“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead’s quote aptly applies to a group of women who, alarmed and frightened by the direction their country was taking in 2017, decided to do something. That initial something was responding to Kirsten Timrud’s post on social media inquiring if anyone else was freaked out by the actions and intent of the Trump administration? Over 30 people came to Red Hen Cafe and brainstormed about what they could do to fight for democracy.
The group became Indivisible Mad River Valley (IMRV) and Jeb Bouchard of Moretown and Dana Goss of Waitsfield took the helm. There were so many issues to address including infringement on civil liberties, border issues, elections, (particularly in swing states), immigrant needs, and women’s rights. But what to do? How to communicate their objectives as a grass roots organization and garner support to move their agenda forward?
At about the same time other Indivisibles were popping up around Vermont. Goss and others decided to put their energies into Lean Left, a grass roots organization, exclusive to Vermont, focused on out-of-state elections in swing states. Lean Left continues a strong affiliation with IMRV as they both share the same objective to rebuild democracy. Jeb reached out to the local Democratic Party for their help as well. Much of the organization’s initial effort was writing and sending post cards to get registered Democrats in swing states out to vote in 2020.
The Trump-Biden 2020 election was a real catalyst to ignite volunteers. Increased numbers resulted in creating an updated newsletter, writing thousands of post cards to get out the vote and people willing to learn to phone and text bank. With the Biden victory in 2020, volunteers, for the most part, disbanded. Not so for Jeb Bouchard and Tisa Rennau who looked at the bigger picture trying to amplify all of President Biden’s initiatives. It required hard work finding ways to bring people together to accomplish the stated objectives of building a politically aware and motivated community within a community with its own needs.
Concurrently, local community service projects happened including a sizable involvement helping July 2023 flood victims and workers with food. Through the years, financial gifts have been given to organizations including The Valley’s Hannah’s House and Mad River Valley Interfaith Council.
Jeb retired in 2020 from the Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom where she had worked full-time as a systems analyst. Together with her long-time friend and activist, Tisa Rennau, they immersed themselves, nearly full-time, into political action and forming teams to tackle urgent issues.
The Trump outcome of the 2024 election necessitated constant response. On a Monday, February 28, 2025, it was announced that V.P. Vance would be coming on Friday to ski at Sugarbush. Mobilization to protest his role in the administration took place immediately. There were so many needs – getting the word out, how to assure the safety of demonstrators and how to convey the requested non-violent decorum and plan the overall logistics.
Five hundred people were anticipated to attend the Waitsfield protest of the Trump/Vance policies. Anger and disgust were heightened by the disrespect and bullying of Ukrainian President Zelensky that took place in the oval office and witnessed on network television the day before Vance’s arrival and increased turnout. The actual number of people who came out numbered over 2,000 and attracted world-wide attention and media. Canadians reached out to IMRV to say they were gratified to know not all Americans were on board with Trump/Vance policies. It took six weeks before the organization could focus away from the demands of the media and correspondents. Requests to be on the IMRV mailing list doubled. As actions by the administration have become more egregious, the numbers of chairs required at monthly meetings has multiplied.
Judi Daly and Karen Cingiser took over in 2025 as co-leaders and facilitate the organization’s monthly general meetings and designated actions while Jeb and Tisa focus on elections and staying current with state-wide Indivisibles. Others would take on leadership roles such as Lisa Therrien who did not know how she could be of help but wanted to do something. Jeb knew of Lisa’s “back-office” skills and asked if she would be willing to become the treasurer and Lisa agreed.
ARTivism 2025 was a very successful effort selling donated art works at an auction at Afterthoughts for the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund. Vermont state treasurer Mike Pieciak spoke about the fund he helped create. The committee of nine claim to have been “gobsmacked when the results came in tallying over $8,200 for the cause.” In 2026, once again funds were raised – this time to help the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund in Minnesota. Additionally, there is linkage with the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network to help asylum seekers with everything they need from food to housing. During the March Arts Marathon, artists in all media who are involved in IMRV will be raising money by daily delivering original art to inboxes of sponsors. The project motivates the artists and helps the cause of CVRAN. Questions can be directed to marathon@cvran.
Advocacy takes many forms within the organization. One such example is the Red Hat campaign. Inspired by what Norwegians had done in the 1940s as a form of protest against Nazi occupation of their country, groups of women met locally to knit and crochet red, pointed hats with tassels and, while together, have an opportunity to share the heartbreak they are feeling in 2026.
IMRV has provided opportunities for Valley residents to rally for democracy locally and with other communities as well. In June on Flag Day and National No Kings Day, over 8,500 Vermonters lined Route 7 united in a shared love for democracy and one another. Signs and posters were handmade and proudly displayed. Lonnie Poland, event organizer stated, “What we saw that day wasn’t chaos or division – it was courage, community, and quiet strength.”
Local rallies to protest ICE have twice occurred in Waitsfield bringing 200 people out at 7:30 on a Saturday morning. Organizational efforts are afoot for the country-wide No King’s Protest scheduled for March 28 in Waitsfield, Montpelier and all around the country. Jeb does not mind that her restful retirement dream has been derailed and, in any spare time, quilts and spends time with friends! There is joy in Indivisible’s work.
The reality that she is part of a dedicated group, not turning their backs on national and local needs, inspires her. She loves that IMRV focuses on caring about one another and lifting each other up. Firming believing she, along with so many like- minded men and women, are part of helping to address destructive policies and rebuild democracy, motivates her. Believing that, together, their efforts shall prevail, sustains her and leads her to the next struggle.
A huge focus now is being part of the national Democrats’ campaign to get out the votes and to do whatever can be done to expose and mitigate Republican efforts to suppress votes. Text and phone banking are tools used to reach out to registered Democratic voters nation-wide in hopes of encouraging volunteers to not only vote, but also to be monitors of polling places and to be taught how to respond to attempts to suppress voting.
In summing up what continues to drive IMRV participants to act, is the feeling that children and grandchildren today are being short- changed on recognizable democracy. Their fervent hope is, through all their efforts, they will help create a better and just climate for generations to come.
Karen Cingiser and Judi Daly welcome any interested person in learning and doing something to go to the website at IndivisibleMRV.org. Both feel strongly there is no reason to feel alone and be a “doom scroller” when you can be part of the reassuring and positive, action-oriented, IMRV group. Please know they will find a chair for you!
