Updated pictures - Feb. 18, 2017
The next
meeting “Carroll CAN” will take place at the Carroll County Public Library in
Westminster on Feb. 12, 2017 2 p.m.
At the
January 26th, 2017 meeting of the Carroll County NAACP, Pam
Zappardino reported that a grass roots organization has formed in Carroll to
advocate for positive changes in the community.
The next
meeting “Carroll CAN” - organized by “Together We Will,” will take place at the
Carroll County Public Library in Westminster on Feb. 12, 2017 2 p.m. This will
be about the 3rd meeting. More information may be found on the
organization’s website here: https://carrollcan.org/
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The next
meeting “Carroll CAN” will take place at the Carroll County Public Library in
Westminster on Feb. 12, 2017 2 p.m.
According
to recent information on the Carroll Can listserve:
“…Come to the Carroll CAN meeting
at Westminster library at 2pm today! -AND/OR- If you are able to do so, please
sign up to help with a committee that you may have an interest in or maybe even
start your own if there is a need. We'd love to have some more people offer
their knowledge on specific topics as well to add content to our website and
keep the group informed.
“Some examples of the volunteer
needs are: Writer of Weekly/Monthly newsletter and Representatives’ Calendars
Liaison - report to communications/social media chairs when representatives
will have town halls”
We began
with a meeting in November 2016 at a Denny’s in Westminster. We used the time
to feel empowered and encouraged that a group had formed (we were only 300
members on a Facebook group site at the time, but just that was so exciting at
the time!). We shared our stories about why we had come, and there was a common
theme of “I thought I was the only one.” The overwhelming feeling was one
of relief to have found fellow Carroll County residents who shared the same
values and concerns.
And then
we hit the ground running!
We
developed an organizational and leadership structure, which continues to grow
as we find our groove.
We
organized a bus to attend the Women’s March on Washington. That wound up
becoming 3 buses, with 136 passengers! For many, it was their first march
and their first moment of activism! We had a volunteer design our green
“March On” buttons that we now wear proudly. After the march, a group of
marchers went to a local restaurant for dinner, still in their pink hats, and
they received applause and invited others to join our group!
We
programmed our representatives’ numbers into our phones, and faced our
nervousness and discomfort by making calls to their offices. We have now
become comfortable with something that most of us had never done before 2017!
We met
for monthly meetings, and the rooms were packed with energy and ideas.
We
developed a list of local businesses to support due to our common values and
interests.
We built
a website, and received donations to host the site for the next year!
Some
awesome stats: Our website has had 3,952 views in the last 30 days (as
of 2/8/17).
We made
a public Carroll CAN Facebook page so people can find us and
see our calls to action.
Some
more awesome stats: In just the first eight days of February, we have had
696 visits! Our Carroll CAN public Facebook page grew at 14.5% last week,
which is better than the Together We Will USA page and Pantsuit District page.
We engage more users than Indivisible, TWW-MD, and Pantsuit District!
We have
a Call to Action team that verifies and disseminates an action item that we can
do every day! They post these calls to action on the website, facebook page and twitter.
We
increased communication by having an email liaison send the content of the
facebook page to those who are not on facebook.
We
developed a logo that signifies our awareness that we are stronger as a united
team. We once felt alone because of our values, and now we have
both comfort and unified action because of our togetherness.
We had
members who went to BWI to show support to refugees and immigrants on the day
the bad went into effect. We have members who gather on Main Street in
Westminster on Saturdays with signs that have messages of inclusion, kindness,
and support.
We have
organized a Town Hall Meeting on 3/2/17 focused on the Affordable
Care Act! We have invited our representatives to attend, and we are
hopeful they will.
We
organized small groups that meet at local restaurants for support and
brainstorming.
We have
amazing passion and motivation! People who have never been engaged in anything
like this before have stepped up to lead a subcommittee! People who made
a suggestion wound up being willing to make that suggestion happen! All
it takes is that first thought of “Can I do ___?” and you will get a resounding
and supportive, “Yes you CAN!”
We have
managed to add activism and volunteering to our already full plates. We
have given our talents without expectation of recognition nor reimbursement.
We have learned new skills and been willing to go outside our comfort
zones.
We are
Carroll CAN—an action-focused, action-packed community network of kind,
compassionate, and dedicated Carroll County residents. Together, we have, we
will, and we CAN.
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com
