Action Newsletter
A Message from Our Chair
Hello Fellow Democrats,
I am sorry to announce that this will be my last month as Chair of the Skagit Democrats. It was a very difficult decision for me, but with my rather unexpected re-entry into the workplace, and with the long hours that my new job demands, I find myself without enough time in my life to devote to the responsibilities of the position. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to serve the party in the chair position over the last year, and hope I have helped strengthen the Party in my short tenure. I am confident that our current Vice-Chair Josie Hedgpeth, who has served in that role for 3 years now, is more than capable of stepping into her new role as Chair. She will have her work cut out for her as we head into this crucial upcoming Presidential election cycle, so I urge you all to join me in offering her as much support as we can muster. I will continue to be an active member of the Party, and continue in my role of PCO for the Lookout Precinct. Thanks to all of you for your support and understanding.
David Goehring
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. New – Fund Raiser for Senator Kevin Ranker, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 5;30 – 7:30 p.m., 334 Bayside, Bellingham
Members of the 40th LD,
I hope you can all come to the fund raiser for Kevin Ranker. The fund raising event for Kris Lytton on the 10th was wonderful. This one for Kevin should be just as great. I know you will all love the evening on Wednesday, Nov.16th, 5:30 to 7:30 at 334 Bayside in the Fairhaven area of Bellingham.
Be as generous as you can be. We have a dynamite set of legislators representing us here in the 40th, and this is Kevin’s night. Let’s show him how important he is to the success of our values and ideals inOlympia! Woody Allen once said, “90% of success is showing up!” Let’s begin our SUCCESSFUL 2012 campaign!
Please RSVP to Kris Dees at 206-431-3330 or at: kirsten@sdcc.us if you can come.
Thanks,
David Narsico – Chair 40th LD
2. Meeting of the 10th Legislative District Democrats, Saturday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m., San Remo Restaurant, 421 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor, 360-240-1302
Please join us for this important program and help us honor the women and men who serve their country. Call Catherine for any questions or directions to the location at 647.3888
The agenda will include:
- Endorsements of our favorite candidates for local, state and national office
- Update on the 2011 election results
- Redistricting update
- 2012 Caucus Schedule
- Status report on the 10th LD office
- Get Out the Vote (GOVT)
The San Remo has a large selection of great food, arrive early and come prepared to work on making the 10th LD a better and more effective organization.
Raymond (Ray) Miller, Chair 360-926-8024 www.10thdems.org
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. North Sound Alliance Action, Wednesday, Nov. 16, Briefing 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Meeting, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m., Assumption Catholic Church, Stafford Room, 2116 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham
The North Sound Alliance invites you to join in an action to persuade Senator Kevin Ranker (40th LD) to support family wage jobs and energy efficiency in homes.
Please consider attending.
Stoney Bird
2. New - MoveOn Meeting, Saturday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m., Room 309, Food Co-op, Mount Vernon
I am hosting a meeting at the Co-op to introduce you to the concept of a “community bill of rights”. The program will be presented by Kai Huschke fromSpokane,Washington, organizer for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and Campaign Director for Envision Spokane. He is campaigning to pass a Community Bill of Rights this November that would recognize the rights of neighborhoods, the environment, and workers as superior to corporate rights.
Giving Away the Farm, Our Water, and a Clean Climate for Coal: Why the People Have No Say and How We Change That
This presentation and discussion will talk about how citizens and activists need to reframe exhausting and often discouraging single issue work (such as opposing factory farms, corporate water withdrawal, coal trains, etc.) in a way that we can confront corporate control on a powerful single front: people’s constitutional rights. The presentation will cover the limits of conventional regulatory organizing, including the role government plays in all of this, and offers a new organizing model that helps citizens confront the usurpation by corporations of the rights of communities, people, and the environment. Real examples of what is happening in communities across the country including Spokane, Bellingham and Seattle will be given.
If you attend, please enter from the southeast corner or the building and go to the third floor. Also please avoid using the Food Co-op parking lot and instead park on the revetment or behind Dem headquarters.
Please let me know if you plan to attend.
Hope you can make it!
Terry Nelson
360-422-3622 (home)
360-421-3351
3. New – A Meeting to Discuss Establishing Neighborhood Associations in Mount Vernon, Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 – 11 a.m., 114 S. Fifth Street, Mount Vernon
Hello Residents of Mount Vernon!
As I discussed in my campaign for City Council, I would like to facilitate creation of Neighborhood Associations in Mount Vernon so that people have opportunities to get together and meet each other, discuss their concerns, and communicate with the City government.
To get started, anyone interested is invited to meet over tea and coffee next Saturday morning, Nov. 19, from 10 to 11a.m. at 114 So. 5th St. (Just south of Division, next door to the Immaculate Conception Church.) No obligation, just brainstorming.
Questions to consider:
What are the natural neighborhoods in Mount Vernon? Are there meeting places that would provide a room once a month?
What is the best way to contact people in the neighborhoods? What would be on an initial agenda?
Please contribute your ideas to this effort– if you can’t make it to the meeting, send a note, or give a call to 336-5350.
I will inform you of subsequent meetings. It would be good to open a website and FaceBook page once we get talking.
Thank you! –Doris Brevoort
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. New – A Message from Newly Elected Port of Skagit Commissioner Steve Omdal
All Skagit County Democrats,
I wanted to express my gratitude and thanks for your vote and financial support on behalf of my campaign. It is greatly appreciated and as Port Commissioner, I will do my best to increase job opportunities for all the citizens of Skagit County. Please forward my thoughts to the Democratic membership and reiterate my thanks for their support.
Sincerely,
Steve Omdal
2. New – Shopping (and Socializing) Opportunities at Democratic Headquarters, Mount Vernon
- Come on in and stock up now on good stocking stuffers like bumper stickers or some of our other merchandise:
- 2012 Obama Gear is now available: buttons/bumper stickers, $3 each.
- Other new bumper stickers have arrived and are fun!! Only $2.00 each.
- Signs supporting working men and women are available for $10 each. Choose either “Unions Support Working Families” or “Living Wage Jobs Equal Strong Communities”. This is a project of the Labor/Democratic Work Group.
- The holiday season is also a great time to just stop by headquarters to warm up with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and great conversation. Office volunteers always look forward to meeting other Democrats.
- And, of course, the need at the food bank is greater than ever during the holiday season. So please remember to bring a non-perishable food item every time you drop by. We hope that that is often.
3. New – Another Holiday Gift Suggestion
The book, The Healing of America by T.R. Reid is a great gift for both yourself and your Progressive friends. It’s time to stop the genocide that our current medical system imposes on many of our fellow Americans. This book will provide some valuable information to ram down the throats of those who want to continue our current health care system that takes the lives of tens of thousands of our fellow Americans every year! And it’s a New York Times Bestseller!
It’s available at Village Books for $16 or from Barnes and Noble. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-healing-of-america-t-r-reid/1103676573
David Narsico – Chair 40th LD
4. Importance of the Voter Identification Project Explained
We have approximately 60,000 registered voters in Skagit County but only 30,000 voters are identified as Democrats, Republicans, or Independents.
The remaining 30,000 registered voters who are NOT identified as Democrat, Republican or Independents are rarely if ever called during a get-out-the-vote campaign.
The Voter ID project attempts to identify those registered voters. Voter ID is the single most effective way to help a candidate contact the right voter. Voter ID is the first step in building Party support at the grass roots level.
If we can identify voter preference, future campaigns and candidates will reach more Democrats when calling to get-out-the-vote. This will make a big difference in voter turnout for our Democratic candidates.
If you are interested in contacting registered voters whose party preference is unknown, get in touch with the Janet McKinney by either emailing at staff@skagitdemocrats.org or phoning at 336-1555.
Thanks,
Janet McKinney, State Committee Woman
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
The nonprofit economic justice organization, United for a Fair Economy, notes that the 400 wealthiest families in the United States collectively own $1.37 trillion dollars—a figure that’s nearly incomprehensible. So United for a Fair Economy made that figure real with a list of showing 11 things that $1.37 trillion can buy. Below are just four of them.
The richest 400 could pay the mortgages of every house in the whole country for 14 full months.
The richest 400 can pay off all credit card debt for every single person in the entire United States. Imagine that! No more credit card debt looming over your shoulders!
The richest 400 can pay for three and a half years worth of gas for every driver in the country.
The richest 400 households can afford to triple the number of teachers in the United States, then give every single one a $30,000 raise. Teachers are being laid off everywhere, their salaries are being cut, and they are suffering. Teacher-to-student ratios in schools are abysmal. But what can we do about it when so much wealth is in the pockets of so few families?
From United for a Fair Economy
Gail Nicolls, Secretary
SkagitCountyDemocratic Party
Formatting and posting by Brad Clure, Chair of Technical Committee
Skagit County Democrats
300A South 1st Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273360-336-1555, www.skagitdemocrats.org
Email to staff: staff@skagitdemocrats.org
Send news items to news@skagitdemocrats.org