We Were Honored        

Thinking about this title in two ways! The Democratic Women’s Caucus was honored at the kick off event of the IDEA French Lick weekend on Thursday night last week. The traditional women’s reception featured Jill Donnelly bringing encouragement and news of Joe’s campaign. Also Karlee Macer, State Representative District 92, spoke to the crowd about the status of women in government.

Regina Moore gave a little history of the beginnings of the DWC and Amy Swain told about our programs and invited anyone to come to breakfasts and our other programs. We gave encouragement for other areas of the 9^th District and beyond to support women candidates.

Women seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress, Liz Watson (9^th), Tobi Beck (4^th), and Courtney Tritch (3^rd), each gave some information about their campaigns. It’s encouraging to have THREE women (possibly more) running at this level. Anna Murray (state senator district 46 candidate) and our own Penny Githens (state representative district 60 candidate) also introduced themselves and told a little about their efforts in 2018. 

Celebrating Women’s Equality Day weekend with this kickoff was a great way to be with some amazing women across southern Indiana, and we thank our host committee: Martha Nice, Joanie Kanizer, Rita Long, Patty Yount, and Sandy Blanton for this honor. WE were honored to share our story and share the honors with so many others.

— Regina Moore

SEPTEMBER BREAKFAST: As this issue of the Monday Morning News went to press, the program for the breakfast was still TBA, but you can be sure it will be an interesting one. Be there or wish you had been!
Friday, September 1, 7:30 am
Village Deli

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Eat Sheet Cake??
Hey, Tina Fey.
Maybe,
but there's a better way!

Nicole Byer and her friends!
There's a special link below just for our shows.
Get your friends to come with you, because this is a total girl celebration with giggles and guffaws, and great fun!

DWC COMEDY FUNDRAISER - Sunday, Sept. 3
TWO SHOWS: 5:30pm and 8:00pm
The Comedy Attic, corner of 4th and Walnut



Join us as we welcome Nicole Byer to The Comedy Attic for a fun night to help raise funds for the Democratic Women’s Caucus.  A fan favorite on MTV’s Girl Code, Nicole is quickly becoming one of the most sought after young comedians and actors in the comedy world. As producer and star of the scripted MTV comedy series "Loosely Exactly Nicole," she will make history when the show becomes the first ever content exclusive to Facebook.

To purchase tickets, go HERE. 100% of the ticket price benefits the DWC! Contact Amy Swain if you'd like to be a sponsor for this event! [email protected].

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In December 2007 the Kernan-Shepard Commission came out and as part of their recommendations on local government reform, proposed that Indiana’s township governments be eliminated and that all township government- responsibilities, including assessment, poor relief, fire, EMS and cemeteries, be transferred to the county executive and county council. In a Nuvo article the following February, Perry Township (Marion County) trustee Gary Coons stated “If you eliminate the redundant layers it means you’re going to eliminate politicians’ jobs. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to eliminate those services … The way I see it, you can act locally, but manage regionally.” A former firefighter, Coons went on to suggest that most of his township trustee colleagues were unhappy about the recommendation. “They want to keep their jobs.” he stated in the article, “I grew up in a conservative family. As a conservative I was always taught that entitlements weren’t a good thing. No one is ‘entitled’ to their position.”

Our Breakfast Meeting last Friday showed why these statements should be taken with a large grain of salt. Lillian Henegar, Michelle Bright, Mary McInery, Pam Cook, Amy Swain, Vicky Sorenson, and Susie Hamilton showed that they are passionate, dedicated public servants who are best situated to provide the many services with which the Township Boards and Trustees are entrusted. None of these women are getting rich in the position (in fact one Township Board member stated that she was surprised to find out - after she’d won election - that she would be paid!). Moving township responsibilities to the County Commissioners and Councils would likely mean that additional staff would need to be hired and services would still need to be paid for. Each township has it’s own unique populations and needs, and trustees and board members, who must live in their districts, are in the best position to know their neighbors, know their options and to respond quickly and flexibly to the situations that arise.

This doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues with township government. Fire and Emergency services create one major headache for our Trustees and options to streamline these services should continue to be explored. And there have been instances where, to quote Nuvo again, “individuals (were) able to live outside expected standards of accountability, or even law-abiding behavior.” Here in Monroe County we’ve had a few of those… but we’ve also seen that politicians who act badly aren’t restricted to Township Trustees and Board Members. Proper rules and regulations and oversight (yes citizens, that means us) would go far towards solving those issues.
Monroe County has eleven townships… there are one trustee and three board members for each township. That means there are forty-four slots on the ballot up for election or re-election in 2018 and looking for dedicated and compassionate people looking to serve their communities. Maybe one of them is you….

WHAT’S UP WITH THE DWC: we have a lot of things coming up!

DWC To Host Candidate Forum for City Council At-Large Seat
Sunday, Aug. 13 3:30 - 5:30pm
Democratic Headquarters, 116 S. Madison St.
Here is your chance to ask the candidates the questions you'd like answered....
Jean Capler, Sierra Reed, Gabe Coleman, Jim Simms, Darryl Neher and Sean Starowitz have declared their candidacies to fill the City Council At-Large seat left vacant by the retirement of Tim Mayer.
Even if you can’t vote in the caucus, you can learn more about the people who might be representing you on the city council (or in another future position) and talk to your precinct chair (who will be voting)
Note: if you can’t be there, this event will be live streamed and archived by the Monroe County Democratic Party on their website and Facebook pages (as are the previous events).

The DWC at IDEA
Kick Up Our Heels! Annual Women’s Event
French Lick Winery & Vintage Cafe, 8145 W Sinclair St, West Baden Springs, IN 47469
Thursday Aug. 24 5:00pm Featuring: Jill Donnelly, State Representative Karlee Macer, & the Democratic Women’s Caucus of Bloomington

DWC COMEDY FUNDRAISER - Sunday, Sept. 3
TWO SHOWS: 5:30pm and 8:00pm
The Comedy Attic, corner of 4th and Walnut

Join us as we welcome Nicole Byer to The Comedy Attic for a fun night to help raise funds for the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Other local female comedians will also perform.
A fan favorite on MTV’s Girl Code, Nicole is quickly becoming one of the most sought after young comedians and actors in the comedy world. As producer and star of the scripted MTV comedy series "Loosely Exactly Nicole," she will make history when the show becomes the first ever content exclusive to Facebook.
To purchase tickets, go HERE. 100% of the ticket price benefits the DWC!
Contact Amy Swain if you'd like to be a sponsor for this event! [email protected]
More information? Just email [email protected].
For more information check out our Facebook Events Page.

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DWC Hosted Informative Candidate Forum for City Council At-Large Seat
The DWC hosted the final pre-caucus forum for candidates seeking the City Council at-large seat vacated by Tim Mayer. It took place yesterday afternoon, Sunday, August 13th at the Democratic Headquarters. The event was emceed by Julie Thomas, and moderators included City Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith, former City Council member Charlotte Zietlow, and County Council member Lee Jones.

Candidates Jean Capler, Sierra Reed, Gabe Coleman, Jim Sims, Darryl Neher (via Skype), Sean Starowitz, and Trent Deckard were all there to provide two minute opening and closing statements and answer questions, including a lightning round with only one word answers allowed! The crowd in attendance was diverse and everyone appreciated one last chance to get to know the people who hope to be our newest local public servant. Pictures below!

If you weren't able to attend, the event was live streamed and archived by the Monroe County Democratic Party on their website and Facebook pages (as are the previous pre-caucus events).






DWC COMEDY FUNDRAISER - Sunday, Sept. 3 
TWO SHOWS: 5:30pm and 8:00pm
The Comedy Attic, corner of 4th and Walnut

Join us as we welcome Nicole Byer to The Comedy Attic for a fun night to help raise funds for the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Other local female comedians will also perform. A fan favorite on MTV’s Girl Code, Nicole is quickly becoming one of the most sought after young comedians and actors in the comedy world. As producer and star of the scripted MTV comedy series "Loosely Exactly Nicole," she will make history when the show becomes the first ever content exclusive to Facebook.

To purchase tickets, go HERE. 100% of the ticket price benefits the DWC! Contact Amy Swain if you'd like to be a sponsor for this event! [email protected] More information? Just email [email protected] and check out our Facebook Events Page.

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‘John McCain to the rescue’, ‘it took a veteran’ - these were some of the headlines after the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act failed in the Senate last week. But John McCain isn’t the only veteran in government, or even the only Senator who is facing a life threatening illness. Senator Mazie Hirono (D) Hawaii is doing her job with little fanfare from the press while battling stage 4 kidney cancer. Tammy Duckworth (D) Illinois, whose opponent in her Senate race belittled her service record, lost both her legs while flying helicopters for the Army during the Iraq war.
And despite the hyperbole, John McCain didn’t bring down the GOP single handedly. He may have struck the deciding blow, but his vote would have been irrelevant without the votes of every Democratic Senator before him, as well as the “no” votes of Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski who have steadfastly opposed repeal from the start.
As an article in the L.A. Times pointed out it was “hardly their first rodeo in political courage. In 2013, it was Collins who convened a small bipartisan group of senators made up eight men and six women (including Murkowski) to figure out how to keep the government from shutting down. “Leadership, I must fully admit, was provided primarily from women in the Senate,” Sen. John McCain said after the deal was announced….”
The same article pointed out that one “reason many female legislators may compromise well is because they may be less egotistical. According to a 2001 survey that asked American members of Congress why they ran, men responded that they had “always wanted to.” The No. 1 reason for women? The ability to effect change in society. Imagine if 100% of politicians cared about that.”
Unfortunately, 100% of politicians don’t seem to care about that. Many politicians continue to push agendas that benefit the few over the many, often despite overwhelming opposition from their constituents. And they can continue to do so because of the dysfunctionality of our current political system. Politicians don’t have to listen to us anymore.
How do we change that? As citizens we must continue to become engaged, to speak out and participate in our democracy at all levels. We must work to overcome the forces that help to maintain the current system: gerrymandering, money in politics and the suppression of voting rights. And we must level the playing field by electing a government that truly represents the diversity of our nation.
In the words of Sierra Reed, who declared her candidacy for the City Council at large seat this week: “(I)t is one of the hardest, scariest things I've ever chosen to do. But I believe it's important for me to do so to inspire other people my age to also step up and participate in our democracy. I know I have a long way to go to measure up to the expertise of our other candidates, but that's okay. I'm starting now.
To my peers: Now is the time to act. Voting isn't enough anymore, and the current state of our country confirms that. Please reach out to me if you are interested in running for a position or being appointed to a board or commission. I will connect you with the appropriate people to help you do so.
Here's to actively building our future instead of sitting idly by! ”

WHAT’S UP WITH THE DWC: we have a lot of things coming up!

AUGUST BREAKFAST: Your Sister’s (and Brother’s) Keeper…. the most important elected position that most citizens may know nothing about…
Friday, August 4, 7:30am
Village Deli
As we look to the local elections that will take place in 2018 (and there are many slots on the primary ballot!), we’ll feature Township Government this Friday. We have several members who are Township Trustees who can talk about the purpose, structure and duties of that job, and that of the Township Board that assists them with those duties.  There’s one trustee and three board members for each of the eleven townships in Monroe County.  That’s 44 positions in that area of government alone!
Featured speakers will be:
Lillian Henegar, Bloomington Township Trustee
Vicky Sorensen, Indian Creek Township Trustee and Board member Amy Swain
Michelle Bright, Benton Township Trustee and Board member Mary McInerny
Susie Hamilton, Perry Township Board
We’ll also hear from some folks who have run for these positions in the past and perhaps give some clues as to how to campaign on this level of government.
Please join us. Even if you have no intention of running for these positions, you can be invaluable to other women who might be interested.

DWC To Host Candidate Forum for City Council At-Large Seat
Sunday, Aug. 13 4:00 - 6:00pm
Democratic Headquarters, 116 S. Madison St.
This is your chance to ask those questions from a progressive and female perspective…
Jean Capler, Sierra Reed, Gabe Coleman, Jim Simms, Darryl Neher and Sean Starowitz have declared their candidacies to fill the City Council At-Large seat left vacant by the retirement of Tim Mayer.
Even if you can’t vote in the caucus, you can learn more about the people who might be representing you on the city council (or in another future position) and talk to your precinct chair (who will be voting)
Note: if you can’t be there, this event will be live streamed and archived by the Monroe County Democratic Party on their website and Facebook pages (as are the previous events).

The DWC at IDEA
Kick Up Our Heels! Annual Women’s Event
French Lick Winery & Vintage Cafe, 8145 W Sinclair St, West Baden Springs, IN 47469
Thursday Aug. 24 5:00pm Featuring: Jill Donnelly, State Representative Karlee Macer, & the Democratic Women’s Caucus of Bloomington

DWC COMEDY FUNDRAISER - Sunday, Sept. 3
TWO SHOWS: 5:30pm and 8:00pm
The Comedy Attic, corner of 4th and Walnut

Join us as we welcome Nicole Byer to The Comedy Attic for a fun night to help raise funds for the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Other local female comedians will also perform.
A fan favorite on MTV’s Girl Code, Nicole is quickly becoming one of the most sought after young comedians and actors in the comedy world. As producer and star of the scripted MTV comedy series "Loosely Exactly Nicole," she will make history when the show becomes the first ever content exclusive to Facebook.
To purchase tickets, go HERE. 100% of the ticket price benefits the DWC!
Sponsorships are available.  Just email [email protected].
For more information check out our Facebook Events Page.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Item

The Republican attempt to pass some version, any version of their heartless bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act—deadly consequences for 22 to 32 million of their fellow Americans be damned—is playing out like a gut-churning reprise of the 1987 “bunny boiler” Fatal Attraction, with Trumpcare as the psychotic stalker who will not die. No sooner do you think the bill has gone down in defeat than it springs from the bathtub, knife in hand, going straight for the jugular of the American health care system. The Senate GOP leadership has vowed to force a vote tomorrow on a version of the bill. Which one?... Who knows? (Details, shmetails.) Pressure from outraged constituents has been crucial in defeating the bill so far—phone calls, letters, town halls, wonderfully creative demonstrations, courageous protestors who refuse to back down and go away even when threatened with arrest. We must keep up the pressure. Call Senators Donnelly and Young and let them know that you support the Affordable Care Act and that they must not vote for a bill that will have catastrophic consequences for the most vulnerable among us. In the words of the book so many Republicans claim to revere even as they are willfully deaf to its call for justice:

Let not the needy be forgotten
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. (Psalm 9)

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Many of us have been thinking recently that we live in a bubble. A Democratic bubble...a Bloomington bubble...a partisan bubble...take your pick. We believe what we believe, and many or most of our friends believe the same. We read books and newspapers and magazines that tend to reinforce those beliefs, and let's be honest--there's a bit of reluctance to investigate opposing opinions and alternative sources of information because it can get uncomfortable. We've spent our lives arriving at our particular worldviews and god forbid we should realize there's another way to look at something and now we have to rethink it. Who has time for that! Which raises another fair point--all of us are busy. Busy busy busy with our routines and our many obligations, and that leaves little time or opportunity to do the work of actively seeking out people who think differently from us. But we need to understand how others think, and we need to be personally connected with those who don't share our opinions because otherwise we are the enemy, and they are the enemy, and we will remain polarized. And that's why we're in the mess we are in.

For any of you out there who have been feeling this way, there's a ray of hope. Sheila Kennedy's recent blog post suggests a website that might help us break out of our bubbles. It's called Pro and Con, and you can access it at the link below, where you can also read Sheila's comments on it.  Let's explore. Maybe we can begin to make a dent in the extreme partisanship that is undermining our democracy.

http://www.sheilakennedy.net/2017/07/pro-and-con/

We had a huge turnout for Friday's Women In Politics Cocktail hour (over 53 women from 5 different counties). The success of the "Your Voice Matter's" canvassing organized by the Monroe County Democratic Party on the second Sat. of each month also shows that many people want to talk respectfully about what matters in their lives with others in their community. We don't have to agree, but we do have to have the conversation. So go out and talk with someone today!
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Yes! It's time for the DWC Breakfast again!
Friday, 7:30 am, Village Deli
Part of our mission is in supporting women in all aspects of political life. This week we'll be talking about women running for office, hearing from some local women who recently ran and took office, and finding out the ups and downs of that whole process.  AND we'll find out how we can continue to support them after they are elected.
There won't be a lunch this week, but we will host a Women In Politics Cocktail Hour Friday, July 14th, 6 pm at Truffles. (see below)

What to do on the 4th after the Parade and Hot Dogs?

Alexandra Pelosi, documentary filmmaker, has created “The Words That Built America” which she hopes will highlight the things Americans have in common, rather than the things on which they don’t agree.  Her unique film features Democrats, Republicans, Senators, Presidents, and others reading the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the US, and the Bill of Rights.  Read more about it here: http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/339738-new-alexandra-pelosi-documentary-brings-together-gop-dem  
How can one ignore Morgan Freeman reading anything!
Also -- A little video preview with Pelosi explaining her project:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=alexandra+pelosi+documentary&view=detail&mid=F9947D77A246D64E3ECBF9947D77A246D64E3ECB&FORM=VIRE


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HEALTH CARE DEBACLE
Last week the Senate GOP cabal finally released its proposed version of the House bill that will gut the Affordable Care Act. Although they developed it in secret and almost nobody, including the Congressional Budget Office, has had a chance to review and comment on it, Senate leadership wants a vote by July 4th. PLEASE contact our Indiana senators and tell them to vote no on this horrendous legislation. Our lives and the lives of millions of Americans at nearly all but the highest income levels depend on our willingness to scream BLOODY HELL NO!

Senator Joe Donnelly      
donnelly.senate.gov
Washington D.C. Office:(202) 224-4814
Indianapolis Office:  (317) 226-5555    
115 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 100     

Senator Todd Young
young.senate.gov
Washington D.C. Office:  202-224-5623
Indianapolis Office: 317-226-6700                      
46 East Ohio Street, Suite 462   

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Taking a clue from Wonder Woman we look at roles of women in the process of empowering women.
We know that women hold about 20% of the approximately 500,000 elected offices in the country.
We know that women don't run for office readily, and that they are not overly encouraged by party leaders, although this is really changing now.
We know that women approach tasks differently than men, thinking that they have to know EVERYTHING about the job before they think they are qualified for the job.
We know that women balance more than work/campaign when they're running for office.
We know that the average age of women when they run for the first time is 47.

BUT -- This has all begun to change since November 2016. Women have marched. Women have organized. Women have signed up to run for office in droves!  We WILL make a dent in that 30% deficit and we will bring our younger sisters along with us, supporting them, teaching them, and learning from them.  

Starting with Rise To Run a unique program that is a nationwide grassroots and community based organization that trains and encourages young progressive women to rise up and run for office. Bloomington is a pilot hub for this program, one of four in the country, that will draw on the strength of progressive women to help create an atmosphere where young college age and high school age women begin to understand that they can make a difference in public service.  An advisory committee is being formed this summer, with a kick-off event in early fall after school starts.
If you are interested the program, please visit https://www.risetorun.org/.  
Support the group by "Liking" the Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/risetorun.Bloomington.IN/
Think about how you could support this group of young women,
and finally think about young women that you think would be well suited for the program.
Send your thoughts to Rachel and Regina
Rachel Guglielmo [email protected]
Regina Moore [email protected]

We just cannot tolerate any more pictures of middle aged white men in suits around tables creating health care programs for women, regulating personal choices, or telling women that after the age of 50 there is no need for them to have a gynecologist.
To take a quote from the movie Network: We're "mad as hell and we're not going to take it any more!"

Wonder Woman inspires us!

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