SWIMIndivisible and Instagram at Statewide indivisible Michigan: We are always looking for members with experience on alternative social media platforms, so if you are familiar with Threads, Mastodon, WhatsApp, TikTok, Tribel, Post, etc. please contact our SWIM social media maven Vickie Gutowski at info@statewideindivisiblemi.com

STAY IN CONTACT

Contact Michigan House of Representatives: https://www.house.mi.gov/AllRepresentatives

Contact Michigan State Senate: https://senate.michigan.gov/FindYOurSenator/

Contact the Governor:

MI Portal: https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ContactGovernor.aspx

Phone: 517-335-7858

Mail: PO Box 30013; Lansing, MI 48909

Contact the Attorney General:

MI Portal: https://www.michigan.gov/ag

Email: miag@michigan.gov

Phone: 517-335-7622

Mail: 525 W. Ottawa St. PO Box 30212; Lansing, MI 48909