Breakfast meeting update!
On this first day of Women's History Month, we heard from 10 (!!) women running for municipal offices. This is such a far cry from the days that precipitated the formation of the DWC, when we found ourselves with NO women on the Bloomington City Council for the first time in years.
Each of the following women spoke, with surrogates filling in as some could not attend the breakfast:
Amanda Barge for Mayor, Nicole Bolden for City Clerk, Kate Rosenbarger and Denise Valkyrie for City Council District 1, Dorothy Granger and Sue Sgambelluri for City Council District 2, Miah Michaelson for City Council District 4, Isabel Piedmont-Smith for City Council District 5, and Jean Capler and Susan Sandberg for City Council At-Large. There was something amazing and inspiring in each of the statements.
This exercise will be repeated at a special breakfast on March 22, Village Deli, 7:30 am. At that time we will also vote on endorsements for this municipal cycle. If you cannot attend, you may vote electronically. More info on that is forthcoming, so watch for it!
The following information is repeated from last week's MMN, just in case you need to review it!!
“The DWC is dedicated to increasing the number of qualified women candidates for public office. The DWC membership may choose to offer formal endorsement to a candidate in some races, but may also choose to support multiple qualified candidates…. As a Political Action Committee (DWC PAC), the DWC is organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to promote its mission and to elect candidates. The DWC aims to foster an atmosphere of collegiality and mutual respect among all candidates, to elevate the level of public political discourse, and to promote informed civic engagement and participation among women more generally. Regardless of their ultimate decision at the ballot box, DWC members are encouraged to support all DWC candidates to become the best candidates they can be and running the best campaign possible.”
Important: you must have paid your dues for 2019 by March 7 in order to vote for Endorsement this spring. If you are unsure as to whether or not you are up to date as a member please email us at [email protected] and we will confirm your status for you. You can pay your annual membership dues online using the link at the bottom this news letter - you can also pay your dues by mail using the membership form on our website.
Note: One major change that we have made this year, based on member input and other considerations, is that we will be voting for candidates as individuals and not by race. It has been traditionally difficult when there was more than one qualified candidate in a given race for either of them to achieve the necessary 2/3 votes in order to be endorsed. This has limited the DWC’s ability to support all qualified women running for office and it was felt that this change would resolve that conflict.
As always, the decision as to whether or not a candidate is endorsed by the DWC is made by our membership. In addition to the recommendations presented to the membership by the Endorsement Committee, we encourage all members to become educated voters and to do their own research on all the candidates by checking out their websites, attending meet-and-greets, candidate forums and reading up on or listening to candidates’ interviews, letters, etc. We will try to provide links to candidate’s websites as well as information on events, interviews, forums, etc. via the MMN. All candidates and supporters of the DWC are encouraged to help us in this endeavor by submitting information at [email protected] for inclusion.
WOMEN's HISTORY MONTH
After the women candidate speeches, and starting out this month was a feature from Rachel Guglielmo, a Steering Committee member. Rachel suggested that we look into women's history through the eyes of Pauli Murray (1910-1985).
Murray was a Civil Rights activist, lawyer, author and Episcopalian priest. She broke through many, many early barriers for women, and women of color.
When FDR praised an all-white university for its commitment to social issues, Murray, a WPA worker at the time, took exception to his words. She wrote these words, and copied Eleanor, the first lady.
I am a Negro, the most oppressed, misunderstood and most neglected section of your population. You called on Americans to support a liberal philosophy based on democracy. What does this mean for Negro Americans?
Thus began a life-long friendship between these two women. Encouraging you to read more about her, Rachel offers these two books:
The Firebrand and the First Lady, Patricia Bell-Scott
Proud Shoes, Pauli Murray
and for a shorter article:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/17/the-many-lives-of-pauli-murray
If you have a favorite woman in history, please think about sharing that story at our March 22nd meeting while ballots for endorsement are being counted! Contact [email protected].
Some other upcoming DWC Events that should be on your radar:
Look for our annual Karaoke Fundraiser coming up at the end of March or in early April - we hope to have the details for you very soon.
In addition, the DWC will have a display table at the Women’s History Month Lunch on March 20 and we plan to reserve at least one table for members and their friends to sit at at the Lunch…. if you’d like to sit with other DWC members please let us know asap…. see details in the Announcements section.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Items
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For Women Candidate Connections:
Join Mayoral candidate Amanda Barge for Barge on the Block canvassing Saturday and Sunday March 9th and 10th starting at 11am. Haven’t knocked on doors before? We will have a fun and easy training session at 221 E Kirkwood Avenue, 10:30 each day and can pair you up with an experienced canvasser. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080549a8af2ea1ff2-volunteer
Meet and Greet for Mayoral candidate Amanda Barge to get to know her better, learn about her stances on issues, and ask questions. Check out our events on Facebook for details! Light food and drinks provided! http://www.bargeforbloomington.com/
Isabel Piedmont-Smith is holding a Downtown Celebration on Friday, March 22, 5:30-7:30 PM at Grazie Italiano, 106 W. 6th St. You are invited to chat with Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Bloomington City Council representative for District 5, and support her campaign for re-election. Appetizers and drinks provided. Isabel wants to hear YOUR views on city issues!
Talking Politics on Big Talk with Michael Glab: Big Mike is interviewing selected candidates for Bloomington city council on Big Talk which airs Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:00pm on WFHB Community Radio 91.3fm. He interviewed Kate Rosenbarger on Feb. 21 and Miah Michaelson was interviewed on Thursday, Feb. 28. More to come. All segments are archived after they’ve aired on the WFHB website.
KARAOKE IS COMING: start exercising your vocal chords and polishing up those songs - the annual DWC Karaoke fundraiser is coming soon at a new location here in Bloomington. If you want to help with this fun packed event, email [email protected]
DWC at the Women’s History Month Lunch:
The annual Women’s History Month Lunch is coming on Wednesday, March 20 (see below) and the DWC will once again have a reserved table at the lunch. Reserved table seating allows you to sit with friends and to be closer to the speaker and other goings on… the cost is $34.50 per person. If you would like to sit with other DWC members at the lunch, or if you would like to donate a seat at the DWC table for a student, please email us at [email protected] asap so that we can determine how many tables to reserve.
Note: seating would be on a first come, first served, basis: we would need 8 guaranteed seats to add a table so we might not be able to accommodate everyone who asks….
The Indiana Democratic Party Municipal Monday Webinar Series:
To view recordings of the webinars go to: https://www.indems.org/webinar-trainings-recordings/
How to File For Office - Matthew Kochevar, Democratic Legal Counsel for the IN Election Division
Campaign Finance - Anna Foster, Compliance Director for the IN Democratic Party
Social Media 101 - Trina Thomas, Digital Communications Specialist for the IN Democratic Party
Pre-Filing Questions / Campaign Goals - Katie Doyle, Municipal Caucus Director for the IN Democratic Party
Creating A Field Plan - Adi Ben-Yehoshua, Data Director for the IN Democratic Party
Fundraising 101 - Katie Doyle, Municipal Caucus Director for the IN Democratic Party
Info on the Redistricting Standards Bill from the League of Women Voters
SB 105 ('Redistricting standards') had a third reading in the Senate last Thursday. The vote was: passed, 26 to 23. It moves to the House, where there will be attempts to add amendments about who will draw district lines. Write or call your legislators and ask them to support redistricting reform!
EVENTS:
Thursday, March 7, 2019, 6:00pm
Democracy For Monroe County Monthly Link-Up: The New Tax Code And You
Noodles & Company, 2560 E. Third St., Bloomington
With the new tax code, the process of filing your tax returns may be mystifying. For their March link-up, DFMC will be hosting a panel of experts to talk about ways the new tax codes impact your tax returns and refunds. Presenters will include: Elizabeth Ruh from Personal Finance Services, a representative from the IU Law School to talk about tax law, and representatives from organizations who offer free tax help to low-income individuals and families. Come to have your questions answered!
Don't forget that the deadline to file your taxes is April 15.
Saturday, March 9, 10:30am - 2:00pm
IN Ninth District Democratic Party 2019 Training Workshop: Train. Run. Win. Workshop
Mid America Science Park, 821 South Lake Road S., Scottsburg, IN 47170
State Party staff and district organizers will feature interactive discussions including:
1) Campaign 101 - The Basic of Campaign Organization
2) Tips and Best Practices for Local Parties
3) Messaging, Branding & Persuasion
Democrats across our District are gearing up for the 2019 Municipal Election to help make our cities, our towns, our communities a better place to live, work and raise a family. Build momentum for a Democratic victory in 2019 and beyond….
RSVP: [email protected]
Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 11:15am to 1:30pm
Annual Women’s History Month Luncheon
Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave, Bloomington
Hosted by the City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women and the Community and Family Resources Department
The 34th annual Women's History Month Luncheon. The theme of the luncheon is "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence." Joyce Ajlouny will be the keynote speaker. Joyce serves as the General Secretary, the executive head, of the American Friends Service Committee, where she is responsible for the organization's worldwide peace and social justice programs and advocacy.
Thursday, March 21, 2019, 6:00pm
MCDP FDR Gala
Fountain Square Ballroom, Bloomington
Save the date for the annual FDR Gala held to celebrate Democratic candidates and the values for which the Party fights! More details to come!
Friday March 22, 2019 7:30am - 9:00am
Democratic Women’s Caucus Special Endorsement Breakfast Meeting
Village Deli
Saturday, March 30, 2019 10:00am - Noon
Women’s Leadership Development Event: Women. Power. Progress
City Hall Council Chambers
The annual Women's Leadership Development Event including keynote speakers, panel discussions, Leadership Scholarship recipients and the 2019 Emerging Leader Award winner.
This FREE event aims to help girls and women develop leadership skills they can use to improve the Bloomington community.
ACTION ITEM(s):
At this beginning of Women's History Month, pay particular attention and even seek out information about women in history.
(you may even know the author, Professor Amrita Chakrabarti Myers!)
BECOME A DWC MEMBER or RENEW your membership!
The DWC is dedicated to inspiring, recruiting, training, supporting and funding women to increase the number of progressive, pro-choice women in the political arena. We ALL help with this mission, together, collectively. Make sure you have full rights and privileges of membership.
Only $20 for one year’s membership.
Join online here: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership
Do you have news items? Send your items of interest to us at [email protected]
Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.
Paid for by DWPAC - Democratic Women's Political Action Committee
Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/