06/26/25
Barb opened by greeting members, describing today’s meeting agenda and recognizing the value of everyone’s time. Connections and brevity were encouraged.
There was a celebration of the rally and all the members for their contributions to the rally – a thank you to all members and leadership.
Barb noted that Indivisible is an organization that is inclusive of other community organizations. She introduced Trish as the scribe for today’s meeting and emphasized the value of memorializing what the membership has to say. She spoke to everyone’s humanity and requested that we all give each other grace as we work together.
Members had an opportunity to share what really worked for this rally and what could be adjusted for next time.
What really worked:
Music, speakers, the pledge of allegiance, security, a republican that spoke against the regime, better sound system, peaceful, lots of American flags, a young person speaking, handing out the flags, thanking the volunteers, (scribe note: I also thought the yellow vests identifying Indivisible members and greeting people as they walked into the rally was helpful so people knew who to go to with problems, etc. Also, the seating area for people who were unable to stand was very appreciated.)
What could be adjusted, opportunities for improvement:
More black, indigenous and people of color; speeches including more of what we can do and less of what is wrong; the people at the tables couldn’t hear the speakers, attract more people under 40, someone would like to hear the National Anthem, the sprinklers went on, engage more of the veteran community, let’s do marching, standing in the hot sun in one spot is hard to do, length of the program and length of the speakers (people drifted away), a program that is shorter (someone suggested an hour), take back patriotism, more water to hand out, thanking the volunteers, fundraising for supplies, emphasize pouring into each other (giving out water, handing out flags- be the opposite of what we are experiencing from the regime), take a recording of the rally and post it on YouTube, have a presence at Alive at 5 to attract millennial and younger audiences. Young people in the meeting highly recommend consistent posting on Tik Tok, social media and the Instagram Indivisible account, etc. They reported that posting on the Instagram account notably increased followers.
Actions To Take Now
Joan described some of the impacts of the ‘BIG UGLY BILL’ and distributed a hand-out with phone numbers of Senators and Representatives.
There was an emphasis on calling our County Commissioners and pressuring them to call our elected officials. The bill will directly have a huge negative impact on our communities. Cards available tonight with detailed contact information.
There was lively discussion of best practices for calling. The 5 calls app is the best app to use. It has contact information and a script to use for each issue. If you get an answering machine, be sure to leave your name and address in order for your call to be tallied. It was noted that if you make a call to D.C. in the middle of the day, it is more likely to be answered by a person. The D.C. offices also have more staff and resources to record each email and phone call. If local offices are lightly staffed, it could take a while for the information to be forwarded. It was noted that they are only recording one issue at a time, so be sure to call again for each individual issue. They are also looking for personal stories, i.e. – “The medical center in our town is going to close because of these cuts and we are going to let people know that you are the reason.” It was noted that when people in power do back down it is because they are getting hammered on a particular issue loudly. It will make more impact to stick to one issue at a time. (There was a request to put this comment in the newsletter)
One member shared that she is on elected officials Facebook pages and ensures that she ‘likes’ comments by people who oppose the regime.
Questions
Is it more powerful to use the numbers or percentages that apply specifically to Montana?
Is there a place to get those statistics?
Can the hand-out Joan distributed be put in the newsletter?
One member noted that she would be scanning in the hand-out and emailing it to others.
Joan pointed out that yard signs ‘Medicaid Saves Lives’ were available in the front of the room.
The importance of continuing daily calls was emphasized. “Still here, still mad, still watching, here is today’s issue”
Newsletter – most people were receiving the newsletter.
DONATE Link – Working with Indivisible to get a “Donate” link for Helena to support efforts for signs, rallies and so on. The donations will be used for direct reimbursement or purchase power, NOT for wages etc.
Community Exercise
Members divided into 5 smaller groups and were asked to 1) briefly describe the top two issues that matter the most to you as an individual; 2) what are one or two ideas for strategies or tactics to help the resistance; 3) what are two ways you can and want to contribute to the effort as we grow? Groups reported back to the room.
GROUP ONE: 1) ISSUES hunger, homelessness, dangers in the BBB, deportation and violence/ICE, social services, damage to the common good, endorsement of corruption, billionaire control, attacks on diversity, attacks on intellect (rewriting history), electoral apathy.
2) TACTICS protests in the streets regularly (to educate), social media, civics education, recruitment to activism, build community, neighborhood events, presence at Alive @5 &Farmer’s Market, collaborate with other of like minds, yard signs, make calls to D.C. and get to know the folks who answer those calls, take back the flag.
3) CONTRIBUTE have a neighborhood gathering, collaborate with Project Paperclip’s regular demonstrations, liaison with church communities, organize street demonstrations twice weekly, post/share/invite on social media, go door to door with yard signs, willingness to talk with anyone about the issues, daily calls and/or emails, bring a new member to the meeting!
GROUP TWO: 1) ISSUES Medicaid, public lands, public media,immigration/ICE, environment/climate, war, public education
2) TACTICS Localize, make calls, rallies, protest at offices, contact local government, make it fun, diversity, resistance creates persistence, set up a town meeting and invite congressmen/senators, share personal stories, include younger generations, smaller groups brainstorming/neighborhood gathering, fund raising/donation/Venmo account, work with other Indivisible Groups, musical groups/dancing to include younger (PPLT) fundraising ideas
3) CONTRIBUTE gather local info/research, write postcards/rallies, make calls, make posters, hosting potluck/group gathering, post it notes (like at Daine’s office)/names and addresses.
GROUP THREE: 1) ISSUES Medicaid, integrity of the constitution (3 people), women & trans people healthcare, climate change (2 people), healthcare (2 people), corruption (2 people), public lands, social security, VA, wealth inequality, NO billionaires.
2) TACTICS 5 Calls, active marches, civil nonviolent disobedience, testimonials/stories about the pain this is causing, engaging veterans and the disabled, petitions, organizing, having a vision of what is possible, abandoning the status quo
3) CONTRIBUTE engage the unengaged, share our activism stories, letters to the editor, photos and videos of actions, SHOW UP at actions, work in our churches social action groups, work on veterans, postcards to elected officials
GROUP FOUR: 1) ISSUES young people/influencer, opportunity to be positive, tech people, hands on, preserving democracy, voting rights, fair elections, military support, cruelty – how they present themselves/weaponizing government – ICE, money in politics, widening of gap between haves and have-nots, apathy, complaining
2)TACTICS and 3) CONTRIBUTE Community, registering people to vote, engage, ask what are you doing about it, inform others, reach out, Carroll College, Paperclip, meet people where they are, inform, join, invite people, celebrate diversity
GROUP FIVE: 1) ISSUES Public lands, jobs for young people, Medicaid, budget, the Big Bad Bill, education affecting universities, health services for the elderly, SNAP program, tribal sovereignty, maintaining judicial power, public education, women’s rights, separation of powers, separation of church and state
2) TACTICS local events Farmers Market/Alive @ 5/Symphony, conversations with friends and neighbors, polite conversations on issues, use yard signs, issue letters to elected officials, protesting at rallies, online presence social media, younger folks, emails and phone banks, sit ins – quiet protests, fact sheets, opportunities to share
3) CONTRIBUTE connecting with other groups, list of volunteer opportunities, “Pop-up volunteer opportunities vs. long-term involvement, attend meetings, be aware of upcoming events, pay attention to the news you are getting from Indivisible, paste info from Indivisible to other groups and friends, donate $$, coordinating information not duplicating, keeping to the same message.
After the reports from groups, Barb synthesized the theme as ‘We care about each other, our communities and our nation.’ She noted that Indivisible is a very partner-oriented organization. There is an idea of Indivisible Helena holding a summit with other community organizations. If there is even 50% agreement on issues, the groups should be able to work together. The work done by members tonight will be incorporated into the leadership’s Strategic Planning meeting scheduled for July 9th.
She encouraged the group to cogitate on the meaning of the word diversity.
The group responded ‘YES’ to her question whether the meeting had met the group’s need for community connection tonight.
Citizens United was suggested as a collaboration group.
A members’ potluck gathering was suggested for further community connection.
It was noted that the newsletter comes out almost every week. If you have contribution items, please send them to the email IndivisibleHelena@gmail.com and be sure to use the subject line NEWSLETTER ITEM.
Meeting adjourned.