Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
WASHINGTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS
Meeting, Aug. 10, 2011
Eleven Washington County Democrats and guests met Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, in a second floor meeting room of the Washington Public Library. Fourteen people were present.
Chairman Peter Morrison called the meeting to order led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the past monthly meeting were noted and the minutes were filed for record.
The Treasurers report through and including August 10, 2011, was presented by the Treasurer and filed for audit.
The Chair reported on the 2nd District workshop that was held on July 30, 2011 in West Liberty, Iowa.
Redistricting was discussed. Richard Gilmore and Terry Philips. Members of the redistricting committee had a tentative map to show. Basically, there are to be six districts.
Under the category of Old Business, Pete commented on the recent Washington County Fair. Perhaps because of the intense heat during that week, fair attendance was less than usual. Free County had a booth next to the Democratic booth. Pete thought we had done a good job while we were there. The donkey was a big attraction, and children especially liked the donkey.
We discussed the need to be informed about meeting and event schedules. Some people do not have ready access to a computer and e-mail. Kay Ciha moved that the secretary, Nan, would mail minutes and notices of upcoming meetings to Mimi Jacoby and to Ferd Marie. Mimi seconded. The motion passed by a voice vote.
New Business: Pete said we need committee chairs and we also need to focus now on a community events committee. Also, we need to begin focusing on candidate development.
Next on the agenda is the request that the Second District meet in Washington on Oct. 2. It will be the combined Second District -- that is, the current representation and the newly redistricted Second District. Mr. Al Bohanan said he is ready to start the organizational process for the new Second District. Washington County has been somewhat the center of the former representation of the Second District, and it will remain pretty much the center in the newly reconfigured Second District, which is expanding both westward and eastward. Pete expressed the idea that it might be mutually beneficial to combine the Washington County annual fundraising dinner with the Second District meeting. Rather than their needing to bring dishes for a potluck meal, we could provide the meal. We would sell tickets and serve probably from noon until about 1:30 p.m., and the meeting would begin at 2 p.m. Consensus of people thought the best location would be the 4-H Building on the fairgrounds, and it has been reserved for that date. Mr. Bohanan said the Second District normally takes up a contribution and in this case it would be turned over to the Washington County Democrats to go toward our expenses. We also discussed U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack’s presence at this event. He would probably want to be there, or have some of his staff there.
Bob Spenner moved that the Washington County Democrats hold our fundraising dinner on Oct. 2, 2011, and incorporate the Second District people, who will meet at 2 p.m. Serving time is to be from noon until about 1:30 p.m. Mimi seconded the motion. The motion passed, in a voice vote.
Kay Ciha volunteered to oversee the arrangements for that community event. We discussed people who might possibly be able to take a big role in executing the dinner preparations. The committee will handle that.
Pete also brought up the IDP request for information from us about the County Convention, wanting to know how many people would probably attend. Mr. Bohanan suggested that we keep in mind the quorum number, and average the number of attendees from four years ago and the number of attendees from two years ago. He suggested that would probably be about 50.
The IDP also needs names of precinct chairs. Bob reminded everyone that the names should be the officers we elected at the last County Convention. They hold office until the beginning of the next County Convention, when new officers are elected.
We discussed the County Democratic Party meeting time and whether we should meet at 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. A motion was made, seconded and passed in July that we meet at 7:30 p.m. During discussion, Bob brought up the fact that he had understood it to be for the summer months, or during Daylight Saving Time, when so many farm-related activities were going on and needed to be taken care of during daylight hours. Pete declared that we would meet at 7:30 p.m. through November, and at the November meeting ascertains whether we should return to the 7 p.m. starting time.
Mr. Bohanan told everyone that the Harkin Steak Fry is scheduled for Sept. 18.
Mr. Bohanan then spoke on convention sites. He said he would like for us to submit a bid to host the District Convention in April, in Washington. We would need a room to hold at least 140 people. In the old Second District we had a wide geographical spread of representation.
Some possible sites were discussed, among them the 4-H Building. Also some area high schools were mentioned, such as the one in Mid-Prairie. Mr. Bohanan said the group could look over the 4-H Building as one possibility, on Oct. 2, to see if it would be suitable for their needs.
Number of people has gone from about 800 to about 340. The upcoming convention will probably be comparable to the convention in 1996 -- President Clinton’s second term of office. There are many able people in the surrounding areas that could bring their expertise into the planning and conducting of the convention in Washington. The subject of bids for the convention in April should ideally be an item of discussion on Oct. 2, when the current Second District convenes for its last meeting and the new Second District is about to pick up the reins.
Dates must be decided upon. A probable date would be April 28, 2012.
Sandra Johnson asked about technology requirements. Pete replied that there should be a sound system and possibly a stage or platform. Mr. Bohanan said there should be some patched-together system for the purpose of voting, and that IDP does not supply that. Wi Fi was used last time. We should use the same system they did in Fairfield last time, because it saves a lot of time.
Mr. Bohanan will be back to talk to us about the convention and reiterated that the logical place to hold it would be in Washington.
The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. On Sept. 8 at the Washington Public Library.
The August 11 meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned.
Washington County Democrats will meet again on Wednesday, September 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington Public Library.
Respectfully submitted,
Nan Stark, Secretary
