Updated July 30, 2008 Nels Ekroth Passes
Nels Ekroth, long-time 34th District Democrat and PCO, passed away on July 29th. He was born in 1918 and was 8 days short of his 90th birthday when he died. Nels and his wife, Fair Taylor Ekroth (1910-1990), were civil rights activists and supported various labor movements, political rallies, and protests during the 1940s and 1950s. Fair Taylor Ekroth was an officer of the Progressive Party in 1948 and the two met in Seattle in 1949, when both were working for the Progressive Party. Nels was investigated by the Committee for Un-American Activities and lost his job on Seattle's waterfront as a result. "Because of our leftist activities, I was screened off the waterfront", he says. "We suffered a certain amount. But Fair owned a little house and we had simple tastes and lived very frugally."
They had to, given his philosophy about work and the couple's tendency to pack up the car and take off on an adventure when the urge hit them. In his own words, he had a sort of "cowboy approach" to work.
"I might not have been the best employee, but I got there and I did enough, anyway", he said.
In 1956, the couple quit work and drove to Alaska. A decade later they quit their jobs and set out on a nine-month trip around the world.
Nels contributed his papers and some of his historical photographs to the University of Washington.
Nels was very quotable. If you have more information or stories to share about Nels, please send them to the webmaster, and we'll post them on a special page.
Updated July 23, 2008 We Love Parades and Picnics! As usual, the 34th District Democrats are well represented at area fairs and festivals, including the Burien 4th of July Parade, Vashon Strawberry Festival and the Hi-Yu parade in West Seattle, pictured above. And the King County Democrats Summer Picnic is August 9th at Woodland park - See more details on the calendar here. Finally, we have our 34th District Annual Garden Party and Auction on August 8th at West Seattle Nursery. We still need high quality auction items and we'd love to have all members and elected officials attend. More details on the auction are here.
Updated July 21, 2008 We Love Parades and Picnics! As usual, the 34th District Democrats are well represented at area fairs and festivals, including the Burien 4th of July Parade, Vashon Strawberry Festival and the Hi-Yu parade in West Seattle, pictured above. And the District Summer Picnic is Thursday, July 24th. All members and all elected officials or candidates for office are invited to our annual potluck picnic at Lincoln Park. There won't be a program or speeches. See more details on the calendar here, including a map.
Updated July 13, 2008 District Summer Picnic is Thursday, July 24th All members and all elected officials or candidates for office are invited to our annual potluck picnic at Lincoln Park. There won't be a program or speeches. See more details on the calendar below , including a map.
Updated July 13, 2008 New Endorsements from July District Meeting At our July 9th meeting we gave unanimous endorsements to our team of state legislators - Senator Joe McDermott and Representatives Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson. We also endorsed Rep. Jim McDermott for re-election to Congress, Jason Osgood for election as State Secretary of State, and several candidates for King County Superior Court. And we endorsed the proposed City of Seattle levy to rebuild the Pike Place Market. A complete list of our endorsements and candidate weblinks is on the website here. Or download a PDF document with a list of all offices up for election and our current endorsements.
Updated July 9, 2008 July District Meeting: Endorsements, Candidates, Initiatives The July District meeting is Wednesday the 9th and will feature endorsements, candidates and information about Initiatives 97 plus a report from the Leadership Development Committee suggesting new organization structures for the District. Download the agenda as a PDF file here. Chair's letter is below and July newsletter is posted here.
Updated June 25, 2008
Chair Ivan Weiss' Message for July We Organize
Our lineup of organizers for the 2008 campaign is falling into place, and it's a good one.
Most of you already know Artemis OakGrove, our acting PCO in SEA 34-1476, our 34th District coordinator for the Barack Obama campaign, and our Neighborhood Challenge District Organizer.
At our June meeting, we were proud to introduce Kimber McCreery, our PCO in SEA 34-1470, District Coordinator for Hillary Clinton, and now also a delegate to the national convention, as our Coordinated Campaign Field Organizer.
Coordinated Campaign Field Organizers almost never work in their home Districts, so this is...
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 34th District Monthly Meeting
• 6:30 PM social, 7:00 PM meeting, the Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Avenue S.W, West Seattle
• Program: See meeting agenda page - link below.
• Agenda: See Meeting Agenda page for more details.
Friday to Sunday, July 11-12-13, 2008 West Seattle Summer Festival
• Our Outreach Committee will be staffing a booth for the 34th District Democrats at the Summer Fest.
• The dates for the West Seattle Summer Fest are Friday July 11, Saturday July 12, Sunday July 13. The times are 10AM until 8PM except Sunday is 10AM to 6PM.
• If you can help staff the booth, Les Treall via e-mail or call him at 762-0226.
Saturday, September 13, 2008 The Saturday Group of West Seattle Democratic Women
• No Meetings in July or August!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 34th District Executive Board Meeting
• 7:00 PM - all members welcome, location: Puget Ridge Co-Housing, 7020 - 18th Ave. S. W. For directions, see their website.
• Call or e-mail the webmaster for details or directions
Thursday, July 17, 2008 ACORN Town Hall Meeting and Morgage help
• 7:00 PM, JULY 17th, Burien Community Center, 425 SW 144th St, Burien, WA 98166
• Download the flyer here - Mortgage Help 5 P.M. to 7 P.M.; Town Hall Meeting 7 P.M. to 9 P.M.
• Town Hall meeting with Special guests - Washington State Legislators Sen. Adam Kline, Rep. Eric Pettigrew, Rep. Bob Hasegawa, Rep. Dave Upthegrove, Rep. Sharon Nelson, Rep. Jeannie Darneille
Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20, 2008 The 34th Dems at the White Center Jubilee Days
• The 34th District Dems will have a booth at the White Center Jubilee days on 7-19 and 7-20, and need some people to help staff it. The hours are 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. We will do voter registration, and sell buttons and bumper stickers and give out campaign Lit. We are planning 2 hour shifts. The location is 17th SW and SW Roxbury in White Center.
• If you can help, contact Les Treall via e-mail or call him at 762-0226.
Saturday, July 19, 2008 Vashon Island Democrats
• Program: Come to laugh...and to groan. This month's meeting of the Vashon Democratic Club will feature a variety of political video clips--both serious and humorous--from the likes of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. If you want to get up-to-date on some of the issues of the day in a humorous way, here's your chance. Come join us...all are welcome! The Club will also review our presence at the Strawberry Festival.
• Our meeting is monthly on the third Saturdays in the Land Trust building: potluck social at 6:00, meeting 6:30-8:30. Please help us accomplish our goal of a no-trash potluck by bringing your own, non-disposable dinnerware!
• If you or your group would like to make a presentation at one of our meetings, or for general information, please contact Roger Fulton at 669-9459.
Sunday, July 20 (tentative), 2008 Legislative Action Committee
• Program : TBD
• 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Location: Burien Library, 14700 Sixth Ave SW,Burien 98166
• See also the calendar at www.kcdems.org or Ivan Weiss (206) 463-4647 or Sarajabe Siegfriedt (206) 440-5829
Tue, July 22, 2008 King County Democratic Central Committee
• Renton Carpenters Hall, 231 Burnett Avenue North
• See also www.kcdems.org;
• Program: see website above
• Contact: Susan Sheary 206-622-9157
Wed, July 23, 2008 Drinking Liberally - Talking Politics
• 7:00 PM, Mick Kelly's Irish Pub - 435 SW 152nd Street, Burien
• Sign up at drinkingliberally.org
• Host: Joe Fitzgibbon - burien@drinkingliberally.org
• An informal, inclusive Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.
• Bars are democratic spaces - you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space - build Democracy one drink at a time.
Thursday, July 24, 2008 34th Democrats Picnic
• Lincon Park Shelter #3 on the beachfront, click on the map at right for a larger version;
• All District members, any elected officials or candidates for office are welcome. There is no program and there will not be any speeches, but lots of chances to talk and mingle.
• Set-up at 5PM, please come and help set up if you can, grilling and picnic at 6PM; hamburgers, hot dogs, corn and beverages provided by the District, bring your favorite potluck dish, a salad or dessert to share; alcoholic beverages not allowed; see last page of July newsletter for more info
Thursday, July 24, 2008 West Seattle Democratic Women
• West Seattle Democratic Women will meet Thursday, July 24, at is the West Seattle Golf Course Clubhouse, 4470 35th Avenue SW. Please arrive by 11:15 a.m. to check in.
• Cost is $10 for lunch;
• Speaker is Michelle Gregoire, Governor Chris Gregoire's daughter, speaking on behalf of the Governor's re-election campaign
• For more information e-mail Lynne Ingalls or Peggy Abby.
Friday, July 25, 2008 Peter Goldmark Fundraiser in West Seattle
• Sponsored by: Senator Margarita Prentice, Representative Sharon Nelson, Les Treall, Ivan Weiss, George Heidorn, Jacqueline Dupras, and Amy Carey
• Meet our Candidate for Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark
• Friday, July 25th, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, appetizers, wine and refreshments
• at Puget Ridge Co-Housing - 7020 18th Ave SW, West Seattle WA 98106
• $50 per person; $100 per couple; $250 land lover
• Please come and learn why the office of Public Lands Commissioner is vital to our state and our children’s future - more information in the flyer here
• Please RSVP to Les Treall via e-mail or call (206) 948-5423
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27, 2008 The 34th Dems at the Alki Art Fair
• The 34th District Dems will have a table at the Alki Art Fair. The hours will start at 10 AM on 7-26 and 10 AM to 5 PM on 7-27. The location is the Alki Community Center at 5817 SW Stevens in Alki. We will do voter registration only at this event because it is in a city park facility.
• If you can help, contact Les Treall via e-mail or call him at 762-0226.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Leadership Development Committee Public Meeting
• The 34th District's Leadership Development Committee has developed a proposed set of rules and a structure of committees designed to involve many more members in the work of the Democratic Party in the District.
• There is a public meeting at the West Seattle Golf Course, 4470 - 35th Ave. SW, on July 30th, 7:00 to 8:30 PM to discuss this structure and solicit input from members. Please plan to come! A map from Mapquest is here.
• You can download the proposed structure and rules here, and there is more background on the process used to develop them on the website here.
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Updated June 25, 2008
