Meeting Minutes: April 9, 2017

Cumberland Valley Rising
Think critically. Show up.
Meeting Minutes | April 9, 2017 | The Ribbon Mill, Carlisle, PA

NO MEETING ON APRIL 23
SO THAT MEMBERS MAY PARTICIPATE IN SCIENCE AND CLIMATE EVENTS

Welcome and announcements by Gabrielle Trinkle, Vice President

• No committee meetings today
• See Neil Leary for information about buses to Science and Climate marches
• On May 1, there will be Make the Road immigration events in Harrisburg and Carlisle

Maggie Savidakis-Dunn, Webmaster

• Members are asked to respect the confidentiality of information shared in CVR’s secret Facebook account. While understanding that nothing on the internet can be considered truly private, we need to make this as safe a space as possible.
• Do not take screen shots and share material
• Do not share posts without asking the original poster
• The best way to share a link is by opening and then directly sharing it, rather than sharing another party’s post.

Morgan Plant, speaking on PA Government and Budget
Morgan is a CVR member who is a professional lobbyist in Harrisburg. She works for several organizations, most notably for Planned Parenthood, campaigning for reproductive rights.

• The PA General Assembly is the second largest in the country, with 253 members.
  • 50 in the Senate; Senators run every 4 years
  • 203 in House; House members run every 2 years
  • General Assembly is overwhelmingly Republican
  • With 34 Republicans, the Senate is able to override a gubernatorial veto
• With such a strong majority, the Republicans don’t need moderate members.
  • Tea party members are common
  • Southeastern PA has the most moderate Republicans; antipathy towards more liberal Philadelphia is common.
• At the Federal level:
  • President
  • Senators: Pat Toomey (R) up for re-election in 2022
    • Bob Casey (D) up for re-election in 2018
  • Congressional Delegation (18 members) re-apportioned every 10 years
• Republicans invested heavily in state legislative and judicial races after 2008, and planned and re-drew districts. PA’s Congressional leadership was reversed, from 13 D/5R to 13 R/ 5 D. It will be 2032 before this can be repaired.
• How to best contact Representatives
  • Example: Morgan wrote to Rep. Lou Barletta about his support for defunding Planned Parenthood. He responded with a letter defending his position that included false information. Morgan responded with a public letter in a reasoned tone, saying, essentially, “prove it.” Be civil. Be heard. Don’t back down.
  • Stress a responsible, civil tone in communications
  • Any communication is better than no communication
  • Letters to the editor
  • Posts on Facebook
  • Personal visits are best
  • Attend Town Halls and Tele- town Halls
• When you meet with a Representative in person:
  • Plan the meeting
  • Know what you want to ask
  • Do research ahead of time. Speak the truth.
  • Don’t let them deflect
  • Don’t take your frustrations out on staff
  • Be creative in ways to have an impact
• Book Recommendation:
  • Ratf**ked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America's Democracy by David Daley (2016)
• Keep track of local elected officials, commissioners, etc.
• State Budget
  • There has been inadequate funding of state agencies and education for many years. We have a $3 billion deficit.
  • Every governor since Dick Thornburgh (1979-87) has cut state employees.
  • Republicans are willing to increase revenues only through liquor or gaming, not taxes.
  • The state is supposed to pay 50% of education costs; it is paying only 32%
  • PA Taxes:
    • Income tax rate at 3.07% is one of the lowest in the country
    • Sales tax is 6%
    • Corporations provide only 11% of state revenue
    • PA does have the highest tax on casinos in the country
    • PA’s population is aging, and PA doesn’t tax pensions, so revenues will be going down
• Q&A
  • Q. What are the chances for fair re-districting?
    • A. Slim to none. Republicans have no incentive to support fair redistricting.
  • Q. Are we spending too much energy trying to work with Republicans?
    • A. Reality is that we have Republican hegemony. There is no choice.
  • Q. How can we push Senator Toomey during Tuesdays With Toomey?
    • A. “When they feel the heat, the see the light.” Keep the pressure on.
  • Q. How do you build relationships with people you disagree with about everything?
    • A. Interact. Attend fundraisers, public meetings, go to their offices. Speak truth— send information and data. Build trust. If you want to work on one thing, work on campaign finance reform.
  • Q. What about initiatives? Can they push reform in PA?
    • A. There is no petition referendum in PA.
  • Q. What are strategies for when you are being attacked?
    • A. Call people out on false information. Stick with the facts. Inform, persuade. Show some anger and speak up, but stay civil.
  • Q. Does voter registration work?
    • A. People need to actually vote!
  • Q. How do you seek allies in the private sector?
    • A. Look at specific issues. Companies will support things that support their bottom line.

Lindsey Mauldin, speaking on Power for CVR

• Combining people, branding and resources leads to power
• ENGAGE people
• INFRASTRUCTURE
  • Steering Committee— Committees— Sub-committees
• IDEAS
  • Bird dogging, fair districts, women’s rights, op eds...
• ORGANIZING
  • Develop constituency, help the community, improve lives
  • Identify leaders
  • Community building
  • Use power strategically
  • Leadership Development Snowflake
    • Build teams with assigned captains, leaders, caring component
  • ASK others to join you
    • Build conversations around issues
    • Build relationships with commitment
    • Use person-to-person meetings real conversations with emotional content, about issues
  • ONE ON ONES
    • These involve COMMITMENT. They are scheduled, educational meetings with rigorous follow-up. They are not one-offs— they build on-going relationships.
      • 45 to 60 minutes
      • preferably in person
      • confirm the day before
      • Introductory meetings — Maintenance — Escalation
      • Building relationships that lead to action
  • THE HARD ASK
    • deliberate
    • specific
    • not apologetic
    • “What time can we pick you up?” rather than, “Would you mind?”
  • CREATING
    • A shared story
      • relational commitment
      • structure
      • strategy
      • measurable action
  • CAMPAIGN
    • A systematic course of tactics
      • clear start and end dates
      • clear goals

Karen Showalter, speaking on Campaign Tactics and Structures

• Choose your Issue
• Plan Campaign
• Choose Tactics
• ISSUE MAPPING
  • Ask questions
    • What’s going on?; Who’s acting?; What’s in play?; What are the challenges?
  • Questions will help you find allies and connections
• Strategy
  • time limited
  • specific
  • momentum-building