February 6, 2012

ACTION NEWSLETTER

 

 

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

 

1.  Voter ID Phone Bank, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6 pm, Party Headquarters, Mount Vernon
If you are new to Voter ID, we will explain the whole process and provide a phone script. Skagit County has 30,000 registered voters who have not been identified as Democrat, Republican, or Independent.  We need to identify them. Please join us in this vital project.

Janet McKinney

Voter ID Coordinator

 

2.  Skagit Dem Finance Committee Meeting, Thursday, Feb. 9, 4 pm, Party Headquarters, Mount Vernon

 

3.  Gala Team Meeting, Thursday, Feb. 9, 5 pm, Party Headquarters, Mount Vernon

We have a big team but we could always use more members.  Come join the fun!

 

4.  New – Executive Board of the Skagit County Democrats, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., (Note the Time Change) Party Headquarters, Mount Vernon

All interested Democrats are free to attend.  Please remember a non-perishable food item for the food bank.

 

5.  Fidalgo Democrats Meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 7 pm, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
The program will be “Are We Losing Our Civil Liberties?”  Susan Helf, retired attorney and law instructor, will speak about the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)’s indefinite detention provision.  Daniel Larner, WWU professor of civil liberties and 40-year ACLU of Washington board member, will speak about the Patriot Act and the free speech rights of OCCUPY demonstrators.  A moderated period of questions and comments will follow. Coffee and refreshments will be available, as always.  Your friends, family, and colleagues are welcome.  Also please bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank donation box near the door.

Guemes Democrats who would miss the last ferry home may contact Anne Jackets at 293-0530 or annejackets@clear.net about arranging an overnight stay at her home.

Regards,

Corinne Salcedo, Chair
Fidalgo Democrats
293-7114

 

6.  New – Invitation to Two Fund Raising Events for President Obama, Friday, Feb. 17, Bellevue

General Event

Where: Bellevue Westin. There will only be about 250-300 people. The local up-and-coming band “Head and the Heart” will be performing.

  • When: Friday, Feb 17 @ 12:30 p.m.
  • Donation levels range from $1000 for a seat to $10,000 to buy a table for family and friends.  There will also be opportunities for photos with the President
  • Donations for Democrats under the age of 40 are $250 for a seat. (Only 50 seats available at this price; so RSVP ASAP)

Smaller Event:

A Small Brunch, limited to about 60, at the home of Susan and Jeff Brotman in Bellevue sometime before lunch on the 17th. The President will make remarks, take questions, and visit with each table.  Individuals – $17,900, Couples $35,800. Please call 206-359-2028 if you have any questions.

Debbie Aldrich
debbie.aldrich@gmail.com
Cell phone 360-708-3978

 

7.  New – General Meeting of the 40th Legislative District, Date and Time TBA, PUD, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon

TO:           40th LD Membership

FROM:    David Narsico – Chair 

You are invited to our next General Meeting of the 40th Legislative District.

I often refer to Woody Allen’s comment, “90% of success is showing up!” That’s a formula we need to follow. We have some wonderful candidates running in our legislative and congressional districts. You will have an opportunity to hear from many of them at our next General Meeting. I have been impressed with those I have met so far.

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

Cool Community Café Regarding Climate Change Issues, Saturday, Feb. 11, 1 – 3 pm, Skagit Station, Mount Vernon

Be part of a community effort that can really make a difference in the fight against climate disruption.

 

For more information contact Susan Wood, 360-428-1066, swood@padillabay.gov

 

 

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

1.  New – Call to Action to Defeat HB 2130 Which Would Cut State Controlled Reimbursement to Critical Access Hospitals

House Bill 2130 contains the legislative actions that would cut State controlled reimbursement, such as Medicaid, to Critical Access Hospitals.  While our previous emails and letters created an awareness that our legislators lacked, now we need to re-enforce their understanding of the effects that will result if this bill is approved.

 

Please revise your mailing list and message and send it out again.

Legislative District 39

            Name        Phone                Email
Rep. Dan Kristiansen (360) 786-7967 dan.kristiansen@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Kirk Pearson (360) 786-7816 kirk.pearson@leg.wa.gov
Senator Val Stevens (360) 786-7676 val.stevens@leg.wa.gov

U.S. Congressional District 2

            Name District       Phone       Contact URL
Senator Maria Cantwell (202)224-3441 www.cantwell.senate.gov
Senator Patty Murray (202)224-2621 www.murray.senate.gov
Representative Rick Larsen 2 (202)225-2605 www.larsen.house.gov

 

Much thanks.

 

Don Ambrose
Desktop Technician
United General Hospital
don.ambrose@unitedgeneral.org
360-856-7256

 

2. New – A Message from 40th LD Senator Kevin Ranker

Reproductive rights rally in Olympia

 

This week I had the pleasure to speak with volunteers, advocates and activists from Planned Parenthood and NARAL in Olympia, some of which made the long trip from the 40th to voice their concerns about the current status of reproductive rights in Washington. Women’s rights and the right to comprehensive healthcare coverage are two of my top priorities as a legislator. Last year, I was the sponsor of a bill that would have provided transparency to the services offered by limited service pregnancy centers. This year I’m proud to support the Reproductive Parity Act. At its heart, this bill is about fairness.

Washingtonians deserve a health care system that is fair and equitable. That includes access to health insurance coverage for reproductive health care for all women. This legislation helps achieve that goal by supporting a woman’s right to choose, regardless of a person’s income or insurance plan.

As always, it’s an honor to serve you.

 

Best wishes,
Kevin Ranker

 

3.  Listen to We Do The Work, within Skagit Talks, Mondays, 5 pm, at KSVR, 91.7 FM

 

February 6

John Sadzewicz, President of Mount Vernon Education Association, and Dr. Carl Bruner, Superintendent of Mount Vernon School District, will explain why passage of school levies is essential to maintaining local school programs and quality education.

 

February 13

Tom Riggs, member of the Washington Federation of State Employees (AFSCME) and a Washington State Park Ranger, will talk about some of the funding problems plaguing our beautiful Washington State Park system and what that will mean to people who use the parks.

 

Janet McKinney
Labor-Democrat Work Group Coordinator

 

 

 

4.  New – To Make Your Voice Heard In Olympia, Take Action on the Bills Below

Please urge legislators to OPPOSE SB 6442 and HB 2724.
These bills would:

  • Impose higher costs
  • Reduce Benefits
  • Eliminate competitions and expand state government
  • Reward poor customer service

There is an alternative: House Bill 2666 will help reduce health insurance costs for school employees with families by modifying local school district insurance pools. HB 2666 costs the state nothing, and it maintains local decision making.

Tara L Quackenbush, UniServ Representative

tquackenbush@washingtonea.org  Phone: (360) 733-3344 or 1-800-300-0796, ext. 223

 

CALLS NEEDED ON BAD CHILD WELFARE BILL

SHB 2264 tries to end-run a court injunction against fast-track contracting-out to private agencies of Child Welfare Services putting Washington’s children at risk.


CALLS NEEDED ON HB 2701 TO EXTEND BARGAINING RIGHTS TO L&I INTERPRETERS

Call 800- 562-6000 to support HB 2666 and HB 2701 and to oppose SB 6442, HB 2724, SHB 2264, and HB 2711.

Thank you,
Michele Stelovich
WFSE/AFSCME Local 1060 President
NWWCLC Secretary Treasurer
(360) 303-8410

 

5.  A New Soup Kitchen to Open in Mount Vernon; Volunteers Needed

Hi All,

We are in the process of setting up the kitchen at the Well (on North 4th St.), and the Baptist church on College Way.  We have two days at the Baptist church and three days at The Well.  We have gotten the ok to be there, so now we need the resources and people to help out.  If you know of anyone who would donate some hours during the time we are open, ten to two, have them call Cal at 708-8344 or 299-2804. The plan is to be open five days a week for four hours (10am to 2pm).

Donations needed:

  • people to cook the lunch
  • people for clean up
  • large garbage cans (2)
  • garbage can liners and napkins
  • If we can’t get fresh meat for soup, we may need that

Cal & Jackie Rice, www.ricebowlministries.com

 

 

6.  News and Needs from Party Headquarters

  • Would the person who borrowed the projector from headquarters please contact headquarters and return it?
  • Would the person who left an expensive camera at headquarters please come in and claim it?
  • Amie with Organizing for America [OFA] is available Thursday afternoons after 1pm.  Her team needs volunteers for the Obama 2012 campaign. There is much to do!
  • We still need office volunteers to keep our doors at headquarters open in this very important election year.  Please call headquarters, 336-1555, if you are willing to work on a regular basis or to serve as a substitute when a regular worker can’t make it.
  • Don’t forget to drop off a non-perishable food item when you are in the area.  The need continues to be great.

 

Thanks,

Shirley Viscalla and Staff

***************************************************************************************************

 

Gail Nicolls, Secretary
Skagit County Democrats
guemesgail@gmail.com

Posted by Brad Clure, Chair of Technical Committee

Skagit County Democrats
300A South 1st Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-336-1555
www.skagitdemocrats.org

Email to staff: staff@skagitdemocrats.org 

Send news items to news@skagitdemocrats.org