As we begin another year, it’s useful to look back and see what we have done, where we could have done more, and celebrate our many activities.
In addition to holding monthly meetings and growing our membership, Wyoming Rising began a newsletter and kept in touch with our community through dozens of posts, action alerts, calendar listings, and guest editorials.
2018 In Review
2018 was a busy year. We organized many events, sponsored several, and gave material support and publicity to activities organized by individuals and organizations across the state. Here’s a look back at 2018.
January
Wyoming Rising started the year with our second annual Women and Allies March.
February
Wyoming Rising organized a Community Healthcare Forum: a panel discussion with local healthcare professionals discussing access to healthcare and advocating for different models of healthcare in the Big Horn Basin.
March
We inspired and supported March For Our Lives, organized by Cody High School Students as a reaction to the rising number of school shootings.
Guns in Schools campaign. Wyoming Rising leaders Shirley Stephens and Niki Tisthammer led the resistance to the proposed school district Policy CKA to allow staff to carry loaded, concealed weapons in our schools. We rallied the public to attend school board meetings and speak to board members. We educated citizens about the policy and regulations, interviewed on the Bighon Network radio show, Speak Your Piece, and inspired public forums and debate.
Wyoming Rising leader Pat Stuart held two Campaign Familiarization Workshops to help citizens understand how to become a candidate and how to help someone’s campaign.
April
Citizens Uprising: a panel discussion about getting big money out of our election process — with Al Simpson, Jeff Clements (chair of American Promise), and Ken Chestek (chair of Wyoming Promise). Sponsored by Wyoming Promise and supported by Wyoming Rising.
Wyoming Rising held its second annual March For Science with a rally and climate change education.
May
Campaign season began and our Website was filled with news of candidate visits to Northwest Wyoming: Stuart, Specht, Trauner, Throne, and Racine.
We added an Election Watch section to this website to help educate voters about the many candidates running for state, local, and national offices. That section was continually updated and revised throughout the campaign season. We have retired those pages now that the 2018 election is over, but watch for it again in 2020.
June
8th Annual Return to Foretop’s Father, with panel discussion, dance, pipe ceremony and hike at Heart Mountain Nature Conservancy ranch. Sponsored by the Nature Conservancy, Christ Episcopal Church, and Wyoming Interfaith Network. Supported by Wyoming Rising.
Keep Families Together: a 5-day vigil in Cody and Powell was held to protest the 2,300 children separated from their families at the boarder. Organized by Wyoming Rising.
July
Fiesta De Familias in partnership with #WyoSayNo, Wyoming Rising sponsored gatherings in Powell and Cody to discuss the actions of ICE, the Justice Department, and the proposed immigration prison in Uinta County.
Wyoming Rising spread the word about the Wyoming Democrat Party and Mobilize America’s phone bank training and canvassing in Cody and Powell.
August
We focused on the Primary Election. We encouraged our members and subscribers to attend the many candidate debates, forums, and lunches organized by Powell Economic Partnership, Park County Republican Party, and Park County Democrats
We helped organize and promote an ENGAGE! event: a panel discussion designed to motivate young people to participate in the political process at the local, state, and national levels.
September
New leadership for Wyoming Rising was elected. Our Bylaws were revised and approved. We are organized and inspired.
October
We ramped up our voter education campaign with public viewings of debates between Wyoming candidates for the House, the Senate, and the Governorship at Heart Mountain Interpretive Center
November
We collaborated with Wyoming Promise to invite all Wyoming registered voters to come for a free bowl of soup and sign the petition in support of the 2020 Free and Fair Elections statewide ballot initiative.
We supported a final Town Hall with Candidates for Wyoming Legislature with Mike Specht, Dave Northrup, Paul Fees, and Sandy Newsome.
December
Planning has begun for the 2019 Women & Allies March (January 19, 2019 from 12:00-2:00 at Cody City Park). Please join us for the nations third Women’s March – a national expression of resistance and disagreement with the values and character of the current administration. See details about the 2019 March here.
Please share your thoughts