Meeting Minutes from May 7, 2025

 Indivisible St. Johnsbury

Full Group Meeting Minutes  

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Universalist Unitarian Meeting House

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

1. Welcome to all, including new attendees. Reviewed the purpose of this organization - Susan. 

2. Reading by Brendan:  “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.- Martin Luther King 

Also, “Freedom is not free.” 

3. Pair Shares 

4. Report from Local and State Work Group: 

   1. Goal 1: Find ways to address the current and anticipated gaps in resources and services in our community. 

We have recruited 18 volunteers for the 3 St. J Food shelves. We are coordinating donations for a meal at the NEK Shelter each month. A new effort to address nutritional quality is being made: Work with the new St. J Farmers Market director to gather donations for the food shelves and organize a drop box for customers. Daisy McCoy has volunteered to do the pick-up and cold storage on Saturdays, and we will distribute the food to the food shelves.  

2. Goal 2: Increase engagement of the whole community in local and state government 

   1. Increase community engagement at Selectboard Meetings and local special meetings/voting.

   2. Increased engagement at Legislative Breakfasts. They are over until September, and we requested they start again in September if the session opens in September (as announced on 5/19).   

   3. We invited St J Academy students and teacher Scott Beck to attend an Indivisible Meeting. However, school policy wouldn’t allow it because we are a political organization. Scott Beck is willing to come in June. What would be the topic? Engaging youth in politics? 

3. Important Dates: 

St. J Selectboard Meetings on 2nd and 4th Monday, 6 pm, Welcome Center

5/27, 5:30, Welcome Center, St. J:  Special Meeting on the Armory Redevelopment Project

6/3, all day,  Welcome Center, Bond Vote on the Armory project, and early ballots are available.

Members from other towns should check the town clerk websites for dates/times/locations. 

5. Presentation by the Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seekers Assistance Network (NEKASAN). Libby Hillhouse and others presented.

   1. Concern: Immigration officials recently detained an asylum seeker working with their organization without stated charges. Indivisible members have offered assistance and will continue to do so.  NEKASAN is working with immigration organizations in the state and nation. Becca Balint's office is working on this, and the individual has secured a lawyer.  They will let us know if they need further advocacy, letters, demonstrations, calls, etc. When/if it is advised, NEKASAN will share information with the media.  

   2. One member offered to drive guests if that was needed. NEKASAN is also in the midst of a membership drive and recommends that those who are interested in membership contact Dinah Yessne dinahyessne@gmail.com and also visit the website: WEBSITE FOR NEKASAN

   3. Also mentioned: There is a  6-person affinity group of volunteers who have completed Civil Disobedience training and are interested in working on immigration issues. 

   4. Suggested: Indivisible St. J members and others could request that our towns adopt a resolution, as they have done in Rutland, Shaftsbury, and Bennington, to ensure due process for all persons. Article about the VT town resolutions: VTDigger Article

6. Dakota Butterfield presented “The Spectrum of Allies.” This interactive presentation explained how power works and shifts, not by convincing the active or passive opposition, but by focusing on the neutral group in the middle. Increasing the passive and active allies from the large neutral group is always what works. She also had us thinking about the Pillars of Power and the importance of committing to non-violence. Most important: Find your people!! 

7. Announcements: 

   1. Reminder: Sat, 5/24, 11 am-1 pm, Court House, St. J. Honor and Thank Our Vets. The event is on our website. Speakers. Please share on Facebook and other outlets—it is being promoted on Front Porch Forum. 

   2. Forming now: the Singing Revolution Group for rallies, etc. 

   3. Brenden arranged a LGBTQ Film and Discussion Series at Catamount. Link to the LGBTQ series at Catamount Arts  

   4. Rally: No Kings St. Johnsbury June 14th, 10 am—12 noon, at the post office and courthouse in St. J. Go to the link for details and let us know you will attend. Share the link on social media. 

   5. Susan Parker will attend the National Indivisible Conference and bring back much learning to share. 

8. Next meetings: 

9. Wednesday, May 28th, 11 am -12 pm Work Group 

10. Wednesday, June 4th, 11 am -12 pm Full Group