Sept 17, 2011 Minutes (Complete ILWU Resolution Included)

Present:  Donna Quesnell, Carrie Parks, Juanita Greenway, Celia Louderback, Lethene Parks, Sherry Warren, Susan Schwartz, Howard Leighty, Brenda Strandhagen, Anne Tomich, Donna Forsbey, Karen Bast, Andrea Wooster, Renata Rhodes, Galina Burley, Dorethea Simone, Melba Halgren, Jean Norwood, Eric Norwood, Bev McGuffin, Misa McCoy, Dan Ogden, Val Ogden, Peggy Pratt, Renata Rhodes, Lisa McCoy, Susan , Bev McGuffin, Donna Forsberg.

Guests:    Sen Craig Pridemore, 49^th LD;

Treasurer’s Report:  $506.70 balance.  Treasurer Kathy Dixon has been sick & unable to attend today.

New Business: 

Craig Pridemore spoke at today’s meeting, focusing largely on the economy.  He also announced that he’s just been asked to be the interim director of Columbia River Mental Health Services for the next few months while a new leader is sought. 

BUDGET:  The state budget picture continues to be grim.  After cutting $4.6 billion from the state budget in this year’s session, the state revenue forecast released Thursday was $1.4 billion shorter than it was last June.  State Leadership and the governor’s office are talking about doing a special session.  They may present a tax passage to the voters, but he Republicans in the Senate will probably block it.  State government employment has been reduced for two straight years, eliminating 4,700 full-time positions -- or more than 7 percent of the state's workforce . So far, two state agencies have absorbed two-thirds of all the cuts — The Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Corrections.  DSHS has lost 2,400 full-time positions, or about 13 percent of its workforce, since 2007.

REDISTRICTING:  The committee has 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans, members from each state caucus.  It came out with 4 maps last week.  It looks like the 17^th will have to shrink a little, and the 49^th will need to add a few voters.  All 4 maps being considered so far put the 18^th District entirely within Clark County.  After redistricting, each district should have roughly 135,000 voters.  The Redistricting Committee members hope to have final map by Nov. 1.  A plan has to be submitted to the legislature for an up or down vote next year.

UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION:   Partisanship will play a major role in the upcoming session.  The Republicans think the Senate is very vulnerable to Republican takeover, and that they’ve got a good chance at the governorship.  Democrats are putting up a strong candidate in Jay Inslee, however.   Craig thinks a full gay marriage bill will come up this year.  It will pass in the Legislature, but will be more of a struggle in the Senate.  He thinks it ultimately will pass, though.

One of Craig’s issues next year will be to focus on jurisdictional issues between the state & tribal courts.  It’s a big, very complicated issue for our tribal communities.  He also wants to expand his electronic recycling bill of 2006 which required manufacturers to pay into a fund that pays for recycling electronic materials at the end of their useful lives.  His initial bill has had the direct result of recycling 100 million tons of waste and has employed 50 people at the Port of Vancouver.  Now he wants to expand it to computer peripherals, like printers and fax machines. 

ELECTIONS:  Craig & Sam Hunt are on a committee that will soon decide what to do about precinct committee officer elections.  Both parties have sued the state over the blanket primary.   The state supreme court’s last decision ruled that the way PCO’s are currently elected is unconstitutional.  A bill needs to be passed that allows PCO elections to be held at the county level.  HB1860 is a vehicle to do that.  It will be considered in the legislature next year.  The question is whether the state should pay for PCO elections or the parties should.  PCO’s have a legal function of replacing elected officials when vacancies come up.  

There are also some moderate Republican businessmen who have expressed interest in running against Jaimie Herrera-Beutler.  Craig said if we get a good candidate to run against her, the money is there to support them.

OTHER DISCUSSION:  Women Democratic chair DONNA QUESNEL made Craig an honorary member of the State Democratic Women.

Discussion from a union member in Cowlitz County said the ILWU and the company in Longview are now negotiating, and working on getting the port jobs back to the local area.  The Oregon union the company was previously using is one that isn’t even recognized by the AFL-CIO.  HOWARD LEIGHTY presented a resolution asking the Women Democrats to support the ILWU in their conflict with EGT at the Port of Longview, WA.  His resolution was passed unanimously. (Link to Complete Resolution Text)

MELBA HALGREN, member of SEIU, said her union just endorsed Sharon Wylie for 49^th District Representative.

A motion was moved and seconded to give Sharon Wyllie a donation of $100 from the Democratic Women to support her candidacy.

DORITHEA SIMONE of the Sierra Club said the coal companies want to run 20 trains per day through Clark County to send coal to China.  The problem is that it won’t give us any jobs, but it will cause massive pollution from coal dust along the way.   Coal dust has many pollutants in it, including mercury.  That many trains will also negatively impact traffic.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

Susan Schwartz recommended the following 3 books:

Retirement Heist: How Companies Plunder and Profit from the Nest Eggs of American Workers by Ellen Schultz

The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda by Ali H. Soufan and Daniel Freedman

"Up for Sale" The True Cost of Getting Low Prices” by Gallagher?

Howard Leighty recommends “Storms of my Grandchildren” by James E Hansen, a NASA scientist, about climate change.

Several of these books are available at the Fort Vancouver Library http://catalog.fvrl.org/

Next Meeting: 

11:30 am Saturday, Dec. 13 at Boppin Bo’s.

Respectfully Submitted by Carrie Parks, Secretary

Sat September 17, 2011
Women Democrats Meeting

The Clark County Women Democrats will gather for a no-host luncheon and
meeting, Saturday, September 17, 2010,  at 11:30 AM at Boppin' Bo's
Restaurant, 7809 N.E. Vancouver Plaza Drive, Vancouver, WA ( Next to the
former WINCO'S).

We hope to welcome several who signed our "interest list" at the Clark
County Fair!
We are fortunate to have as our

GUEST SPEAKER,
  SENATOR CRAIG PRIDEMORE.

There will be an opportunity for our questions.

We will discuss our concerns, share our ideas about supporting
Representative Sharon Wylie and other levels of activity in our
democratic efforts.

  All Democratic men and women are welcome and invited to attend this
very informative and important meeting.

Kindly RSVP to Donna Quesnell 360-694-0766.

ALERT:  "Bad Things happen When Good People Do Nothing" 

This should be our theme.

~  Please get involved in helping to re-elect State Rep.Sharon Wylie. 

~  Contact your PCO and offer to help doorbell

~  Contact Rep Wylie's office and offer to help out

~  Attend "MOVE-ON's" demonstrations on Wednesday's in front of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler's office (Officers Row) - 'Howard House' at noon on Wednesdays ...See You there!

CLARK COUNTY WOMEN DEMOCRATS MINUTES

 from June 18, 2011—11:30am  Boppin’ Bo’s

The meeting was conducted by Program Chair, Juanita Greenway. 

Welcome and Good Morning

The meeting was called to order.

Officers were introduced.

~   Kathy Dixon was not present so visitors interested in membership were asked to  leave their information on Donna Quesell’s Contact Form (About Clark County Women). Kathy Dixon will contact you.

~  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

~  Visitors were introduced:  Van and Dan Ogden, Hon. Jim Moeller, House of Representatives, Hon. Sharon Wylie, current State House of Representative legislator and candidate in the November, 2011& 2012 elections; and, Kathy Lawrence, chair of the Clark County Democrats.

~  NEW VISITORS:  Susan Schwartz (former chair of the Clark County Democrats), Dorethea Simone, Susan Wagenblast, Lee Johannes, and Temple Lintz, probable future office candidate in Clark County; and, Kathleen Guy, a candidate for leadership training at Georgetown University this summer.  She requested a donation for her trip to DC and did receive one from attendees.

 ~  SPEAKERS:  Sharon Wylie talked about her campaign kick-off, upcoming events and her aspirations for WA State, most importantly jobs.  Volunteer Job Interest Survey forms were distributed to members (five were collected back indicating willingness to work for Rep. Wylie’s campaign).  Contact information for Rep. Wylie is swylie2@gmail.com , campaign manager and contact, 823-6300.

 ~  NEW BUSINESS:  Delegates, Kathy Lawrence and LaVerne Nelson attended the National Federation of Democratic Women and Kathy reported. 

 ~  Registration for the upcoming State Federation of Democratic Women’s Convention (June 24-25, Olympia, WA) was discussed. The convention was later rescheduled for August.

 ~  Kathy Lawrence reported and commented on the Jefferson Jackson Dinner, very successful, 480 attendees.  Thanks were extended to the Democratic Women for assistance with procurement of auction items, to the Dem. Women for their donations, to those who worked on set-up and take-down at the event; and, to those who attended the dinner.

 ~  Juanita Greenway talked about the Countywide Volunteer Database and the Volunteer Job Survey Form, and those who continue working on it:  Jamie Hurly (County Volunteer Coordinator), Maureen Gustafson (Systems Development Coordinator), Candy Bonneville.  Volunteer Job forms were distributed.

Juanita also discussed Dennis Kampe and his committee’s PCO Recruitment plan to include: A Mentoring Plan and training.  Dennis is the Candidate Recruitment Co-ordinator for the 18^th District. Those wanting to become a candidate in the 18^th LD should contact Dennis at denniskampe@live.com.

 ~  In place of Carrie Parks, Secretary, who was absent, Juanita made a report on the DEFEAT of the Home Rule Effort and the energetic efforts Carrie made to publicize the facts and issues involved throughout all the Clark County LDs.  Also discussed were the attendance and the strong negative input from those who protested the approval of the Home Rule Charter at the Commissioners’ meeting in June.

 A drawing was made for three door prizes.

A motion was made to adjourn and seconded.

 ~ Submitted by Juanita Greenway

 ~  The next meeting of the Clark County Women Democrats will be:

DATE:  Sat September 17th, 2011.

TIME:   11:30 AM

PLACE:  Boppin'Bo's

Clark County Women's Democratic Club to Meet

The Clark County Women Democratic Club will gather for a no-host luncheon and meeting, Sat. June 18, 2011, at 11:30 AM at Boppin' Bo's Restaurant, 7809 N.E. Vancouver Plaza Drive, Vancouver, WA ( Next to the former WINCO'S).
The guest speaker, and member of the Women Democrats, is 49th Representative, Sharon Wylie, who is running to retain her office in 2011. 

Our business meeting will include information about the recent National Confederation of Women Democrats' Convention in Washington, D.C.,  from CCDC President, Kathy Lawrence and Lavern Nelson, both delegates.

The agenda for the June 24, 25, 2011, convention of the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women in Olympia, WA  will be discussed.  We are encouraging members to attend.

Workshops are planned -
    2010 Election and re-cap of Party Work
    Re-cap on the legislative session
    Women's Reproductive Freedom

Also, on the agenda, will be action on Emily's List Partnership, and Women's Vote Projects 
 
Several other items of business, along with our efforts and future goals will be on the agenda - i.e.,
    1.  Working for our candidates
    2.  Supporting Health Care Reforms
    3.  Our level of activity / Assisting our PCO's

 All legislators and Democratic men and women are welcome and invited to attend this very informative and important meeting.

Kindly RSVP to Donna Quesnell 360-694-0766.


 

March 19, 2011 Minutes

Present:  Juanita Greenway, Kathy Lawrence, Carrie Parks, Pat and Charlie McClement, Kathy Dixon, Al and Iris Swindell, Susan Schwartz, Rosalie Gottlieb, Celia Louderback, Vicki Work, Rev. Tom Tucker, Laura Ellsworth, Jean and Eric Norwood, Jane Young, Gail Giesler, Mary La Husen, Jamie Hurley
New members:  Jamie Hurly, Gail Giesler, Mary La Husen

Treasurer’s Report:  Kathy Dixon gave the treasurer’s report:  As of the last meeting, we began with a balance of $444.70.  Since then, we raised $126 in dues, $78 from our Christmas auction, and $15 in cash donations.  Total current balance is $657.70 .   Pat McClement made an in-kind donation of $12.95 for the plants that were raffled off at this morning’s meeting.  By May 1, we will have to pay approximately $180 to the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women.  They get $10 for each of our local dues-paying members from the $20 we collect.

New Business:  Kathy Dixon announced that on Feb 24, the U.S. Catholic Bishops threw their moral weight behind the pro-union protesters in Wisconsin, saying that the rights of workers do not go away just because of difficult economic times.

Vicki Work announced that Organizing for America, which promotes the president’s agenda, is sponsoring a women calling women in honor of the one year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act.  Is asking that people bring their own cell phones to call with.  Calls are being made Wednesday, March 23 from 4-8 pm at the Carpenter’s Hall on McLoughlin Blvd.

Susan Schwartz announced that BOB FERGUSON, a member of the King County Council, has announced his candidacy against Rob McKenna for State Attorney General.  That got a big round of applause, as McKenna has wasted taxpayer money suing the federal government over the Affordable Health Care Act, and is currently trying to undermine union rights.

Celia Louderback announced that last Tuesday over 75 people demonstrated on the corner by the Fort Vancouver Library on behalf of the unions and workers of Wisconsin.  She encouraged people to come down every Thursday from 4:30-5:30 to show support for their favorite liberal cause.   She has signs she’ll share on a variety of causes.

Al Swindell, the only Democrat on the Woodland City Council, announced he is selling tickets for the 36th annual Give ‘Em Hell Harry Dinner.  It will start at 5 pm May 14 at the Cowlitz Regional Center at the fairgrounds in Longview.  Take the Kelso exit and watch for the signs.  Tickets are $35.  Contact him at 841-8239 for tickets.  Proceeds support the Cowlitz County Democratic Party and candidates.
Iris Swindell was selling tickets for 2 pm Sunday April 17 at Red Lion in Kelso for the Women’s Suffragette Tea and Style Show.  Tickets are $16.  Many people wear red hats to the event.  Call Iris at 841-8239 if you want to buy a ticket.

Guest Speakers:  Laura Ellsworth of Planned Parenthood spoke about the efforts in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.  The good news is that over 800,000 people have shown their support for the organization by signing petitions, writing to their legislators, attending rallies, donating funds etc.  Planned Parenthood has centers in Vancouver, Porltand and Longview. 

The Federal House of Representatives has passed a budget extension to fund federal government operations through April 8.  This extension does NOT contain the Pence amendment, which is an attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. It was named after Republican Mike Pence of Indiana, who has been trying to undermine Planned Parenthood funding since 2007.   Though his amendment failed, there is a determined effort to continue to introduce similar amendments.  As long as the budget is not settled, the attacks on Planned Parenthood will continue.

The Senate did defeat HR1, and the Title X cuts, which would have eliminated family planning funds.  Taking funds away from Planned Parenthood is not really a budget cut, because the money will still be spent elsewhere.  It just takes money away from Planned Parenthood.  Local advocates are going to call out our local Republican Congresswoman, Jaime Herrerra, who said cutting these funds won’t harm local patients.   She apparently doesn’t understand that Planned Parenthood is the only provider of Title X family planning services in Clark County.  Title X has never gone to pay for abortions.  It has paid for health care services to low income women who couldn’t afford it otherwise.  Services provided by Planned Parenthood include birth control, vasectomies, sexuality education, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.  Women are told about ALL their options, not just the ones we want them to have. More and more, Laura has been seeing women in their 40’s coming for family planning care as they lose their health benefits.

The good news is that the Washington and Oregon state budgets have retained family planning funds in their budgets.  However, as our legislators continue to work on budget cutting, we will need to watch carefully.  One thing to stress with lawmakers is that cutting Planned Parenthood services actually will cost MORE than keeping the services as is.  It would take only 115 unintended pregnancies in one year to cost the state as much money as the funds it spends on Planned Parenthood.  Without the services, it is estimated there will be 800 unintended pregnancies per year statewide.  96% of Planned Parenthood funding goes to family planning.  Only 3% ($7500/year) is used for abortion. 

Laura encouraged people to make sure that people used the word “legal” in front of “abortion” and asked if women should go to jail for having one.  (Most people say no to that question.)  She encourages people to sign up on the PP Action section of their web site.  She can forward letter templates to anyone who is interested.  She would like to see letters submitted every week to all our local papers.  Faye, the letter to the editor screener for the Columbian, seems to be anti-choice, and will refuse any letters that are the same as other letters, so it is good to start with the templates, but alter them with your own wording. 
Laura can be contacted at Laura.Ellsworth@ppcw.org or 693-3676.

The second speaker, Rev. Tommy Tucker, said he recently retired from the Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church.  Is a member of the Interfaith Alliance working to bring churches of all faiths together.  There are a number of faith groups who strongly support reproductive choice.  He also participates in a panel on reproductive rights at OHSU for medical students every year.   He recently joined local democratic women for  the last lobbying trip to Olympia to advocate for continued family planning funding.  Rev. Tucker has been a Democrat and union supporter all his life.  He’s also been a life-long supporter of Planned Parenthood.  He said he’s old enough to remember the stories from the time before abortion was legal.  It’s the poor, the people who don’t have any other options, who suffer from making it illegal.  Wealthy people can afford to travel where they need to go to find one.   He personally would like to see abortion be rare, but has seen situations first-hand where abortion needed to be one of the choices on the table, and ended up being the right choice.  

One of the most effective things he feels that people can do to support continued legalized abortion is to find the internal fortitude to have conversations with your family, friends and neighbors about the issue, and to make sure they get the facts.  Personal stories and conversation is what convinces others more than anything else.

Announcements:  Juanita Greenway talked about attending a recent pro-choice march in Portland, and how people there had signs up protesting Rep. Jaimie Herrerra’s vote to cut family planning funding.
She also read information from Sheila Walsh-Guenther, long-time member of the Democratic Women.  She said she moved to Seattle after experiencing a recent severe illness.  Treasurer Kathy Dixon will send her a sympathy card on behalf of our group.

Kathy Lawrence announced that the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner will be Saturday, June 11at 5 pm.   Local Senator, Craig Pridemore, will be the MC.  The theme is “Democrats:  The Good Guys.” She has also invited Jay Inslee to speak.  Tickets can be purchased through 60 table captains.  We are hoping that the Democratic Women can get one table filled from the Democratic Women.  If you are interested in attending the dinner, please email Donna at dquesnel@pacifier.com.  Tickets are $65 each.

Kathy Lawrence and Laverne Nelson will be going to Washington, DC to the National Democratic Women’s Convention soon.

Next Meeting: June 18, 2011

Respectfully Submitted by Carrie Parks, Secretary

  CELEBRATING ... Voting Rights for Women
  August 15, 2010

  The Washington State Constitution was permanently amended to grant women
  the right to vote, ten years before the rest of our  country's women had
  that right!  This was in 1910.

  Clark County Democratic Women are inviting both men and women to join in
  our celebration.  We will gather at 11:00AM in Esther Short Park (by the
  clock).  Participants are encouraged to wear period costumes and
  hats but, also, styles through the years, and jeans of course!

  We will carry a banner, parade through the park singing the Suffrage
  song, "Bread and Roses" - perhaps singing it again, at the market
  entrance.  After we disperse into the farmers market, we’ll grab a snack, and
  shop.  We hope you will join us!

  The words to “Bread and Roses” will be provided, but if you wish to
  rehearse beforehand, Google:  “Each Little World Bread & Roses The
  Song”, or use [Link to song]

  You will get the a  history of the poem  set to music and the lyrics.When
  clicking, "here," Judy Collins sings, "Bread and Roses." (Beautiful!)
  Scroll down and sing along!

  Let's Celebrate, August 15^th, 11AM!

  Contact:  Donna Quesnell  360-694-0766