Ready for a Hoedown?
You had a great time at last year’s event, and this year promises the same…The DWC's annual fundraiser will be August 30th from 4PM - 7PM at Susie Johnson and Dee Tuttle's house at 3974 S. Garrison Chapel Road.  Invited special guests include gubernatorial candidate Karen Tallian…up close and personal!
Be entertained by the rollicking music of Entwyned and learn how to square dance!  Enjoy wonderful food, adult beverages (non-alcoholic as well), the ever popular cake walk and a silent auction. In case of rain, the event will be held inside. Bring your kids, lawn chairs and wear your cowboy boots, hats, etc. 
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.  You can purchase tickets online at http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/calendar.  Please mark the date, get your tickets and spread the word!  Even if you can't attend, please share the event on Facebook and Twitter.

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• Leadership Bloomington - Monroe County

EVENTS

• DWC End-of-Summer Cookout & Hoedown
• August Meeting of Monroe County Democrats Club
• IDEA Conference in French Lick
• An Evening with Glenda Ritz on Making our Schools Safe for LGBTQ Students
• IFDW Fall Meeting
• Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor to Speak on "Understanding the Teenage Brain"

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC

Call to Action

Friday Breakfast Meeting: Open Forum 
For those of you who couldn't make last Friday's monthly breakfast, we had no pre-arranged speaker and instead focused on important issues of the day. And what a discussion it was!  Among other things, we talked about how funding for affordable housing and other services that HAND provides are continually being reduced, how DWC members can help the former Martha’s House stay afloat, addressing homelessness, and the importance of the upcoming Presidential campaign for progressive issues. And, of course, the attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. Comments on that topic ranged from how we can remove the stigma; to the fact that Planned Parenthood is about health care for women and actually prevents abortion, not promotes it, and also reduces visits to the ER; to Lorraine Farrell reading a nun’s public statement that “pro-life” as pro-lifers mean it is simply pro-birth. There is no consideration of the repercussions of such a narrow minded focus. Thanks to all who attended and participated in the meeting.  We were reminded that sometimes a free-ranging conversation about pressing issues can be incredibly informative and energizing.  We have lots to do and do many amazing women who can and will continue to make our world a better, more progressive place for all.

A final thank you to all who contributed robes and pajamas for Martha's House clients. DWC members responded to the call as always.

MORE NEWS

• Planned Parenthood: It's not Over By A Long shot

EVENTS

• DWC End-of-Summer Cookout & Hoedown
• August Meeting of Monroe County Democrats' Club
• An Evening with Glenda Ritz on Making our Schools Safe for LGBTQ Students
  
• IFDW Fall Meeting
• Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor to Speak on "Understanding the Teenage Brain"

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

URGENT MATTER

We have an urgent matter on the table. The Senate could vote today, Monday, August 3rd, on fast-track legislation to completely cut all federal funding for Planned Parenthood health centers. Our senator, Joe Donnelly, is still on the fence — which means our voices are absolutely critical to protecting funding for birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing, and other lifesaving care that Planned Parenthood health centers provide to millions of patients around the country. Find out more information about how you can help below.

MORE NEWS

• Book Announcement

EVENTS

• DWC End-of-Summer Cookout & Hoedown
• Event From the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission - Power of Words

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Call to Action

Four endorsed candidates currently serving voters in Monroe County: Cheryl Munson, President of the Monroe County Council; Shelli Yoder, Vice-President of the Monroe County Council; Julie Thomas President of the Monroe County Commissioners; Iris Keisling, Vice-President of the Monroe County Commissioners.

Let's keep the momentum going.

MORE NEWS

• Book Announcement
• FAIR study on NPR

EVENTS

• DWC End-of-Summer Cookout & Hoedown
• Event From the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

Let's Take a Few Moments to Remember Women who Have Gone Before Us

Today is July 20th.  On July 19-20, 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott spearheaded the first women's rights convention in American History. Over 300 women and men traveled to Seneca Falls, New York to protest the mistreatment of women in social, economic, political, and religious life. This marked the first public petition for women's right to vote in America. Their efforts, and the unrelenting, brilliant, courageous political campaign waged by hundreds of women and men over the next 71 years (Yes, it took 71 years!) culminated in women in the US winning the right to vote on August 26, 1920. That date is commemorated annually as Women's Equality Day, and 2015 marks the 95th anniversary. It is inconceivable from our modern vantage point that our great-grandmothers and grandmothers were legally barred from participating in this most essential aspect of American democracy. May we all aspire to this shining example of courage and persistence as we work to make the world a better place for people of all genders, colors, backgrounds and beliefs.

MORE NEWS

• The Three Biggest Right-Wing Lies About Poverty
• Citizen Bill Draft

EVENTS

• Bloomington Moral Mondays Meeting
• Monroe County Democrats Club July Lunch Meeting
• DWC Fundraiser in August
• Event From the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

BREAKFAST MEETING THIS FRIDAY!

Myths of Poverty, Myths of Addiction
     There’s been a whole lot written about homeless issues in Bloomington in recent weeks.  We are in danger of losing Martha’s House as a shelter, and there are vagrancy issues in our downtown that some construe to be caused by related issues.  We’ll be exploring these issues with two specialists this week.

• Kathy Byers, Professor of Social Work at IU will dispel the “Myths of Poverty.”
• Linda Grove-Paul, VP for Recovery and Engagement at Centerstone will dispel the “Myths of Addiction.” 

We will all have the chance to examine and discuss poverty, homelessness and addictions and their effect on women in our society.  
Please come with questions, or send them in advance to[email protected]

And related ACTION! To highlight this issue and focus our thoughts on women in these situations, please bring with you one or two items that you think would be beneficial to women in shelters, or who seek help at agencies in town who deal with poverty, homelessness or addictions.  Suggestions would be feminine hygiene products, emery boards, trial or travel sized shampoo, toothbrushes and small sized toothpastes, hairspray. Bring the item YOU think is needed, and we’ll make sure all are delivered to women who need them. 
It’s our ACTION item of the week!

MORE NEWS

• July 1 - New Laws take effect
• Call for nominations for the Indiana Torchbearer's Award
• July in Women's History

EVENTS

• Ruth Hickman Retirement reception
• 7-10 DWC BREAKFAST MEETING
• 8-20 to 23 IDEA AT French Lick

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Call to Action

Just a little Reminder! 
Breakfast will be on JULY 10th, NEXT Friday, this month due to the 4th of July Holiday. 
Village Deli, 7:30am!  See you there! And, bring a friend!

The 4th of July Parade! 
Contact your favorite woman candidate and offer to walk with her in the parade! 
Let's support our endorsed candidates!

MORE NEWS

• Sign up for Hillary's campaign
• New Monroe County Democrats' Secretary comes from the DWC ranks!
• Call for nominations for the Indiana Torchbearer's Award

EVENTS

• 4th of JULY! Parade plans
• 7-10 DWC BREAKFAST MEETING
• 8-20 to 23 IDEA AT French Lick

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

SAVE THE DATE!

Celebrating Women’s Equality Day on August 30th, 4-7 pm.  
Just want to get this date on your calendar for the late summer. DWC is gearing up for raising a little more money for endorsed women candidates.
So, specific details to come!
If you are interested in helping with this fundraiser/celebration, contact Dorothy at [email protected] (note this is NOT Gmail!!)

MORE NEWS:

• A thought on the week's news
• Breakfast meeting changed to July 10th
• Sign up for Hillary's campaign

EVENTS

• 6-22  Community Conversation regarding the Future of Martha's House
• 6-25  MCDP Caucus for Party Secretary
• 6-27  Bloomington Twp Firefighters' Auction & BBQ
• 6-27  Shelli and Josh host a 'come together' party
• 6-28  ICPE film Rise Above the Mark
• 4th of JULY! Parade plans
• 7-10 DWC BREAKFAST MEETING
• 8-20 to 23 IDEA AT French Lick

Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

FRIDAY BREAKFAST TIME AGAIN!! 
Friday, June 5, 7:30 am! Village Deli on Kirkwood

Miffed about TIFs??
Both the City of Bloomington and Monroe County have recently tackled TIF issues -- extending, aggregating, discussing, debating.
What do you know about them?
What does "TIF" mean, anyway?
Why should we be concerned?
What’s all the fuss?

All this and more will be addressed at Friday’s breakfast meeting.  Judy Sharp, County Assessor will be presenting all the answers to the TIF questions above and more.

Come to find out all you need to know to follow the TIF issues that impact our city and county’s ability to provide services.

Our promise – it won’t be as ‘dry’ as it sounds!!  Really!!

MORE NEWS

CONDOLENCES
CONGRATS TO EFRAT
2015 CITIZENS ACADEMY
EVENTS
WEAR ORANGE
MCCLOSKEY PICNIC
Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action

Monroe County Democratic Party Caucus to elect a new Vice Chair
Thursday, May 28, 5:30 pm. Monroe County Courthouse, Nat U Hill Room, 3rd Floor.
     The precinct chairs and vice chairs will be getting together on Thursday this week to elect a woman to serve as Vice Chair.  If you are interested in serving, you need to act right away! Candidates can file for the office by submitting a statement of candidacy to [email protected] no later than  72 hours before the caucus which is Monday 5/25 by 5:30 pm.  If you have questions, email MCDP Chair Mark Fraley at [email protected]. 

IN THIS ISSUE:

Boards and Commissions Openings
Emerging Leaders Project
Summer Volunteers for Planned Parenthood
Girls, Inc. Board of Directors Opening
Calendar -
   County Archives Dedication
   City-County Residents Meeting
   Webinar: Running From Office
   Don't forget the Caucus to elect a Vice Chair
Invite a Friend to Join the DWC
Call to Action