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Happy Thursday, Fellow Democrats!

Office Hours

Our regular office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Our address is 2345 14^th Ave., Suite 7, Downtown Vero Beach.

Newsletter Highlights

* We have a school board candidate who needs petitions signed to get on the ballot and a campaign team, learn how to help in the School Board Candidate section
* Find out how you can help those in Ukraine in the Ukraine section
* Canned food items are needed for United Against Poverty. See the Local section for more details.

School Board Candidate


Everyone always says we don’t have candidates running for office in Indian River County. Well, now we do, and she needs our help!

Cindy Gibbs is running for Jackie Rosario’s seat on the school board but first, she has to get on the ballot. Please sign her petition (which you can access here: [link removed]) and drop it off at the Democratic Headquarters OR you can also stop by the office and sign a petition and grab some to share with your friends!

Also, there are numerous shifts that need to be filled at local events to get her petitions signed. Sign up here for a shift!

[link removed]

Here are other ways you can help:

Cindy will be at LaPorte Farms this Saturday, March 19^th from 12-5 p.m. making bookmarks with kids during the Music Fest. If you can help out this Saturday with the bookmarks and getting petitions signed, please let her know by calling her at (772) 228-0252. Even an hour would be incredibly helpful!

Like and share the Cindy Gibbs for School Board Facebook page - @gibbs4schools—let’s get 1,000 likes on that page!

Share her campaign website on your social media or in emails to friends and colleagues in Indian River County [link removed]

Cindy lives in Sebastian and needs more representation in Vero Beach. Which businesses can support this campaign by having petitions available to sign or can offer fundraising support?

Additionally, these opportunities are available:

Database Management – enter petition signers into a database for Cindy to follow up with once she is on the ballot.

Fundraising – Cindy needs to raise money and is looking for someone who can help her do that. Also, please consider hosting a house party for Cindy and inviting your friends.

You can learn more about Cindy, sign up for her newsletter, and make a donation at [link removed]

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DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER


Democratic Women’s Club

The next DWC Book Group meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022. “How To Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X Kendi. If you are not a Book Group member and would like to attend, please contact Rita Milelli at
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
.


Democratic Club of Indian River

Congratulations to the new leadership of the Democratic Club!

President Wendy McDaniel
Vice president Jadie Barringer
Secretary Caryl Zook
Treasurer Charlie Berbick
Director Clay Wild
Director Betty Morrow
Director Valerie Daly
Director Fred Grumman
Director Karen Adelman

The Democratic Club will have a table at the 2022 Community Resource Fair on Friday, March 25th at United Against Poverty. Stop by to see us if you would like to learn more about the nonprofit businesses that serve Indian River County. We also need help working the table from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you are able to help, please contact Wendy at
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])



FEDERAL

33 Companies Funding Russia’s War on Ukraine by Not Ceasing Business There—The Industry Hall of Shame

Check this list and stop doing business with these companies!

Koch Industries, whose owners gave to right-wing causes for years, is now financing Putin’s war. The people who make Brawny paper towels, Dixie cups, Quilted Northern toilet paper, Vanity Fair napkins and Georgia-Pacific lumber are abetting the spilling of Ukrainians’ blood.

Like Reebok shoes? They’re being used to stomp on Ukraine. Authentic Brands Group, which also owns Aeropostale, Eddie Bauer, Brooks Brothers and Nine West, among others, is in the hall of shame.

Before you bite into a Cinnabon (or Carvel ice cream, Schlotzsky’s sandwich or Auntie Anne’s pretzel) consider that parent company Focus Brands is taking a bite out of democracy in Ukraine.

So is Subway. While selling you the All-American Club, it’s giving Ukrainians the Cold-Cock Combo by refusing to cut loose its 446 Russian franchises.

Several other household brands — Truvia and Diamond Crystal salt (Cargill), Avon cosmetics (Natura), LG appliances, ASUS laptops, Mission tortillas (Gruma) and Pirelli tires — are produced by companies on the shameful list.

Are you or your mutual fund invested in Halliburton, Baker Hughes or Schlumberger? Then you should know that these oil-services companies could deal a huge blow to Putin’s ability to wage war — but they choose profit instead.

Let’s name and shame all the others among the 33: advertising firms BBDO, DDB and Omnicom; accountant Baker Tilly; industrial companies Air Liquide, Air Products, Greif, IPG Photonics, Linde, Mettler Toledo, Nalco and Rockwool; French hotelier Accor and retailers Auchan, Decathlon and Leroy Merlin; German wholesaler Metro; cloud service Cloudflare; International Paper; and Sweden’s Oriflame Cosmetics.




U.S. Census

The U.S. Census has discovered that minorities were undercounted. You can read more about the discovery here:

** [link removed] ([link removed])



STATE

Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida


An update from the President of the Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida, Scott Hottenstein:

Now that the 2022 legislative session has come to an end, get ready to fight back against this talking point that you will hear ad nauseam:

"It's a record year for public education funding!"

It's not - not by a long shot.

Overall, Florida's budget increased by 10.4% over last year, yet per-pupil spending increased only 4.96% (which means public education didn't get its fair share of the bigger pie; and if inflation is at 7%, that means public education per-pupil spending was CUT by 2%).

Based on inflation-adjusted dollars, this year's 2022-23 public education budget is still 13% below the level of public education funding in the 2007-08 budget.

Teacher pay is 7.5% lower than 2012 levels. And don't forget that much of the money in Florida's budget came from federal pandemic programs that are still not fully allocated.





Florida’s 2022-2023 Budget


LOCAL


Pelican Island Audubon Society


Pelican Island Audubon Society is throwing a shindig with a delicious charcuterie to start, followed by a decadent dinner by Wild Thyme, live music by the "Leftovers", dancing, and a silent auction set in the middle of a beautiful pond with a waxing crescent moon to remind us of where we are, beautiful Florida. It all happens on Saturday, April 2 from 6-9 pm at Schacht's Groves.

PIAS is having this event to raise funds for public awareness of the referendum that will be on our ballots this fall.

Please join us.

Use the following link to sign up for a ticket or be a sponsor for only $1000 which includes TWO tickets:
** [link removed] ([link removed])


Below is the invitation and a letter with an explanation of the referendum.




Marine Resources Council Update on IRC Lagoon Health

Has the water quality and seagrass health improved in your region of the Indian River Lagoon? You can attend the Report Card update presentation on March 29th by registering here:

** [link removed] ([link removed])

Fellsmere Days


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


In light of the controversy surrounding the attempted book banning by the “Mom’s for Liberty” group, this is a good letter published in the Letters to the Editor section of the TC Palm on March 11, 2022.

The question, decade after decade, is the same— which books should be banned?

“To Kill a Mockingbird” won author Harper Lee the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. The storyline, which occurs over the course of three years, is set in Alabama during the 1930s and is narrated by Scout, the 6-year-old daughter of local attorney, and widower, Atticus Finch.

Scout and her slightly older brother Jem circulate in their small-town microcosm, observing the world through innocent eyes and learning a series of practical lessons involving compassion, prejudice, independent thinking, and courage.

Controversy about the book includes its use of racial slurs and courtroom discussion of an alleged rape, both of which only punctuate the ignorance, faulty presumptions and injustice they embody.

Atticus tells Jem, “There's a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep 'em all away from you. That's never possible.”

Perhaps the best we can do is to consider them in the context of what is right. This is a book that should continue to be read by and discussed among all generations, because the social issues at the story’s core are timeless and important.

Dedicated to librarians everywhere who provide us the opportunity to better understand our world, and ourselves.

Tom Fucigna, Hobe Sound

If you are passionate about something and would like to write a letter to the editor, you can submit your letter here:
** [link removed] ([link removed])



UKRAINE

Below is a list of resources from a friend of Stacey Klim’s who is from Ukraine and living in the U.S.

If you feel compelled to do something, below is a compiled list of organizations that can use our financial help, today. I’ve tried my best to vet them. I selected organizations that work on the ground, that have been in existence for a while and have an established infrastructure. Most have been doing this work since 2014 when the conflict in eastern Ukraine first started.
If the link directs you to a Ukrainian version, there is usually an option to change to English, or use Google translation.

If you are not able to give, I thank you for your moral support. Please continue supporting the sanctions and pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia. It is the darkest hour for the Russian people as well. 💙💛

**Organizations on the ground:**

1. “Hospitallers" (Госпітальєри) is a volunteer-based medical battalion operating on the front lines in Ukraine, providing first aid to wounded soldiers and civilians and equipping paramedics. It has been operating in eastern Ukraine since 2014.
Donation instructions, including Western Union, PayPal and Venmo: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


FB: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


2. Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement (Жіночий ветеранський рух) – NGO focused on the advocacy and protection of the rights of women veterans and servicemen. Currently mobilizing rapid response headquarters to support the war efforts, deploying medical training, distributing first aid kits, making Molotov cocktails, etc.

Learn More: ** [link removed]〈=en ([link removed]〈=en)


FB: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


They have not posted an “easy” donation link but please stay tuned. They are a badass group of women that I would like to find a way to support, on so many levels.

3. Voices of Children (Голоси дітей) – This charitable foundation offers psychological and psycho-social support to children who have suffered war trauma. The group has been working in various villages and towns along the frontline in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They are currently providing a crisis hot line and psychological support to parents and children affected by the conflict.

Donate via PayPal, credit card or Google Pay: ** [link removed] ([link removed])
...

Learn More: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


FB: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


4. East SOS (Восток SOS) – NGO started in 2014 as a volunteer civil initiative and a hotline by activists of Luhansk and Crimea. They provide assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), assist in the evacuation of people from the conflict zone, collect and distribute humanitarian aid. Now coordinating and distributing information on evacuation resources, shelter information and crisis hotline.

Donate (wire transfer): ** [link removed] ([link removed])
...

Learn More: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


FB: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


5. Come Back Alive (Povernys Zhyvym) - Since 2014 this charity has been providing the military with auxiliary equipment, thermographic cameras, night vision devices, specialized software, drones, personal body protection, training, and other supplies.

Donate: ** [link removed] ([link removed])

(Select “help the Ukrainian Army and click TO CONTRIBUTE – this will take you to a CC payment form)

Learn more: [link removed] (sorry for the limited English translation, this group is legit).

**World/Western Organizations:**

1. UNICEF is a UN agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. It had 4 operating offices on both sides of the conflict for the past 8 years, trucking water to conflict-affected areas; delivering health, hygiene and emergency education supplies, providing psycho-social care to children traumatized by the chronic insecurity and working with municipalities to ensure there is immediate help for children and families in need.

Donate: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


Learn more: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


FB: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


2. United Help Ukraine – a US-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is receiving and distributing donations, food and medical supplies to Ukrainian IDPs (internally displaced people) and families of wounded or killed in Ukraine. Currently it’s delivering first aid kits and other emergency supplies to the front lines, according to a Facebook post.

PayPal Donations: ** [link removed] ([link removed])
...

Facebook fundraiser: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


Learn more: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


FB: ** [link removed] ([link removed])


3. The National Bank of Ukraine launched a special account to raise money to support the Ukrainian military on Feb. 24 (wire instructions and Credit Card form):
[link removed]...
Additional resources:

** [link removed] ([link removed])


CALENDAR

Thursday, March 17, 2022

6:00 p.m. – Democrats of Indian River, DEC Meeting
Meeting via Zoom. Contact Stacey at [email protected] for meeting link.

7:00 p.m. - Fellsmere City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to ** www.cityoffellsmere.org/citycouncil ([link removed])



Wednesday, March 23, 2022

6:00 p.m. - Sebastian City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to
** [link removed] ([link removed])




Thursday, March 24, 2022

9:00 a.m. - Indian River Shores City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to ** [link removed] ([link removed])




TIDBITS


SNL’s Kate McKinnon’s take on DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” bill is spot on!

** [link removed] ([link removed])




That's all Democrats!
Stay Safe out There!
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Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County
2345 14th Ave.
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Vero Beach, FL 32960
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