ENC Progressive
Coalition Forming
Rev. William J. Barber II ends his recent autobiography with a list of
14 steps we must take to move “forward together.” The first is “Engage in
indigenously led grassroots organizing across the state.” Inspired by Rev.
Barber’s work, a new progressive coalition is being formed in Eastern North
Carolina for the purpose of connecting the many groups in this region, both
Democratic party committees and non-partisan organizations. We propose
working together in these ways:
 We will create regular newsletters as a way of educating ourselves and
others, sharing thoughtful articles on issues of concern as well as links to
important articles that appear in lesser-known publications and sites.
 In the newsletter we will publish a list of upcoming events to increase
awareness of causes we support by increasing numbers of participants.
 The newsletter will list all participating groups. Those on our voluntary
contact list will receive newsletters and announcements regularly.
EnVision2020 is a newsletter
for activists living in Eastern
North Carolina who care about
our planet and the people
living on it. To receive these
newsletters join us by sending
an email to:
[email protected]
March 10, 2017
Volume 1, No. 1
Inside this issue
Links to important news ............. 2
Issues articles ............................. 3
News of our members ................ 4
Events in our counties ................ 5
Membership list ......................... 6
In New Bern on January 21 more than 600 people marched to show opposition to Trump’s presidency. In Pamlico County last month 40 people met to
form “Pamlico Progressives.” Sixty people met in Beaufort Co. to form
“Beaufort Progressives.” Trump has given us the best opportunity ever for
expanding our base of support. Let’s make the most of it!
We invite you to join us! An organizing meeting is being planned for April 10
in New Bern. At this dinner meeting which will begin at 6:00 pm, we will
jointly make decisions about the best ways a coalition can expand participation in all our organizations. Please see page three or call 252-675-8976 or
email ENCprogressive.outlook.com for more information.
What Do You Think? ................... 6
Special points of interest
on Page 2
 Raising the minimum wage in
North Carolina
 Climate change effects in ENC
 Blue Cross makes huge profit
while raising rates and paying
North Carolina Lawmakers Hope to Raise Minimum Wage in Our State
Three North Carolina senators re hoping to raise the minimum wage in our state. If passed, the bill
would raise the minimum wage to $8 an hour beginning this Labor Day. The ultimate goal of the bill is
to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021. Link to the full article
New Bern Sun Journal: Lessons Learned, Lessons Applied by Richard LaPalme.
As a concerned citizen, I try to inform myself about important issues that have a potential for changing
my life. In 1972 I was a university student assisting in a radio astronomy study about what was then
called the Antarctic polar icecap ozone hole. The work of our scientists and many others worldwide
eventually led to a global treaty for an environmentally balanced approach to chlorofluorocarbon
(Freon) refrigerant management. The ozone hole is now recovering and closing. Link to the full article.
See page 5, Happenings, for information about an important lecture to be presented in Morehead City
on March 27.
New York Times: Trump’s Many Shades of Contempt
“It’s reminiscent of the developing countries where I’ve served. The family rules everything and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows nothing.” Julia Ioffe quoted by Roger Cohen is a very important
warning to the American people. Link to the full article.
Politico: Top lawyers who helped the Obama White House craft and hold to rules of conduct believe
President Donald Trump and his staff will break ethics norms meant to guard against politicization of
the government — and they’ve formed a new group to prepare, and fight. … While other Trump opponents focus on taking the president to court over the travel ban and deportations, the new group plans
to drill into issues that aren’t already hitting the headlines, like potential intervention in and intimidation of regulatory agencies by West Wing staff. Link to the full article.
New York Times: Top Court Returns Virginia Voting District Cast to Lower Court
The US Supreme Court gave Virginia Democrats fresh chance to challenge parts of the Legislative map
for the state’s House of Delegates. Link to the full article
Blue Ridge Public Radio: BC/BS Trims Obamacare Losses, Makes Larger Profit
The dominant insurance company in North Carolina performed far better on the Obamacare exchange
last year and increased overall profits dramatically as a result. Link to the full article
News & Observer: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NC Execs Get $1 million + bonuses
The state’s largest health insurer, which is based in Durham, reported Wednesday that it generated net
income of $185 million last year, up from $500,000 in 2015. This year’s profit amounted to 2.4 cents
for every dollar of premium received. Link to the full article
“North Carolina’s recent political history foreshadows what’s likely to happen in
Washington during this era of Republican political dominance. Luckily, the
growing Democratic revival in North Carolina can also teach us lessons about
what Democrats across the U.S. should do next. …”
This article, written by Graig Meyer and published on Medium.com, is a brief review of where
we have been in North Carolina in recent years and where we can go by working together.
Here is a link to the full article. Graig Meyer is a member of the NC House of Representatives
from Durham. See his website here.
Let’s get organized!
Let’s work together to strengthen all our organizations!
You are invited to the first meeting of
ENC Progressives, a coalition of groups in eight counties:
Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico & Pitt
We Will Be Stronger Together!
A dinner meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. in New Bern at
Flame Banquet Center
Cost is $20: choose from salmon or chicken or a vegetarian dinner; a cash bar will be available.
The purpose of this meeting is to decide whether to form an 8-county coalition of progressive groups in
eastern North Carolina and to determine how the group will work.
Reservations are absolutely required. Call Libbie at 252-675-8976 to reserve.
Everyone is welcome!
People in New Bern are working together to support undocumented residents of our
community. Here is the mission statement they have recently created.
To join this group or to learn more please contact [email protected]
Sisters Work, initially sponsored by the Democratic Women of Craven County, began meeting for
the “first 100 days” of the new Presidential Administration to pursue the intentional inclusion of
younger women in the Craven County area in working toward shared political goals. The two objectives of this focus group are:

To encourage relationship-building between an ethnically-diverse group of younger and older
women with a common commitment to progressive goals;

To empower more women as leaders in Craven County by sharing knowledge and practicing
social activism skills together.
Midway through the first 100 days, participants are providing training to the entire group about how
to run for local office; choosing a policy focus; considering the longer-term future by working on a
mission statement and networking strategies; exploring sponsorship of an upcoming march, and
building relationship ties. For more information, contact [email protected].
Tell us what your group is doing! Join the ENC progressive coalition.
Email [email protected] a brief description of activities in your county.
We’ll share your news in a future issue of Envision2020.
Throughout our region Democratic Party annual county conventions will be held in the coming
weeks. Send us the details of your convention and we’ll list it here.
Saturday, March 11: A peaceful, non-partisan Citizens Moral March will be held in Beaufort.
The focus for this march is on emphasizing common concerns on issues affecting our county,
state and country including equality; social, environmental and economic justice. The rally will
include multiple speakers addressing concerns including jobs, education, health care,
mental health and substance abuse treatment and protecting our Crystal Coast. Marchers are
asked to gather at 11:00 am at Grayden Paul Park on Front Street (across from Beaufort Town
Hall and BBT Bank) the half mile march begins at noon and ends with a rally at the Carteret
County Courthouse. For further information please call 860-671- 1278 or see the “Citizens
Moral March for Carteret County” Facebook page.
Saturday, March 11, International Women’s Day. Join the march in Greenville sponsored by
Amexcan. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Alice Keene Park, 4561 County Home Road.
Sunday, March 26, 3:00 pm: SAFE-ENC will meet at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship hall
in New Bern, 308 Meadows Street. (See this group’s mission statement on page 4.)
Monday, March 27, 7:00 pm: Dr. Rosana Nieto Ferreira will discuss Climate Change: Science
and Impacts in Eastern North Carolina” at Joslyn Hall on the campus of the Carteret
Community College, Morehead City. This event is sponsored by Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Beaufort chapter, Sierra Club-Croatan Group, Interfaith Power & Light, and Carteret Crossroads. Read Richard LaPalme’s article in the New Bern Sun Journal for more information.
Thursday, April 6, 6:30 pm: Noted expert John Fussell will be doing a presentation for the
Carolina Nature Coalition and Croatan Sierra Club about "Endangered Flora and Fauna of the
Croatan National Forest." Location: Trent River Coffee Company, 208 Middle Street, New
Bern.
On this page in all future issues of Envision2020 we will list member organizations with
contact information.
Is creating a coalition representing many activists in eastern North Carolina a good idea? Will
your group want to participate?
We’ve created this newsletter to illustrate how we will communicate with progressives in the
8-county region of Eastern North Carolina. It’s a first attempt and we’re sure it will improve.
We want you to understand that we are proposing to share communication and education
about issues of the day. We hope that by working together across a large area all of us will
grow and become stronger.
We hope you will attend our organizing meeting in New Bern on April 10. Please make your
reservation to join us soon by emailing [email protected]. Please invite every
activist you know in our 8-county region.
The editor of this newsletter has been inspired by Rev. William Barber’s “fusion movement”
to reach out to all people who are opposed to what is going Raleigh and Washington DC. By
working together, by sharing information, by supporting one another’s causes, we can be
STRONGER TOGETHER.
Who is that editor? Libbie Griffin, a recent retiree with time on her hands and experience in
creating newsletters, has for many years been an active Democrat. For 12 years I’ve led a
group called the “Liberal Ladies” in New Bern; today we have 370 people on our email list.
More than100 women attended the Liberal Ladies February meeting.
Contact me at [email protected] or by phone at 252-675-8976. I’d love to hear what
you think of this idea! Thank you for your interest.