In last week's newsletter, I wrote that fall was almost upon us. This week, it's here already! And since Labor Day is now in the rear view mirror, it really is time to get ourselves in gear and get going. Voting is already happening in North Carolina and may soon begin here as well. Municipal clerks by law must send absentee ballots to everyone who has already requested them by September 17, according to the Wisconsin Election Commission. September 17 is a mere nine days from now. So Wisconsin voters should have ballots in hand by the 19th or 21st of this month. Another way to think about this: Get Out the Vote work — traditionally the focus of the last weekend before election day — is already on the bubble. And Grassroots North Shore is beginning its GOTV effort by doing follow-up phone calls with people we've recently sent postcards to. We'll be calling two different populations: women on the North Shore in Milwaukee County and younger voters (ages 18-40) in the city. All the targets are at least leaning toward voting for Democrats, so these should be easy calls to make. You can sign up now. We should have everything ready to go by the begging of next week.

And don't forget to tune in to our Zoom picnic morphed into a candidate forum on Sunday, September 13. The event begins at 4:30 but the "waiting room" opens at 4:15. You'll want to be there to hear from a quartet of Democratic candidates, three of whom who are running to unseat incumbent Republicans. Deb Andraca is running for Assembly District 23. Her territory includes Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside, and a big chunk of eastern Ozaukee County. Emily Siegrist is running for Assembly District 24, with territory in Glendale, Brown Deer, a piece of west Ozaukee County, and a chunk of Washington County. And Neal Plotkin is running to unseat Alberta Darling in the 8th state Senate District. That district includes Assembly District 23 and Assembly District 24. Dora Drake, the fourth candidate in our forum, is running for an open seat in Assembly District 11.

Each candidate will give a 10-minute presentation followed by a Question and Answer period with Edgar Lin, an attorney with experience in the State Public Defenders Office. So by the end of the event, you'll be well informed about the race in your Assembly District and in a state Senate District. Why is this important? We're counting on you to do the vital work of relational organizing, a fancy term for talking with your friends and neighbors about these outstanding candidates. And about the need to overcome the gerrymandering the GOP legislature put in place in 2011. If Republicans gain a supermajority in both of the legislative chambers in this election, they will be able to over-ride the Governor's veto of the rigged electoral maps they're sure to concoct in 2011, ensuring Republican control of the legislature until 2031. We can't let that happen!

So join us for this candidate forum by signing up on our website. You'll then receive an email with the information you need to connect with the zoom meeting. Sign up here.

And for a little pick-me-up, try the Republican-leaning Rasmussen poll for Wisconsin. It has Biden leading the evil buffoon in the White House by 8%, 51% to 43%. "Among the 84% of Wisconsin voters who are already certain how they will vote, Biden leads 54% to 46%." Will you look at that! The BLUE team is fired up and ready to vote.

Tue Sep 8, 2020

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm Water Street Brewery, 1251 Gateway Dr. Grafton
TBA

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More information.

350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee meets every month on the second Tuesday. More information.

Wed Sep 9, 2020

Newsmaker: Gov. Tony Evers, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Gov. Tony Evers will be the featured guest at a virtual Newsmaker event presented by the Milwaukee Press Club and Wispolitics.com. He will discuss current issues facing the state including the COVID-19 pandemic and logistics surrounding the upcoming general election November 3. He will also take questions from a panel of journalists and from the audience. Register in advance and receive a link on the morning of the event to view it live. Registration is now closed.

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Thu Sep 10, 2020

Stand For Justice, 12pm - 1:30pm
South 27th Street & West Oklahoma Avenue, S 27th St & W Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee
"Stand for Justice" Let's ALL exercise our right to support Black Lives Matter in ways both large and small. Come "Stand" with us rain or shine every Wednesday and Saturday from 12:00-1:30 p.m. on 27th & Oklahoma. Bring your own sign and chair if you like. This small protest is perfect for folks like me who are unable to attend long protests and rallies. Remember: EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS. Organized by Karen Hartwell, Kathleen Kat Hickman-Turner, and Rachel Adair.

Thursday PhoneBanks for Neal Plotkin!, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Your Home
Join us for a virtual phone bank to help elect Neal Plotkin win this November! Every call made is critical in making sure we flip the 8th Senate District Blue! Register Here.

Palzewicz Event: Veterans Issues, 6pm - 6:30pm
Online
Tom Palzewicz, Candidate for Wisconsin’s 5th congressional district, along with special guest Richard Ojeda, a retired United States Army major who served in the West Virginia Senate, will speak on Veterans' issues. Tune in to find out how your next congressman will solve these issues in Washington D.C. RSVP.

Info: Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
TBA
For information on whether the event will take place, check here.

BLOC Fundraiser, 7pm
Online
Wisconsin decides who our next president will be. Milwaukee decides who wins Wisconsin. BLOC decided who wins Milwaukee. If Wisconsin holds the keys to the 2020 election, then meet the leaders who are making Wisconsin fair, just and ultimately blue through their work in these times. Hosted by Academy Award winning screenwriter John Ridley, a Wisconsinite, you’ll hear from a panel of leaders ranging from Wisconsin Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and BLOC Milwaukee Executive Director Angela Lang to talk about what it will take for Joe Biden to win the state in November. Proceeds of this, first of its kind, event will benefit the "BLOC Political Action Committee" that funds over 100 "BLOC Ambassadors" and digital organizing to drive record turnout in Milwaukee in 2020. DONATE and RSVP.

Tom Palzewicz Web Fundraiser, 7pm - 8pm
Online
Please join Malekeh (Mimi) Hakami, Kristin Hansen, and Ann Meyers for this Web fundraiser for Tom Palzewicz, candidate for Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District, with special guest, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes. RSVP.

Sat Sep 12, 2020

Weekend of Action, 9am - 9pm
Phone calls
Sign up now to make calls into Milwaukee neighborhoods. Phonebanking is the lifeblood of the 2020 Campaign. It is the best way to make personal contact with a large number of voters. Sign up for as many days of phonebanking as you can work into your schedule. Sign up and more information.

UN Assn of MKE, 10am - 11am
Zoom
A virtual discussion with Markasa Tucker, director of the African American Roundtable at Wisconsin Voices. She will provide an overview of the Liberate MKE campaign and what role local government and Milwaukee residents can play in the effort to achieve local safety. Register in advance. More information.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace is resuming their presence with careful precautions (more information). Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Laughing Liberally Milwaukee, 8pm - 10pm
Podcast
During the pandemic, Laughing Liberally Milwaukee has morphed into podcasts with local comedians, to be released on the first and third Wednesday of the month. More information.

Sun Sep 13, 2020

Weekend of Action, 12pm - 9pm
Phone calls
Sign up now to make calls into Milwaukee neighborhoods. Phonebanking is the lifeblood of the 2020 Campaign. It is the best way to make personal contact with a large number of voters. Sign up for as many days of phonebanking as you can work into your schedule. Sign up and more information

North Shore Candidate Forum, 4:30pm - 6pm
Virtual
Grassroots North Shore will present several of the Democrats who are running for the Wisconsin legislature this year. Featured candidates include: Deb Andraca, who is running against Jim Ott in Assembly District 23; Emily Siegrist, running against Dan Knodl in Assembly District 24; Neal Plotkin, running against State Senator Alberta Darling in State Senate District 8; and Dora Drake, running in Assembly District 11 against Orlando Owens. Each candidate will give a short presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A with moderator Edgar Lin. RSVP.

Princess Bride Virtual Dem Fundraiser, 6pm - 7pm
Online
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin will host an exclusive, one-time live-streamed script reading of “The Princess Bride” by most of the film’s original cast, as well as special guests and comedian Patton Oswalt, in a fundraiser to support Democratic candidates ahead of the November election. Chip in any amount to help Trump lose Wisconsin. Information on accessing the event will be sent after donation. RSVP.

Mon Sep 14, 2020

Virtual Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally Waukesha will be held virtually with Zoom. Guest speaker will be Dan Kaufman, who has written for The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker, among others, and is the author the fantastic book, The Fall of Wisconsin. He'll discuss issues of Labor and more. More information.

Wed Sep 16, 2020

Women Lead: Meet these five pro-choice progressive women!, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Virtual
BYO cocktails and crudités; we'll provide the powerhouse pro-choice candidates! Emcee: Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin State Treasurer. RSVP Today! Can't make it? No worries — you can still support the candidates right here!

Grass Roots South Shore Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Virtual
Grass Roots South Shore will have a virtual meeting. Please take the time to attend this meeting and be part of the solution. More information

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Online
On the first and third Wednesday of every month, host Matthew Filipowicz and a different Laughing Liberally MKE comedian will discuss and joke about a news story, and talk a bit about the craft of comedy. The podcasts will be available on the website. More information.

Info: Southwest Region Dems Meeting, 7pm - 7pm
TBA
Southwest Dems (Region 5) cover Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Milwaukee (Southwest), West Allis, West Milwaukee. For information on when a meeting may be held check Facebook or email.

Thu Sep 17, 2020

Stand For Justice, 12pm - 1:30pm
South 27th Street & West Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee
"Stand for Justice" Let's ALL exercise our right to support Black Lives Matter in ways both large and small. Come "Stand" with us rain or shine every Wednesday and Saturday from 12:00-1:30 p.m. on 27th & Oklahoma. Bring your own sign and chair if you like. This small protest is perfect for folks like me who are unable to attend long protests and rallies. Remember: EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS. Organized by Karen Hartwell, Kathleen Kat Hickman-Turner, and Rachel Adair.

Thursday PhoneBanks for Neal Plotkin!, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Your Home
Join us for a virtual phone bank to help elect Neal Plotkin win this November! Every call made is critical in making sure we flip the 8th Senate District Blue! Register Here.

Emily Siegrist Virtual Fundraiser, 7pm - 8pm
Zoom
Please join several local female leaders and elected officials for a virtual fundraising event focused on women’s issues in support of Emily’s campaign. A special guest, Francesca Hong, is running for the76th Assembly District, which includes Madison. Join in for an evening of inspiring conversation between these two young, progressive activists running for office to make Wisconsin a better place for our families and future generations. Zoom link will be sent after RSVP. Sponsorship levels: Marvel $1,000 | Superwoman $500 | Wonderwoman $250 | Ironwoman $100. RSVP.

Sat Sep 19, 2020

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace is resuming their presence with careful precautions (more information). Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Sep 21, 2020

Milwaukee Dems Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Zoom
Milwaukee County Democrats meet monthly to discuss party business, hear speakers on current topics, pass resolutions, and network with other progressives. All interested Democrats are invited. Information about how to access the meeting will be sent after registration. RSVP.