Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."
Mark Twain

     Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.
     During that first national commemoration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.
     This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War. In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States*. 

     We wish everyone a safe and reflective Memorial Day and we look forward to the work we will accomplish together this Summer. 

*http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/history/

HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, MAY 28th, 2018-SUNDAY, JUNE 3rd, 2018

Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival: Week Three: The War Economy: Militarism and the Proliferation of Gun Violence
Monday, May 28th, 2018 at The Vermont Statehouse (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633). Rally begins at 2pm. 
Starting on Monday, May 14th, 2018, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival will launch a season of nonviolent moral direct action. By engaging in highly publicized, nonviolent moral direct action, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival aims to bring about a serious national examination of the intertwined problems of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and our distorted moral narrative. 
Each Monday, there will be a rally at the State House. People who have committed to taking direct action and been trained will engage in nonviolent direct action. If you are interested, but have not been trained, there will be a training each Sunday evening at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, with solidarity housing provided. To sign up for the training contact [email protected] and for solidarity housing contact Avery Book: [email protected].
Each Monday's actions will also include a rally that includes people who are not participating in the direct action. The rallies will be at the State House and begin at 2:00pm.
Each week has a theme, but this is a fusion campaign, meaning that we understand these problems to be joined at the root and to come from the same underlying causes. The aim is to highlight ways that systemic poverty, racism, militarism and environmental degradation impact our communities, but not to separate them into silos.
The themes are:
Week 1 (May 13-19) – Somebody’s Hurting Our People: Child poverty, Women, and People with Disabilities
Week Two (May 20-26) – Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights and Immigration
Week Three (May 27-June 2) - The War Economy: militarism and the proliferation of gun violence
Week Four (June 3-9) - Ecological Devastation and the Right Health
Week Five (June 10-16) – Everybody’s Got the Right to Live: Education, Jobs, Income and Housing
Week Six (June 17-22) – A New and Unsettling Force
June 23^rd – Mass rally in Washington, D.C. and Global Day of Solidarity
To connect with others going up from Windham County contact Ellen: [email protected] or (802) 257-4436.

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Protest Vigil at TD Ban
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, June 1st, 2018 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. Signs will be provided
TD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. The State of Vermont Keeps Most of Our Cash in TD. What You Can You Do (besides attending the vigils): If you’re a TD depositor, change banks!
Founded in 2005, Post Oil Solutions is a 501c3 community organizing project in Southeastern Vermont whose mission is to help empower the people of the Central Connecticut River Valley bioregion in this era of global warming and climate change to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society.

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Join the "We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All" Banner in the Strolling of the Heifers Parade
Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 on Flat Street in Downtown Brattleboro, in the Church Lot. 9:30am. 
State Representatives Valerie Stuart of Brattleboro and Mike Mrowicki of Putney will be marching with the banner in the stroll.
Join them. Join us.
After being turned down last year to march in the Heifers Parade, we are proud to announce with gratitude that the Stroll organizers accepted our application to carry the banner in the parade this year! We are very, very happy to have this chance to show off the words on the banner to Stroll watchers.
MARCH FOR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL IN THE STROLL
No political signs: The banner will be our political statement.
WE NEED: 
   ▪      PEOPLE TO MARCH IN THE STROLL PARADE with the banner and carry signs supporting CSAs, local food and local farming.  We can have up to 30 people. So, come one and all. Special permission for more. Please RSVP.
  ▪     8 PEOPLE TO CARRY THE  BANNER. The banner is light (about 30 lb.) and easy to carry. 
 ▪    15  PEOPLE TO CARRY SIGNS: We have made 15 two sided signs supporting CSAs, farming, and local food. (Please! No political signs!  The banner will be our political statement.)  Please get support from your CSA if you bring signs, T shirts etc., with their names on them. We did.
 ▪    COSTUMES: We need cow costumes. Cow hats. Cow T shirts, etc. You're  welcome to DRESS UP AS A COW OR A VEGETABLE!  
 ▪    SING A SONG: We will sing this song: “May the FARMS be With You.  May our Local Farms be with us forever,  Local Food and Local Farmers,  Farming for all eternity, Caring for the earth and feeding our community." Loosely set to the melody from the opening to the Star Wars theme. 
▪    To volunteer to help Democracy at the stroll contact [email protected]   802 464 3154.
▪    Please RSVP
Thank you for your help and support.
Please be sure to search on line at  2018 Strolling of the Heifers application guidelines and rules and read the guidelines and rules if you plan to join us in the parade. 

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The Putney Huddle Special Meeting and Talking Across the Second Amendment Divide
Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 at the at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346). 1pm-3:30pm.
The ACLU Vermont will join us in the beginning followed by "Talking Across the Second Amendment Divide" session with Moderator Meg Mott and Senator Jeanette White. We welcome all within our community to come engage in civil discussion about the second amendment.
12:45pm- Early bird activity, Love Brigade Postcards
1:05pm- Norms and Introductions
1:20pm- Announcements
1:35pm- Vermont ACLU organizer Nico Amador 
2:15pm- Talking Across the Second Amendment divide
3:15pm- Closing remarks
If you have questions or would like to RSVP, contact Laura Chapman @ 802-380-4379 or [email protected]. To respond via Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/events/161376944529390/.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Energy Resource Fair and Town Meeting 
Saturday, June 9th, 2018 at the Vermont Technical School (124 Admin Drive, Randolph Center, VT 05061). 10am-2pm. Lunch will be provided. 
This resource fair will provide practical information on reducing your energy consumption from national and local experts, business owners and providers, and a panel discussion with Senator Bernie Sanders (I). 

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The Community Asylum Seekers Project Potluck and Info Session
hosted by The Putney Huddle and Putney Friends Meeting
Saturday, June 9th, 2018 at the Putney Friends Meeting House (17 Bellows Falls Road, Putney, VT, 05346). 6pm-8:30pm. For more info about CASP please visit- http://caspvt.org/. For more information about the event please contact Mike Mrowicki at 802-387-8787 / [email protected] or Francie Marbury at [email protected].
The Community Asylum Seekers Project’s mission is to provide basic needs and a supportive community for those in the process of seeking asylum in the U.S.
Steve Crofter of CASP has now visited both Putney Friends Meeting house and The Putney Huddle to spread the word on the good work CASP is doing and ask the Putney Community to get involved. Many of us in both forums agreed that we would like to help. If you are interested in supporting this project please join The Putney Friends Meeting House on June 9- 
Agenda:
6:00pm Potluck
7:00pm Mtg for Gathering for Information in building a Support Network and possible host families for asylum seekers/ refugees.

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Rally and March for Medicaid
sponsored by the VT Workers’ Center
Saturday, June 16th, 2018 in St. Johnsbury, VT. 11am.
A community meal will follow directly. Carpools from Windham County contact [email protected] or (802) 257-4436
Medicaid and other healthcare programs are threatened with cuts at the federal and state levels. Join with supporters of the human right to healthcare in a rally and march to preserve and expand Medicaid. 

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Brattleboro CBD/Hemp Farmers Market
presented by Heady Vermont and sponsored by Vermont Hempicurean
Sunday, June 17th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm. Attendance is free to the public. Interested vendors can sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/ba83snLnCpLeAH873.
Following the success of multiple CBD Hemp Farmers Markets this winter and the sure to be successful Grand Opening of Vermont Hempicurean (8 Flat Street) on Saturday, June 16th, 2018 Heady Vermont is proud to bring Vermont cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol), and hemp products and producers to the heart of Brattleboro.
Taking place the gorgeous River Garden on Main Street in Downtown Brattleboro on Sunday, June 17 from 10am to 2pm, the CBD Hemp Farmers Market will feature a diverse group of local CBD and hemp producers and cannabis advocates - all continuing their efforts to bring CBD education to the canna-curious public and foster positive dialogue between the burgeoning hemp industry and the citizens of Vermont.

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FUTURE EVENTS

Workshop with Indigenous Activist Sherri Mitchell: Decolonizing and Healing our Collective Trauma 
October 27th/28th, 2018. Place and Time TBD.
Cost: $150 per person, please RSVP to Tim at [email protected].
Sherri Mitchell, an Indigenous activist, spiritual teacher, and transformational change maker who has spoken and taught around the world on issues of Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and spiritual change for more than 25 years. and who gave such an inspiring talk this past Tuesday at our Climate Café, is willing to do a two day workshop in Brattleboro the week-end of 27-28 October on Decolonization and Healing our Collective Trauma. We need to have at least 25 confirmed participants and I need to determine how many of you would be interested in doing this workshop before I commit to her. I am not asking for money at this point, just a statement as to whether this is of interest to you. If we go ahead, I will get back to you with a request of advance payment with your registration. Because of her very busy schedule, she wants to hear from us ASAP. So please get back to me immediately if you’re interested.For those of you who are new to Sherri, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chHb2oyxouc

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Southern Vermont Sister District Summer Soup Subscriptions Are Now Available and Summer Update! 
The words Summer and soup may not sound like a good match, but our chef team (including WeCAN's own Joanna Wilson Phillips) is coming up with a selection of delicious warm-weather delights for the June - September subscribers. Sign-up to enjoy tasty homemade soups or “gift” your soup subscription to our local food shelf.  ALL proceeds go to supporting progressive Democrats in strategic swing races. Sign up now as these subscriptions go quickly!
You can link directly to the order form here: Soup Subscription Form.
Raising money and providing support to progressive Democratic candidates in strategic races. 
By subscribing to our SisterDistrict Soup Project you will receive delicious homemade soup selections from June through September, one per month. You also have the option to gift your subscription to the Putney Food Shelf (a popular choice for out-of-town supporters).  Soup chefs volunteer their time and donate ingredients which means that ALL $$ goes to help move our political structures in the direction of sanity, compassion and justice. Currently our two "sister" race is a state level race in Pennsylvania that is critical to make blue inroads in the state.
More information about our PA sister candidate Melissa Shusterman can be found here:  https://www.melissashusterman.com/about/
More information about SisterDistrict strategies can be found here: https://www.sisterdistrict.com/.  Please sign up for SisterDistrict's email list while you're there so that the Southern Vermont SisterDistrict team can keep you informed about our work and ways that you can plug in. 
About our soups: In addition to raising $$ to help get our nation onto a better trajectory, we are also committed to providing you the most delicious and locally-sourced soup that we can.  All soups are vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free, and delicious!. There is no reason that you can't eat well and resist at the same time! 
In other news:  Save Our Nation Vacation (another Southern Vermont Sister District Project) is having an orientation for folks who want to share a meal (provided by the SONV team) with like-minded people who are committed to taking a(nother)  small personal step that can have a LARGE, collective impact on flipping strategic races BLUE.  Come learn about the project and get all the resources and support you need to find just ONE property for our fall catalog.  The “Summer Sampler Catalog”, that lists available vacation properties, can be found at SaveOurNationVacation.org. Orientation will be at Putney Friends Meeting, June 3^rd, 4:00pm-5:30pm, followed by shared meal. Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SVTSisterDistrict/.

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Southern Vermont Dance Festival Announces Early Registration and Performance Tickets Available:

Early Registration for the Southern Vermont Dance Festival is now open! Early Registration allows everyone to get the classes that they want before they sell out.  Advance tickets for all the performances are now on sale including the Midsummer Night's Picnic and Promenade which will take place at the Retreat Farm nature trail.  Southern Vermont Dance Festival was designed as a long term economic driver for the community as a response to Tropical Storm Irene. The festival returns for a 6th season with an exciting round of dance classes, community events and performances hosted in the one and only Brattleboro, VT.   Festival attendees are invited to attend dance performances each evening as well as a choice of many different classes each day.  For people who want to experience the beautiful town of Brattleboro, there are community events with live music and dance performance throughout the 4 days.  For the third year in a row, SVDF will offer a Mid Summer Night's Picnic and Promenade, using Vermont's natural beauty as a stage for top notch performance. There are early registration discounts, advanced ticket prices and group discounts as well as opportunities to volunteer and sponsor the festival.  Volunteers will be able to take classes and see performances.   In addition there are internships available for people of all ages. see more at http://www.southernvermontdancefestival.com

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RESOURCE FOR WeCAN: Rapid Response Text Alert System.
When WeCAN began, Song & Solidarity set up a Rapid Response Text Alert System for WeCAN Groups. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response We were reminded of the Rapid Response text alerts system as President Trump moves towards firing Mueller. In the event Mueller is fired, MoveOn is planning a nation-wide simultaneous protest. The trick will be to get the word out fast if/when the time comes. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.

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Job Listing

Let’s Grow Kids Seeks Southern Vermont Canvassing Team
Let's Grow Kids is looking for fun, energetic people to join our southern Vermont canvassing team for the Summer season. If you are passionate about early childhood and like to be outdoors then this is the job for you! Our Canvassers will join a team of like-minded individuals, walk around beautiful Vermont towns, and talk with residents about the campaign. This is a great Summer job for college students, recent graduates, teachers, and anyone looking to make a difference. Canvassers work up to 25 hours per week: Wed-Fri evenings and Saturday & Sunday during the day. $15/ hour. Check out the full job description at letsgrowkids.org and feel free to get in touch if you have questions. [email protected].

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STANDING REGULAR MEETINGS

Lost River Racial Justice, Black Lives Matter-South, and People Of Color Caucus Regular Meeting

Reoccurring racial justice organizing meetings every 2nd Monday at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio of the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) on the First Floor. 6pm-8pm. Childcare provided. Fragrance & nut free space.  

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Youth4Change Regular Meeting 

The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 
Youth4Change (Y4C), a program of The Root Social Justice Center, builds the leadership skills of youth ages 12-21, especially those from/in historically disenfranchised communities who want to use education, art, and action to address issues of racial, class, gender, queer, immigrant and indigenous justice.

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Alternatives to Suicide meets every Wednesday 6pm-7:30PM at the Hive Space (24 Flat St, Suite 202, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). Second Floor, up one flight of stairs.

Alternatives to Suicide is a mutual support group open to anyone who has experienced thoughts of suicide. The group is guided by a charter of values provided by the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community. The group is non-clinical and does not link suicide with illness.  Participants are free to talk about and find meaning in their experiences in/on their own terms. 

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Inclusion Center is Looking for Assistance with Our Annual Reporting Requirements

NEW: As Inclusion Center grows we find we are in need of assistance with our annual reporting requirements. We all have different skills and if this is your skill, please do consider donating your time in this way to our wonderful program! Volunteering with Inclusion Center by helping us for (literally) one or two hours a year in this area would help IC very much!
Inclusion Center is an amazing program that works with all people who have disabilities or medical issues, and everyone else who has an interest in being with us. 
The possibilities for what Inclusion Center could be in the future are endless: A drop in center within another program! Have our own space with our doors always open. Offer classes. Offer services as well as being a drop in center! And those are just a few of our ideas! 
However, in order for us to grow, we need a few more people who can either come to our board meetings (the second friday of each month at 2:00pm), or come to a work group each month (generally Friday mornings). 
At Inclusion Center we all matter. Everyone helps make decisions. It doesn't matter if you want to join the board or just drop in as often as you can. Either way, your ideas and input matter just as much as everyone else's.
Please contact us ([email protected] or 802-387-5285) to discuss how we could work together. 

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INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE

Internship with 350Vermont Available

If you are interested, apply online at 350vermont.org/internships and feel free to get in touch with Katherine ([email protected]) with any questions.
This summer 350Vermont is looking for two dynamic people to join our team starting June 4, 2018 for a ten week internship, ending August 10, 2018. These two people will work together to advance our Re)Generate New Solutions campaign and engage communities around the state in climate solutions. They will be integral to planning and implementing different outreach and engagement opportunities with 350VT staff, board, and volunteers. Most often, these internships are based in Burlington, but based in Brattleboro might be an option.
In each position, we are looking for someone with a commitment to and passion for the 350Vermont mission of building a local movement to stop the climate crisis.  We seek self-starters with the passion, creativity, and drive to make things happen while working independently and in close coordination with a team. 
Each position will be paid, 30 hours a week, with some work taking place during the evenings and weekends. This internship includes free housing accommodation (if wanted!) and 20 hours of training by our staff and facilitation team. 

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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING 

Indigo Radio

Sundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FM
To stream live: Visit www.wvew.org 
Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections! IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/. For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353

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Democracy, Eventually 

WVEW 107.7FM, Brattleboro Community Radio Station
You can listen to recorded and archived episodes here: https://soundcloud.com/democracy-eventually and you can find us on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/democracyeventually/ and on Twitter here @Democrazeee.
We are Democracy, Eventually a radio show covering local, state, and underreported national news stories from a progressive analysis. We air live on WVEW 107.7FM LP Brattleboro Community Radio Station.

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We look forward to seeing you at an event this week, WeCANners! Thank you again for all that you do. 

Your {{ broadcaster.name }},

Ann, Joanna, and Leslie