Dec. 19, 2009 Minutes from the most recent meeting of The Democratic
Women of Clark County:


Present: Katie Stokes, Donna Quesnell, Al & Iris Swindell, Dan and Val
Ogden, Jane Young, Juanita Greenway, Carrie Parks, Lethene Parks,
Marcine Miles, Judith Mehigan, Pam Brokaw, Marsha Manning, Jane Young,
Sandra Hoyt, Dixie Ross, LaVerne Nelson, Mimi burda, Barbara Adams,
Marsha Manning, Monica Stonier, Jean & Eric Norwood, Sherry Parker,
Charles and Pat McClement

New Business:
There's a new state president for the Women Democrats, Catherine
Chambers. Donna hopes to get her down here to speak at the March 20
meeting.
Planned Parenthood/NARAL/Pro-choice Lobbying Day is Febl 1, 2010. Sign
up if you are interested in going!
Marcia-She was the campaign manager for Royce Pollard. He'll be honored
on 2/17/10 at the Hilton. Invitations with be sent out shortly. Many
groups are coming together to recognize him.
Val Ogden introduced Monica Stonier, candidate for the 17th LD Dem
Position #2 seat to replace Deb Wallace, who is running for Congress.
She is consulting with friends and advisors. She's a teacher and
national delegate for Obama. She also got to attend Obama's
inauguration. She has her own button-maker. She has previously worked on
campaigns for Probst, Wallace and Pam Brokaw. She is also the secretary
for the 17th LD Dems.
Carrie Parks endorsed Curt Wyrick for county prosecutor.
Iris Swindell, former chair of Cowlitz County Democratic Women announced
that the next tea/fashion show fund-raiser will be March 21, Sunday,
from 2-4 at the Monticello Hotel. Tickets will be on sale by
mid-January. She also noted that Nov 15, 2010 will be the 90th
anniversary of the passage of women's right to vote. Prior to that we
had it and lost it three times in Washington State. "Iron-jawed Angels"
is a movie that is a story about the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Hillary Swank won an Oscar for it.
Pam Brokaw announced that June 6 is the next JJ dinner. It will be at
the Hilton this year. The state democratic convention will be June 25-26
at the Hilton. The Republican convention will be one week before ours,
also at the Hilton.
Dan Ogden mentioned that Dennis Kampke is running in the 18th LD
position 1 against Jaimie Herrera. Doug Lasher, Steve Stuart, Sherry
Parker and Linda Franklin are also up for election to county seats in 2010.
State Central Committee Meeting is in Seattle at the end of January.
Those are the people who will nominate the Democratic Candidate from the
3rd Congressional District. Craig Pridemore, Deb Wallace and Dennis Heck
are three of the candidates who are running. Who generates the most
money right now, and stimulates the most interest will be likely to be
the winner. Norm and Jane Banks are the Clark County state committee
people. The other people are the chairs and LD state committee people.
These are Steve Stuart and and Kathy Lawrence in the 49th, Amanda Nelson
and Ralph Schmidt in the 18th, and Gary Akizuki and Marsha Manning in
the 17th.
Dan said that the state parties are not private clubs and are regulated
by state law. He objects to the top-two primaries does not recognize
these facts. Al Swindell said there is still an undecided lawsuit that
is going on about whether or not the parities have been harmed by the
top-two primaries. Marsha-If we don't do these nominations, we don't
have the right to have the PCO's pick appointees to fill vacant seats
later. The candidate selected by the state executive party will be the
designated Democratic candidate, but nothing precludes other people from
still running and declaring themselves as candidates.
$460 in treasury. Have donated money to Planned Parenthood, CCDCC,
Jefferson Jackson Dinner, Karen Gorini's memorial, lunches for our past
several speakers.
We need to think about nominations in March for Democratic Women
officers. Donna Quesnell has been chair for 10 years and plans to step
down, feeling that the party needs some new blood and new ideas. She
also would like to collect ideas from the membership about donations and
projects the Democratic women should do.
Carrie spoke about the upcoming legislative session in which social
services are at risk of being cut. Gov. Gregoire is thinking about tax
increases
Dixie Ross thanked the group for its support of the Women's shelter, and
spoke about how grateful the people at the shelter are for it.
The group gave Donna Quesnell a gift in recognition of her tremendous
contributions to the Women Democrats and the party. She received a gift
basket of wine and chocolate, plus a set of snowflake earrings and some
leopard-spotted, velour lounging pajamas.
Marcine moved that we put back decisions on donations to candidates
until the next meeting in March. Unanimously approved.

Old Business:
Next Meeting: 3-20-10 Guest Speaker: State President, Catherine Chambers

Respectfully Submitted by Carrie Parks, Secretary -

*Below you will find the Feed-Back given by those in attendance at the
Dec. 19, '09 meeting of The Women
Democrats of Clark County:

Feedback from Women Democrats meeting survey 12-19-09*:

TO WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DONATING?
j
Planned Parenthood
WSU-Dan Ogden fund

WHAT TALENTS AND INTERESTS ARE YOU WILLING TO LEND?
Write lyrics, limericks, poems, roasts, etc.
Roasts can be fun fundraisers

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN?
Phone calls from home (my bill is the same no matter what)
Help write phone "raps"
Serve on committee to work up possible questions and answers to them
Designing buttons:
Taxes: The ultimate reality check!
Taxes = Support for education to all children
Taxes are the cure for:
Taxes: the price of affordable health care
Taxes: The Price We Pay for Freedom
Taxes: The price of living in a Democracy
Taxes: The cure for hunger and homelessness

MY IDEAS FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND WORTHWHILE LOCAL WOMEN DEMOCRATS
ORGANIZATION:

Volunteers who don't take away paid jobs-keep that awareness up!
More links with trade women's unions
Fun roasts or giving awards etc. of the guest speakers
Movies re suffragettes: "The Life of Margaret Sanger," and "Iron-jawed
Angels" to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the women's vote
Dream up button designs

My mother (89) is on the Copes Program, and I am her sole caregiver.
Without Copes funds, I need to go back to work-how? How can I help?

HYPERLINK "mailto:PDAMM2@COMCAST.NET" PDAMM2@COMCAST.NET

IDEAS FOR GUEST SPEAKERS:

~ County officials and candidates-they have less opportunity to speak in
a big year. Bring them in separately or as a group., Also, Reps and
Senators

~ Work at the sign-in desk

FUNDRAISING IDEAS:

~ Show "Iron-jawed Angels." Marcine has a copy.
~ Sell raffle tickets at the meetings.
~ A Clothing "exchange."
Sale of gently used items and household things.
~ Spaghetti Feed
Style show
Movies
Sell Demo Jewelry

ACTIVISM: Candidate election campaign
Speakers: Chairs of different non-for-profit organizations
Willing to be on an email address list:

MISCELLANEOUS (General Comment)

I THINK CAR INSURANCE & A LOT OF OTHER "INSURANCE" SYSTEMS ARE
STRUCTURED TO MAKE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES RICH AND JUST PLAIN RIP OFF
PEOPLE.