Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Meeting House

 St. Johnsbury, Vermont  

1. Welcome background on Indivisible St. Johnsbury - a local chapter of Indivisible

There are 1500 chapters and 20 in Vermont. Indivisible St. Johnsbury offers time with like-minded people; we address immediate needs in our local community (Meal Train for NEKCA Shelter one day each per month) and activism on the local, state, and national levels. For example, Rally/Events Work Group will be developing plans for our participation in the nationwide “Hands Off” Day of Action, Sat—April 5th. 

2. Opening Inspiration - by Brendan. In these dark times, we are not alone. 

3. Work Groups: As planned, the groups met to introduce themselves, determine goals, select a co-facilitator, and establish timelines for efforts. Below are notes from each Work Group's report.  

   1. Local Work Group 

Attend local Selectboard Meetings in towns. For St. J, the Selectboard Meetings occur on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 6 p.m. On the agenda: Town Plan 2024: Presentation on 3/24, vote on 4/14. 

2. National Work Group

Goal postcards and calling for the Special Elections (AZ, FL, WI) Concerns: Progressive, Civil Liberties, Balance of Power 

3. Education Work Group

Round Table: Reaching out and reaching people across the line through various means: Create a roundtable event (in E Burke -Cafe Lotti) and create handouts about the events. 

Environmental Issues: organize and participate in projects and events in the local/statewide. 

Impact: Finding out how federal cuts are impacting the  agencies 

Spreading the Word: Asking people how they are learning about Indivisible St. J - concerns - some don’t know about it. 

 Non-violent Communication Training 4/6/25, 9 am - 11 am at the Breakfast Club at Wandering Vine, 378 Railroad St, St Johnsbury. 

Teaching History and Strategies, for example, organizing a Non-Violent Civil Resistance training 

4. Protest/Rally/Events Work Group (with links to more info on our website:)

Suggestion: Music (engage artists) 

Calendar of Events: (with links to our website

• Rally to Keep Social Security: Thursday, March 27,12pm- 1 pm) at the Social Security Office, 177 Main St. Littleton, NH—organizers: Northern Grafton County Democrats, 

• Monthly Indivisible St. Johnsbury Protest, Saturday, April 19th, 9-noon. Post Office. To coincide with the Maple Festival. We are also inquiring about having a table for the Maple Festival. 

• Hands-Off National Day of Action Saturday, April 5, Vermont State House, Montpelier, Vermont. 

5. Communication Work Group

6. Drafting a communications plan that includes all assets: FB, Instagram, Bluesky, Front Porch Forum and our website. The plan is to include a clear direction to keep people informed and engaged. It will be a draft. 

7. Create prepared statements for events. Very effective during the 3/15 Rally. 

8. We are nonpartisan and aim to include everyone who has been affected by cuts to jobs, social security, education, support for veterans, and more. Our goal is to restore our democracy of the people, by the people, for the people.

4. Next Meetings 

Regular Meeting: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 11 am - 12 noon

Work Group Meeting: Wednesday, April, 2, 2025, 11 am - 12 noon