From Fair Districts PA (http://www.fairdistrictspa.com):
Great news! We’ve learned that the House State Government Committee has scheduled a public meeting on redistricting reform: September 18, 9 am, in the Irvis Building. Fair Districts PA leaders will be invited to present testimony. Additional details will be provided when they’re available, and FDPA supporters will be encouraged to attend.
Other good news: we just hit the 50,000 mark on our email list, an amazing accomplishment for a volunteer-led organization just three years old. And we now have 66,000 petition signatures, 320 resolutions and an amazing record of 750 informational meetings where we’ve explained gerrymandering and why it matters.
While we all juggle vacations, avoid the heat and dodge torrential downpours, we need to keep momentum growing.
We all know democracy is not a spectator sport, so we’d like you to do one new thing (or several!) to keep us growing stronger. Invite a friend or bring your kids and have an August adventure:
- Sign up to collect signatures someplace you’ve never been. (We have lots of fun opportunities here.) Get links to various signups below.
- Order some rack cards or postcards, print some small posters and take a road trip to find new places to display them. (You laugh – but some of our best volunteers found out about us through postcards left in coffee shops or a small poster on a bulletin board!)
- Plan a postcard party: order some (free!) cards, buy some stamps and make some lemonade. Send them to your own legislators, then share your thoughts with party leaders, local officials, local press. Be creative!
To download or order materials, click here
Looking for some even more adventurous ideas?
Some of our folks have planned Gerry Meanders: walks that start in one district, wander through several others, then end up with some food or fun. Do a bike meander down some country roads or plan a road rally from one end of a strangely shaped district to the other. Invite the press to meet you at the end.
How about a backyard fund-raising concert? Find some musicians, put up a shade tent or two, make some homemade ice cream (or pie, or grill some chicken) and sometime along the way spend a few minutes explaining about gerrymandering and why it matters. Put out a jar for donations and make sure you have a petition handy.
If you do something interesting or fun, invite your local officials! They may not come, but an invitation is a great reminder for legislators: we’re active, we’re creative, and we’re very very determined!
Whatever you decide to do, let us know! Post photos, videos or livestream to social media and tag us (@FairDistrictsPA.com). Or email us photos and a short description at info@fairdistrictspa.com.
Here’s what we know for sure: together, with creativity, determination and some fun along the way, we can change the tone of politics in PA and reclaim our place at the table.
Thanks for your part in this adventure! Read on to find out where volunteers are needed for specific dates and times and at specific locations in the state.
Volunteer Opportunities
Work a shift at a tabling event
Lehigh County
7/28: Puerto Rican Festival, Allentown PA, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm – Sign-up link
8/18: Lehigh Valley Pride 2019, Allentown PA, 11:45 am – 6:00 pm – Sign-up link
North Central PA – Sign-up link for all
7/28-8/3: Clearfield County Fair
7/27-8/3: Clinton County Fair
8/16-24: Center County, Grange Fair
8/4-10: Huntingdon County Fair
Dauphin County
7/27: 2019 Pride Festival of Central PA, Harrisburg, PA, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm – Sign-up link
Lancaster County
9/18-20: Solanco County Fair, Quarryville, PA, 9:00 am – 7:30 pm each day – Sign-up link
Statewide Admin Team needs volunteers
Interested in getting involved but do not necessarily want to interact with the public? Already involved but want to contribute in more and/or different ways? Commit as much time as you want, and we can match you to activities behind the scenes. Contact info@fairdistrictspa.com, and someone will be in touch within seven days.
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