Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America

Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America , formerly Missoula Democratic Socialists of America, is a Montana branch of Democratic Socialists of America.

Leadership 2023

Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America leadership 2023.

Sandy Burch Co-Chair
Jackie Reimers Co-Chair
Sarah McClain Treasurer
Arthur Endsley Secretary
Robbie Liben Communications Coordinator

HARASSMENT & GRIEVANCE OFFICER

Wren Greaney Harassment & Grievance Officer

DSA Contact

In July 2017, contact for Missoula Democratic Socialists of America was Tootie Welker.^[1]

"Creep of fascism"

Fearing the “slow creep of fascism,” several residents urged Missoula County commissioners on July 2019 to deny two federal agencies access to the county’s mountaintop radio facilities.

The request comes one day after county staff encouraged commissioners to gather more information before allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol to use certain towers.

Local members of the Democratic Socialists of America and Montanans for Immigrant Justice urged the county to deny the agencies’ request.

“We can’t even fathom why the county is even entertaining the request,” said DSA member Andi Hoelzel. “It represents the creep of fascism into our society. Parts of Montana don’t have cellular service, so it seems clear this is a way to target immigrants in some of our rural areas. We absolutely cannot have this.”

County staff this week encouraged commissioners to develop a more formal policy on how the mountaintop facilities are used, saying the number of requests continues to grow.

The county has made loose agreements with other groups wanting to use the sites, so long as they’re government agencies or nonprofit organizations. But now some fear that ICE and CBP could use the sites for controversial work around immigration under the Trump administration.

“Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Boarder Patrol have moved beyond the realm of an enforcement agency into the realm of fascism,” said DSA member Josh Decker. “Our community needs to combat that wherever possible and not enable it.”^[2]

Comrades

Western MT DSA January 24, 2018;

With Juan B. Quinones, Sara Mohmed, Sam Fred, Donny Ken Wasso, Lane Kent and Billiot Jack.

Western MT DSA Closed Group

Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America Closed Facebook Group, accessed May 23, 2018;^[3]

Admins and Moderators

Lynn Purl, Owner at Velocipede Editorial Services
Tootie Welker, Owner-operator at Mz Wally Woofer.Created group on February 23, 2018,

Members

Erin M. Erickson
Jim Waldhalm, Retired at International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers
Kathleen Ely, Quilt Scientist at Quiltscience LLC
Lili Casteel, Works at Missoula Developmental Service Corporation
Michael Workman, Senior programmer at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Josh Decker, Missoula, Montana
Dan Dorgborgdiek, Brown College
Jacqueline Reimers, Regulatory Compliance Manager at Nutritional Laboratories International
Mark Ibsen, Doctor at Zanskar
Paul Donaldson
Becky Donaldson, Helena, Montana
Lynn McCamant, Works at Forbidden Fruit Orchard - Paradise, Montana
Bill Entwistle, Colorado State University
Cameron Ransford, Camp Counselor at University of Montana Campus Recreation Youth Camps
Ron Walters, Garden Vole Wrangler at Self-Employed
Flynn Jones, Billings, Montana
Arthur Fretheim, Kalispell, Montana
Bill Strizich, Montana State University
Josh Brittain, Missoula, Montana
Anne Binninger, Missoula, Montana
John Schneeberger, Precarious at Ravalli County Economic Development Authority
Nadine Smith, EBay Sales Department Director at Replay Electronics
Jackson Sapp, Missoula, Montana
Beth Gherlein, Co Founder/Co Owner at Tandem Doughnuts
Francis Kromkowski
Kristen Comstock
Gail Trenfield
Maureen Mcnelis-furshong, Western Montana College of Education
Elaine Sheff, Co-director at Green Path Herb School
Jade Bahr
Sarah McClain, Missoula, Montana
Pamela Boyd, Assistant Professor at Missoula College
Jeffrey J. Smith, Missoula, Montana
Grace McNamee Decker, Missoula, Montana
Jeanne Bowes, University of Maryland
Crystal Koosman, Missoula, Montana
Angie Dansie, Organizing Director at Self-Employed; Volunteer with Wolf-PAC Montana
Bonnie Lambert, Helena, Montana
Rebecca Weston, Missoula, Montana
Celia Winkler, UC Hastings
John Woodland, Superior, Montana
Leslie Croot
Marshall Mayer, Note taker at Take-note.com
Cameron Best, Barista at The Break Espresso
Helen Taffs, Helena, Montana
Larkin Matoon, University of Montana
Ryan Meyers, Lab tech at Walman Optical
Paul Dock, Columbia Falls, Montana
John Powers
Rebecca Harris Kotula, University of Montana
Charles Copeland
Rich Smith, Works at Semi-Retired
Alex Gray, Helena College University of Montana
Josh Schleining, Billings, Montana
Mark Anderlik, Union organizer at Union
M'Lin Kendrick Stafford, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

DSA Study Group

DSA Study Group, Missoula, open Facebook group, accessed November 6, 2017.

A group for people interested in Democratic Socialism in the Missoula area to read about and discuss socialism, history, politics, economics, and more.^[4]

Admins

Tootie Welker, Owner-operator at Mz Wally Woofer
Jon Henry Caro, Sponsored Programs Specialist at University of Montana
Crystal Koosman, Missoula, Montana, created group on April 15, 2017

Members

Nate Balano
Lynn Purl, Owner at Velocipede Editorial Services
Marissa Parker, University of Washington
Anne Binninger, Missoula, Montana^[5]

Missoula meeting

Missoula Area DSA Chapter Meeting. Hosted by Missoula DSA

Saturday, April 15 at 3 PM - 5 PM MDT

Missoula Public Library, 301 E Main St, Missoula, Montana 59802

Invited on facebook

Interested

Going

References

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