There's so much to write about and so much to do. So this week I'm going to focus on the actions and events we are hosting before the April 7 elections.

First up, we have scheduled four more postcard parties, all of them on Mondays from 10-noon at our office. We're limiting participation in the actual writing to 15 people at a time, but you don't have to write cards to contribute. These actions are among our most expensive — because of the cost of stamps. So if you can't come during Monday mornings, how about contributing to our elections budget and help us buy enough stamps? You can use this Act Blue page for that purpose, or you can send a contribution by check to Grassroots North Shore, 5600 W Brown Deer Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53223. If you can come, please sign up using these links:

• Monday, March 2, from 10am-noon;
• Monday, March 9, from 10am-noon;
• Monday, March 16, from 10am-noon;
• Monday, March 23, from 10am-noon.

We are also holding two spectacular events:

1. Tipping Point Wisconsin, a reprise will be held on Wednesday, March 4, in our office at 6pm. We will share highlights of our December program that featured nationally renowned Democratic strategist Celinda Lake. If you missed that event, sign up for this reprise and learn more about what it will take to win in Wisconsin and nationally! Seating is limited to the first 25 to RSVP!
   
   
2. Wisconsin — It's Time for Sensible Gun Laws, will take place on Sunday, March 15, at the Brown Deer Methodist Church, 5736 W Brown Deer Rd, Brown Deer, from 4pm-6pm. The town hall will feature four speakers: Anneliese Dickman (Brady Foundation), Deb Andraca (formerly with Moms Demand Action), Khary Pennebaker (DNC committee on suicide prevention), and Jeri Bonavia (WAVE).

And now we come to the most important of our activities: CANVASSING, PHONING, and TEXTING to boost turnout for the April 7 election. So far, we have two Weekends of Action on the horizon.

• Make plans to join us at the Grassroots North Shore Office (5600 Brown Deer Rd, Suite 116) for our first Weekend of Action on Saturday, March 21, to canvass or to phone and text. We're working in three shifts for canvassing: shift 1 from 9:30am-noon; shift 2 from 12:30pm-3:00pm, and shift 3 from 3:00pm-5:30pm. Our phone banking shifts are as follows: 10:00am-noon; 1:00pm-3:00pm; and 3:00pm-5:00pm.
  
  
• The second Weekend of Action at our office will begin on Saturday, March 28, both to canvass and to reach voters by phone and text message.
  
  
• On Sunday, March 23, and again on Sunday, March 29, our canvassing efforts will run out of a house in Whitefish Bay, at 10:00am and noon.
  
  
• Also on Sunday, March 23, and again on Sunday, March 29, we will be running canvasses from a house in Glendale at 3:00pm.
  
  
• And for Shorewood residents, Blue Wave Shorewood is hosting a canvass there on Saturday, March 21, beginning at 9:00am, at The Oaks of Shorewood, 3900 Eastabrook Pkwy, Shorewood. For more information contact Paul Geenen.

You can find all these events and actions on our website. Please sign up now and mark your calendars!

Maybe this all seems a little overwhelming. Plus Easter and Passover arrive just as this election ends. But I can't stress enough how important it will be to turn out our voters in the biggest numbers possible. The April 7 election may be nonpartisan, but the offices we fill that day are vital to the everyday lives of Wisconsin residents. And the race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is especially important. I'll have more to say about that race and its implications in future newsletters. Suffice it to say here, many critical issues — including what will happen when Wisconsin has to draw new election maps in 2021 — are at stake.

We need your help now, both to fund our election efforts and to contact potential voters. And while you're deciding on which days you can give a couple of hours to this effort, be sure to check your own registration, polling place, and sample ballot at myvote.wi.gov.

EVENTS

Tue Feb 25, 2020

Cannabis Roundtable / Palzewicz, 5:30pm - 7pm
West Allis Public Library, 7421 W National Ave, West Allis
Tom Palzewicz, candidate for Assembly in the 5th District, will moderate a panel discussion on legalizing cannabis. Special guests are Wisconsin State Rep. Melissa Sargent, who is the leading author of state legislation to legalize cannabis, and Margaret Daun, Corporation Counsel for Milwaukee County. Open to the public. RSVP.

Presidential Debate, 7pm - 9pm
CBS outlets on TV and the Web
CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute are hosting this debate in Charleston, South Carolina. It will be carried on CBS and streamed on CBSN.

Wed Feb 26, 2020

Community Justice Council, 9:30am - 11am
Clinton Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. Martin Luther King Dr., Milwaukee
Milwaukee Community Justice Council Meeting of the Whole. More information on the web and on Facebook.

Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Weekly gathering at Bounce Milwaukee's mezzanine bar for networking, inspiration or just to vent. Bring along any evidence of your civic resistance from the last week to get a beverage (up to $7) on the house, and compare notes with other individuals and groups working to make things better. More information.

Drinking Liberally Glendale, 6:30pm - 9pm
Bavarian Bierhaus, 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale
Drinking Liberally Glendale meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. A monthly meetup to eat, drink, and talk politics with like-minded people. More information.

Drinking Liberally Port Washington, 6:30pm - 8pm
Schooner Pub, 114 N Franklin St, Port Washington
TBA

Thu Feb 27, 2020

Mental Health Board Meeting, 9am - 9am
Peck Welcome Center Pavilion, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd. Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Meeting. Public Comment: none. More information.

Clean, Affordable Energy Transition, 6pm - 8pm
Wauwatosa Public Library, Firefly Room, 7635 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
Citizen Action will present one in a series of forums on Milwaukee's Green New Deal: Moving Our Utility to Clean, Affordable Energy. Panelists will include J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director of Fresh Energy of Minnesota and an expert in climate and energy policy at state and national levels, along with the Sierra Club of Wisconsin reporting on the status of the Clean Energy Transition in Wisconsin. The discussion will explore how our utility compares with others, the economic impacts of shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy, and how to accelerate the transition.

Fri Feb 28, 2020

Stand for Livable Climate, 12pm - 1pm
Wisconsin Avenue & Water Street, Milwaukee
Stand for a livable climate near the Chase and Wells Fargo Banks, the world's largest funders of fossil fuel industries. More information.

Sat Feb 29, 2020

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Kinnickinnic Avenue & Lincoln Avenue
Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sanders Phone Bank, 1pm - 3:30pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S 5th Ct. Milwaukee
Come together with friends, family, and neighbors to call voters in support of Bernie! Phonebanking is one of the most important things you can do to help the campaign win. Note: In addition to a cell phone, please bring a laptop or tablet to make calls on the Bernie Dialer. Please download Chrome or Firefox beforehand if you can! Bring headphones or a headset. RSVP.

Sun Mar 1, 2020

Buttigieg Phone Bank, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Stone Creek Coffee, Upstairs, 422 N. 5th St., Milwaukee
This will be an event set aside for phone banking in all the Super Tuesday states. Bring your phone, your happy voice, and best sales-pitch for Pete! RSVP.

Jessica Katzenmeyer Fundraiser, 5pm - 7pm
Studz Pub, 6833 W. National Ave., West Allis
Jessica Katzenmeyer’s 41st Birthday Party Fundraiser for her campaign in Assembly District 15. Rep. Christine Sinicki will be a special guest. Pizza, snacks, and a cake will be served. Sponsorship levels: Star Galactic Commander: $1,000; Rising Star: $500; Supporter: $250; Friend: $100; Suggested donation: $50.

Mon Mar 2, 2020

Postcard Party at Grassroots North Shore, 10am - 12pm
5600 W Brown Deer Rd, Suite 116
Write a few cards and make a difference. We're using postcards to reach voters during these cold winter months when canvassing is just not really possible. Help turn out voters for the April 7 election! RSVP.

Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 9pm
Clarke Irish Pub, 314 W. Main St., Waukesha
Drinking Liberally Waukesha meets the first Monday of each month. More information.

Wed Mar 4, 2020

Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Weekly gathering at Bounce Milwaukee's mezzanine bar for networking, inspiration or just to vent. Bring along any evidence of your civic resistance from the last week to get a beverage (up to $7) on the house, and compare notes with other individuals and groups working to make things better. More information.

Thu Mar 5, 2020

DPMC Issues Committee Meeting, 4:30pm - 4:30pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
NOTE: NEW DAY. The Democratic Party's Issues Committee holds its meeting on the first Thursday of each month. All Democrats are welcome to participate.

Fri Mar 6, 2020

Lead Issue in Milwaukee, 1pm - 3pm
United Way Volunteer Center, 200 W. Pleasant St., Milwaukee
This public issues forum will bring together state, local, and community policy makers and leaders to focus attention and resources on the part of Milwaukee where data indicate the need is greatest. Each panelist will indicate their priorities for the North Side and describe resources needed. Panelists will be questioned by a moderator, by each other and by the audience. Free and Open to the Public - No RSVP Required. Gathering at 12:30 p.m. - Program 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. More information.

YES Fundraiser, 4pm - 9pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), the student branch of Voces dela Frontera, is planning a trip to Washington DC in an effort to develop and sustain their members' leadership skills.The goal is to fund the trip for 27 Milwaukee area students and 3 chaperones. More information.

Sat Mar 7, 2020

Buttigieg Volunteer Event, 8am - 11am
Riverwest Food Pantry, St. Casimir Church, 924 E. Clarke St., Milwaukee
Has Pete inspired you to do more for your community? Then throw on your Pete gear and come out tp Milwaukee's Riverwest Food Pantry for a morning of service with your fellow Pete supporters. RSVP.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Capitol Drive & Oakland Avenue
Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sanders Phone Bank, 1pm - 3:30pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S 5th Ct. Milwaukee,
Come together with friends, family, and neighbors to call voters in support of Bernie! Phonebanking is one of the most important things you can do to help the campaign win. Note: In addition to a cell phone, please bring a laptop or tablet to make calls on the Bernie Dialer. Please download Chrome or Firefox beforehand if you can! Bring headphones or a headset. RSVP.

Recruitment Phone Bank, 4pm - 6pm
1027 E. Ogden Ave., Milwaukee
Easy recruitment calls to get fellow activists to schedule for Weekends of Action and Get Out the Vote in March/April. Help make sure we can make a real difference in the April election! RSVP.

Sun Mar 8, 2020

International Women’s Day Celebration, 2pm - 5pm
UW-Milwaukee’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, 2100 E Kenwood Blvd.,Milwaukee
Guest speakers will include Madonna Thunder Hawk, Cheyenne River Lakota Nation activist (via Skype) on the Lakota Child Rescue Project, and local Welfare Warrior Pat Gowens of the Mothers and Grandmothers of Disappeared Children on the forced separation of poor Milwaukee children from their families by the foster care industry.

Rebecca Kiefer Campaign Fundraiser, 4pm - 5:30pm
The Ruby Tap, 1341 N Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa
On International Women's Day, you are invited to a reception at Ruby Tap in support of Rebecca Kiefer's campaign for Milwaukee County Circuit Court. RSVP.

Mon Mar 9, 2020

Postcard Party at Grassroots North Shore, 10am - 12pm
5600 W Brown Deer Rd, Suite 116, Brown Deer
Write a few cards and make a difference. We're using postcards to reach voters during these cold winter months when canvassing is just not really possible. Help turn out voters for the April 7 election! RSVP.

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr. , Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.

Witness to PEPFAR: An American Foreign Aid Success Story, 6pm - 8pm
Shorewood Public Library, 3920 N Murray Ave, Shorewood
Lifesaving HIV medications first became available to Africans in 2003 as the result of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Since 2004, Dr. Ian Gilson has volunteered his skills and experience to assist health care workers in Kenya and Uganda to acquire the expertise required to use HIV medications effectively. During his most recent visit, Dr. Gilson was able to witness the dramatic transformation of HIV in Africa from a death sentence to a chronic and survivable condition, due largely to the drugs provided by PEPFAR and the World Health Organization. PEPFAR is an unprecedented American public health and foreign aid success which we as Americans can all be proud of. Dr. Gilson will relate stories of the heroic doctors and nurses as well as individuals with HIV infection, who have turned this deadly disease around, and who continue to do truly inspiring work every day.