Letters to the editor, yard signs going up, ads on the TV… it’s election season! The dedicated women on the DWC Endorsement Committee have been hard at work to bring you information on the women who have applied for endorsement for the 2018 primary. In the last few weeks they reviewed candidates submissions, checked references, and developed questions. This weekend, armed with some snacks and, I hope, a lot of coffee, they interviewed all fifteen candidates and put together their recommendations for endorsement. These women have put in a lot of time and effort to make sure you all have what you need to make an informed decision and we really thank them for their hard work.
So here’s where you come in…. you get to make the final decision by voting at the March 2nd DWC Breakfast. Today you’ll get the regular MMN chock full of information to keep you abreast of what’s happening. Tomorrow morning you’ll get a special edition of the MMN that contains bio information from the candidates, links to websites, Facebook pages and contact information to help you make your decision. At the breakfast, all candidates will have the chance to make a short pitch to ask you for your vote and there will perhaps be a chance to ask a question or two. Then we will vote. All members in good standing (that is whose dues were paid by midnight on Feb. 15) will have the chance to vote on the organization's endorsements. A total yes vote of at least 2/3 of the votes cast is required for endorsement.
So what if you can’t make it to the breakfast… we understand that there are conflicts, unexpected things that happen that might prevent you from being there, so there will be a chance to vote electronically as well. As soon as it is ready we will be sending out an electronic ballot to all members who are eligible to vote along with instructions on where to return it once you've filled it out. If you do not receive a ballot but think you are entitled to one, please contact Vicky Sorensen by email or call Carolyn VandeWiele at 812-320-9920 and we will check on the situation. Online voting will start with the receipt of the electronic ballots and end at 7:00 am on Friday March 2.
We hope to see you Friday morning, ready to vote!

Don't Forget to become a DWC Member. Although you won’t be able to vote in the primary endorsement process if you didn’t renew/register before midnight on February 15th, it’s a long way until November and we need everyone’s help to get qualified women candidates into office in 2018. Use this link now: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership

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EDUCATION -- It’s everywhere in the news these days - funding issues, vouchers, school choice, testing…. But there is one type of education that perhaps doesn’t get enough press… education in civics and voting. An uneducated voter is a dangerous voter. So is a voter who is unable to be flexible in their voting habits or doesn’t understand how government works.
Penny Githens tells the story of talking to a woman in the northern section of District 60 who told her that she agreed with all of Penny’s views on the issues but couldn’t vote for her because she always voted republican.
Working at the polls you get to see all types… there was the gentleman who showed up to vote in 2015 saying “I saw in the paper it was election day so I came down to vote…” not realizing that because he lived in the county he had nothing to vote for that year. Another voter wanted to vote for a write-in republican candidate but didn’t know their name…. He started yelling at us because I told him we were legally restricted from telling him who the write-in candidates were and he would need to find that out himself.
On the other hand there was the thoughtful young man in the last primary election who obviously had come down specifically to vote for Bernie Sanders but after looking at the ballot said to me that he didn’t know enough about the other candidates to vote… as he was a democrat I lent him my computer and hooked him up with the MCDP website that listed information about all the democratic candidates running in the primary… he spent about an hour studying and then came back and voted, taking long enough that I suspect that he voted the entire ballot.
DWC members have a chance to vote a bit earlier than other voters this year… our Candidate Endorsement vote will take place at the March 2 meeting. Fourteen women have applied for possible endorsement by the group this year. We hope you will take a good look at their credentials and what might separate them from their opponents and earn them your vote.
Next week we will have a special MMN for you that has information on all our candidates for endorsement, links to their websites and contact details as well as a ballot. For those who can’t make the Friday breakfast, online voting will start with the receipt of the electronic ballots and end at 7:00am on Friday morning. At the breakfast you’ll have a chance to hear from the candidates and perhaps ask a question (but do your homework first). And while the ballots are being counted Vickie Provine will speak to us about the upcoming 2018 Citizens' Academy class.

Don't Forget to become DWC Member. Although you won’t be able to vote in the primary endorsement process if you didn’t renew/register before midnight on February 15th, it’s a long way until November and we need everyone’s help to get qualified women candidates into office in 2018. Use this link now: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership

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CAMPAIGN FEVER IS UPON US--And what a load of women stepping up!--The filing deadline for candidates planning to run for local office in 2018 was last Friday, February 9th at noon. We now have the list of Democratic candidates and there's something immediately obvious about it. Out of a total of 30 races for local offices, there are 24 women who filed to compete in them (and that doesn't even include Liz Watson's race for U.S. House 9th District)! Only 9 of 30 races had no female candidate. What an amazing showing, and what a huge step forward from past years! Now let's move on to supporting all of these women in their quests to serve the public!!!

Don't Forget to Renew your DWC membership before midnight on February 15th in order to vote at the March meeting in the endorsement process. Use this link now: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership

Speaking of Endorsements - Steering Committee Member Kitty Leill will serve as the chair of the DWC endorsement committee this year. Familiarize yourself with the process by going to http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/endorsements.

Important Dates in the process:
Saturday, Feb. 10: The endorsement committee emailed candidates with details on applying for endorsement.
Friday, Feb. 16 at noon: Deadline for submitting an application for DWC Endorsement
Saturday, Feb. 24: Interviews with candidates for endorsement begin. The Committee will make a recommendation to the entire membership via this newsletter and the membership them votes on endorsements. Primary Endorsement Vote will be at the March 2, 2018 Breakfast.

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If you missed Friday's breakfast meeting:

Cathi Crabtree greets friend Ali Brown. The two became great friends at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Ali brought her enthusiasm and news of her new endeavors to the breakfast. Her message was well received.

If there's anyone who can energize a 7:30 AM crowd, it's Ali Brown! She is fearless in her feminism, and is working hard to help elect persons of color, women, LGBTQ+ and millennial candidates.

And when she left Bloomington, she sent back this message:

The feeling's mutual, Ali Brown! Thanks for your inspiration, your dedication, your friendship.

TWO DEADLINES:

----Friday at NOON (all political deadlines are at noon!) is the deadline for filing for State Convention Delegate, or for Precinct Committee person. Or even for an office. Election Central office is at 401 W 7th Street. The office is open from 8:00 to 4:00 pm weekdays. Deadline is NOON! Friday! NOON!

----Renew your DWC membership before midnight on February 15th in order to vote at the March meeting in the endorsement process. Use this link now: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership

Speaking of Endorsements - Steering Committee Member Kitty Leill will serve as the chair of the DWC endorsement committee this year. Familiarize yourself with the process by going to http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/endorsements.
Important Dates in the process:
Friday, Feb. 9 at noon: deadline for filing a candidacy for the 2018 Primary
Saturday, Feb. 10: the endorsement committee will email candidates with details on applying for endorsement.
Friday, Feb. 16 at noon: deadline for submitting an application for DWC Endorsement
Saturday, Feb. 24: interviews with candidates for endorsement begin. The Committee will make a recommendation to the entire membership via this newsletter and the membership them votes on endorsements. Primary Endorsement Vote will be at the March 2, 2018 Breakfast.

And SAVE THE DATE April 8, 2018 at 6pm for the 3rd Annual DWC Political Karaoke Fundraiser!
Candidates and friends, enjoy a night of silliness!! Karaoke for everyone and a competition for our 2018 candidates who will perform as "Celebrity Performers". This is an unforgettable event: candidates AND OTHERS compete for prizes by performing their choice of karaoke song.

Below is Senator Vi Simpson feeling satisfied after channeling Patsy Cline!

You won't want to miss!

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Goings on from the DWC:

Hard to believe, but the first month of 2018 is almost at an end and that means it must be time for the DWC monthly breakfast - coming up this Friday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 am at the Village Deli. All are welcome. The forecast is for sunny skies and 30 degrees so hopefully Mother Nature won’t be interfering with our plans this month.
CNN recently reported that hundreds of young, smart, progressive women are getting active in politics in light of events happening in this country and our speaker this month is one of them. Ali Brown is the Managing Director of Brown Progressive Strategies. Ali has been working on campaigns since she was old enough to hold a clipboard. She is an EMILY's List Trained, New Organizing Institute polished, and Indiana battle hardened campaign operative who has worked on Presidential, Congressional, Governor, State, and local campaigns. She also holds the title of youngest elected Democratic County Party Chair, when she took the reins of DeKalb County Democrats at 23. Ali understands the Indiana political landscape better than almost anyone in the state. She is a well known for her advocacy for more women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ candidates to get into Indiana politics. Vi Simpson says “you will all love her” so come on out to hear what she has to say.

Circuit Training… about 65 women (twelve of them identified candidates for 2018 and a number more thinking of running in the future) gathered in the Bloomington City Council Chambers on Saturday, Jan. 28 to hear presentations on Campaign Organization, Finances, Fundraising, Public Speaking, Communications, Messaging and Graphic Design. There was also a presentation on the DWC Endorsement process. It was a most informative event and we welcome any feed back from participants and the membership, both on this event and possible upcoming trainings, at [email protected].

it’s time to renew your DWC membership if you haven’t done so already….Membership is $20 per year and runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. You can join online at https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership, give your dues to any Steering Committee Member or pay at the breakfast. And note that if you want to vote on DWC Primary endorsements at the March Meeting, your membership needs to be paid no later than Feb. 15 at midnight.

Speaking of Endorsements - Steering Committee Member Kitty Leill has been working hard as chair of the DWC endorsement committee to organize this year’s endorsements and to make the process more transparent for our membership and candidates. Familiarize yourself with the process by going to http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/endorsements.
Important Dates:
Friday, Feb. 9 at noon: deadline for filing a candidacy for the 2018 Primary
Saturday, Feb. 10: the endorsement committee will email candidates with details on applying for endorsement.
Friday, Feb. 16 at noon: deadline for submitting an application for DWC Endorsement
Saturday, Feb. 24: interviews with candidates for endorsement begin
The organization will vote on DWC Primary Endorsements at the March 2, 2018 Breakfast.

And SAVE THE DATE April 8, 2018 at 6pm for the 3rd Annual DWC Political Karaoke Fundraiser!
Candidates and friends, enjoy a night of silliness!! Karaoke for everyone and a competition for our 2018 candidates who will perform as "Celebrity Performers". This is an unforgettable event: candidates compete for prizes by performing their choice of karaoke song. You won't want to miss!

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Items

Renew your DWC membership: Membership is $20 per year and runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. You can join online at https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership, give your dues to any Steering Committee Member or pay at the breakfast. And note that if you want to vote on DWC Primary endorsements at the March Meeting, your membership needs to be paid no later than midnight on Feb. 15.

The 2018 Women's March!

What a day it was! In hundreds of cities and towns around the world, large and small, from Indianapolis to New York, Washington, and Los Angeles and even to Ottawa and Rome thousands of progressive women and men marched to defend the dignity, freedom, and equality of all those threatened by the malignant policies of the Trump administration and its enablers in the Republican-controlled Congress. Here in Bloomington the DWC's Rachel Guglielmo and others organized a march that drew several hundred protesters to the courthouse square. The message of this year's "March to the Polls" was one of defiance and resolve: we are not going away, we will not be silent, and we will run for office and fight with our ballots for justice and equality for ALL Americans.

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[email protected]http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/Sorry to have cancelled January Breakfast. The Listening Session with Senator Joe Donnelly was something we all were really looking forward to. We were reluctant to publicize that the Senator was actually coming to breakfast because of many logistical concerns, but he was ready and willing to listen to what Democratic women wanted him to hear. And we were ready to tell him! Alas, Mother Nature intervened. We will try to reschedule. (And now this writer has 60 copies of the NYT Crossword from 1/11/18 created by Senator Donnelly and Micky Maurer.)

It’s a new year… and that means it’s time to renew your DWC membership if you haven’t done so already….
Much of the work that is done on behalf of this group is done by volunteers, but like all other organizations, the DWC has some expenses to pay: an annual filing fee to the state, payments to maintain our website, printing costs for Point of Sale flyers, to name a few. Still, by far and away, the money raised by the group is used for the benefit of the strong, progressive, pro-choice women candidates we endorse. So please renew your membership today… Membership is $20 per year and runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. You can join online at https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership, give your dues to any Steering Committee Member or pay at the breakfast. And note that if you want to vote on DWC Primary endorsements at the March Meeting, your membership needs to be paid no later than Feb. 2.

Candidate filings for the 2018 elections began on January 10 and will close on February 9. In addition to all the state and local government offices that are up for election in 2018, we also elect Precinct Committee Persons and Delegates to the State Convention in the May Primary. These are important positions open to all county residents.

Monroe County is apportioned 67 Convention Delegates, 63 of which are elected by county residents, equally distributed among the four County Council Districts. State Delegates are the only voting members at the State Convention and in 2018 they will be voting on representatives for State Convention Committees, Credentials Resolutions and Rules and the State Party Platform and nominations for the state wide candidates of Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer. The 2018 Democratic Convention will be held on June 16 in Indianapolis.
Precinct Committee Persons are the intermediaries between the County Democratic Party and the voters… they vote on official county business, ballot vacancies, and caucuses to fill positions open due to the resignation of an office holder. They are also supposed to work their districts, register voters, go to community events and represent the district, go door to door, help get poll workers for election day. A good resource on the role of a Precinct Committee Person can be found at: http://action.indems.org/page/-/Indems%20Precinct%20Committeeperson%20Handbook.pdf. You must reside in the precinct in which you are running and must have voted Democrat in the last primary in order to qualify (unless you are a newly registered voter in Indiana or are certified by the Party Chair).

At the Monroe County Bicentennial Kick Off Event at the Monroe County Courthouse yesterday, Charlotte Zietlow spoke about the system of government that we have in Indiana…. She said that while it may seem somewhat layered and messy, it is designed to maximize checks and balances on government entities and to force our elected officials to talk to each other and to work with each other for the benefit of their constituents. She argued persuasively that we should support that structure, including township government offices, as a way of giving voice to all citizens. As she put it: Democracy isn't necessarily easy, nor should it be.

In his benediction at the end of the event, Forest Gillmore prayed for politicians who would take risks for the greater good… here’s to getting them elected in 2018.

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Breakfast on January 12th -- DWC conducts a “Listening Session” for Congress

We have made many, many calls, written letters and sent electronic messages to our Representatives and Senators this year. 

And we’ve all personally experienced federal policies or programs that have impacted our lives – for good or bad.  And we know that conveying these experiences as personal stories make a difference in how these messages are received by our congressmen.

How do you see federal policies affecting Hoosier women?

If you had ONE message to give to these folks, what would that message be?

If you could be assured that your message would be actually be received and read by that senator or representative, what would you say?

Please write out your message and bring it with you on Friday. We’ll share these messages with each other, and then compile the messages into a “Listening Session” packet from DWC members. They will be personally conveyed to our delegation. You can use your own stationary, print something out in letter form, or simply use notebook paper. Please include your contact information within the letter. You can use an envelope, but no postage is necessary.  

ALSO --

Please note that we have two opportunities for Friday breakfast attendees to help the less fortunate in our community:

• First, Steering Committee Member Jennifer Crossley's young daughter, Sydney, is taking the initiative and coordinating a winter outerwear and blanket drive to help the homeless and others in our community who are suffering in this frigid weather. If you have gently used men's, women's or childrens' winter coats, hats, mittens, scarves, or boots you no longer use, or warm blankets you don't need, please bring them to the breakfast on Friday and Jennifer and Sydney will take them off your hands and give them to individuals who really need them.
• Second, the Village Deli is having a food drive for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. The Deli management wanted to be sure that we knew this so individual DWC members can participate if they so choose by bringing a non-perishable to contribute.

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FRIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING RECAP

Prompted by recent events on the national stage, at our breakfast meeting last Friday, December 1, the DWC presented a panel of 3 speakers on the topic of "Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment:  What it is and what you can do about it." The speakers were Darcie Fawcett, former Monroe County sex crimes prosecutor, Kitty Liell, defense attorney, and Deborah Widiss, a Maurer School of Law Professor who teaches about sexual harassment and employment law. What a fabulous panel! Each woman spoke for approximately 5 minutes followed by questions and answers. We wish there had been more time for questions as this is a meaty and timely topic of immense importance to all of us.  Here are some highlights of what we learned:

• There are 3 ways under the Indiana Criminal Code of defining non-consensual sex
  • Sex was engaged in by force or threat of force
  • The alleged victim is unaware it is happening (further defined as unconscious or asleep NOT drunk or blacked out)
  • The alleged victim is mentally deficient
• Indiana University's Sexual Misconduct Policy adds a category: the victim is incapacitated, which is broader than under the state criminal code.
• A difficulty of prosecuting sex crimes is getting an alleged victim to understand that not everything that happened to her, as awful as it may have been, is considered "rape" under the law, or is provable under a standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt."
• Trauma caused by crimes such as sexual assault can have a significant effect on the victim's memory, as well as the victim's behavior throughout the ordeal. For example, the brain can essentially shut down so that memories are irretrievable or muddy. Victims can also become physically "frozen" and unable to move.
• Victims who prosecute their alleged attackers are less mentally healthy as a result than victims who move on and process the event on their own.
• As sex crimes, a lot of reprehensible behavior in the workplace does not rise to the level of illegal harassment.
• Between 2005 and 2015, only 85,000 cases were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Reported rates of harassment are highest in service industries and male-dominated industries.
• What the law prohibits is "discrimination" so you must show that the offensive behavior interferes with the terms and conditions of your employment, and is so severe or pervasive that it constitutes harassment or abuse.
• You must also prove that the employer is responsible because the employer knew or should have known what was happening.
• Some things that the courts look at to support a claim of employer responsibility are:
  • whether the employer took reasonable steps to prevent or correct the behavior
  • whether the victim made a complaint or there was a good reason why the victim did not
• Employers should have harassment training and policies that are not just window dressing, and senior management must signal that it takes these issues seriously.
• Retaliation is illegal, and retaliation claims are easier to win than the underlying harassment claims.
• Victims must avail themselves of their employers' internal process, and employers must investigate claims. Well run investigations keep the victim in the loop and maintain confidentiality as much as feasible, and should result in the employer taking action if a complaint is deemed valid.

Whew. It was a lot to absorb but so incredibly helpful. Thank you Darcie, Kitty and Deborah!!

Also at the breakfast, the DWC held elections for Secretary, Vice Chair and 5 at-large seats on the Steering Committee. The following women were elected:

Vice Chair: Carolyn VandeWiele
Secretary:  Karen Wrenback

Steering Committee:
Jennifer Crossley 
Linda Grove-Paul
Rachel Guglielmo 
Kitty Liell
Charlotte Zietlow

Jillian Kinzie was on the original ballot but pulled out before the election for personal reasons.

Congratulations and a warm welcome from the Steering Committee! We can't wait to work with you all.

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THIS FRIDAY!!!  DECEMBER BREAKFAST AND STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

FRIDAY BREAKFAST:

Is There a more timely topic??, For Friday’s breakfast we have put together a program about Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment:  What it is and what you can do about it.
Speakers will be: Darcie Fawcett, former sex crimes prosecutor, Kitty Liell, attorney, and Deborah Widiss, a professor who teaches about sexual harassment at the law school. Each will speak for about 5 minutes followed by a question and answer period as we’re sure people will have a lot of questions.  


STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS for At Large, Vice Chair and Secretary
We are still looking for someone to serve as Secretary… if you are interested, Please email Amy Swain at [email protected] ASAP. Nominations can also be taken from the floor at the meeting.

Here is the proposed Slate: Bios and pictures below
women with a * are Steering Committee incumbents in this position

If you cannot be at the meeting on Dec. 1, you may fill out your ballot and return it to [email protected] by midnight tonight to be counted. All votes will be kept confidential.

Every other year, five at-large positions are up for election.
Mark an X for those you wish to serve for 2018 & 2019.
Vote for 5 only
___________ Jennifer Crossley
___________ Linda Grove-Paul *
___________ Rachel Guglielmo
___________ Jillian Kinzie*
___________ Kitty Liell*
___________ Charlotte Zietlow*

Every other year, the Vice Chair and Secretary are up for election.
Please mark an X for those you wish to fill these positions.
___________ Vice Chair, Carolyn VandeWiele
___________ Secretary, Open

NB: Jillian Kinzie withdrew her name from consideration before the Friday Meeting