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August 26, 2021
WORLDS SAVED: 1
PROGRESSIVES WE'VE HELPED REGISTER: 2,940,883
TOTAL VOTERS REACHED OUT TO: 15,304,676
DAYS UNTIL 2022 MIDTERM ELECTION: 439
DAYS UNTIL CA RECALL ELECTION: 19
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Last week I spent the majority of my time by a pool reading one of four books, three of which I finished and one which I abandoned about halfway through because it was a little dull and life is short. The rest of the time was spent either eating or napping, with some walks thrown in for variety’s sake (and to work off the ice cream!). For five days I did not check my email once. It all felt rather strange and luxurious, this almost entirely unstructured time, long enough to relax and slow down both mentally and physically.
Here at Field Team 6 we are constantly cajoling you to RSVP, or sign up, or join in, or in some way do more than you already are or have already done. The reasons are many and compelling, and the need is great, so the asks are real and the results of those who continue to say yes are impressive and awe-inspiring.
But before I lose the soft edges of my time away, I’d like to encourage you to not show up. Sometimes. Even when it feels like the world is on fire. Even when it feels that only you, acting immediately, can possibly put it right again.
This race we are running feels like both a sprint and a marathon. But we must also acknowledge that this is really a relay race, and that sometimes we need to look for the activist running just in front of us before we fall down. It’s OK to hand the baton to the hands that are reaching back, eager to take it. It’s OK for you to take a break. To catch your breath, to read a book or three, to drink a coffee and really taste it, to binge all six seasons of a show, to savor relaxation, whatever that means to you.
Activist fatigue is real. If you’re tired in ways you can’t quite articulate, you are not alone. Taking time to not show up, even if it’s just for a week, can recharge your batteries in a way that can allow you to bring your joy back to the fight. It’s a race, but it’s a relay race that we’ll win together without a doubt. That’s my week off talking.
Here's how Audre Lorde puts it. "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
And if it’s not too ironic, here’s an event you can RSVP to if you are too tired to do anything else: Overcoming Activist Fatigue. Just click HERE.
And if you’ve taken a break and are tentatively poking your head above the wall, welcome back! You look fabulous. If you start running, just look over your shoulder with your hand stretched behind you, and someone will gratefully hand you the baton, I promise.
Dale - COO, FT6
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VOTER DRIVE IN A BOX:
WI NITTY GRIDDY VIDDY
Field Team 6 is thrilled to be launching in-person voter drives (wherever it's safe) with our most streamlined training system ever. It's called Voter Drive in a Box – and it's available for each of our 2022 target states. We're also putting one together for non-target states, so you can register Democrats anywhere in the country!
What’s in the virtual box? Everything you need to lead your own in-person voter drive and save the world… customized for your battleground state! That can be as small as you and a friend going to a community college on your lunch break, or as big as you like!
The most fun part of each state's Voter Drive in a Box is the "Nitty Gritty" video. They're fun, they're quick, and they teach you exactly how to register Democrats using either a paper form, or using Voterizer.org on a smartphone or tablet.
Today we unveil our Nitty Gritty video for the critical state of Wisconsin! In 2020, Badger State voters handed Joe Biden Wisconsin by just over 20,000 votes, helping propel him to the presidency. In 2022 Wisconsinites can help save our Senate majority by ousting Russian asset Ron Johnson — a man the New York times dubbed “the Republican Party's foremost amplifier of conspiracy theories and disinformation now that Donald Trump himself is banned from social media.”
We can’t overstate the importance of ousting Johnson, and because we can expect a lot of dirty tricks, we’re going to need a lot of new, Blue voters to get the job done. So behold: The Nitty Gritty for Registering Wisconsin Democrats HERE —and our Wisconsin Voter Drive in a Box.
Find the Voter Drive in a Box for your other favorite battlegrounds right HERE. And if you want to help us put them together, LET US KNOW!
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VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: VOTERIZER FIELD GUIDE |
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WITH GREAT POWER COMES... A GREAT INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
Voterizer.org is the fastest way to register a Democrat! And this new video is the fastest way to start using the Field Version of Voterizer, designed to help you register as many Democrats as possible on voter drives!
At 2 1/2 minutes, this handy video is like injecting the instruction manual directly into your brain via your visual cortex. Ah, science!
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TEXTBANKING OLD-SCHOOL: WITH YOUR OWN PHONE*!
Get ready to BYOP – Bring Your Own Phone (plan) – to a whole new, groundbreaking style of text bank! We're bootcamping today Thursday, 8/26, at 4p PT, and we’ll be registering new Democrats and urging them to vote NO on the Republican-funded California Recall. Our game-changing goal is to ramp up textbanking without having to raise money for expensive texting software. We’ll train you how to text from your computer, using your data plan. Once trained you can do this on your own time!
This “pay what you can” textbanking uses mildly awkward technology. So if you’re at all tech-challenged, you may be excused. Click HERE to sign up! Have zero dollars but still want to help? We got you. Just email us HERE and we’ll make it happen. (*plan – you won't actually be texting from your phone)
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 28:
JOIN THE MARCH FOR VOTING RIGHTS
With voting rights under serious attack all across the country, it’s time to get marching in the streets.
Since January, 48 states have introduced 389 voter suppression bills, and many have already become law. Anti-voting legislation works to hamper high turnout: banning ballot drop boxes and mail-in voting, reducing early voting days and hours, even making it illegal to give water to voters waiting in the long lines these very laws create.
GOP-controlled state legislatures pass these laws in the name of fighting “voter fraud.” But we all know the real reason for these racist, anti-democratic anti-voter laws – to cement Republican control of government despite the will of the voters. And they’re putting democracy and our very lives in peril to do that.
Enough is enough – it's time to take serious action. On August 28, mask up and join the march on Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Phoenix and cities all across America.
RSVP to March On for Voting Rights HERE.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31:
INSTAGRAM VOTER DRIVE WITH ACTIVATE AMERICA
Want to register likely Democratic voters in the key battleground state of Nevada? Using... Instagram?
Then join Field Team 6 and our ingenious friends at Activate America (formerly Flip the West), who are pioneering this creative, new technique for reaching young people.
We'll be messaging likely Democrats from Nevada on Instagram – and registering everyone we can.
Join us for a special training session on Aug. 31st at 5p PT. We’ll review everything you need to know – then you can start sending Instagram DM’s to the Silver State.
Ideally, you already have an Instagram account for at least the past month (please let us know if you want to participate and don’t have an account yet.) Best to load Instagram on your computer in advance of the event – it’s easier to converse with voters that way. And if you don't have a computer, you can use your cell phone.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1:
SOCIAL MEDIA STORM TO DEFEAT THE CA RECALL
Every Wednesday we hit the web to raise awareness for Field Team 6's efforts to register Democrats and save the world. Recent storms have averaged over 10 million impressions each – incredible! These storms are making a difference and the more who join, the bigger the difference!
Storm any time on your own or join our upcoming storm on Wednesday, September 1 at 11a PT on Zoom for some socializing and training to develop mad storming skillz! RSVP HERE. No idea what we're talking about? Show up and learn! Our very own Deb Verla is literally a training professional and will make it fun and easy. And you can always find info on our latest storm as well as cool pre-made posts right HERE.
This week, we'll be focusing on defeating the CA Recall Election, promoting the crucial For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and more!
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8:
WEEKLY POSTCARD PARTY
Have you ever wanted to write voter registration postcards in a group from the comfort of your kitchen table? Then our weekly postcarding parties are right up your alley! Join Postcarding Queen Laurie Mendik at our upcoming virtual shindig this Wednesday, September 8 from 2-3p PT. She'll get you trained up and ready to write. RSVP HERE! If you'd like to order some of our incredible Shepard Fairey-designed cards, click HERE. And if you can't contain your postcarding enthusiasm until Wednesday, feel free to get started any time right HERE!
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25:
OVERCOMING ACTIVIST FATIGUE
Are you experiencing activist fatigue? You're not alone!
Join Field Team 6 multi-hyphenate Czar (Postcarding, Mobilize, Zoom, Newsletter) Sharon Lord Greenspan, on Saturday, September 25 from 5-6pm PT as she shares strategies for remaining positive and active through the political adversity and general chaos we face every day.
This meeting of like-minded folks will leave you feeling refreshed, regenerated, and with the tools you need to get back to full strength... so you can get back out there, and kick some a$$ from a place of joy! RSVP right HERE.
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REGISTER VOTERS IN PERSON!
Join us for in-person voter registration drives in Los Angeles and Orange County!
TRAIN TO LEAD IN-PERSON VOTER DRIVES
Our Zoom trainings give you all the skills to lead in-person voter drives!
We have trainings for AZ, CA, FL, GA, NC, PA, TX, and WI – with NV coming soon!
PHONEBANKING
Join Field Team 6 and our partners as we call likely Dems in
AZ, CA-25, GA, NC-08, PA, and TX and get them registered to vote!
Just added: Bilingual Spanish phone bank to register Dems in FL!
PHONE BANK IN SUPPORT OF FILIBUSTER REFORM
AND VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION
To give us all the freedom to vote, we must reform the filibuster and pass the
For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Call voters in AZ and WV!
POSTCARDING
Register Dems via postcard in the most flippable districts
and write with friends in the OC at our in-person postcarding parties
or virtually at our weekly Wednesday postcarding parties!
Right now, we've got campaigns in
AZ, CA, CO, FL, NC, PA, NM and TX!
SOCIAL STORMING
Build progressive awareness and help #RegisterDemocrats
from the comfort of your social media accounts!
Find camaraderie, tips, and tricks on our weekly Wednesday Zooms!
TEXTBANKING
Join texting efforts to stymie the QAnon, anti-vaxxer Trumpists
who are trying to oust popular and effective Democrat Gov. Newsom.
(Including our first-ever BYOP text bank – see above!)
Click VOLUNTEER OPS below to get details and sign up!
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VOLUNTEER SHOUT-OUT: RANGA KRISHNAN |
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This week, we’re shouting out Field Team 6 tech wizard Ranga Krishnan. But to simply dub Ranga a tech wizard doesn't do justice to his many contributions to Field Team 6, nor to his passion for progressive and social justice causes.
Ranga first got into political activism around the time of the first Iraq War in 1990-1991, as a then recent immigrant student, enrolled at MIT. At the time he became involved in activism for peace, divestment from apartheid in South Africa, and the publication of a progressive campus student newspaper. He got re-engaged with activism in 2019, "to prevent Russian organized crime from reinstalling their puppet in the White House."
A software engineer and entrepreneur who likes to advance technology that enhances privacy and security in both personal and business realms, Ranga was involved in launching the open wireless router software at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and has built blockchain-based systems for supply chains and real estate.
It's clear Ranga has some high-powered knowledge and we're thrilled he's down for using it to fight the good fight: "I like applying technology towards improving the efficiency of progressive activism, whether for voter registration/turnout or other operational tasks. I love to see that the limited time and resources we all have result in more of the outcomes we are looking for."
A great example of this is the work Ranga did with Field Team 6 partner They See Blue. "We worked with They See Blue in the 2020 election cycle to develop a relational organizing tool to enhance GOTV operations." With a total of 1.3 million contacts made to South Asian voters during a pivotal election season in which Democrats held the House and recaptured the White House and Senate... we'd say it was a resounding success.
Now Ranga is helping Field Team 6 automate the mechanical aspects of sending out this weekly newsletter. He's also been looking into Field Team 6's Voter Drive in a Box and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) textbanking to see if any technology can be applied to enhance them. He made sure to say that he'd love to hear from any FT6'ers who have ideas about applying technology to these important progressive initiatives. Brilliant... progressive... and humble? You can reach out to him HERE.
Thank you, Ranga, for all the amazing work you do!
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Be like Ranga! We're looking for people with a little time and almost any skill to share. Find our current needs HERE.
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FIGHT THE NEWSOM RECALL:
LET US COUNT THE WAYS...
You can help stop this madness no matter where you live. The key is registering new Democrats and urging them to vote NO on the Republican-funded California Recall. Here's how!
Social Storms: Social media your thing? We’ve created many pre-made posts you can easily share. Just go HERE, click start, and choose Facebook or Twitter. Happier on Instagram? Do the same – but use your phone!
Postcards: Get started HERE on the art of postcarding. All you need are postcards, stamps, and a pen. Write like the wind!
Texting: Emojis more your style? Then BYOP – Bring Your Own Phone – to this game-changing way of textbanking. Using your data plan, you can send texts from your computer. That means we don’t have to raise money for expensive texting software. (Full disclosure: this is a work in progress, so expect the unexpected!) This “pay what you can” textbanking can be a little challenging if you’re not super tech-savvy. Click HERE to sign up! Have zero dollars but still want to text? We got you. Just email us HERE and we’ll make it happen.
Yard Signs: Order 'em (and other swag) HERE!
GOTV (see OutreachCircle below)
Emails: We'd like to do those too, in a big way! (see below)
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CHIP IN FOR RECALL EMAILS
We have about 115k emails of Democrats or likely Democrats in California's swingiest of districts. Check the center console in your car for change and then slide one coin at a time in the slot HERE.
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LET'S KEEP CA-49 BLUE!
A magical thing happened in CA-49 in 2018, when Democrat Mike Levin was elected to Congress, replacing the loathsome Darrell Issa. Rep. Levin fought for the environment, clean energy and other progressive causes, and ably won reelection in 2020.
But now Congressman Levin's blue district needs protecting! Redistricting (California is losing a House seat, people!) means his seat may be an even harder win in 2022. So we need to protect this new blue stronghold in the upcoming midterms. The best way to do that? Register every Democrat in the district!
We're looking to raise just $722 more to start standing up digital voter registration efforts in the district. That means buying the data of unregistered likely Dems so we can set up phone banks and postcarding campaigns to get them registered. If you have the means to contribute, please do so HERE.
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WE WANT YOU...TO GET OUT THE VOTE!
The California Democratic Party (CADEM) has launched a powerful organizing tool called OutreachCircle. Right now, the top priority is making sure we keep Governor Gavin Newsom in office by voting NO on the Recall.
CADEM will be training users on how to use OutreachCircle for the next two Wednesdays, September 1 and 8, from 5-6p PT. You can RSVP HERE. You can log on to the app HERE to check it out. And THIS is a step-by-step guide for how to use it. So harness the power of your personal relationships – get everyone you know to vote NO on question 1 for the California Recall.
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REGISTRATION T-SHIRT:
SAVE THE WORLD BY WALKING AROUND!
Feel like taking a stroll? Pull on this snazzy tee and get some exercise, clear your head, run an errand... and register voters as you go! On the front, the simple but all-important message in super cool shadow script: "REGISTER." On the back: a handy QR code that sends new voters to Voterizer.org for instant registration. You spin around, they snap away with their smartphone, and VOILA – a Democrat is born. Fast, fun and stylish! Click HERE to start shopping!
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Field Team 6
Paid for by Field Team 6. www.fieldteam6.org.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
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