Monthly Meetings
In 2023, we are holding meetings as key topics arise and speakers are engaged. Our meetings will be held at 7:00-8:30 pm, with specific dates and locations announced along with meeting publicity. We will aim to resume our previous monthly meetings in 2024.
In the meantime, please visit the calendars of statewide organizations to learn about meetings hosted by other local political activist groups. Many of these meetings are held remotely, so you can attend from anywhere. You can find helpful calendars with meeting announcements at Swing Blue Alliance and Indivisible Mass Coalition, which hold regular meetings.
2023 Meetings
May 18 , 2023 - Plans for 2023-24
At Our first in person meeting in a long time, we reviewed strategy for working on 2023-24 swing state elections. We also hear from Jen Bluestein about several strategic considerations that are key in all elections, as well as how some of today's most pressing and controversial issues will likely impact elections this year and next. Access the slide deck here.
Jen works at a national progressive foundation that funds advocacy targeting reproductive freedom, voting rights and democracy, criminal justice and education. Her wide ranging experiences at EMILY's List, Giffords, and on many campaigns have given Jen a unique and insider perspective that will educate, enlighten and energize us for upcoming election work. Jen and her family moved to Newburyport in 2021 from Washington, DC.
Meeting Archives - 2019 - 2022
June 21, 2022 - Fighting Voter Suppression
We previewed the updated version of the documentary Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote and discussed recently enacted voter suppression laws. The movie was made available through Common Cause and is now available on YouTube here. Our meeting deck lists states with voter suppression laws enacted since the 2020 election and links to useful resources. Access the deck here.
May 17, 2022 - Spotlight on Battleground States (Part 2)
Representatives of the Wisconsin Democratic Party and the Georgia Indivisible Coalition provided in depth information on what's happening with elections in their states, including upcoming primaries, the lowdown on candidates, the outlook for November elections, and voter restriction challenges. Here's the meeting deck.
April 19, 2022 - Inspiration Close to Home
With campaign season underway and heating up, we heard from several I-RISE activists about what motivates them, what keeps them going and how they turn their passion into action. Their inspiring words helped us all reenergize and reengage! We learned that some are motivated by hope and love, and some by anger. Some act out of emotions, and some are fact-based and respond to data. Some are lifelong activists, and some became active as a result of the 2016 election. Whatever the "why and how", let's all stay motivated and active! As one of our speakers said, "If not you, then who?"
Take a look at the meeting deck for links to the websites and Facebook pages of the organizations with which our speakers are involved. The deck also includes slides listing some important accomplishments of the Biden Administration and reasons why Dems CAN win in the upcoming midterms. We hope this information also motivates you!
March 15, 2022 - Spotlight on Battleground States: New Hampshire and Pennsylvania
Two guest speakers offered in depth insights about two key battleground states:
Andrea Kopelove joined us from Turn PA Blue and spoke in depth about what’s happening in Pennsylvania.
Maddie Kolaja, with the Out of State Team for Organize NH, the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign, gave us the lowdown about New Hampshire.
The meeting also included an update from our local State Legislative Watch Team, offering updates on key legislative efforts and what our state legislators are doing (or not doing, as is the case with some).
February 15, 2022 - Voting Rights: What's Next?
Alexandra Chandler, co-leader of Protect Democracy’s elections and voting rights efforts spoke to us about the status of federal voter protection laws, the additional voter restrictions that states are trying to pass, and what we can do to help preserve democracy and voting rights.
January 18, 2022 - Kickoff of this Midterm Election Year
Congressman Seth Moulton introduced the meeting with words of inspiration and advice about how we can make a difference. As our guest speaker from Field Team 6 unable to attend at the last minute, we had more time to review our planned ongoing weekly actions, present our analysis of the key battleground states and races, and offer details concerning the status of those races and candidates. Review the meeting materials, including detailed notes about the battleground races discussed at the meeting.
November 16, 2021 - Voting Rights: Where Are We, What's Next, How Can We Help?
Stephen Spaulding and Herb Meisner of Common Cause discussed the status of the proposed Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voter Protection Act, the need to reform the filibuster to ensure passage of these critical laws, and how we each can help to accomplish that goal in an effort to protect voting and, ultimately, democracy. Our speakers brought great knowledge and experience:
Steve Spaulding is Senior Counsel on Public Policy and Government Affairs and Senior Advisor to CC’s President. He previously served as Senior Advisor to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the committee overseeing federal elections, and was Special Counsel to then FEC Chair and Commissioner Ann Ravel. He played a key role in getting pro-democracy election reforms passed in the House, and has testified in Congress, authored papers and appeared in various media to share his wisdom about democracy.
Herb Meisner, CC’s National Campaigner, recruits, organizes, and trains a national network of grassroots volunteers and community leaders to help CC meet its goals of holding power accountable and building a democracy that works for everyone. He has a research background in criminal justice and LGBTQ and survivor advocacy. He has also organized with NextGen America to mobilize young people to vote and was an organizer for Senator Warren’s presidential campaign.
October 19, 2021 - Strategies for Winning in 2022
Guest speakers shared information about tactical ways to get involved and move the needle for the 2022 Midterms, including the best timing for participating in each tactic, why state races are important for our national delegation, and how we can best help make a difference in neighboring New Hampshire where much is at stake. We heard from:
Reid McCallum, co-founder of Postcards to Swing States, whose volunteers wrote 21 million postcards to voters in 2020. Postcards to Swing States became part of Progressive Turnout Project in 2021 where Reid now directs the postcard writing program.
Lisa DeMio, Chair of the Democratic Committee for Hampstead, NH, a member of the Rockingham County Democratic Committee and Vice-Chair and founding member of the Rock Hills Coalition.
View Ried McCallum's presentation here
September 21, 2021 - Getting Big Money Out of Politics
John Bonifaz, a constitutional lawyer and co-founder of Free Speech for People, and Ayden Nichol, a fellow with American Promise, described what their groups are doing to address the issue of getting big money out of politics, including working to pass relevant Constitutional Amendments and taking other steps to end super PACs and excessive corporate influence in our elections.
View video shared by John Bonifaz here
View Ayden Nichol's presentation here
June 16 , 2021 - Protect the Vote in MA
Beth Huang of MA Voter Table and Geoff Foster of Common Cause Massachusetts discussed the redistricting process in our state, the pending state VOTES Act and other efforts to help ensure fairness in our election process right here in MA.
May 18, 2021 - Planning for the High Stakes of the 2022 Midterms
Guest speaker, Chuck Fraser, offered thoughtful and thought-provoking considerations and insights about how Democrats should strategize for how to keep their razor-thin control of both houses while still passing meaningful legislation. Chuck is a political blogger, retired lawyer, activist who was instrumental in passing New York City’s law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, and an alumnus of Harvard College and Columbia Law School, as well as multiple NYC mayoral administrations. To read more of Chuck's insights, visit his PoliticsbyEcceHomo blog.
April 16, 2021 - Countering Disinformation
Rose Lang-Maso of Common Cause described that group's social media monitoring program. A few internal speakers offered additional insights and other actions to take to counter disinformation, including proactive posting with Indivisible's Truth Brigade, increasing Facebook's accountability, protesting Fox News, and pressuring companies.
View the Meeting Presentation here
Click here for a list of actions to take to counter disinformation
March 16, 2021 - Legislative Updates
Karen Trowbridge, leader of the Legislative Watch Team, presented about our local state legislators (Senators Tarr and DiZoglio and Reps. Mirra and Kelcourse), as well as Governor Baker and Speaker Mariano. Keith Attenborough, leader of the Democracy Reform groups, presented on voting laws, both federal and at the state level.
February 16, 2021 - Strategy for 2021
Our first meeting post-election kicked off the new organizational structure and new mission for 2021. We also had a presentation on electoral strategy for the upcoming election cycle.