Tell local officials that masks save lives!
Anti-mask activists (Annie Bukacek in black) protesting outside of the administrative offices of the Kalispell Public Schools
Speak up for public health and public safety
Anti-mask activists are working hard to convince local officials that COVID-19 is a hoax and masks mandates are nonsense. They want their misinformation and conspiracy theories to carry as much authority as the advice of epidemiologists, public health experts, and hospitals.
We need to speak up so anti-mask activists don't drown out thoughtful, caring leaders and residents in the Flathead Valley.
This week, we’re going to ask you to email several local officials to remind them that the majority of the people in the Flathead Valley know that common-sense precautions will help bring down COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Let them know that you understand that wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding large group gatherings makes good sense.
Send one email to three contacts this weekend
Love Lives Here needs you to write one email and send it to three contacts before noon on Monday, October 26.
ONE EMAIL
Your email does not have to be complicated. Here are some talking points.
We are in a crisis with COVID-19 because cases and hospitalizations are increasing rapidly.
We want businesses and schools to stay open, but that can only happen if we insist on wearing masks, social distancing, and having smaller gatherings.
The anti-mask agenda is dangerous for the Flathead Valley. We need to listen to doctors and public health professionals.
THREE CONTACTS
Here's where to send your emails:
1. Flathead City-County Board of Health - will be forwarded to all board members
knuckles@flathead.mt.gov
2. Whitefish or Kalispell City Council - depending on where you live
mhowke@cityofwhitefish.org (goes to mayor and entire council)
citycouncil@kalispell.com (goes to mayor and entire council)
3. Tamalee St. James Robinson, Health Officer for the Flathead City-County Health Department
trobinson@flathead.mt.gov
WRITING TIPS
If you have time to write a longer email, that's great! But it's okay to keep things simple. Just make sure that your email is original. Please don't copy and paste the talking points above.
Please be polite, and thank Tamalee St. James Robinson and the health department for all of their hard work!
If you'd like to write a more detailed letter, here are talking points for educators, health care workers, and business issues.
EDUCATORS
Teachers want to keep schools and businesses open.
Schools are working very hard to protect students, and it's clear that the mask mandates and sanitizing protocols are working! Contact tracing proves that kids and teachers are not passing COVID to each other in school.
The weather is changing, which means everyone is going to be inside more. That means the community needs to be more careful, especially as we see cases and hospitalizations increase.
Teachers trust the advice from epidemiologists and public health professionals, not people leading mask protests outside of schools.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Hospital workers want to have enough staff to provide the safest care to patients.
Hospital staff uses science and data to drive our policies and procedures. We use evidence based practices to guide us. We use the experts to guide us. There is no room or time to allow misinformation to "guide" us through the pandemic.
Hospital staff want the community to support us so we have a chance at making this the least traumatic on us and our community, as it will have a lasting impact on our mental health.
Our public health department needs our support. They are doing an amazing job with the resources they have. To have protestors out their front windows promoting anti mask movement is demoralizing, as their primary goal is to keep the community safe through public health measures.
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
There are not "two sides" to protecting the Flathead Valley from COVID-19. There is prevention and denial.
It defies common sense and common courtesy to reject mask mandates and still insist that everything should stay open, even as cases and hospitalizations increase.
Friends and essential employees are getting COVID, which harms our loved ones.
Businesses are losing money as employees are having to quarantine from exposure or stay home after contracting COVID.
Flathead County's hotspot status is restricting the economy, forcing some businesses to lose out on important opportunities.
Local hospitals are filling, creating a staffing crisis that will impact the entire valley.
Why we need to take action
It's clear that anti-mask activists like Annie Bukacek are trying to mobilize a lot of people before the election and the upcoming session of the Montana Legislature. We need to speak up now and reject their dangerous agenda.
We know that Bukacek and others in the anti-mask movement like Ammon Bundy are also closely connected to anti-government, pro-militia groups. We cannot let them gain any more legitimacy.
If you have any questions, please email Cherilyn at info@loveliveshereflathead.org.