Indiana Statewide Democratic Candidates celebrating at the Big Dem Weekend:
Joe Donnelly, Jim Harper, Joselyn Whitticker and John Aguilera
The Indiana Democratic Party celebrated it’s Big Dem Weekend in Indianapolis with the Hoosier Hospitality Dinner on Friday evening and the Indiana Democratic Convention on Saturday.
Monroe County was well represented by our delegates and Kaisa Goodman (MCDP Executive Director) and Brandon Turner (MCCSC School Board candidate) were elected by the Ninth District delegates to serve on the Credentials and Rules Committees.
As always the weekend is a combination of serious business and a pep rally. A chance to meet and talk with other Democrats from around the state, to hear from major voices in the national party and from the candidate running for township advisory board in a county on the other side of the state. Here are a few snippets of wisdom from the weekend:
There’s a lot more wisdom in Washington, IN than in Washington D.C.
Unity is vital to our success. We have no time for petty fighting. We need candidates who speak to the people… who talk about infrastructure, immigration reform, elections that allow all voices to be heard and where voters choose their candidates and not the other way around, LGBT protections, and who don’t use their religion to tear down others who are different than they are. We must listen to how they speak to us and what they say. We must continue to change the narrative and put the blame back where it belongs with those currently in power in the GOP.
The Democratic Party is not beholden to a fictional “better” past… it was the Democrats who gave this country social security, medicare, worker protections, and more…. Our party is made up of disparate people joined by common bonds. The need for good, caring government that makes people’s lives better is still real.
We must honor the work of those who came before us and remember that there are those who will follow us. We can’t achieve everything that needs to be done in this election cycle, but we can build an understanding of our common ground and forge a bridge to a future generation.
And finally, It’s about knocking on doors… about knocking on every door - remember that the villain that you think may be on the other side of the door is a person and a Hoosier just like you.
And that’s a reminder that now that the party is over, it’s time to get back to the hard work of getting our message out and our candidate’s elected, and once they are in office, to keep them doing the people’s work…
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Candidate Info
Announcements
Events
Action Items
***CANDIDATE INFO! ***
Look to this section each week to find current information about DWC candidates.
Shelli Yoder will have a G4G (Gearing Up for the General!) Meeting on Monday, June 25 from 5:15 to 6:15 pm at Inkwell. Please RSVP to [email protected]
Penny Githens, Candidate for State Representative District 60 needs people to accompany her to events. Remember she has Morgan and Monroe counties as part of her crazy gerrymandered district. Please email her volunteer coordinator to participate in a genius of a way to sign up! [email protected]
Lee Jones, candidate for Monroe County Commissioner needs volunteers to march with her in the 4th of July Parade. She also needs people to represent her at the Monroe County Fair. If you are willing and able to help her, please e-mail her at [email protected]. Be sure to tell her what size t-shirt you wear.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Opportunity to serve as a Precinct Committee Person.
PCs represent the Democratic Party in their neighborhoods, and work to get out the vote for all Democratic candidates, support the efforts of the local party and also have a say in caucus meetings to fill vacancies in elected offices. If you are interested, contact the man with the power to appoint you, Chairman Mark Fraley at [email protected]
The Monroe County Democratic Party will hold a Caucus on Monday, June 25 to fill open vacancies on the 2018 General Election Ballot. If you have an interest in one of these vacancies, please contact Chairman Mark Fraley at [email protected]. The deadline for the party to fill ballot vacancies is noon on June 30.
Hoosier Women Forward Leadership Development Program
Democratic women across the state who are interested in public policy, political advocacy, and moving Indiana forward with progressive policies and ideas are invited to apply for the HWF program. They need women who are deeply interested in, and can commit to, a nine-month program focusing on study, field experience, and political leadership training. They’re not just looking for Hoosier women who want to run for public office but women who are interested in gaining the skills needed to hold leadership roles in their communities that will effect positive change—from campaign manager, to school board, to head of a nonprofit, to state and federal office. Between 20 and 25 Hoosier women will be selected for the inaugural class.
Information and application are here: http://hoosierwomenforward.org/apply/
Emerging Leaders Project
The deadline for this year's class has passed but if you are interested in running for office, this statewide training program might be your ticket next year. Information at: http://emergingleadersproject.org/
City of Bloomington Citizen's Academy
Program held on Thursdays from the end of August through October. They guarantee that every single person will learn something they never knew about the City of Bloomington government. An essential if you are thinking of running for a city office in 2019. Applications for 2018 class are open through July 9, 2018. Info here: https://bloomington.in.gov/citizens-academy.
Save the Date: MCDP Fall Dinner & Fundraiser
Thursday, October 18th from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Liberty Ball Room & Banquet Center, 2100 S Liberty Dr, Bloomington
The MCDP is looking for anyone that could help them borrow golf carts for the Fourth of July parade. If you have access to a golf cart, plea contact Executive Director Kaisa Goodman: [email protected].
EVENTS:
Monroe County Democrats Club Luncheon
Tuesday, June 19, 11:30am
DeAngelo's Restaurant, Eastland Plaza
The Monroe County Democrats Club will meet on Tuesday, June 19, at 11:30 am at DeAngelo's Restaurant in Eastland Plaza. The Club will hear from Matt Pierce about the recent session of the Indiana State Assembly--and about his run for keeping his seat in the Indiana House of Representatives. The public is invited to attend.
MCBDC Juneteenth Fundraiser
Friday, June 22, 2018 5:00 - 8:00pm
Griffin Realty, 735 S. College Ave., Bloomington
Suggested Contributions: $50, $100, $250, $500
Checks: Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus, PO Box 3471, Bloomington, IN 47402
Monroe County NOW Dine and Donate
Friday, June 22, 2018 10:00am - 11:00pm
Mother Bear’s Pizza - Both Locations
purchase a large pizza from Mother Bear’s, either location, and Monroe County NOW will receive $5.
You must have a printed coupon to participate.
Stop ICE Rally
Saturday, June 23, 2018 1:00-3:30pm
Allen County Courthouse, Fort Wayne, IN
hosted by the Latino Democrats of Allen County
Over the last year and a half the actions taken by ICE under our current administration have grown increasingly cruel and inhumane. These acts range from separating children from their parents, abusing their power by demanding papers from anyone they deem UnAmerican, and destroying families that are simply seeking refuge and a better life, among many other things. We will be standing together today in unity to speak out against ICE and show the country we do not support the actions taken by them. Speakers will include professors from IPFW and those running to be our representatives. Please join us in standing against ICE.
Monroe County NOW Chapter Meeting
Sunday, June 24, 2018, 1:00-3:00pm
Monroe County Library, Room 1B
Members from the local Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America organization will be guest speakers.
Piedmont-Smith Constituent Meeting
Saturday, June 30, 11:00am–noon
McCloskey Room #135, City Hall
Bloomington City Council Member Isabel Piedmont-Smith (District 5) will host her monthly constituent meeting on Saturday, June 30, 11:00 am to noon in the McCloskey Room (135) of City Hall. She welcomes all Bloomington residents, not just those in District 5, to come discuss city issues. For a full schedule of Isabel's 2018 meetings, please see https://bloomington.in.gov/council/smith.
Bloomington's Fourth of July Celebrations
Downtown Fireworks!
Tuesday evening, July 3rd
They’re bringing the celebration downtown and it should be exciting and fun!
Fourth Of July Parade
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 10:00am
9 a.m. Bloomington Community Band plays on the Monroe County Courthouse lawn
10 a.m. Fourth of July Parade begins
11:15 a.m. Parade Awards announced at the reviewing stand, downtown on Kirkwood Avenue
Parade Route: The parade begins at the corner of Seventh Street and Indiana Avenue, marches west to Walnut Street, north to Eighth Street, west to College Avenue, south to Kirkwood Avenue, east on Kirkwood Avenue, and ends at Indiana Avenue.
The Monroe County Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters, DFMC and many individual candidates will all have a presence in the parade… so find a group you’d like to march with and show Bloomington some democratic pride!
Fourth Annual Hamilton Family Picnic
Sunday Sept 9, 2018
Bryan Park,
With our fantastic local, state and federal Democratic candidates, music and food, for political momentum building for the critical mid-term elections coming up.
ACTION ITEM(s):
A reminder to share with the Steering Committee your thoughts on how we can improve the DWC, whether by offering more political training, revised by-laws or policies (see the website for current versions) or any other ideas you have. Send a message to [email protected]
Support Senator Dianne Feinstein’s SB 3036 the “Keep Families Together Act”
Oppose the FAKE GOP “Compromise” which would not.
This weekend we celebrated father’s and family, now we are asking you to do more. You have heard of the amoral and atrocious practice at our borders of splitting children from their families, which is being done in our name. As Senator Donnelly has already stated, this is against our values as a country. There is also no basis for this practice in the law. Already, there is legislation in the Senate to Keep Families Together, but it needs support.
We want you to join others across the country, including late night talk show hosts, in letting our representatives know that we cannot allow this inhumane treatment to continue. You can find a list of talking points and a sample letter here to get you started. And there is no better time than today,
1. Contact your representatives:
Senator Joe Donnelly:
donnelly.senate.gov
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 224-4814
Indianapolis Office: (317) 226-5555
115 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Senator Todd Young:
young.senate.gov
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 224-5623
Indianapolis Office: (317) 226-6700
46 East Ohio Street, Suite 462
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Representative Trey Hollingsworth:
hollingsworth.house.gov
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-5315
Greenwood Office: (317) 851-8710
720 Executive Park Dr., Ste 3000B
Greenwood, IN 46143
2 Donate to The Florence Project, a non-profit legal service organization that provides free legal and social services to detained adults and unaccompanied children facing immigration removal proceedings in Arizona.
3 Want to do more? Read this article in Slate with helpful resources on organizations fighting to keep families together.
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http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/