10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 uuwestport.org 1.203.227.7205
October 4, 2020

Dear friends and fellow friends of democracy:

Thank you all for joining us in our service today, brought to you by our UU the Vote team. We are so glad so many pieces came together to make it a memorable one. If you missed it, you can find it HERE.
 
Now, to work! There is so much going on as we Get Out the Vote (GOTV). We know each person has different preferences on how they volunteer and support causes they care about. So we’ll keep it pretty simple for now:
 
1.     Join our email group TUCWUUtheVote by clicking HERE. This is the way we are communicating all updates and news as it relates to our church-driven UU the Vote efforts.
2.     Promote and then attend our Seminar Series, Tuesdays in October, 6-7 PM, led by Rev. John, discussing election topics. Invite your friends to join. We hope to have a large group. ZOOM link in SOUNDINGS; outsiders can RSVP events@uuwestport.org.

3.     Join us for a strategy meeting on ZOOM, 7-8:30 PM this Wednesday evening, Oct. 7. Our team will welcome and orient new members. We'll prioritize our actions to get out the vote this final month, and guide you in simple ways to get trained to contact voters quickly. Learn how to use tools like Vote.org to check yours and others' registration and get election information. ZOOM info in today's SOUNDINGS. 
4.     SIgn up with the UUA's UU the Vote organization to be on their mailing list. There you can keep abreast of events and get their National Toolkit. Click HERE. If you are on Facebook, make sure you have signed up for our private TUCWUU the Vote group, and the UUA’s national UU the Vote group.

5.   Free up your calendar for UUA's UUtheVote National Week of Action Oct 21-27, which will be full of inspiration and phone-banking opportunities: the 21st to Wisconsin, 25th to Pennsylvania, and the 27th to Florida

6.     Watch the movie SUPPRESSED on youtube. 38 minutes of eye-opening education that will inspire you to action.
7.     There are multiple methods to GOTV this October. Write letters, text or participate in phonebanking with technology (Thru Talk) that eliminates hang-ups and answering machines. Three to consider here:

a) Texting: Using your computer; no typing. Reach hundreds in minutes. There are multiple opportunities. Contact Sari Bodi
b) Write letters for "Big Send" - October goal: 5 million more letters. Download script and form letter, add one paragraph. Mail on Oct 17. Votefwd.org. Contact Janet Luongo.
c)   Phonebanking: ThruTalk-(automatic dialer). Partner organizations: Reclaim Our Vote UUtheVote. Contact Jamie Forbes about calling in any state. (She is focused on NC.) 
8.There are multiple opportunities to support voting rights causes financially, and we do not want to be in the position of deciding for you how to spend your money. However, three we want to mention since they came up in today's service and coffee hour:

a.     UUA’s UU the Vote Fund: $50 funds 1200 calls to GOTV. Click HERE to make a donation.

b.     ACLU. This will help support voter suppression in places such as Texas, where the Governor has put in place draconian efforts to suppress voters especially in urban areas. For Texas specifically, click HERE.

c.     Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to pay off former felon’s debts. Click HERE. THE DEADLINE FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE IS TOMORROW, OCTOBER 5.

9.     Participate in more pointed, partisan efforts, outside the church. Please reach out to Janet Luongo to get on her “IDA Individual Democracy Actions ” mailing list. 
 
So that’s it! See you Tuesday at our Seminar series at 6 PM, and Wednesday at our strategy meeting at 7PM.
Onwards and upwards!

-- The TUCW UU the Vote Team

PS. We have a treat for you to watch:  When We All Vote from Lin Manuel Miranda and the Hamilton cast. Enjoy!
The Unitarian Church in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs. 
 WE INSPIRE and support individual spiritual growth. 
 WE CONNECT through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries. 
 WE ACT in the service of peace and justice.