Time to get to work!

This week's newsletter is full of ideas about WHAT YOU CAN DO to win the midterm elections in Wisconsin, starting with attending our Save Our State campaign kick-off rally.

If you have not yet signed up for our Save Our State rally at Doctors Park (1870 East Fox Lane, Fox Point) on Sunday, September 18, from 3:30-5:30pm, you need to take care of this task immediately! Although Governor Evers can't attend in person, he's sent us a video greeting. Our Attorney General Josh Kaul will be there as well as our current Lieutenant Governor and stellar candidate for US Senate, Mandela Barnes. And we will also get a chance to meet and hear from the Assembly District candidates in our area: Deb Andraca (AD 23), Dan Larsen (AD 60), Darrin Madison (AD 10), and Bob Tatterson (AD 24). Here's a map to help get you there:
The event is fully outdoors and the weather promises to be fine! We'd love to see you.

One note about the Save Our State event. Usually, we hold a picnic each fall and ask for donations to the organization. We are, after all, an entirely volunteer grassroots group, but we do have some expenses (like paying for the website and the newsletter!). This year the venue does not permit us to solicit donations at the park. So I'm asking you to give through our website or by writing a check made out to Grassroots North Shore with "Save Our State" on the memo line. You can mail your check to Grassroots North Shore, 5600 W Brown Deer Road, Suite 116, Brown Deer, WI 53223.

A new Marquette University Law School poll will be released on Wednesday, September 14, at 12:15. It's an in-person event. So if you just want to read the information for yourself, a news release and poll data will be on the website shortly after 1:15pm. It will also be livestreamed on the website. The poll surveys races for various statewide offices as well as a range of important topics, including the direction of the state, public schools, reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, student loan forgiveness, abortion policy, confidence in the 2020 election, inflation, taxes, gun violence, illegal immigration, crime, climate change, and ensuring votes are accurately counted.

There are plenty of other ways you can participate in democratic elections in both partisan and nonpartisan activities.

Join a team and talk to your neighbors from now until election day. You will find the information you need for each of the following Neighborhood Action Teams. Research has shown that talking to people is the surest way to turn out the vote!

Glendale Neighborhood Action Team
Whitefish Bay Neighborhood Action Team
Shorewood Neighborhood Action Team: Coming soon.
Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point Neighborhood Action Team
Ozaukee County Dems

The League of Women Voters is recruiting Election Observers across the state to observe the November Election on November 8, 2022. Volunteers will help ensure we have a fair election by watching for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and by monitoring the way Wisconsin's election laws and procedures are being applied. Even if you only have a couple hours to spare on Election Day, you can still sign up to be an election observer. Being an election observer is a vital way you can help maintain a strong democracy in our state. Learn more and sign up to volunteer today!
Common Cause, a non-partisan organization, is also engaging in a voter protection effort.
Team up with the Wisconsin Democratic Party's Election Protection Project.

YARD SIGNS: right now Grassroots North Shore has some Mandela signs available at various pick-up locations. We should have more signs, I hope for all the statewide candidates, after the September 18 Save Our State rally. Just email the person hosting a distribution site for an address and instructions on where to find the signs. The distribution points are listed by community.

Bayside/Brown Deer/Fox Point: Andy Berger
Glendale/River Hills: Nancy Kaplan
Mequon/Thiensville: Mark Gennis
Mequon/Thiensville: Kath Michel
Shorewood: Norma Gilson
Whitefish Bay: Shirley Horowitz

The Democrats of Ozaukee County also have signs at the office: 1930 Wisconsin Avenue, Grafton, WI, 53024. To contact the Oz party, visit the website and use the "contact" link at the bottom of the home page.

And the Democrats of Milwaukee County have yard signs at their office: 2999 S Delaware Ave, Milwaukee. The office is staffed Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am - 7pm. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am - 7pm. On Saturdays from 9am - 1pm. You can contact the office by email.

This week, the Events List is filling out, but before you get to that, a little reminder about what our current senior US Senator is saying and doing!

Just Say NO to RoJo

A few days ago, Jennifer Rubin, reformed Republican and opinion columnist for the Washington Post, published a piece with the title Ron Johnson is proving to be a great campaigner — for Democrats. For example, "Johnson — infamous for his conspiracy theories, his racist take on Jan. 6, his involvement in the 2020 coup and his eagerness to spread Russian propaganda — has given Democrats plenty of ammunition in Wisconsin’s critical Senate race." She goes on to note that "In February, he declared that Wisconsin had enough jobs and therefore shouldn’t make a pitch to manufacture new postal vehicles, which would create 1,000 jobs. He also handed Democrats the ultimate political gift: He attacked Social Security."

And that's not all: after having said in July that he would support a bill codifying the right to marry who you love, he now says he won't back the same-sex marriage bill. According to The Hill, he said he was objecting to the bill on religious liberty grounds, calling the issue "a wound that was healed." In early September, Johnson said he released that statement to get the media “off my backs.”

Now really is the time to get to work. The first absentee ballots will be mailed from municipal clerks' offices on September 22. The deadline for online registration is October 19. Early in-person voting begins on October 25. And of course election day is November 8. I don't need to tell you how critical — even existential — this one is. So, please, find SOMETHING you can do to help beat back the MAGA Republicans in this state. And get busy!

EVENTS

Tuesday, September 13

Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Estabrook Beer Garden, 4600 Estabrook Drive, Milwaukee
Drinking Liberally MKE will be outdoors! It will move to a virtual meeting if
1) the temperature is forecast to be below 50 degrees;
2) heavy rain is in the forecast.
More information.

350 Milwaukee Meeting, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Zoom
The Milwaukee chapter of 350.org is part of an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all. Virtual meetings take place on the second Tuesday of the month. More information.

Wednesday, September 14

Marquette Wisconsin Poll, 12:15 – 1:15pm
Marquette Law School, Eckstein Hall, 1215 W Michigan St, and livestream
The Marquette Law School polling results will cover public opinions on candidates for Wisconsin governor and U.S. Senate. Register to attend the program in person (a light lunch will be available) or see a complete news release and poll data on the Law School Poll Website after the event. More information.

Thursday, September 15

Rally for Peace in Ukraine, 12:00 – 1:00pm
1500 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
Peace Action WI, Veterans for Peace Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Endthe Wars Coalition will hold a rally for peace in Ukraine.

Imagine: Ozaukee Dems Gala, 5:00 - 8:30pm
Shully's, 146 Green Bay Rd, Thiensville
Join us for our annual Fall Gala Fundraising event at Shully’s. The guest list is like no other - as we are in the heart of the battleground for the Nov. 8 election. The Senate, our State, and our Democracy can all be decided right here. Imagine… Get your tickets today!

Saturday, September 17

Canvassing with Oz Dems, 9:00am - 12:00pm and 12:00 -3:00pm
Ozaukee County Dems Office, 1930 Wisconsin Ave, Grafton
Join the Oz Dems for our canvass this Saturday to talk to our neighbors about how critical the 2022 midterms are, in support of Democrats up and down the ticket in November! Sign up.

Fox Point Neighborhood Team Canvass, 12:00 - 3:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join the Fox Point Neighborhood Action Team for a volunteer meetup and neighborhood canvass! Get to know other folks organizing in your neighborhood and learn more about how you can help elect Democrats up and down the ballot in November. We'll take some time to introduce ourselves, and then we'll head out to canvass voters in the neighborhood. First time canvassing? No problem! Our organizers will walk you through everything you need to know to reach out to your neighbors to get them out to vote in November. Sign up.

Whitefish Bay Get Out the Vote Canvassing, 12:30 - 3:30pm & 3:30 - 6:30pm
Address provided with sign up
Join the Whitefish Bay Neighborhood Action Team for door-to-door voter outreach. First time canvassing? No problem! Our organizers will walk you through everything you need to know to reach out to your neighbors to get them out to vote in November. This event repeats pretty much every Saturday until the election! Sign up.

Stand for Peace, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Sherman Boulevard & North Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sunday, September 18

Save Our State Rally, 3:30 – 5:30pm
Doctors Park, 1870 East Fox Lane, Fox Point
Find out how you can help save our state by electing Tony Evers, Mandela Barnes, and other Democratic candidates running for state and local positions. Come hear from and meet Lt. Gov and US Senate candidate Mandela Barnes, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and Assembly District candidates for AS 10, AD 23, AD 24, and AD 60. Sponsored by Grassroots North Shore. Co-sponsored by Ozaukee Count Dems and Wisconsin Conservation Voters. RSVP.

Tuesday, September 20

Supermarket Legends Voter Registration, various times
Various locations
Three opportunities to volunteer with Supermarket Legends on National Voter Registration Day!
1) UWM: Supermarket Legends will have a couple of tables that need additional volunteers to staff. Email Sue Schneidler to help out.
2) Feet on the Street Flyer Distribution: Pass out our election flyers in front of businesses, which have given us approval to do so. This personal contact with voters is very effective in turning out the vote. You can work in pairs. Contact Linea Sundstrom to sign up for a location and a shift.
3) Harambee Neighborhood Registration Event: Help register Milwaukee voters in the Harambee neighborhood on National Voter Registration Day, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign (a joint project of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice and the Wisconsin Council of Churches) is partnering with Crossing Jordan Ministries, 2312 W Capitol Drive, to register community members and help them request absentee ballots for the November 8 election. Contact Rhonda Lindner.

Letter Writing Workshop, 6:00 - 7:00pm
Online
A Free Virtual Workshop: Writing Letters to the Editor With Examples, Tips, and Issue Information Sheets, led by WisDems on-call writing expert Haley McCoy. The workshop will be a great place to meet Haley McCoy, who will also be available for any questions for the rest of the campaign. In the workshop, Haley will use sample letters and offer tips on how to write successful letters to the editor. She will also provide issue information sheets and talking points to help bolster your letters. Register.

Wednesday, September 21

Oz Dems Monthly Meeting, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Ozaukee Democrats Office (1930 Wisconsin Avenue, Grafton)
We will meet in person at our Grafton office space. If you wish to attend virtually, look for the Zoom link in our weekly newsletter and/or Facebook. All members of the general public are welcome to attend our monthly meetings, but please note that only current members of the party may vote on party business.

Thursday, September 22

Voter Protection 101, 5:00 - 6:00pm
Virtual
Join our Wisconsin Voter Protection 101 Training to learn the basics of Wisconsin election law so you can help people exercise their right to vote, and learn how you can get involved protecting democracy in your community! Register.

Saturday, September 24

Canvassing with Ozaukee Dems, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Ozaukee County Dems Office, 1930 Wisconsin Ave, Grafton
Join the Oz Dems for our canvass this Saturday to talk to our neighbors about how critical the 2022 midterms are, in support of Democrats up and down the ticket in November! Sign up.

WIN MILWAUKEE, WIN WISCONSIN Rally, 11:00am
Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St, Milwaukee
Instead of our normal Monthly County Meeting, the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County will host Gov. Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and other statewide candidates plus DPMC officers at a rally to get charged up. RSVP through our Facebook event. You must be vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test within the last 72 hours to attend the meeting. No exceptions.

Sunday, September 25

Grassroots Glendale Gets out the Vote!, 12:00 - 3:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join the Grassroots Glendale Neighborhood Action Team for a Sunday (or three!) of door-to-door voter outreach. First time canvassing? No problem! Our organizers will walk you through everything you need to know to reach out to your neighbors to get them out to vote in November. This event repeats pretty much every Saturday until the election, but the times may vary because of the Packers game! Sign up.