Happy Thursday, Fellow Democrats! We hope you are staying healthy and safe.
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
With everything that is happening, we have fallen behind on our Volunteer of the Month recognition!
The Volunteer of the Month for February 2020 is Rita Milelli! Many of you know Rita as our Precinct Action Committee Chair. She has gone above and beyond organizing, training and supporting our Precinct Captains. Her diligent planning and activities during the Covid-19 pandemic has helped us stay on track and focused. Next week, we will be launching virtual phone banking training first for our precinct captains and then our volunteers. We definitely wouldn’t be where we are without Rita. Thank you for everything Rita!
VIRTUAL PHONE BANKING
We are starting to roll out virtual phone banking to encourage Democrats to vote by mail. We will need volunteers to help us make phone calls to our fellow Democrats who are not yet signed up. Please email Stacey if you are interested in participating at: [email protected]
SPANISH SPEAKERS NEEDED FOR
PHONE BANKING
As mentioned above, we will soon begin focusing on reaching out to voters through phone banking. It is imperative that we get fellow Democrats to sign up to Vote By Mail. To do that, we will be calling them and stressing the importance of signing up.
We are especially in need of Spanish speaking volunteers who are willing to help make phone calls. If you are interested, please email Stacey at [email protected]
ORGANIZING CORPS
Organizing Corps 2020 is offering Virtual Bootcamps to ensure that the future presidential nominee has the staff needed to take back the White House and put competent leaders in seats up and down the ballot. Now more than ever, campaigns will need smart, effective, and trained organizers who are ready to problem-solve, adapt best practices to a physically distanced world, and develop creative ways of connecting with volunteers and voters in order to bring new possibilities to life and make campaigns and elections truly accessible. Organizing Corps is looking for those interested in working in our community.
In May, Organizing Corps 2020 will host 1-week virtual organizer trainings for those with local connections to AZ, FL, GA, MI, NC, PA, & WI. Admitted corps members who complete the program will receive a $500 technology and supplies stipend as well as direct support in securing a full-time, salaried position on the presidential campaign through November 3, 2020. The deadline to apply is April 18th. Program details and the application can be found at organizingcorps2020.com.
AMENDMENT 4 VICTORY
Many of us worked for the passage of Amendment 4 in 2018. The federal judge overseeing the ongoing dispute between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and released felons who want to vote handed the Republican governor another defeat Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said a previous ruling he made that allowed felons to vote, even if they owe fines and fees stemming from their convictions, covers all individuals statewide, not just the 17 people who originally sued DeSantis.
Tuesday’s order applies to an estimated 1.4 million men and women. Though the amendment to allow automatic restoration of voting rights after prison was overwhelmingly passed by Florida voters, Republican lawmakers have sought to impose requirements that would block many from registering. This is a huge victory for justice!
DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS CLOSED
Per the Governor’s Executive Order to Stay At Home, our office is officially closed to everyone. We will be checking for phone messages and mail only twice a week. If you are in need of anything, please do not come to the office. Instead you can email Stacey at [email protected]
Any and all in-person Democratic meetings that were previously scheduled are canceled.
We hope as we navigate this new stay at home order, that you all remain safe and healthy. While it is a scary and uncertain time, let’s try and focus on the fact that this will not last forever. And when life resumes to a new normalcy, we will have A LOT of work to do to elect President Biden. In the meantime, stay home, catch up on projects, take an evening stroll around the neighborhood (while social distancing) and embrace the slower pace of life that is our new reality.
COVID-19 DATA TRACKER
To stay up-to-date on the cases of Covid-19 in Indian River County and the State of Florida, click on the link below. Updates are put up every day at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM ALERT INDIAN RIVER
Indian River County currently has 68 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. We know you may have questions so we have activated our Emergency Information Center. Operators are standing by to assist with your questions. Please dial 772-226-4000. The Emergency Information Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. beginning today through Saturday and hours will be adjusted as needed. Please note: the hotline will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
COVID AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Former Governor, now Senator, Rick Scott, intentionally created an untenable unemployment insurance system in Florida that has now spiraled into a debacle for Floridians finding themselves uninsured because of COVID-19 layoffs. The Sunshine State offers some of the worst unemployment benefits in the country and Floridians are struggling to get through the outdated and broken system to even apply for benefits. Together with our Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried and our Congressional, Legislative, and local elected officials, the Florida Democratic Party has called on our governor to take immediate action to fix our unemployment insurance system. If Floridians can't file a state claim, they aren't eligible for the additional federal unemployment benefits our Congressional leaders passed.
COVID-19 STATE RESOURCES
Below are some resources that may assist or inform you, your family and neighbors during this uncertain time.
RE-EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
FloridaJobs.org
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVID-19 DATA DASHBOARD
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is now performing drive-through testing for COVID-19, by appointment only, to increase access for the number of people being tested in our community.
Testing will only be performed for individuals who meet Florida Department of Health criteria for COVID-19. If individuals do not meet criteria, testing will not be performed.
To receive an appointment, individuals who believe they may have symptoms of COVID-19 must first call their nurse triage hotline at #772-226-4846 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. Nurses will then discuss the individual’s symptoms, travel history and potential contact with others who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. If patients meet the criteria, they will be given an appointment time at the Drive Through Testing Location at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. Test results will take an estimated 4-7 days to complete. Individuals who receive testing will be asked to self-quarantine until the results are received.
The employee parking lot on the northwest side of Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital has been designated for drive-through testing and entrances from 36th Street and Dr. Hugh McCrystal Drive are clearly marked. Testing will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week.
SALVATION ARMY SENIOR RESOURCE
In response to Covid-19, the Salvation Army will offer additional food services for seniors and high risk individuals.
Individuals can call the Salvation Army at 772-978-0265 Ext. 101 during Food Pantry hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9-12 & 1-3) and request a “No Contact Pick Up.” They can provide their information over the phone and we will load their car without them getting out.
Or -
In collaboration with the Senior Resource Association, MRE’s can be delivered to their homes by calling the Salvation Army at 772-978-0265 Ext. 101.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
The Covid-19 Virus outbreak is stressful for so many of us. If you need some resources to manage that stress, here are a couple of options:
The CDC has a website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
Locally, the Mental Health Association Walk-In & Counseling Center continues to remain open during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. for same-day mental health screenings, crisis intervention, emergency visits, and new patient evaluations. They have adopted using telehealth for follow-up therapy for current patients and psychiatric medication refills. They will also be available by phone at 772-569-9788 for triages. Current patients who are sick or have a fever need to stay home and MHA will treat them via the telehealth services described above.
VOTE BY MAIL
Never before have we witnessed such a vital need to vote by mail. If you have not registered to vote by mail, go to the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections website: https://www.voteindianriver.com/Vote-By-Mail/Request-Absentee-Ballot where you can register directly.
If you aren’t registered to vote yet, you can register at https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
CENSUS 2020
If you haven’t filled out the Census yet, please do it! You should have received a letter in the mail with your access code. So please go online and make sure YOU count!
PRECINCT ACTION COMMITTEE NEWS
The Precinct Action Committee (PAC), under the leadership of chair Rita Milelli—the volunteer of the month, has been meeting regularly each week via Zoom to plan the various ways we can reach out to all IRC Democrats. Encouraging Democrats to enroll with the Supervisor of Elections to VOTE BY MAIL remains our number one priority.
Voter outreach will include phone calls, text messages, and letter-writing. Many Precinct Captains have already been hard at work sending letters to fellow Democrats in their precinct. The PAC is currently developing scripts for phone calls and texting that we hope to implement in the next week or two. Additionally, the PAC is developing video conferencing training for phone calling and texting. Stay tuned for details.
If you are interested in helping with this important work, contact the office: [email protected]
DEFEAT TRUMP
The Defeat Trump website is the place for voters to get facts about what's at stake in our 2020 election, grab tips for taking the fight to social media, find volunteer opportunities, and add their stories of why they're fighting to defeat Trump. Trump has left Florida’s families with nothing but empty promises and toxic policies, and we are telling that story. Our first ever storytelling website encourages Floridians to use their voice to defeat Trump in 2020. The link to the website is: www.defeattrumpfl.com
DEMOCRATIC CLUB UPDATE
Stay Safe...Stay Connected...Stay Energized
Just a reminder, the Club will not have a general membership meeting in April and we will decide on future meetings on a month-by-month basis. If anyone has any questions, comments, or suggestions about meeting speakers or presentations, you can email Claudia Martino [email protected] or call her at 954-290-5661.
Please keep checking Facebook and your emails for updates on events and GOTV activities you can do from home. If you know anyone who is not receiving these emails or the weekly Democrats of Indian River newsletter, you can contact Claudia.
That’s all folks! Stay healthy! Stay home!
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