May 15, 2010 Minutes
Present: Donna Quesnell, Carrie Parks, Rosalie Gottlieb, Charles and Patricia McClement, Eric Norwood, Howard Leighty, Cheryl Crist, Monica Stonier, Catherine Chambers, Kathy Dixon, Juanita Greenway, Georgia Pinckel.
Guests: Cheryl Crist, candidate for 3rd Congressional District, Catherine Chambers, State Democratic Women Chairman, Monica Stonier, 17th LD Candidate, Georgia Pinkell, local activist.
Treasurer’s Report:
Exciting news! Kathy Dixon has agreed to become treasurer.
New Business:
HOWARD LEIGHTY presented a resolution in support of completing the I-5 Bridge. The application for federal funding must be completed in 2010 or else the opportunity will be lost for at least 8-12 years, according to our two U.S. Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. The current bridge is built on supports that do not go down to bedrock, making it extremely vulnerable to earthquakes or other disasters. It is the only drawbridge on the I-5 corridor. These factors make it critically important to the region’s economy and jobs. Bridge completion is supported by both labor and business.
KATHY LAWRENCE is asking for donations for the JJ Dinner. There will be a “wine wall” at the JJ for raising funds. We are also looking for male-oriented bid items or things that will make good baskets. Agave jeans has donated some outfits to us for a “Democrats are Hot” show. Patty Murray will be our speaker. The local history museum has been running a 100 years of women’s vote exhibit and will have one on the ERA at the time of the state Democratic Convention.
MONICA STONIER talked about her candidacy. She teaches part of the time and works on curriculum development the other part of the time. Currently we have no teachers in the legislature. She feels there should be at least one teacher in the legislature in light of the fact that the largest piece of the budget is for education. Her second priority is jobs. She wants to help get small businesses get up and running, while offering workers decent benefits.
DONNA QUESNELL also advocated to for Dennis Kampke, who is running for the legislature in the 18th District. He is also a teacher and has an exceptional record of running the Clark County Skills Center. The center has only a .5% drop-out rate, which is outstanding.
CHERYL CRIST, who is running for the 3rd Congressional seat, supports the bridge and clean jobs for our economy. She showed a pie chart of the federal budget that shows that nearly half of the federal budget goes for military spending. We have a military empire that includes over 700 bases in 134 different countries. The US spends far more than any other nation in the world on military activities. It is way too expensive to pay the price of continual military conflict and war. She belongs to two big peace groups in Thurston County. She has worked as a high school teacher, stock broker, real estate broker and yoga instructor. She has also been active in the movement for single-payer health care and the environmental movement. She has been an active member of the Progressive Democrats.
CATHERINE CHAMBERS, president of the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women, spoke about that organization and its goals. The purpose of the organization is to unite women democrats, support the party, and to promote women’s full participation within the party. Washington State has been looked at as a leader for involving women in government due to our two women senators and a woman governor. However, we’ve been losing women in the state legislature over the past 6 years. She also promoted the Washington State Women’s Agenda, which is based on the Global Women’s Initiative. We want to pick 3-4 things to work on over the next few years that will really impact women’s lives. Some of this might even be in common with Republican women’s organizations. The annual meeting is set for 9-12 at the Comfort Inn, and 4-6 at the History Museum to view the ERA exhibit the day before the state Democratic Convention in Vancouver. (June 25). Catherine is a 30-year resident of Bellingham and mother of 3 children. She obtained a degree in community development at WWU. She has worked with mentally ill adults and children, victims of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, refugees, and other groups of disenfranchised people. She has been a PCO, president of the Whatcom Co Democratic Women as well as the State Federation of Democratic Women. She praised the Clinton and Obama administrations, which have placed more women in positions of power than any other administration in our history. It is wonderful to see that these two presidents have been able to view their wives as equal partners rather than ornaments.
GEORGIA PINKELL, a women’s advocate, also spoke. She was born and raised in Chicago, and lived in Kentucky. She said she was a late bloomer. “I didn’t run away from home until I was 52.” She is a member of WILF, a Women’s international peace group. She would suggest that our chapter have an Eleanor Roosevelt dinner on Aug. 26, Women’s Equality Day, and that we have an international Women’s Event annually. She explained that the current understanding of civilization is the white male view, and does not reflect women’s viewpoints. She advocated the need to make common cause with women globally. She endorses that women’s studies should be required for all students. Women own 10% of the world’s income, 1% of the world’s financial assets, and are featured in 10% of the world’s stories, yet we provide 2/3 of the world’s work. WILF has a quote that “Listen to Women for a change” “Women hold the solutions.” She also advocates that women demand attention to our views in exchange for our work in organizations.
DONNA would like to have a walk and event in a visible way for Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26. Yellow or gold and purple were the suffragette colors, according to Catherine Chambers.
The group sang happy birthday to Rosalie Gottlieb, who just turned 80 this week, and to Cheryl Crist, whose birthday is today.
According to Catherine Chambers, the 3rd CD Democratic nominee will be decided at the State Convention in Vancouver this year.
Next Meeting:
11:30 am Aug. 21
Respectfully Submitted by Carrie Parks, Secretary