ELECTION DAY IS HERE!!
Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Allison Chopra, Philippa Guthrie, our endorsed candidates in this primary election, will need your help on Tuesday - May 5th ELECTION DAY!
Please contact them to see how you can put one or two hours of your time to work for electing women to represent you. Contact them early today to determine how you can help.
AND don't forget --Dorothy Granger and Nicole Bolden are unopposed in this election, but would still appreciate your support and good wishes, especially going forward into the general election.
IN THIS ISSUE:
ELECTION DAY IS HERE!
Breakfast Recap
Other local training opportunities
Government
Political
National opportunities
CALENDAR -
Election Day at the Party HQ
Rock Lotto
Boards and Commission openings
Women on 20s
Invite a friend to join the DWC
Call to action
Breakfast Recap -- Allison and Alycin on Emerging Leaders
Our breakfast program last Friday was centered, again, on women’s political participation.
Allison Chopra and Alycin Bektesh were accepted (out of over 140 applicants throughout the state) into the Indiana State Democratic Party’s Emerging Leader program. They told us about the application process, their quarterly all day sessions, the organization and networking involved in the program. Allison said that she enjoyed networking with other people running for city councils around the state, and as you know, is currently running for City Council. Alycin, 2015 City of Bloomington Emerging Leader Award winner (awarded by the Commission on the Status of Women) is a journalist who told us she found her inner Democratic voice during the session. Darcie Fawcett, a Deputy Prosecutor for the Sex Crimes Unit with the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office and participant from last year’s session, joined them for a question and answer session at the end of their talk. Darcie revealed that the program gave her more confidence and clarity in her decision to run for public office in the future. The room erupted in applause, and a member kindly offered to sit with Darcie’s children during her race!
All three women recommended the program for others. As the application process opens this year, we will pass on the information for you, and for you to pass on to a woman you think would enjoy and benefit from this program.
Running for office is not usually something that women jump into easily. It was refreshing to see these young women excelling in their endeavors. THANK YOU, Allison, Alycin and Darcie!
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN:
• ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
Both of these locally conducted FREE classes present an inside look as to how local government works. Highly recommended by those DWC members who have participated.
2015 Citizens' Academy Class
To encourage more civic involvement through a basic understanding of City services, the HAND Department developed the Citizens' Academy.
The Academy is a nine-week program that provides thirty participants with an interactive learning experience about City services, programs and responsibilities.
Through the sessions with various City Departments, the participants learn about the challenges to city government, budget limitations, day-to-day operations and mandates.
Please feel free to submit an Online Application. The application will put you on the 2015 Citizens' Academy waiting list and you will be contacted. In the meantime, you may contact Vickie Provine via phone (349.3505) or email ([email protected]) should you have further questions.
2015 Classes will be held every Thursday, Sept. 3 through Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m.
Monroe County Citizen's Academy
The Monroe County Citizens’ Academy provides Monroe County residents with an in-depth look at the functions of county government and will educate residents on the “behind the scenes” activities of local government. The 2015 class just ended, but check the website for an application for the next one:
http://www.co.monroe.in.us/TSD/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?TabID=140&Command=Core_Download&EntryId=32744&PortalId=0&TabId=140
• POLITICAL TRAINING:
Indiana State Democratic Party - From Mindy Rogers, Statewide Municipal Field Director.
Since the beginning of the year they have been very busy working to support and provide trainings for our Municipal Candidates! Many candidates have already taken advantage of the services that are being offered this year through state party!
Toward the commitment to provide trainings through the election cycle the party announces this year’s Municipal Candidate Boot Camp being held Saturday May 16, 2015 at Carpenters Union Hall located at 711 Greenwood Springs Blvd, Greenwood, IN 46143, from 10:00 – 5:15 EST.
This is a free event and is open to everyone but it is designed for General Election Municipal Candidates. Candidates and their staff are encouraged to attend! This will be an amazing opportunity for folks to learn what goes into a successful campaign and come together with Democrats from across the state as we prepare for an exciting campaign season!
Attached please find a flier for distribution. Simply click the link below to RSVP online! Feel free to simply call me at 317-231-7107 or email me at [email protected] to RSVP or to ask questions. Reserve your space:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1cHz0iWsRZ0CdA8meNlbw9_AYNL69JCyZ0sQsq3-54Z8/viewform?c=0&w=1
•ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN:
Indiana Federation of Democratic Women http://www.ifdw.org/
Center for American Women in Politics http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/
Emily’s List http://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/what-is-pop
Emerge America http://www.emergeamerica.org/
Elect Women http://electwomen.com/
CALENDAR
MONDAY, May 4 -- You can vote today!
Early Voting 8am - NOON. 401 W 7th Street. Look for the yard signs!
TUESDAY May 5, ELECTION DAY
1- work for your favorite candidate!
2- Offer to drive folks to the polls
3- Bring food and drink to HQ for volunteers during the day.
4- come to the MCDP HQ to watch returns and thank candidates for running.
Marcia Harlow and Rita Drescher are organizing the after-election party at Monroe County Democratic Headquarters and they need your help. In honor of the Cinco de Mayo holiday, which happens to also be Election Day, they are planning a Mexican food festival. Any donation you could make would be appreciated--even non-Mexican foods and drinks. They would especially like finger foods like cheese and crackers, fruit, veggie trays, cookies and anything else you can dream up. They'll be there early to accept your donations--the party starts at 5:30. Come enjoy the fun, watch the returns, and enjoy the food. Please BYOB for this night. We’ll see you there. 335 S. College.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fundraiser for Feminist Candidates
Thursday, May 21, 5:30 p.m., The Fringe, 719 E. St. Claire St., Indianapolis
Please join (National Organization for Women) NOW of Indiana PAC in a fundraiser to "Say no to discrimination, say no to Mike Pence." Cost is $5 at the door; includes wine and appetizers. NOW doesn't discriminate, so if you can't cover the cost, attend anyway. All are welcome. Anti-Pence buttons will be included. Speakers include State Senator Karen Tallian and Representative Sue Errington, among others.
To RSVP, go to #saynotomikepence https://www.facebook.com/events/428981593936120/
ROCK LOTTO - Fundraiser for Courthouse Community Gathering Place inspired by our friend Sophia Travis at The Bishop, Fourth & Walnut
Friday, May 8, doors open at 8:00 p.m. and show starts at 9 p.m.
May 8 - Kenny Childers will perform some of Sophia Travis's songs. David Britton--stand up comedy set, Brad Wilhelm SuperMC also. Baked goodies available to take home!
Cost is $7.
The ROCK LOTTO is part fundraiser, part group effort. It works like this: Musicians and vocalists will place their name in a hat. The names will be chosen randomly in groups to form 'new' bands. Each band then has two weeks to practice and prepare music to perform at the second part of the event -- on May 24 at The Bishop.
All musicians and vocalists are invited, professional and amateur -- anyone who wants to play music.
May 24 - ROCK LOTTO where bands perform. We'll get to see what the bands have created with their diverse talents! It's fun. It's entertaining. It's the most unusual fundraiser yet! Proceeds go to the Sophia Travis Memorial Fund to fund benches to be placed on the courthouse square inspired by Sophia's civic service. Cost for this second night is $12.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OPENINGS
Regina Moore, Bloomington City Clerk has announced that applications for current vacancies for the following Boards and Commissions are now being accepted:
•Bloomington Arts Commission
•Board of Housing Quality Appeals
•Commission on the Status of Black Males
•Commission on the Status of Children and Youth
•Environmental Commission
•Housing Quality Appeals Board
•Housing Trust Fund Board of Directors -- Requires representation from one of 4 areas—banking, low income, not for profit housing, social services
•Traffic Commission
•Urban Enterprise Association 1 zone resident, 1 zone business
Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled. City Boards and Commissions are citizen staffed and operated, and serve to advise the Common Council and the Administration on issues affecting Bloomington and for the most part are open to residents of the city.
A complete list and description of Boards and Commissions, in addition to application materials may be found at www.bloomington.in.gov/clerk. Information and applications also are available at the City Clerk’s Office in Showers City Hall at 401 N. Morton. For more information or questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 812-349-3408.
Women on 20s
Rosie Rios is the US Treasurer. Here's an interesting video on the prospect of putting a woman on US currency.
INVITE A FRIEND TO JOIN THE DWC
Ask a friend, co-worker or colleague who is interested in learning more about making a positive impact on the presence of women in office to accompany you to our monthly breakfast or to one of the local political events.
The DWC is open to progressives regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Join any time. Only $20 for one year’s membership. Join online here.
CALL TO ACTION
Tell Google, YouTube and Hulu to stop censoring UltraViolet's ads about women's health. When UltraViolet members speak out, companies have listened before--so we need as many customers as possible to raise their voices! Will you ask your friends and family to sign the petition, too?
You can share this link on Facebook or Twitter, and there's a sample letter below that you can email to your friends.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/Media_abortion_censor/
Google, YouTube, and Hulu are censoring ads about abortion, and it has to stop.
With a national abortion ban likely to come up for a House vote and 1 in 3 women to have an abortion by age 45, talking openly about abortion is vital for a robust, informed conversation. But these companies' ad representatives rejected ads from women's group UltraViolet, claiming the topic is "non-family safe" -- lumping women's health in with porn, sex toys, and hookup sites.
We know that pressuring companies like Google can work. If we raise our voices again, we can reverse its decision here. Can you sign the petition?
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/Media_abortion_censor/
Do you have news items?
Send your items of interest to us at [email protected].
Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.
Democratic Women's Caucus http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org