Showing Up for Democracy
Save the Planet--Get Out the Vote
Saving Democracy and the Planet. This Thursday!
Over 60 Third Act Mainers from around the state have already registered for Thursday’s big event—and you can join us! It’s in Waterville, 10:30am - 3:30 pm. We’ll hear from four amazing speakers: Arctic explorer and researcher Susana Hancock, artist Robert Shetterly on truth-tellers, Kathleen Miel on legislative policy and our role in the Environmental Priorities Coalition, and Nicole Diroff on remembering to love the natural world of which we are a part. We’ll write letters to get out the vote in swing states, sing together, and more. A gathering not to be missed. RSVP here.
CALENDAR September 5: Third Act Maine's annual statewide gathering, 10:30 - 3:30. Waterville. RSVP September 12: Standout for divestment at Maine PERS, 8:30 am. 139 Capitol St., Augusta September 26: Get Out the Vote letter-writing, 2 pm. 6 Arrow Point Road, Cape Elizabeth. RSVP: kmikulka@gmail.com September 26: Get Out the Vote concert in Farmington, 5:30 pm. Details below. October 25: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, What If We Get It Right?, 7 pm. USM's Hannaford Hall, Portland. Reservations here.
National Petitions Delivered to L.L. Bean—and Others!
On August 7, Third Act Mainers delivered petitions with nearly 7000 signatures representing customers of 6 (SIX!) corporations that partner with Citibank for their store credit cards. At L.L. Bean’s headquarters, we were met by the head of security who promised to deliver the petition to CEO Stephen Smith. Then we traveled to AT&T, Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, and Macy’s. These petitions were initiated by Stop the Money Pipeline in a national campaign to draw attention to the entanglement of “good” companies with Citibank. Read about Maine’s participation in this Summer of Heat project here.
Let’s keep the pressure on L.L. Bean! Here’s our own petition. Please forward the link to friends who may be willing to sign on as well.
Outstanding Standout in Damariscotta
The Lincoln County Hub of Third Act Maine is active! On August 16, a group of 19 Third Act Mainers stood on the Newcastle/Damariscotta bridge with the twin messages: “Vote as if your life depends on it” and “End dependence on fossil fuels.” We unveiled our newest banner, featuring a banker handing off a burning planet to the next generation with the logos of four of the worst banks on the planet: Chase, Bank of America, Citi and TD Bank.
This was a great turnout for the new Lincoln County Third Act Hub, generating much enthusiasm from drivers slowly going by. Supportive drivers honked their horns, waved, and gave thumbs up. "The Lincoln County Third Act Mainers were supported by three members of the Greater Portland Hub and one member from the Midcoast Hub.
Get Out the Vote—and Hear Great Music—in the Western Mountains
Music! Voter Registration! Come by UMF’s Emery Center on Thursday, September 26 for rollicking good music and a chance to help register folks to vote. (If good weather, we’ll be outside.) Ruth Hill is our opener, and the main act will be the Chicken Street Band. Donations to help pay the musicians are welcome.
The concert is our effort to increase voter registration in Farmington, focused primarily on the university community and new students, but also area residents. We have invited the Franklin County Democrats, the Franklin County Republican Committee, and others to staff small information stations at the concert. By law the concert will be explicitly non-partisan. As a follow-up to the concert, we will be setting up tables in UMF's student center throughout September and October encouraging students to register to vote.
Getting Out the Vote—in Greater Portland
We are partnering with Southern Maine Voter Registration (SoMe) to register voters, and we have already helped register nearly 150 young voters at gay pride parades. We have also been registering colleges students as they head back to school.
On the national level, we’re working with Vote Forward, with a focus on motivating voters who don’t usually vote. Through our letters, we are making it clear how important this election is. Vote Forward keeps track of voter rolls—so can see its impressive success rate over many elections. These letters make a difference! Come to a letter-writing gathering on September 26 in Cape Elizabeth. See Calendar, above, for details. RSVP to Kathy Mikulka, kmikulka@gmail.com
Henry the Climate Activist
It’s been quite a year for Henry, the Golden Retriever pup. He is now one year old, and he’s been to many, many standouts for good causes with Third Act Maine. Here’s a recap of a few moments
Yay Henry! See you in Waterville.