GVI Weekly Actions & Events

August 18, 2026

77 Days Out: Let’s Talk About Protecting the Vote

The midterms are 77 days away, and we keep hearing the same practical question: how do we know the count will hold? There are several educational & informational opportunities in August and September, listed below. In addition, Monroe and Livingston counties are still recruiting poll workers for November. It’s the least glamorous, most useful thing on this list.

TONIGHT
The Rochester Chapter of the League of Women Voters presents:
Knowing Your Vote Will Be Secure and Counted
5:30 to 6:30 PM at the Henrietta Public Library
League of Women Voters, Rochester NY Chapter
Learn how ballots are handled, how they’re audited, and who is watching. Bring your questions.

TOMORROW NIGHT
Election Protection 101, Wednesday, August 19th, 8:00 to 9:00 PM via Zoom
Indivisible National presents a two-part webinar from a national perspective. They describe what poll-watchers do and what voter-protection volunteers do on Election Day.

Election Protection 201, Wednesday, August 26th, 8:00 to 9:00 PM via Zoom
Registering allows you to receive a link to a recording afterwards.

SUBSCRIPTION
Hands Off Our Vote
Hands Off Our Vote is Indivisible’s national program to ensure all eligible voters get to cast their ballot, and that those ballots get counted. We’ll help you be ready to respond to any attacks, and we’ll shine a light on the bad actors threatening our basic constitutional rights. Subscribe to be notified of key voting deadlines in your state, get updates on any threats to your voting rights and learn how to counter them, and be ready to mobilize in defense of your vote.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, August 19th, 7:00 to  7:30 PM, Mini-Zoom
Finding Hope. Taking Action. Winning Together.
Featuring Robert Hubbell (Today’s Edition Newletter) and Jessica Craven (Chop Wood, Carry Water). Hear how these grassroots activist leaders describe moving beyond the headlines to adopt the steady, daily practices used by ordinary citizens to sustain and protect democracy.
Register for This VolunteerBlue Mini-Zoom.

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The Power of the Pen — Monday, August 25

Five groups, one table, a lot of postcards. GVI is co-hosting “The Power of the Pen” on Monday, August 25, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Ogden Farmers’ Library, 269 Ogden Center Rd. in Spencerport, with Westside Monroe County Indivisible, the Chili Democratic Committee, Knowledge and Action ROC, and the NY District 24 Consortium.

The cards go to three places: NY-24 voters, to support Alissa Ellman and defeat Claudia Tenney; Georgia, for voter mobilization; and Chili, for local races. They bring postcards, pens and pizza. You bring the handwriting. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Geneseo, so grab a neighbor and carpool.

Questions? Email jmgkress@gmail.com or indisara@proton.me.

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Coming Up

Tue, Aug 18	LWV: Knowing Your Vote Will Be Secure and Counted 5:30–6:30 PM · Henrietta Public Library, 625 Calkins Rd.	RSVP
Thu, Aug 20	Conesus Lake Association: An AI Update 7:00 PM · Watershed Education Center, Vitale Park, Lakeville · in-person only	Details
Sat, Aug 22	Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday 12:00 PM · Pocket Park, 46 E. State St., Mt. Morris	RSVP
Mon, Aug 25	The Power of the Pen: A Postcard Writing Event 5:30–7:30 PM · Ogden Farmers’ Library, 269 Ogden Center Rd., Spencerport	Details

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A Few Short Things

• Still no answer on debates. Alissa Ellman has asked Claudia Tenney to debate four times across NY-24, in four different communities. Tenney’s campaign hasn’t responded. As Ellman put it, everywhere she goes people ask the same question — “Where’s Claudia?”
• Plan ahead: the AI update. Following up on last week’s data-center item — the Conesus Lake Association’s AI program is this Thursday, August 20 at 7 PM, at the Watershed Education Center in Vitale Park. In-person only, although a recording may be available afterwards, but no registration needed.
• Rapid Response Network (RRN). Join the growing community of allies serving immigrant workers and families in the GLOW region. GLOW-RRN is growing! First step to volunteer is attending a 1-hour Orientation via Zoom. This training is presented by ROC-RRN, but applies to GLOW-RRN, too. First Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm. Join September 2nd. Register.

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GVI raises $500 in August in response to a Fundraising Challenge from Indivisible National!

In July Indivisible National offered any Indivisible group a dollar-for-dollar match of funds raised in August, up to $300. Then in the 2nd week of August, they raised the match to $500. GVI supporters cleared the $500 match goal last week! Your generosity amounts to $1000 towards electing Alissa Ellman and defeating Congressional incumbent Claudia Tenney. We are considering investing in additional print literature, yard signs, campaign buttons, and supporting educational opportunities for voters.

You can help keep these activities, and others, funded by continuing to fund GVI.

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Same Time, Every Week

• Thursday meeting — 6:30 PM, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Geneseo (red door in back)
• Geneseo Visibles — Wed & Fri, 4:00 PM, Gateway Corner Park
• Hemlock Rising protest — Wed, 4:30 PM, Rt 15A & Rt 20A
• What’s the Plan? — Thu, 3:00 PM  Register

Full calendar & ongoing ways to plug in →

Postcards, every week. Email Phil at paj12147@gmail.com to get a batch to write at home, or write them at the Thursday meeting — the Artist’s Team keeps a postcard station going. Order by Wednesday for Thursday’s meeting. The suggested donation for a packet of 10 postcards with stamps and an address list is now $7.00.

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