Breaking Down Barriers
In my life I have traveled to several foreign countries and met people from a wide range of places around the globe. The vast majority are gracious and kind. They care about other people and are willing to share when they see someone in need.
I remember going into a Moscow restaurant during the days of the Soviet Union. There was a coat and hat check counter and I put down the briefcase I was carrying, took off my coat, and then handed the coat to the attendant. Then, I went off to a table where others were gathered for the lunch we were having together. A few minutes later, the coat check attendant came up to me at the table carrying my briefcase and asked if this was mine. I had forgotten it.
After thanking him for his thoughtfulness, I was bemused at the scene. After spending years being told how terrible the Russians were—"godless Communists" was the phrase often used—I had just experienced the thoughtfulness and honesty of one of those supposedly "godless Communists."
Too often we allow others to define the unknown for us. These may include people from other countries. It may include people who have a different sexual orientation. It may include those who hold a different religion, particularly one strange to us. Or it may be we apply it to someone who is of a different political party.
The United Utah Party is designed to bring people together. That is an experience we have as Uniters. Our members are coming together in a political party that includes former Republicans and Democrats. We are finding common ground. Having come from different places, we have certain stereotypes that we are having to discard. These might include that Democrats are irreligious or that Republicans are heartless. As we mingle together in the same party, we begin to break down those stereotypes.
The United Utah Party is not for everyone. Many people will want to remain Democrats or Republicans. But for those of us who are coming together, it is a great experience in overcoming the artificial barriers that divide us.
Join us.
–Richard Davis, Chair
Term Limits: A Party in Motion
We are all caught between two forces, according to Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion. According to Newton, "A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force." He meant it literally, but it is true metaphorically as well.
Everyday, we encounter forces that can stop our progress if we are in motion or set us in motion if we are at rest. It is our hope that we can be a force that brings motion, change, action for good in this state. Many political practices, laws, and even people in this state have been in a state of rest for far too long. We are the moving force needed to give them a push to get them moving in a better direction!
Right now, we are united as a growing, moving body in motion, pressing forward toward term limits. The Unite 4 Term Limits Initiative is a citizens initiative that will put Term Limits on the table for legislators in 2020. In order to do that, we need signatures of citizens who support term limit—a lot of them.
A party in motion will stay in motion, but we must be careful not to let our movement be brought to a halt by the obstacles of apathy or discouragement. We have about 116,000 signatures to get and less than 100 days to get them. That is going to require a huge effort from the whole party. Every one of us must do our part to make this happen!
There are two easy steps that we each can and should do.
First, we need everyone reading this newsletter to sign the petition. If you're not sure how, sign up here and we can get you in contact with someone about signing! (Unfortunately, signing online only indicates that you would like to sign the petition and does not count as a signature on the petition. If we could get signatures online, this race would be over in a flash!)
Second, after you've signed, we need everyone who reads this newsletter to share, share, share!
According to a UtahPolicy poll, 75% of Utahns support term limits for legislators. If everyone who reads and signs the petition chooses to then share the petition, encouraging other Utahns to sign and share the petition, the odds of us getting all 116,000 signatures by the deadline in February drastically increases!
So tell your neighbors and friends, talk to your colleagues at work, let your sewing groups and bowling groups and book clubs know! Post it on your social media accounts, email old friends, and help your parents get in touch with a signature gatherer. Just get the word out to your fellow Utahns! If you share it, they will sign.
In particular, please share the Initiative's facebook page (Unite 4 Term Limits) and share the following link so that your friends and neighbors who are interested in signing can get in touch with a signature collector and add their names to the cause:
https://unite4termlimits.nationbuilder.com/sign_the_petition.
Of course, there are other BIG ways you can help us make it to the deadline with all the necessary signatures in February.
We still need people to help collect signatures. Sign up here to volunteer to get those signatures. We'll get you hooked up with a leader in your area who can get signature packets to you. We have been amazed at how many great volunteers have come out of the woodwork and shown their willingness to take around packets.
But the truth is, we're going to need a whole lot more. Soon, we'll be launching more materials that will allow you to start gathering signatures today, if you are willing. All you'll need is a printer, a phone or email address, a stapler, and a way of getting to the county clerks office.
Another huge way that you can help is by making a donation. Click here to support us financially today. Every dollar counts! And every dollar will be used to help get more signatures on the petition.
Every signature, share, volunteer, and donation gets us that much closer to those 116,000 signatures. Every signature gathered gets us one step closer to getting term limits on the table in 2020.
Thanks so much for your support on this great initiative!
Save the Date
We've got some important events coming up in a few months, so make sure to mark these dates on your calendars!
| Date | Event |
| January 18, 2020 | Moving UUP Summit |
| March 24, 2020 | Party Caucuses |
| April 18, 2020 | UUP State Convention |
We'll look forward to seeing you there!
Moving UUP Summit
Come one, come all to the Moving UUP Summit! This will be a breakfast conference, so come hungry and prepared to sate your appetite for delicious breakfast foods and intellectually stimulating political content! Price will be given at a later date.
The Summit will be held Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the StayBridge Hotel, from 9:30 am to 12 noon. The StayBridge Hotel is located at 3380 North Triumph Blvd in Lehi, UT. See you there!
Endorse the Party?
Want to help the cause, but don't know how to start? Dip your toes into supporting the UUP by sending your name and hometown to [email protected].
If you do, you'll be helping us flesh out the party for those considering their options! We will include your name and hometown on a list of endorsements in a fundraising letter and on our website. We want to let people know who some of our members are.
Thanks so much for your help!
Forward this newsletter to one like-minded soul today. To find out how you can get involved in United Utah, click here.
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The United Utah Party is dedicated to providing and supporting moderate alternatives to the political extremes.
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