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January 11, 2006 Meeting
Official Minutes
Informal Notes
Agenda
Chair Ivan Weiss's Message for January
Biography - Verlene Jones
Minutes of the Jan 11th Meeting of the 34th District Democrats
1. Chair Ivan Weiss brought the meeting to order at 7:04 PM. King County Councilmember Dow Constantine led the membership in the flag salute.
2. Chair Weiss asked the membership to approve the agenda, and then the minutes of the November 2005 meeting. The membership approved both.
3. Chairman's Report - Ivan Weiss
3.1. State party chair Paul Berendt resigned effective the end of January. The State Central Committee will elect a new chair at its winter meeting in Sea-Tac on January 27th and 28th. Weiss listed the people actively campaigning for the position: Jean Brooks, Bill Harrington, Mark Hintz, Dwight Pelz and Laura Ruderman.
3.2. The Washington Environmental Council conference was held last weekend (website: www.wecprotects.org). Second vice-chair Tim Nuse and former chair Kathy Minsch attended from the 34th. Kathy Minsch stated that Tim is organizing a January 26th trip to Olympia to lobby for the top five environmental action priorities of the Council. Members interested in this trip should sign up with Tim Nuse.
3.3. The King County Legislative Action committee is meeting on Sunday, January 15th at 1:30 PM at the Burien library. All Democrats are welcome to attend. Toni Lysen said the LAC is building a telephone tree and e-mail list for contacting elected officials during the legislative session. Former Governor Booth Gardner may speak.
3.4. Martin Luther King's birthday celebration is Monday January 16th. A major rally at Garfield High School and march to downtown Seattle is planned. The 34th will be marching with PCO Dina Johnson leading - members interested in marching should talk to Dina..
3.5. Weiss introduced the 34th District officers. Weiss then introduced elected officials present: King County Councilmember Dow Constantine and Burien City Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak and State Representative Joe McDermott who drove up from Olympia tonight to be with us even though the legislative session started this week.
3.6. Weiss also acknowledged the presence of the 33rd District's Jack Arends, who is a PCO and the 33rd's State Committeeman. (The 33rd is the legislative district immediately south of the 34th).
3.7. PCO Linda Johnson took the floor to tell members that the League of Women Voters appreciates past donations the 34th has made to help publish the "they represent you" (TRY) booklet. Johnson also announced a LWV marriage equality forum on February 15th in Bellevue (seattle.wa.lwv.org/events.asp). And on February 12th the League is sponsoring a concert at Fauntleroy Church to raise money for a number of nonprofit organizations including Family Promise.
4. Program: Adam Smith
4.1. Chair Weiss introduced United States Representative Adam Smith of the 9th Congressional District. The 9th was a "swing" district. The first elected Representative after it was created was Mike Kreidler, a Democrat, then Randy Tate, a Republican was elected. Adam Smith defeated Tate and, through incredibly hard work connecting with constituents has brought the 9th solidly into the Democratic column.
4.2. Rep. Adam Smith spoke. He believes the real issue in this year's election is: do you want to give George Bush more power? If not, vote Democratic. Democrats have ideas and courage, and are a viable alternative to the Republicans now in power.
4.3. Chair Weiss announced a fundraiser for Smith's re-election on Thursday January 19th, 5:30 PM, Mick Kelly's Irish pub in Burien, and encouraged members to attend.
5. Program: Verlene Jones
5.1. Chair Weiss then introduced the meeting's main speaker, Verlene Jones, who directs the Union Cities program of the King County Labor Council, and works with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.
5.2. Jones talked about "what a union is" (it is "U" or YOU). She recounted some recent successes of union organizing and cited a number of important functions performed by unions on behalf of workers and citizens.
6. Chair Weiss introduced PCO Litsa Buffington. a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines with 40 years service. The airline is in bankruptcy and is trying to void its union contracts. Buffington introduced the concept of an "airline workers bill of rights" and asked 34th District members to sign and support it.
7. Jim Compton has resigned from the Seattle City Council. Ninety-eight Seattle citizens have applied for appointment to a one-year term to replace Compton (then a special election will be held in November 2006). The other eight councilmembers will narrow the list to about a dozen applicants next week and then will select the Compton replacement in early February.
7.1. PCO Russ Brubaker has applied for this position. He talked about his background. Parliamentarian Alan Munro moved the District endorse Brubaker for this position. The motion was seconded. Susan Harmon spoke, stating she has also applied for this position and would want the 34th's endorsement. Cherisse Luxa asked if, since this is not an election but an appointment, the by-laws allowed for an endorsement. Chair Weiss ruled that the endorsement motion was in order. Chair Weiss called the question and took a vote by show of hands. The motion passed.
7.2. Tanya Aguilar moved the 34th's endorsement of Javier Valdez for this position. The motion was seconded. Valdez is a member of the 34th although not a resident of the District. Valdez was not present but Aguilar spoke on his behalf. Chair Weiss called the question and asked for a vote by show of hands. The motion failed.
7.3. PCO and Burien City Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak moved endorsement of Susan Harmon for this position. It was seconded. Harmon spoke about her background. Chair Weiss called the question and asked for a vote by show of hands. The vote was: Aye - 30. Nay - 20. Chair Weiss ruled the motion failed for lack of the two-thirds Aye vote required for endorsement.
8. Lynn Davison from Vashon spoke about the upcoming - February 7th - vote by absentee ballot on creation of a hospital district on Vashon Island. If the district were created, five commissioners would be elected. The district would have the power to levy a property tax to maintain basic healthcare services. A hospital would not necessarily be built. Leslie Harris moved the district endorse a "yes" vote on this measure. The motion was seconded. Chair Weiss called the question and asked for a vote by show of hands. The motion passed.
9. Oanh Meyers, candidate for hospital commissioner District #5 on Vashon Island spoke. Patrick Wicklund moved the district endorse Meyers for this position. Seconded. Chair Weiss called the question and asked for a vote by show of hands. The motion passed.
10. Fourteen Democrats applied to become precinct committee officers, seven from Vashon Island alone. They are (listed with their precinct of appointment):
10.1.Ellen Kritzman - Biloxi Precinct
10.2.Robert Murano - Cove
10.3.Dennis Saunders - Cross
10.4.Ronald Irvine - Chautaquah
10.5.Gayle Sommers - Tahlequah
10.6.Mark Meyers - Dilworth
10.7.Vickie Mercer - Dophin
10.8.Steven Butts - Seattle 1539
10.9.Terri Robison - Regal
10.10. Joe Grande - Seattle 1455
10.11. Susan Harmon - Seattle 1512
10.12. Keith Weir - Acting in Burien 0699
10.13. Kari-Lynn Frank - Seattle 1466
10.14. Margaret Swan - Seattle 1245
11. Chair Weiss asked the membership to approve these PCO appointments. The membership voted unanimously in favor of the appointments.
12. Chair Weiss entertained nominations for the position of King County Committeewoman Alternate, an officer and executive board position vacated when Tanya Aguilar was elected First Vice-Chair in November. State Committeewoman Leslie Harris nominated PCO Cherrisse Luxa. Tanya Aguilar seconded. Chair Weiss called the question and asked for a vote by show of hands. The motion passed.
13. Bruce Stotler moved that the District send $200 to the League of Women Voters to help defray the cost of TRY brochures (see ¶ 3.7 above). Lucy Krakowiak seconded. Chair Weiss called the question and asked for a vote by show of hands. The motion passed.
14. Meeting adjourned 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted Bill Schrier, Secretary
Informal notes from Rep. Adam Smith's talk:
We need a check on President George Bush's power. The real issue
in this year's election: do you want to give George Bush more power?
Democrats need to do better in the ex-urban - outer suburb - communities
Here's how we might do it. First, we cannot forget the present scandal
in Congress concerning lobbyists - this a Republican scandal although
the Republicans will try to say "everyone - including Democrats
- are involved". But that's not true.
Next, Democrats need a more positive self-image. We should love
the fact that we disagree with each other. This is exactly opposite
of the Republications who fall into line when George Bush speaks.
Dems have ideas and courage and are a viable alternative to the
party in power now. We are committed to fiscal responsibility, universal
access to healthcare, alternative sources of energy - not subsidies
to big oil. We are committed to access to education - for example,
making college degree universal in this century like high school
degree was in 20th century.
In response to questions, Adam stated:
• He changed his mind on the bankruptcy law. He still believes
it is an issue of personal responsibility, but credit card industry
is intentionally targeting bad risks who will pay 20% interest rates.
That helped him change his mind and vote against the law.
• He supports the Northwest Airlines unions in their struggle
against the airline, which is in bankruptcy.
• On the Deficit - the Republicans' idea is to spend so much
and raise the debt so fast that eventually programs have to be cut.
But we are under spending on about 3 dozen different programs, all
important to human services and the national welfare. And we have
to get back to the tax levels which existed before the cuts of the
Bush Administration, virtually all of which benefit the wealthy.
• Campaign finance reform. Republicans want to raise the limits
to for individual contributes to $4000 but really need more funding
for FEC (Federal Elections Commission) enforcement. Very few people
can afford to contribute even at the $2000 present limit. We really
need lower limits forcing candidates to get contributions from a
broader cross section of those they represent.
• He voted against CAFTA - thanks!
• Bush on Iraq: Bush was interviewed on Fox news - if you knew
before the invasion that Hussein had no WMD, would you still have
attacked? His answer: "Yes"!! This is atrocious. This is the first
war in history where we haven't raised taxes - Smith has dozens
of cases in his office of veterans coming back wounded and disabled
who cannot get adequate care from the VA
Notes from remarks by Verelene Jones
• Verlene heads the Union Cities program of the King County
Labor Council and works with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.
The A. Philip Randolph institute also encourages churches to register
their members to vote and to work on social justice outside the
church walls.
What is a union? Most important letter- U - YOU! Employees have
two choices - be an at will employee, with the employer making all
the decisions or workers can choose to come together for a labor
management dialog between workers and employers to set the stage
on how the workplace works.
Workers invest sweat equity into the company which is as important
as the financial equity invested by others. Workers should ask for
their fair share of profits, just like shareholders investing money
get their share of the profits.
We are not "the labor movement", but unions. KC Labor Council has
150 unions - each one is different. Verlene's job - get unions to
work together. Unions often fear that if one tries to organize a
group of workers, another one will try to compete with them.
Example: the musicians union - there were 17 workers in the orchestra
pit at Fifth Avenue Theater. Unions worked together to support that
union. Put thousands in the street. As a result, the union got a
decent contract.
Media and employers have more money. But unions have workers -
goal is to educate workers about their rights. Members need to understand
that the union is U. Union members were first responders to 9/11
rescuing and helping people.
All benefits are now under in attack in America - attacks on healthcare,
family sick leave, pension plans.
The advantage of churches or 34th Dems is that they are part of
the whole community coming together to fight to retain these sorts
of benefits.
Another aspect of union cities - all the economic growth in Seattle
- lots of new development and high rises - but people are being
pushed out of their homes - displacing low income housing to distant
suburbs. With economic growth must come affordable housing.
Message From the Chair, January, 2006
The PCO Challenge
Happy New Year to our brothers and sisters of the 34th District Democrats. If you're looking for a good New Year's resolution that will bring you a lot of satisfaction and will help advance our Democratic ideals, how about this one:
I resolve to become a Democratic Precinct Committee officer this year, and to mobilize my precinct to help re-elect Maria Cantwell, Jim McDermott, Adam Smith, and our terrific trio of state Legislators.
I resolve to build a working committee of Democratic neighbors around our community's issues in addition to electoral politics.
We have 204 precincts in the 34th District. About 120 are filled, more or less. We need to fill as many as we can immediately so that the new PCOs can preside over the precinct caucuses in March, and "hit the ground running" for the 2006 campaign. We would hope these new appointed PCOs would stand for election in their precincts in November, when all PCOs will be on the ballot.
The King County Democratic Central Committee is having a "PCO challenge" with a prize to the District that can sign up the most new PCOs by the January KCDCC meeting, Tuesday, January 24. Our deadline, though, is our January 11 meeting, when new appointed and acting PCOs must be approved by the membership.
So if your precinct is vacant, please step up. Call or e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns. But prepare yourselves for a sales pitch if you do.
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Our January program should be a very exciting one. Our speaker will be Verlene Jones of the Union Cities program, an arm of the King County Labor Council. If anyone has been wondering why some of us persist in promoting working people's issues, you will have no further doubts after seeing and hearing the dynamic Ms. Jones.
Verlene is an accomplished community mobilizer. Her efforts were instrumental in helping rally community support for the United Food and Commercial Workers in the 2004 grocery negotiations. This community support helped stave off contract givebacks in Washington that grocery clerks in California had to endure after a five-month lockout.
Verlene will explain to us, in no uncertain terms, why the battle for working people's right to organize and demands for living wages and benefits are Democratic core values, and how cities and regions benefit from strong unions in general. Her presentation should hammer home the message that our workplaces, in addition to our communities, could use a strong dose of democracy.
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Our 34th District favorite son, former state Senator and Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge, is a candidate for Washington State Democratic Party chair. Paul Berendt, who has served for 11 years, and was the nation's senior Democratic state chair in tenure of service, will retire when a successor is elected at the January 27-28 meeting.
Paul has been a good friend to the 34th District, and his role in the recount battle after the gubernatorial election of 2004 should never be forgotten. There likely will be more on this at our January meeting.
See you January 11 for "all the democracy you can handle." Please remember your 2006 dues, and a donation or items for the food banks that serve our neighbors.
Ivan Weiss, Chair, 34th District Democrats
Verlene Jones - Biography
Background:
Verlene has been an activist in the labor movement for the past 29 years. She started as a rank and file member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) working in the health care field. As an outspoken member, she became active as a shop steward and later chief shop steward for the hospital where she was employed. Her work with labor/management issues resulted in a job offer by SEIU Local 6, where she served for two years as a business representative and organizer. Working at SEIU Local 6 prepared her for her present job as the lead organizer of the King County Labor Council's Union Cities Program. Verlene is the first woman or person of color to work in a leadership role in the council's history. In this position Verlene serves as the highest ranking person of color in the AFL-CIO in Washington State.
As Union Cities Organizer, her responsibilities include bringing the 160 Council affiliates together to work in solidarity on organizing drives, member mobilization, education, diversity, and civil and human rights issues. She is also responsible for community and religious outreach and coordinating Labor Education for labor unions and community partners in King County.
Verlene coordinates Labor Education for the National AFL-CIO's Women Summer Schools as co-chair of the United Association of Labor Education AFL-CIO Women Committee and UALE Western Region Director. Her education responsibilities also include assisting the George Meany Labor College in Washington D.C. with educational training at the college, in the Western Region and providing education support for AFL-CIO conferences.
Union and Community Activism:
Verlene is currently President of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 8, President Seattle Chapter of the National A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI). Her leadership within APRI has helped the chapter to build strong community and religious support for voter rights issues, voter education, voter registration, and voter turn-out in communities of color, and to continue the fight for social and economic justice for working families. Verlene is also active in the community serving on the boards of Mothers for Police Accountability, The Harry Bridges Labor Studies Center at the University of Washington, Economic Policy Institute, Washington State Living Wage Movement, Seattle Vocational Institute and the Church Council of Greater Seattle. Verlene's accomplishments include Seattle Co-Chair for Jobs with Justice, Board President for the Church Council of Greater Seattle and Western Region Director for the National A. Philip Randolph Institute.
Agenda
6:30 PM - Social - drinks provided, please bring potluck food to share
7:00 p.m. - Call to Order
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7:00 PM - Call to order, flag salute, approval of agenda and minutes (November meeting).
7:05 PM - Chairman's report.
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Note: Other reports from State Committeepersons, County Committeepersons, Treasurer, Outreach Committee, etc. will not be rendered in person at the meeting. See the newsletter for these reports, or click on the links to go to a page on the website with the latest reports.
7:30 p.m. - Program
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7:10 PM - Speaker: Adam Smith, U.S. Representative, 9th Congressional District.
7:30 PM - Adam Smith: Questions and answers.
7:40 PM - Speaker: Verlene Jones, King County Labor Council Union Cities Program: She will explain why the battle for working people's right to organize and demands for living wages and benefits are Democratic core values. For more information about Verlene, see the Chairman's message below and her biography below the Chair's message.
8:10 PM - Speaker: Maroulitsa Buffington, 34th District Democrats, on Flight attendants Union dispute with Northwest Airlines.
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8:15 PM - Speaker: Russ Brubaker, 34th District Democrats, candidate for appointment to Seattle City Council vacancy.
8:20 p.m. - New Business
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8:20 PM - Endorsement vote, Vashon Hospital District and Hospital District Board candidate Oanh Meyers.
8:30 PM - Election of District members of Rules, Credentials, and Platform Committees for State Convention, June 2-3 in Yakima.
8:30 PM - Election of King County Alternate Committeewoman.
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8:40 PM - PCO Appointments - see Chairman Ivan' Weiss' challenge below.
8:55PM - Old Business, Good of the Order, Adjourn
Upcoming Meetings
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February 8th - Velma Veloria, former 11th District State Representative will speak about the International District Housing Alliance's White Center Operation, right in the heart of our district. Includes a slide show.
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