Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
WASHINGTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS
Meeting, September 14, 2011
Thirteen Washington County Democrats met Wednesday, September 14, 2011, in a second floor meeting room of the Washington Public Library.
Chairman Peter Morrison called the meeting to order led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the August monthly meeting were noted and filed for record.
The Treasurer presented the treasurer’s report through and including September 14, 2011; Pete said it would be filed for later audit.
For the Report of the Chair, Pete said the Second District meeting would be held on Oct. 2 as contemplated at the last meeting. Lunch will be offered beginning at noon, and the meeting time is scheduled for 2 p.m. Information has gone out to all of the current Second District counties including Linn County, as well as all of the new counties included in the updated and revised Second District, which will include 19 counties in all. This will be a sort of coordination meeting -- the last of the old group and the first of the new group all in one setting. Pete supplied them with a map and directions to the 4-H building. They will not need to bring food for a potluck; Washington County Democrats will be supplying food from noon until the meeting time.
Also, Washington is now apparently centered geographically, in what will be the new Second District, and speculation is that they might like to have meetings fairly continuously now in Washington. This is yet to be decided.
Pete had applied for a grant from the Iowa Democratic Party, and he announced that we had received a grant for $500. He turned the check over to treasurer Kay Ciha. Sandra Johnson asked what the mission, or purpose, had been for the seeking of these funds. Pete said there were four things that a group could apply for. Membership development, which seemed the most appropriate, was one of those, and Pete had chosen that category. Everyone present thanked Pete for doing this.
Under the agenda item of Committee Reports, we discussed the upcoming fundraising dinner and Second District meeting and the food items needed -- including sloppy Joes, vegetable lasagna, potato salad and coleslaw. Kay offered to make a large batch of sloppy Joes and perhaps some vegetable lasagna. Several people offered to make coleslaw and potato salad and to help with the sloppy Joes and lasagna. We need enough to serve about 60 people, at least, but we would hope for more, such as 125 people attending. The group discussed whether to use tickets. The Second District people would not need tickets, since any of them who wanted to buy a meal would pay at the door. Terry Philips moved that we make 150 tickets. Mimi Jacoby seconded, and the motion passed.
The ticket price is $10. Terry said he didn’t want the Second District members to feel as if we were taking advantage of them to make money, and suggested offering them a $2 discount on the price of a meal. It was decided that this offer would be posted on the Second District Web site. Pete said Al Bohanan had indicated that the Second District proceedings habitually include passing a hat at the end of the meeting, and the funds then go to the host organization. Terry pointed out that this may or may not happen; and even if it does happen, there are other expenses they must meet, and we may not receive the entire amount.
Kay announced that on Sept. 25 U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack would be at the Ciha home from noon to 2 p.m. She invited anyone interested to come and meet him. The group discussed food that members might bring, as well.
Under Old Business, Terry spoke about the redistricting plans. He said the county supervisors can decide whether to call for a general election vote on the subject of supervisor representation: whether to remain with the supervisor representation as it is (I.e., supervisors represent a particular district with only the people living in that district deciding on that one candidate) or to change it (such as voting for supervisors at-large). The redistricting plan will be presented to the supervisors at their meeting Friday (Sept. 16), and they will set a date to hold a public hearing. Terry said that supervisor Wes Rich will no longer belong to the district including the city of Richmond. Instead, he will be in the district with Riverside. Kay announced that her plans to run as a supervisor candidate would be made after the district plan is finalized. Kay also said we should soon be able to get maps from the courthouse Web site.
Pete mentioned that we would probably be asked to report to IDP, about how we are using/or have used that $500 grant.
Under New Business, we discussed the subject of caucus chairs. IDP wants a list of caucus chairs as soon as possible. Pete will contact Louise Frakes, former county chair, for her lists. Precincts will change. We also need to know the exact date on which caucuses will be held. Tentatively it has been set for February 6. This might possibly be decided by the time of the Second District meeting on Oct. 2. Also, a meeting site must be decided -- in our case, this will probably be the Washington Community High School building.
Fred Stark spoke about the opportunities for new candidates to run for a seat on the park board and for at least one city council seat. He said this would be a chance to make a real difference in local governance, and pointed out that the deadline to announce candidacy is approaching.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 12, at 7:30 p.m., and the November meeting will be on November 9. Both will be at the Washington Public Library, 2nd floor. The 7:30 time will hold through the November meeting. In November we can decide about returning to an earlier meeting time, as well as deciding whether we need to meet in December
Mimi told about an online press conference at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, during which Sue Dvorsky of Iowa City will comment on the real story behind the Republican candidates’ “myths.”
Pete declared the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Nan Stark, Secretary
