TRAINING TONIGHT!! October 8, 2019 5:00-7:00pm at Dem HQ

Why not you and why NOT you - State Senator Vi Simpson and former City Clerk Regina Moore will lead participants in a series of questions about what to think about before you commit to running for office. This is an event for those thinking about running for office but also for people thinking about helping someone decide to and then run for an office. See DWC Announcements for full details.

BREAKFAST RECAP:
We had and informative visit from State Senator Karen Tallian from Northwest Indiana at Friday’s breakfast. She is running for the office of Indiana State Attorney General, a nomination that will be slated at the Indiana State Convention next summer.
In her introduction Vi Simpson called Karen a bulldog in tennis shoes, the type of woman you could always turn to when you needed tough solutions or a job that needed to get done. Karen spoke about the frustrations of serving in the minority in the State Senate, of having great ideas to bring to the table but being unable to quite get them over the hump of the republican supermajority. She also said that she had been approached previously about running for AG but this time around, seeing the damage that the current incumbent was doing to the people of Indiana, she couldn’t refuse.
Senator Tallian also spoke about the importance of the position which is often thought of as an addendum to the Governor’s office but which is powerful in itself. The Attorney General serves as the legal entity of the state government and also reviews every contract going through the State House. She said that her first action as an AG would be to remove Indiana from the effort to eliminate the ACA. When asked about the AG’s ability to remedy issues such as gerrymandering she said that, while the AG does not have the ability to effect election code which is the purview of the Secretary of State, the “answer is only no until someone files a lawsuit.”
Senator Tallian’s initial primary objectives as Attorney General would be:
to remove Indiana from ACA Litigation
to work on problems of a payroll fraud, employee misclassification and cash pay
and to reinstate the consumer protections that Curtis Hill had dismantled.
The best thing is that she doesn’t have to give up her seat in the Senate to run for Attorney General. No matter what happens we will continue to have a powerful voice in state government for the future.

If you would like to donate to the Tallian for Attorney General campaign, you may donate online: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tallian-for-attorney-general-1
And for reading more about the Senator, check these links:
https://tallianforattorneygeneral.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TallianforAttorneyGeneral/
https://www.indianasenatedemocrats.org/senators/s4/

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We will be sending out a full MMN tomorrow morning... today we wanted to highlight two important events and make sure they didn't get lost in all the other information... note: while not absolutely required, your rsvp for the training allows us to plan for space and refreshments...

Today is the last day to register to vote in the 2019 Municpal Election!! It's also a good day to remember to check that your own registration is up to date. Even if you've voted for the last 40 years, take a minute to go to indianavoters.com and check that everything about your registration is the way it should be.

You have until:
The close of business to drop off your application at the county voter registration office or BMV
5:00pm to deliver your application to the Indiana Election Division in Indianapolis
If mailed, your registration application must be postmarked no later than Oct. 7
You can apply online until 11:59 today at indianavoters.com
Questions: call the Monroe County Voter Registration office at 812-349-2690
Applications received after this will be processed after the Municipal Election

**DWC TRAINING SERIES BEGINS!

                   
On October 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at Democratic Headquarters, the DWC will hold the first of a Series of Training Sessions for women who are interested in campaigns, either as a candidate or as staff to a candidate.
State Senator Vi Simpson and former City Clerk Regina Moore will lead participants in a series of questions about what to think about before you commit to running for office. Get started off on the right foot, and clearly understand what the commitment means, how campaigning and serving will affect your life. NB: There are surprises here!
There will also be a Q&A Panel with women who will share their experiences, good and bad, about running and serving. Reserve your space by emailing [email protected] at your earliest convenience. Bring that friend who would make a good candidate!

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/

Breakfast meeting FRIDAY!! October 4, 2019 at the Village Deli.

We'll be honored to host State Senator Karen Tallian from Northwest Indiana this Friday morning. She is running for the Indiana State Attorney General, a nomination that will take place at the Indiana State Convention next summer. Karen is running at full steam right now, covering the state to make sure that Democrats take this important seat. And if you don't know the exact significance of this necessary change, Senator Vi Simpson will completely inform us as she introduces Senator Tallian to our meeting.
We will also be bundling checks** for Karen, so don't forget your checkbook or credit card! If you would like to use this link, you may donate online: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tallian-for-attorney-general-1

And for reading more about the Senator, check these links:

https://tallianforattorneygeneral.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TallianforAttorneyGeneral/

https://www.indianasenatedemocrats.org/senators/s4/

**Although you could look up the term "Bundling checks" and find that many folks want favors, access, or plum appointments when the candidate wins, we will just be wanting a good woman in the office of Attorney General who will actually serve the people of Indiana!

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They say that every journey begins with a single step… when that first step is followed by more steps a mission is born and when that single walker is joined by others with the same mindset, we have a movement. Whether it’s a large idea like Climate Change or a small idea like activating a neighborhood to improve the lives of its residents, find the ideas that resonate with you and join the parade…. Many have said that the next election will help to define the soul of this country for years to come - we have the chance to work to change the course of events as we head towards 2020 - let's all work to make a better world out there for all.

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After a day of supporting the next generation of female democratic political hopefuls in Indiana and climate crisis activists from all around the world, we hope you'll join us in the back room at Truffles at 5:30pm for Blue Drinks: Politics and Cocktails on September 20... a chance to socialize, dream, and discuss current events and politics with fellow DWC members and supporters... details at https://www.facebook.com/events/348009162769991/

It has been exciting over the past years to watch the development of new voices asking important questions around the world… the youth movement in Hong Kong fighting to preserve a modicum of autonomy, the Parkland students working for gun reform, the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements working on discrimination and exploitation, Greta Thunberg and all the students calling for worldwide strikes in the face of climate activism, the indigenous populations of the Amazon finding their voices and working to protect the rain forest and their way of life.
And it has been equally discouraging to watch the forces ranged against them for the sake of greed, opportunism and self interest, whose money has often decided policy and silenced the voices around them.
During the CNN Climate Change Town Hall, moderators asked Elizabeth Warren if part of addressing climate change “means the government should be able to tell Americans what kind of light bulbs they can buy” -- her response was “Oh come on, give me a break. This is exactly what the fossil fuel industry wants us to be talking about.”
The exchange highlights a major problem with the debate process and campaigning in general these days - namely a format that pits candidates against each other, trying to stir up controversy between individuals rather than getting to the core of each candidate’s beliefs and plans for their office. There is a tendency to focus on minutia instead of looking at the big picture. Those who have a vested interest in the status quo, who profit off other’s lives want to keep people confused and divided.
But while it is true that with the climate crisis we must hold the big polluters accountable for their actions we also need to look at how our individual actions affect the big picture…. Senator Warren stated that 70 percent of the carbon we’re throwing into the air comes from three industries…rolling back regulations on greenhouse gases, discouraging renewable energy generation and allowing pollution matter…. but plastic bags, light bulbs and straws matter too. Individual decisions, whether as consumers or voters, will ultimately define how we will move on. Good government matters too.
And maybe in the future we’ll see a debate where the moderators developing and asking the questions are a scientist, a high school student and a working class mom looking to make a better life for herself and her children… now that’s a debate I really might want to watch.

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Breakfast at the Village Deli last Friday was well-attended and well-worth it. The topic was service on local government boards and commissions. Amazingly, probably 75% of the people in attendance currently serve on a city or county board or commission. And why would they be interested in doing that, you may wonder. As one of our panelists put it, boards and commissions are often where elected officials and citizens meet over a topic of concern. Who wouldn't find that kind of interaction worth their time?! Thank you to the following individuals who shared information about their board or commission, how they got interested in the topic, who appointed them and their advice for people interested in serving:

Jillian Kinzie moderator and City Plan Commission member
Jean Capler, Utilities Services Board member
Efrat Feffermann, United Way Executive Director and County Redevelopment Commission
Nichelle Whitney, chair, Monroe County Women’s Commission
Adrienne Evans Fernandez, chair, City Parking Commission
Sue Sgambelluri, City Redevelopment Commission

Additional thanks to Angie Purdie (Monroe County) and Regina Moore (filling in for Nicole Bolden) who gave information on applying for boards and commissions in each governmental body.

Some take-aways:
- There are approximately 30 city boards and commissions and 39 in county government, with currently about 18 openings on city boards and 5 on county boards.

- Some boards and commissions are required by state statute. These sometimes require members of both political parties, and if you are one of those appointees, you need to keep that R or D designation. Some boards require one or more members to be residents of the city, or to live outside the city limits, or fulfill some other demographic or skills requirement. Some boards and commissions, mostly in county government, pay members for attending meetings. Several women mentioned that their service was a good preparation for running for office.  Boards that have fiduciary responsibilities are especially good background for understanding the connectedness between governmental bodies and how actions affect citizens.

- Boards and commissions are quasi-governmental bodies and are subject to Indiana’s open-door laws regarding noticing meetings, cancelling meetings, etc. All are open to the public to observe, and most  really welcome visitors. It’s helpful to attend a board or commission meeting for a while before deciding to apply for membership.

As an example of the types of things one might get involved in as a commission member, the Monroe County Women’s Commission is on FIRE!! They’ve sponsored two weeks of coding camp for girls ages 11-14, held a listening session with Senator Mark Stoops, co-sponsored a retreat to enhance collaboration between the city and county women’s commissions, obtained a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to work with organizations on developing healthy practices for women, are developing a workshop dealing with the “confidence code” (why do girls stop raising their hands in about the 4^th grade?), and are planning a mixer of board and commission members in January!

Check the websites below for information on all boards and commissions:

City of Bloomington:
All of the City’s boards and commissions are described on the website, including mission statements, membership requirements, current members and term lengths. For information on each entity and online applications, go to the City’s board and commission tab at https://bloomington.in.gov/boards where you can click on each board or commission. Or click on the "Boards and Commissions" button at the bottom of the City’s home web page at https://bloomington.in.gov/ 

Monroe County:
The county’s website includes all of the county boards and commissions as well as future meeting dates and an agenda and minutes section: https://www.co.monroe.in.us/boards/  The application is available here: https://www.co.monroe.in.us/egov/documents/1533065264_74301.pdf

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Carolyn --

Due to resignations and women moving around within the Steering Committee over the last year we had four at-large openings on the Steering Committee this summer… two that expire this year and two that will expire in 2020. As is stipulated in the DWC By-Laws, open memberships on the committee are filled by nominations from the steering committee with confirmation by the membership at the next breakfast meeting.
At the last breakfast the membership confirmed Michele Bright to fill one of the 2020 slots. This month we are asking the membership to consider the nomination of Doris Sims to fill the second 2020 opening with a vote at our next breakfast on September 6.

The remaining two open slots will be filled during our December elections (see below).

Here is Doris' statement for your consideration:

Hello Fellow Democratic Women Caucus members!
I, Doris Sims, am running to fill one of the vacant seats on the DWC’s Steering Committee!!
I have been involved with the Democratic Party for the past 40 years. I have served under 4 Democratic mayors and I am currently employed under John Hamilton’s administration as the Director of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department.
I have been involved with the DWC since its inception and am a past member of the DWC Steering Committee where I helped plan events and served on the endorsement committee.
I am a pro-choice, progressive Democrat. I served 10 years on the State Planned Parenthood Board and was chair from 2006-2008. I have been involved locally with the Monroe County Branch of the NAACP, the Democratic Black Caucus, and of course, the DWC.
I would love the opportunity to serve the DWC again as part of the Steering and work to continue to elect progressive democratic women, while also encouraging future democratic women to serve within our communities through city and county boards and commissions, candidate’s campaigns, and volunteerism.
I would appreciate your support!
Doris Sims

The December Elections are fast approaching:

Nominations are open for the DWC Steering Committee are now open:
The following positions will be up for election:
Vice Chair:
Treasurer:
and 5 at-large positions
The Steering Committee is a working board… we meet on the third Saturday of the month at 10am and also . If you have questions about serving on the Steering Committee, about duties of the officers and at-large members, would like to nominate yourself or someone else for the Steering Committee, or you are a member who would like to serve on the Nominating Committee to help develop a slate for the December elections, please contact Carolyn VandeWiele at [email protected].

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/

It's again time for a DWC Breakfast, Village Deli, 7:30 am this coming Friday (September 6th).
The importance of women's voices on governmental boards and commissions is as important as women's voices in elected positions in local, state and federal governmental bodies. We'll explore these governmental commissions and how citizens are appointed to them. If you serve on a board or commission, city or county or state, and want to share your experience with the group, please email [email protected]. We'd like to hear your voice!

How did you celebrate Labor Day? Antique Car Show? Boating? Catching up after a weekend of festivals and dancing?
It seems as if the original intent of this federal holiday has been fogged by modern day life and concerns. Labor Day Parades, Union Picnics with family, and celebrations have given way to the occasional meme on Facebook or Twitter.
We offer you this post from the Facebook Page "A Mighty Girl" and their blogs and reading lists so that you can extend your Labor Day into the coming months. In addition to reading about our heroes Frances Perkins and Dolores Huerta, there are more selections here: "Work & Labor" book section at https://www.amightygirl.com/books/social-issues/work-labor

And speaking of Dolores Huerta, she will be speaking at Franklin Hall's Presidents Hall on September 19th from 7-9 pm as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at IU. Find more about the event here: https://anthropology.indiana.edu/news-events/events-calendar/dolores-huerta-activist-icon.html

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In honor of today's historic significance, we open with a proclamation from the City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women:

Monday, August 26th is Women's Equality Day. It marks the 99th anniversary of women in the United States winning the right to vote. This courageous, 72-year (1848–1920) political movement was carried out by tens of thousands of women and men working to form a more perfect union.

The significance of the woman suffrage campaign is remarkable when one considers all the barriers suffragists had to overcome. They were frequently ridiculed, harassed, attacked, and even thrown into jail when they protested... still they persevered!

Finally on August 29, 1920, their goal was achieved with the 19th Amendment. Women had won the right to vote and hold public office.

Women's Equality Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on the many benefits of true equality and the important role women play in public service and government.

*****

And yet, even as we celebrate, let us be mindful that even after the amendment's ratification, women (and men) of color did not receive full voting rights until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, and even now laws are being passed to try to disenfranchise people of color, the elderly, students, and individuals with disabilities.

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Students are coming back to Bloomington, IDEA, Pridefest, the Monroe County Fall Festival, Stinesville Quarry Festival and Owen County Apple Butter Festivals are all on the horizon and that means it’s time to gear back up to take on the Fall Municipal Election and look ahead to 2020 as well. We can’t be complacent and assume that the election is in the bag for democrats…. turnout is important in every race in every election.
I really enjoyed meeting with our democratic compatriots in Owen County at their annual Democracy Dinner last Saturday evening. Dana Black was the featured speaker and, as always, she was inspiring. There were a few things that really resonated in her remarks.
The first was that she said she didn’t join the Democratic Party because she thought it was perfect but because she thought she could help instead of complain, that she wanted to serve and not just hold an office. To criticize something doesn’t mean you don’t love it, in fact it shows how much you care.
As we all know she wasn’t able to defeat Brian Bosma that year, but she gave him a run for his money. And the woman who ran after her did just a little bit better, making an entrenched candidate who for years didn’t have to worry about an opponent or listen to opposing views sweat just a bit. As she put it - good choice, bad choice, the better of two evils – when you don’t have a choice, when you don’t have the opportunity to hear opposing views – you don’t have a democracy. Not having a voice in so many races, not having representatives who feel responsible or accountable to those they represent, is what keeps Hoosiers in the bottom of so many demographics.
The second was the statement “When I started my campaign I was an angry lesbian, when I finished I was an angry Hoosier.” Talking to the people in her district made her a better citizen. Her emphasis was that we must find ways to communicate with each other that go beyond the catch phrases and buzz words and make politics personal again. That we can’t just talk about being the party of the people, we have to be the party of the people… put on your democratic t-shirts and go out and help.
And finally that it’s time to stop waiting for someone to save us when we can save ourselves. Everyone has value: not everyone is cut out to be a politician, but everyone has something they can do - we need to find what is special in ourselves and give that to our party, to our candidates and to the people of Indiana. Remember… they wouldn’t be working so hard to limit our voices and our vote if they weren’t so important.

Follow up from our last Breakfast:
City and county budget reviews are about to happen in Monroe County. Here are links to the City Budget and the Gateway site where you can find out more information:

Here is a link to the city budget courtesy of City Councilor Isabel Piedmont-Smith: http://www.piedmontsmith.us/uploads/4/5/0/4/45046937/2020_budget_-_combined.pdf

and here is the link to the Gateway site: https://gateway.ifionline.org/report_builder/

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