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“Don’t be shy about talking about your beliefs,” she told those gathered.
“It’s really worked out well for me.”
And so it has. The membership for the Bergen-based group started with 35 people in her basement the week of the November elections.
On Wednesday, it hit 900.
The women gathered Wednesday to hear a pep talk, learn about the group’s ongoing agenda and meetings and write their hearts out.
They wrote, addressed and stamped 2,000 postcards and letters to a variety of entities involved in the swift shifts going on nationwide under President Trump’s leadership.
Women for Progress provided the addresses, the stationery, the pens, the snacks and community.
They wrote thank you cards.
And accountability cards to federal and state legislators.
They wrote to the Office of Congressional Ethics.
And to corporations, too.
The women wrote to Amazon asking the company to stop advertising on Breitbart News Network and to Nordstrom to thank it for listening to consumer concerns regarding the Ivanka Trump brand.
Lastly, they wrote to Macy’s asking the chain to reconsider its selling of Trump brands.
“I feel like every five minute something new is coming up,” Chung said, “and we’re trying to keep up.”
“This week was Kellyanne Conway. Last week was Mitch McConnell. It’s hard to stay on top of everything.”
Freeholder Tracy Silna Zur, who is simpatico with the group, gave a talk to fire up and unify everyone there.
She relayed a story about a Muslim parent whose child was getting bullied over Snapchat and told she’d be sent back to her country.
“That (experience) made me move from that nauseous pit in my stomach to that angry pit in my stomach,” said Zur, who spoke to ongoing applause.
“It made me move to a spot where I knew it was time to step up.”
Laura Schluger of Wyckoff likes the organization and energy of the group.
“My children’s generation is the most tolerant generation I’ve ever seen,” Schluger said.
“Now all of a sudden the tables are turning and it seems bullying is becoming in style,” she added. “If the president is a bully, it seems like it’s OK with some kids to be bullies.”
The group has divided itself into committees, each focusing on a different aspect of life changing under the Trump Administration. These include: Progressive Politics, Women's Health Issues, Equality for All, Climate Change and Environmental Issues, Education and Gun Violence Prevention.
Women for Progress posts its meetings on its Facebook page.
The next one, called “Politics 101: Women in Politics,” is set for March 2 at the Tice Senior Center in Woodcliff Lake.
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