Minutes of the 34th District Democrats
Meeting of 11 April 2007
Chairman Ivan Weiss called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.
The flag was not saluted due to an absence of a flag in the hall.
The proposed agenda and Treasurer’s Report were moved, seconded, and approved.
Robin Hess corrected the minutes to state that his amended resolution was approved not the original version which appeared in the newsletter. The corrected minutes were approved.
Chairman’s Report
Ivan described his activity in labor causes and his participation as a "Labor Neighbor" in various contests which labor supports.
Waiting continues for legislative action on Maury Island Bill HB6011. If the bill fails, it will be back next session.
First Vice Chair’s Report
Tanya Aguilar reported that there will be a festival in White Salmon on June 2nd. She asked for volunteers to help with the 15th District Democrats’ booth.
Announcements
King County Democratic Chair Susan Sheary thanked the 34th District for our financial support and for our challenge to other districts to match our donation.
Barbara Schaad-Lamphere introduced PeterMaier, candidate for Seattle School Board.
Election inspectors and judges are needed. Call Ann Martin, 206 735 4693, if you are interested.
Les Treall announced a PCO Support Group meeting on April 29th at 2:00PM. Location is Puget Ridge Coop, 7020 18th Ave. SW. All PCOs are encouraged to attend.
Program Dwight Pelz, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, presented his Chair’s Challenge outlining planned preparations and goals for the 2008 election. Key is the caucuses which have the power to build our party and produce activists. An improved and streamlined agenda will be provided to PCOs for conducting the February caucuses. Goals for the 34th Districts include 100% voter registration, 20 more voters in each precinct, and 5,000 more votes for Governor Gregoire.
Approval of 2007 Budget.
Treasurer Greg Doss introduced the 34th District 2007 Budget explaining that its development was guided by this being a very expensive year. Finance Committee Chair Walter Sive summarized and explained some key points. Al Rouyer moved that the budget be approved. It was seconded and passed by a hand vote.
Dina Johnson produced a mock-up of a proposed door-hanger designed to introduce 34th District democrats to their Precinct Committee Officer. A committee will be formed to pursue the idea.
David Della, Seattle City Councilman, thanked the District for last election’s endorsement and announced his current campaign theme, "Making Seattle livable and affordable." He asked for another endorsement.
Tim Burgess, challenger for David Della’s seat, announced his campaign theme, "Every neighborhood matters." He asked for District support.
Steve Williamson and Elena Perez, UFCW Local 21, represented grocery workers and described their "Share the Success" campaign used in current bargaining. More information is available at www.UFCW21. org.
Five Precinct Committee Officers were appointed, Kari Lyn Frank - SEA34-1466, Lisa Plymate - SEA34-1521, Michael Stephan - SEA34-1496, Robert Privett - acting in SEA34-1508, and Jack and Dawn Wetherby -acting in BUR34-0524.
Old Business
Robin Hess moved that we adopt the reworded version of his Resolution On A First Stelp In A New, Positive Direction for U.S. Foreign Policy. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
New Business
Richard Bartlett announced "Step It Up - Stop Global Warming Now! - A Day of National Action" on April 14th. Details at www.stepitupseattle.org.
Allan Munro urged all to write, call, or e-mail their congressional delegation regarding the war in Iraq. The suggested message is, "Keep the pressure on."
Dan Fievez requested support for First Center For The Performing Arts, a project to create a space for local artists that is available and affordable to all. For more information contact Dan at 206 382 6087.
Introduction
• 6:30 PM - Social - drinks provided, please bring potluck food to share
• 7:00 PM - Call to order, by Chair Ivan Weiss, Flag Salute
• Minutes of March meeting
• Committee reports - see also KCDCC report
• Chair's remarks
• First Vice Chair's remarks
Program
• Remarks by Susan Sheary, Chair, King County Democrats
• Dwight Pelz, State Party Chair, will speak about the 2008 caucuses and show a Powerpoint presentation, "Chair’s Challenge."
• Approval of 2007 budget - see details below
• Dina Johnson, 34th District door hangers
• City Councilman David Della, running for re-election
• Tim Burgess, running against David Della
• UFCW Local 21, update on Washington State grocery negotiations
Business meeting
• Appointment of PCOs
• Old Business
• New Business
• Good of the order
9:00 PM - Adjourn
Next Meetings:
• May 9th
34th District Democrats’ Proposed 2007 Budget
Revenues
Member Contributions (450 members)
$16,000
Forum
500
Garden Party
8,000
Fundraisers (T-Shirts, Buttons)
900
Other
600
Total Revenue
26,000
Expenses
Advertising (KCDCC Dinner Program)
250
Bank Service Charges
35
Contributions, Community Organizations
750
Forum
1,000
Food and Beverage
1,000
Garden Party Expense
2,750
KCDCC
1,000
Miscellaneous
50
Newsletter (Printing $330, Postage $225 monthly)
6,660
Office Supplies
300
Campaign Contributions
1,500
Outreach, GOTV, Voter Registration
5,000
PO Box
175
Postage
50
Printing and Compies
45
T-Shirts
750
Rental
2,232
Website
500
Interest Income
(8)
Total Expenses
$ 24,039
Net Income
$ 1,961
Message From the Chair, April, 2007:
Gearing up for the Big One - The Chairman's Challenge
November 4, 2008 should be the Election Day we have been waiting for. Democrats in Washington state and the 34th Legislative District will be organized as never before.
On March 3 in Ellensburg, State Democratic Chairman Dwight Pelz unveiled to District and County chairs and officers the most ambitious organizing plan for an election in Washington that anyone could remember. Supposedly it begins with the precinct caucuses Saturday, February 9, but really it begins now.
We'll get some of the details from Dwight himself at our April 11 meeting. As you might suspect, the 34th District is expected to be a top performer.
Five of the six Seattle Districts - the 34th, 36th, 37th, 43rd, and 46th - the "Urban Blue" LDs, have been given some pretty ambitious goals.
Precinct caucus attendance - 30 percent increase. In 2004, if memory serves, total attendance at 34th District precinct caucuses was 4,463. Dwight has challenged the "Urban Blue" LDs to increase turnout by 30 percent. That would give us a total of 5,802, or an average of 28 attendees per precinct for our 207 precincts. If that sounds out of reach, it's not. We averaged 21 attendees per precinct in 2004, and the 19 Vashon Island precincts averaged a whopping 46!
Voter registration - We are to contact each resident in the District to register to vote, and every registered voter to vote. Nothing less.
Re-electing the Governor - We're pretty sure we'll carry the District - and the state - for the presidential ticket. The goal for our "Urban Blue" LD is 5,000 additional votes for Governor Gregoire. She won election by 133 votes in 2004. Wouldn't it be nice to bring her back with a statewide margin of 133 THOUSAND votes?
In addition to the first round of delegate selection, we'll be using the precinct caucuses for volunteer recruitment, and the plan is to have assignments for volunteers right there, ready to go. These assignments might include holding house meetings for neighbors, registering voters, canvassing, phone banking, and the many other small, but essential tasks that support a national election effort.
The 34th can do all this. We showed our muscle in 2004 with an 85 percent turnout and a 72 percent Democratic vote - for the presidential ticket. Yet Dino Rossi carried several of our precincts. We know which precincts those are, and we know what to do about it.
We have resources now that we didn't have in 2004, and a plan to use them. To make it all work, we'll have one thing that the other party can't hope to match - people power!
- 0 -
When our Precinct Committee Officers hit the streets, one of the new resources we might be using is a "door hanger" that introduces PCOs to their neighbors. PCO Dina Johnson, the creative brain behind our logo, our banner, our buttons, our T-shirts, and the Washington Public Campaigns Web site, has designed a door-hanger we think you'll like, and we hope you'll give the OK for us to produce them.
The approach is not the traditional bland, vague "mission statement" or list of "platform planks." Rather, the idea is that we are neighbors, that we share our communities, and that our community relationship forms the basis for our political relationship.
The door hangers will provide our neighbors with contact information for each PCO and for the District organization. We'll have displays and samples for everyone to examine.
- 0 -
Because the Legislature almost certainly will not adjourn before the April meeting, our yearly Legislative Recap meeting will be in May. This means that if we are to have a candidate forum AND an endorsement meeting before the August 21 primary, the membership would have to approve a July business meeting in addition to our District picnic.
Can we handle all that democracy? You know the answer. See you on April 11.
Ivan Weiss
Chairman, 34th District Democrats
PO Box 860
Vashon WA 98070
206-463-4647
"When they're working, we're working
When they're sleeping, we're working."
Website Copyright
2006 34th District Democratic Organization
Send comments or questions to the Webmaster.
