Next Breakfast Meeting:
July 1 at 7:30 a.m. at the Village Deli

Democratic Women's Club meets at MCL Cafeteria on the Third Tuesday of each month. Program starts at noon. Speaking at the meeting on June 21 (the first day of summer!) is Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Dan Combs.

How about Dinner and a Movie??

The Cinemat (4th and Walnut) is showing a film on Shirley Chisholm this month. Check out the film on: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/chisholm/. We thought it would be fun to view this together and have dinner before hand at Tortilla Flat. We had a wonderful time the last time we did this. Come for dinner right after work, the movie starts at 6:45 pm. Cost is $4.00 or $3.50 for Cinemat members. Email regina@bluemarble.net if you can come for dinner, movie or both.

Meeting in July. Have you heard about the plans for governmental reform that basically does away with Township government as we know it? What do the Township Trustees do and what are the duties of their board? In preparation for the next election where all 44 of these offices in Monroe County will be up for election, we thought it would be good to hear from our township trustees to get their perspective on their jobs. Nancy Brinegar, Bloomington Township Trustee, Cheryl Munson, Indian Creek Township Board Member, and Barbara McKinney, Bloomington Township Board Member will tell you what it's all about. Special guest will be Martha Regester, Perry Township Board Member. Join us on July 1, 7:30 am at the Village Deli!

WANTED: A steering committee member at large! The election of Lois Sabo-Skelton to the Chairmanship of Programs has left a vacant seat on the Democratic Women's Caucus Steering Committee. If you are interested in serving the caucus, please email Regina Moore, Chair, at regina@bluemarble.net.

Does England have a 4th of July?? Well, of course they do, and a 5th, 6th… old joke, we know! But will they have a contingent of women, dressed in white, with purple sashes marching to honor this year as the 85th Anniversary of Women getting the right to vote? I don't think so! We would really like to honor those women who participated in this long, long struggle for equality by marching as a unit in the parade. The parade starts at 3 pm, and you wouldn't have to actually show up until about 2:30 or so. If anyone has a white convertible for those older, more arthritic suffragist-wannabe's please let us know. Contact Lois Sabo-Skelton Niloiv@aol.com for details and to sign up. We really can't do this with less than about 20 people, so let her know soon.

EMILY's LIST is coming: We've had a wonderful response to this training offer. July 22 and 23, right here in Bloomington, Emily's List will provide campaign training for Democratic Pro-Choice Women. Those of us who attended last year's training in Ohio immediately knew that this information needed to be shared with Indiana women, and Pam Huggins has worked all year to coordinate the training. Send in an application: http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/pac.html

August 26th is a Special Day! Save this date!

On this day, 85 years ago, the 19th amendment was certified as part of the U. S. Constitution. It states: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." We would like to mark this anniversary and celebrate the rights of women to vote and take part in all aspects of the government of our nation.

Plan to attend this dinner celebration that will also serve as a fundraiser and friend-raiser for the Democratic Women's Caucus. Speakers, music, history, costumes, and wonderful food. Plan to help inspire young women by bringing a daughter, young friend or sponsoring the attendance of a college Democrat! Details will be announced soon. To help on the planning committee please email or call Lois Sabo-Skelton. Niloiv@aol.com

Local Follow-up to Emily's List.

Mark September 24th on your calendar for a local training session for women candidates. We'll be taking some of the material from the EL training and translating it to our local scene. It will also be an opportunity for those who can't attend of Monroe County, and offer help and support to those who may be running in the near future the EL session to gain some knowledge of campaigning, the political geography. At this point we're working on panels, seminars, and presentations that would last approximately from 11:00 am to about 3:30 or so. Lunch will be included. Details to follow. If there is something specific that you wish to have included in this informational session, please email regina@bluemarble.net with your ideas.

Pigs… what a great discussion! The WIP (Women in Politics) Reading Group discussed Pigs at the Trough by Arianna Huffington this past weekend. Well, maybe we just used that book and the rage it caused us to feel to spring off onto a discussion of corporations, their role in our lives, the fact that they have been granted personhood and what that all means. Tomi Allison, former mayor, has conducted the WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) study on corporations as persons. She has offered to conduct those study sessions for our group. If you are outraged by the incredible power of corporations, their tax status (no loopholes here… just plain tax breaks!), please think about joining the group. Once we get the names together, we'll have a time to meet to start the study group. Please email regina@bluemarble.netif you are interested. Tomi has presented this program to several groups in town, and is terrifically well versed in the subject. Who better to learn from!

Remarkable Women: Added recently to the remarkable women section on our website is Helen Grace Sentman. For those who knew "Grandma" and her campaign work for her daughter, Vi Simpson, you knew a quiet, but strong, woman who's presence at the Headquarters will be missed. Read Vi's tribute to her mother at: www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/women.html

Run, Sisters, Run written by Donna Brazile, Campaign Manager for Al Gore's 2000 Presidential Campaign and Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute appears in the Summer issue of Ms. Magazine. Some of the issue is available online, but this piece is not. We offer it on the website for now. It's worth a look!

All Politics is Local! Have you noticed that after the first crop of H-T Community Columnists we've gotten a group of really conservative and righteous writers? Is this bothering you? While the Republican women have been fairly silent (unless you call the pictures of their members at their meetings vocal) and the Libertarian men fairly quiet, too, the Libertarian women are appearing all over. Who are these folks that bash local and national Democrats? Does this bother you? Can't reasonable, progressive Democrat women write just as well? Can't we bring forth guest editorials to the H-T in positive, constructive, reasonable ways that will stimulate the public debate on really important issues? Julia Copeland has done a wonderful job, but can't we add to her voice. Think about it.

Democracy for America will hold a House Party at the home of Carole Scifres, at 1011 Jennifer Drive in Sherwood Oaks II. She joins other DFA members across the country who on Thursday, June 23rd, are organizing house parties to kick-off DFA's Healthy Communities Campaign that will include a special interactive conference call with Tom Hughes, Executive Director of DFA. This group is committed to building progressive communities by electing local progressive candidates. We are lucky to have a really active group in Monroe County. Let Carole know if you can drop by. Details and reply form can be found at: http://petition.democracyforamerica.com/page/event/houseparty/zds

A regular event on the social calendars of Democrats these days is the Third Thursday Happy Hour. Held at 5:30 each month, it's a way to get to know fellow Democrats in the area, and, of course, meet prospective candidates, friends and like minded folks. It's held in a different establishment each month. Watch our Calendar for details as we get them delivered to us.

PBS is under attack. Visit the PFAW (People for the American Way) website to take action: http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/

Remember, check the website often! It's your best resource in keeping up with progressive news here in Monroe County (and beyond!).

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