Women’s March Reasons to be Thankful

By Rhea Morgan,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks to your participation in the electoral process we have much to be thankful for. Please take a minute to celebrate the rewards of your efforts for a better future for all. We have much to be thankful for…

 

1. There are only 52 days before the inauguration! The official transition website is up in case you want to apply for a job.
2. The 2020 election saw the greatest voter numbers in history (>150 million) and the greatest ever cast for the presidential winner (>80 million).
3. Outgoing Pres. Donald Trump gained 1 win & 39 losses on his election lawsuits. The one win caused no significant change in vote tallies (change in signature curing time from 6 to 3 days in PA).
4. The RNC paid $3 million for a recount in Wisconsin and the result found another 132 votes for Biden. 😊
5. Women on the President-elects Official Cabinet will play prominent roles in the Biden/Harris administration’s transition and leadership roles, including UN Ambassador,  Homeland Security, and head of CIA nominees.
6. The son of Jewish Cuban refugees (Alejandro Mayorkas) who had a hand in designing DACA will head the Department of Homeland Security.
7. For the first time, the presidential envoy for climate will be a cabinet position and John Kerry plans to return the USA to the Paris Climate Accord. Folks from Al Gore to the Sunrise Movement are happy about this appointment.
8.  Incoming 1^st Lady Dr. Jill Biden, FLOTUS, will continue to teach at Northern VA Community College and education will be a priority for her.
9. Doug Emhoff (the first 2^nd man of the United States) has resigned from his job and plans to take on food insecurity as one of his causes.
10. Dogs, from the furry four-legged variety, will occupy the White House. Pres.-elect family’s German Shepherds Champ and Major (a rescue added in 2018). The dogs don’t know it yet but the Bidens are also planning to get a cat to take with them.
11. As of November 23, a record number of absentee ballot applications (>750,000) had been submitted for the Georgia Senate run-off elections.
12. The Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for Pebble Mine that would have threatened the Bristol Bay salmon habitat.
13. EPA staffers are openly resisting the outgoing administration’s attempt to ignore medical research data.
14. It has become widely known that Dolly Parton donated $1million towards the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine created by researchers at Vanderbilt University.
15. The FAA is preparing to deliver mass air shipments of COVID-19 vaccines as they become available. The 1st shipment flew into Chicago from Belgium Saturday night.
16. The UK may clear the Pfizer vaccine for public use as early as this week.
17. TN was chosen as 1 of 4 states to participate in a pilot program for the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine that requires ultra-cold storage.
18. Scotland is the first country to provide feminine products for free and its MPs are calling for an investigation of the financing of Trump’s business interests in the country.
19. US Women’s Soccer team wore Black Lives Matter jackets at their match with Holland.
20. Wildlife made the news in Utah. Officials announced that animals are using a specially-created, highway overpass above I-80 that was designed to prevent motor vehicle accidents. Check out the video!

Coming Events

See & Bookmark this calendar:  https://sites.google.com/view/wmcethuddle/calendar?authuser=0

Nov 30^th, Mon 5-7PM: Observe the Leadership & Organizations: Gender, Power, and Authority Class. Hosted by the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy. Zoom online event. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe37hwRltJeoTLi0PI8KtacNdY0Nm9yCA2VqMFpZnPMnXtL-Q/viewform

Dec 1^st, Tues 11:30AM-1PM: BCEAC meeting. Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82720389885?pwd=ZEpSQ2h1Rk9XR3NrYkI4YjBsbnBhUT09 Meeting ID: 827 2038 9885, Passcode: 331230. One tap mobile 301-715-8592, 312-626-6799/ Dues are $20 per year. RSVP to bcecumenicalactioncouncil@gmail.com.

Dec 1^st, Tues 7-9PM: Youth Conversation About Race. Hosted by BC United on Zoom. This facilitated conversation about race relations, prejudice, and stereotypes is designed to break down barriers, help youth see others in new ways, and establish connections with youth who might look, act, and think differently.  For more information, contact Inger Scudder atIScudder@ortn.edu  or Robert McClelland atramaloha@hotmail.com . A Zoom invitation will be sent to interested participants.

Dec 3^rd Thurs 8-9PM: Virtual Gala to End Hunger. Sponsored by Bread for the World. The event will honor U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey from New York for her leadership in ending hunger. Special guest speaker is Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham. Other speakers include Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World; Anwar Khan, president of Islamic Relief USA; and Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. Complimentary registration is here. To donate while registering visit this site.

Dec 5^th & Dec 6^th, Sat & Sun 1-5PM: CCL’s Plan for Climate Action in 2021. This online meeting has a great line up of speakers. For more details, see this website and register here for free.

Dec 11^th, Fri: Deadline for last state to certify election results. Under the Electoral Count Act, this is the date by which states are meant to have counted votes, settled disputes, and determined the winner of their electoral college votes. Governors are supposed to create certificates of ascertainment listing the winner of the election and the slate of electors.

Dec 8^th 6:30-8:30 PM: Families & Politics: How to Talk with Loved Ones on the Other Side. This is a Braver Angels Workshop. To prepare for the workshop, consider taking the eLearning Course.

Dec 14^th, Mon: Electoral Votes are Cast. Here is a summary of the state laws governing electors.

Dec 23^rd, Wed. Electoral Votes must arrive in Washington DC.

Jan 3, 2021, Sun: New Congress is sworn in at noon.

Jan 6^th, Wed: Electoral Votes are counted. Read about the process here.

Jan 20^th, Wed: Inauguration Day. The 46^th President takes oath of office at noon.

Have a good new week and enjoy this rendition of Memories by the One Voice Children’s Choir from Utah.

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Rhea Morgan