WECANN is officially one year old!!

Hard to believe that we’re already ONE as of November 15th!  

We celebrated our many accomplishments at our November meeting and–lest we rest upon our laurels–considered future plans together. There were snacks, cake and bubbles, which made it a pleasure! 🎂 

Here are some of the Goals & Ideas we’re thinking about for Year Two/2018 (Adapted from this article):

1. Expand our thinking with new experiences. (Say “yes” when you want to say “no.”)
2. Write letters to three public people to let them know what they mean to us. (Communicate and connect.)
3. Find a volunteer opportunity. (Share it with us.)
4. Build value every day. (Create a ritual that ensures you reach out to locals every month. This is about adding value. The more people you help, the more joy we’ll see. Do something to help them close in on their greatest dreams and needs. )
5. (Re?-)Write a personal mission statement. (CURRENT WECANN MISSION: Building a Cape Ann *intersectional feminist* women’s group is an idea that grew out of the energy around the Women’s Equality Panel that took place October 15, 2016 here in Gloucester, MA. – This is a reboot of the “Judith Sargent Murray Meeting” of a few decades ago–a progressive women’s group. – We meet monthly to cover current events affecting women (of which there are CLEARLY MANY) and how we can address them locally. – We might also consider books to read collectively and share our reflections. – And, we are beginning to collect stories from the women who participated in those earlier meetings to share with posterity.)
6. Stop using the “bad thing” label. (What good things came of “bad” things this year?)
7. Take stock and charge forward. (Ask ourselves: What battles did I fight and not win last year? Are any of those battles worth continuing? Why didn’t I win them last year? What can I do to win them this year? How can I make those things I liked most about last year happen more frequently? 2018 is going to be another great year!)
8. Write a WECANN-goal list.
9. Keep friends close. (Yay! We’ve survived this year together!)
10. Have gratitude. (Are we doing the things we love the most? Be sure to delight in all the amazing aspects of our group.)

Some ideas we brainstormed:

-regular attendance at city council and board of selectpersons meetings (perhaps on rotation with folks reporting back)
-volunteer as a group to Backyard Growers, Open Door, Grace Center
-reach out to local folks and ask about needs (rides, companionship…)
-work on getting $ out of politics
-hearing more about the work the Women’s March is doing on promoting intersectional feminism
-postcard parties
-additional socials with other groups to buoy us through our stressful time

Well, it didn’t take long for us to get right back to business this week after our celebration. WECANN was busy contacting the FCC about net neutrality, and our representatives about the disastrous GOP tax plan. Then, after the Senate passed their tax bill at 1AM this morning (Saturday), some of us went out for a spontaneous protest at Grant Circle, bringing signs, pots to bang, and our outrage against the plan. In all we do, of course, we are mindful of the need to be positive, encourage local involvement, be action oriented and humorous in our signage.

Be on the lookout; soon, we’ll have a new banner to hold at these public events and spread the good word.

We’ll certainly be out there with that banner at Grant Circle again on Saturday 12/23, 11AM-NOON to say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” Speak truth to power with our signs, our voices, our presence! Bring drums, pots and pans, noisemakers. Let’s state loudly and clearly, “Enough is Enough!” Enough corporate control of government! Let’s show we are not asleep during the corporate takeover of our country. Hope to see you there! INVITE FRIENDS!

And, please do join us for our Turnout against Burnout on 1/27, when we party with our resister sisters and brothers! It’s been a long year, and there’s more to come. To keep our energy and resolve up, we’ll gather for camaraderie with our sister organizations for a fun and stress-relieving indoor winter picnic. BYO-[picnic]Basket and a pillow or blanket if you can (we’ll have extras and will also have some chairs and tables too) to MAGMA Dance Studio in Gloucester, 11 Pleasant Street upstairs. Stay tuned for more info!

That, just one week after many of us get back from the national women’s marches on 1/20/2018.  These marches will celebrate and extend the inaugural 2017 Women’s March on Washington and its hundreds of sister marches, which became the largest coordinated protest in U.S. history with nearly 5 million participants. Let’s keep that momentum!

Be in touch with your ideas and energy. We’d love to see you in January at our monthly meeting, 1/30 at 6:30P, location TBA. Friends, ideas and snacks welcome.  #PERSIST

Respectfully submitted,

Kimberlee

Kimberlee & Amanda from WECANN working with Laura from Action Together to register voters at the Cape Ann YMCA. More voter registration events to come!

It was a busy day yesterday (9/26) for our happy band of do-gooders. 🙂 Several of us WO-manned a sign-up table at the Cape Ann YMCA during National Voter Registration day, helping to sign up non-registered voters. It was very fun and informative. We will be doing this again, and asking folks to pitch in if they’d like.

Don’t forget the municipal election in Gloucester takes place November 7th and VOTE!!

Then, we gathered at 6:30P for our monthly WECANN meeting where we planned ahead for upcoming social events (likely an “Indoor Picnic” together with other local action organizations–stay tuned), and how WECANN might put together “report cards” for our local elected officials and those running for office. By collecting information on their past voting records and current stances on issues, WECANN members and others will be able to make informed decisions about our “champions.”

Learn about “snowflakes” becoming an avalanche in support of Planned Parenthood at: WWW.CAFEPRESS.COM/SNOWFLAKESTORM

We had gorgeous “snowflakes” available thanks to artist Lisa Goren and her colleagues. The individual and unique snowflake pins come with a link to order swag online whose proceeds form donations to Planned Parenthood (See more at http://www.cafepress.com/snowflakestorm)

We are still fundraising by selling WECANN bumper stickers ($5ea) and buttons ($2ea).

We voted as a group to sign up to officially recognize WECANN as endorsing the Safe Communities Act through the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) Coalition.

At our meeting we also collected donations for the Tacos Lupita supply drive for Puerto Rico. (The restaurant, at 63 Washington St., Gloucester, is collecting all week and will ship items to the island by boat. 🇵🇷❤️)

Tacos Lupita on 63 Washington St. in Gloucester is collecting toiletries, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and non-perishable food items all this week which will then be shipped down to PR by boat.

Next month we expect a guest from Team Seth Moulton, Victoria Ireton, to join us; she’ll be taking questions and listening to what we’re up to in our group. Our meeting will be October 24 since our regular last-Tuesday-of-the-month slot will fall on Halloween this year. Please feel free to bring friends and a snack/beverage to share.

Look forward to seeing you there, and to a great month of local candidate events, research and social justice action ahead.

Respectfully submitted, Kimberlee

#RESIST #PERSIST

WECANN proudly sent two reps to Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House on June 28th. WECANN believes that this pending bill in the State Senate is very important for ensuring the premise found in our US Constitution: “One person, one vote,” so clearly articulated by Chief Justice Earl Warren’s Supreme Court in 1963.

Instead of raising impediments for eligible voters, AVR shifts voter registration from an opt-in to an opt-out system. This would mean that every eligible citizen who goes to the RMV, MassHealth and other state voter registration agencies, would be automatically registered to vote, unless they decline. The resultant reduction in paper forms and data-entry errors will maximize accuracy, security and most importantly – register more voters.

There was great turnout at this event; about 115 folks from 40 cities and towns were in attendance! Many groups were there in support, including the League of Women Voters (a group dear to our hearts), and Common Cause Massachusetts. 

Amanda and I were able to meet with and discuss the measure with assistants from both offices of our state representatives, Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Bruce Tarr. We feel very confident that this commonsense important legislation will streamline the process and insure greater participation in our democracy.

Respectfully submitted, Kimberlee

At our June 27th (monthly) meeting, we were so pleased to host Judy Norsigian, one of the original co-founders of the “Our Bodies, Ourselves” initiative, to discuss the powerful documentary film “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry” (2014, dir. Mary Dore).

Roughly 20 WECANN members and some guests first saw a screening of the film, followed by a potluck dinner and provocative discussion of the women’s movement past, present and future at the Lanesville Community Center.

Judy is an engaging speaker and had much to say about the production of the film, the current battles over Title 9, current outspoken misogyny, and more during our time together. The evening left us all energized for further action.

Thanks to Judy for a wonderful evening! And, thanks to everyone who attended and shared food and conversation. We look forward to many more events like this. Yes, WECANN!  

NOW AVAILABLE:
3″ x 5″ oval WECANN white vinyl bumper stickers for your car with removable adhesive. These stickers can also be stuck on lockers, file cabinets, luggage and other personal items. $5 each. (After cost, 75% of $ goes to fundraiser.)

ALSO available: 2.25″ WECANN buttons. Show your Women’s Equality Cape Ann pride. These buttons are proudly Union Made in the USA. $2 each. (After cost, 70% of $ goes to fundraiser.)

Fundraiser proceeds will go for WECANN initiatives such as the purchase of middle school social justice books, and others…. Yes, WECANN!

Stickers and buttons may be purchased at monthly WECANN meetings.

Bumper stickers may be purchased directly online via this link. ($5 ea + .50¢ S&H)

Need more information? Fill out form below: