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.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Items
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
TRAINING, TRAINING, and MORE TRAINING!
State Democratic Party Webinars and Trainings: http://www.indems.org/webinar-trainings-recordings/
AND if you want to be a Precinct Committee Person, try this! http://action.indems.org/page/-/Indems%20Precinct%20Committeeperson%20Handbook.pdf
These folks are elected every four years in the primary (this coming May!). What they do depends on how the various county parties structure their field work, and traditions. But this will get you started!
DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM
Although the in person platform hearings are over you can still submit your ideas to the party at: http://www.indems.org/2018-state-democratic-party-platform/.
The Platform Committee will start drafting the platform in early March so get your ideas in by the end of February.
EVENTS:
Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 5:30 pm
State Of The Black Community Discussion
City Hall Council Chambers, 401 N. Morton Street
The evening will feature a coalition of organizations discussing the education system, economics, and the criminal justice system, as they relate to the Black community. Refreshments will be served.
Thursday, February 15, 2018, 6:30pm
State Of The City Address
Buskirk Chumley Theater
The City of Bloomington and Mayor John Hamilton present the annual State of the City Address. This is a free event, open to the public, and does not require a ticket. The address will last roughly 1 hour, with a 30-minute reception afterwards, featuring light refreshments. Doors to the theater will open at 6:30pm.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 5:30pm
Showing Up Town Hall Tour with Liz Watson - Medical Marijuana
Monroe County Public Library
The Liz for Indiana #ShowingUp Town Hall Tour continues at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium in Bloomington, Indiana on February 21 to talk about medical marijuana. There will be a panel of experts. Child care will be provided. RSVP at [email protected]
Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 6:30pm
Fundraiser for Darcie Fawcett
Grazie Italiano, 106 W. 6th Street
Please join the Fawcett for Judge Campaign for an evening of cocktails, wine and an Italian dinner as we host a fundraiser for Darcie Fawcett, Candidate for Monroe County Circuit Court. 100% of your generous contribution will support Darcie's campaign. Suggested Donation of $100.
Please RSVP via Facebook or [email protected]
Saturday, February 24, 2018, 11:00am - Noon
Isabel Piedmont-Smith Constintuent Meeting
Bloomington City Hall, McCloskey Room (#135)
In 2018, Piedmont-Smith's constituent meetings will generally be on the last Saturday of each month, 11 am to 12 noon in the McCloskey Room of City Hall. For a full list of meetings, please visit https://bloomington.in.gov/council/smith.
Saturday, February 24, 2018, 7:00 pm
12th Annual Black History Month GALA
The Black History Month Gala will include dinner, a silent auction, photos, and lots of fun. The theme is Masquerade! Tickets are $50.00 and go live February 1st at the Buskirk-Chumley Box Office. If you have any questions, please email Maqube Reese. Share the event through Facebook.
Thursday, March 1, 2018, 6:45 - 9:00pm
Backpack Full of Cash Documentary Film Screening
hosted by the Indiana Coalition For Public Education Monroe County
AMC Showplace West 12
Save the Date --> March 1
School Choice Week is a scam! See why at our screening of the movie "Backpack Full of Cash." More details to come in the next few weeks. Indiana Coalition For Public Education Monroe County
https://www.facebook.com/Indiana-Coalition-for-Public-Education-Monroe-County-374573205902510/
Saturday, March 10, 2018, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Camp Congress For Girls Bloomington 2018 - hosted by Girls in Politics Initiative
310 S. College Ave.
Camp Congress for Girls Bloomington 2018 is a leadership program that introduces girls ages 8 to 15 to politics. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each girl will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. She will create her own campaign with a platform, campaign slogan, campaign finance plan, campaign marketing materials and a political ad for YouTube. During the camp session, the campers will meet an elected official or political consultant. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion.
The camp general registration fee is $160, the Girl Scout registration fee is $120, the military family rate is $120 and the group rate is $120 per ticket for any purchase of 5 or more tickets.
For additional information contact us at +1 (202) 660-1457 ext 2,via email at [email protected] or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.org.
Watch the Girls in Politics Initiative™ on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry Show.
“Camp empowers young girls to run for office” http://www.nbcnews.com/video/mhp/52698319
Thursday, March 29, 6:00pm
MCDP FDR Gala
Fountain Square Mall Ballroom
Save the date for the annual Monroe County Democratic Party FDR Gala!
More information will be coming soon.
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.
ACTION ITEMS:
Hold DeVos Accountable!
From Daily Kos
This time a year ago in a moment that makes many of us still groan with disgust, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Secretary of Education. Despite her lack of experience or her ability to answer basic questions, DeVos was given a position that directly impacts the quality of life and future of all of America's children. Since then she has: Proposed nearly $10 billion in cuts to K-12 and higher education programs, undone civil rights protections enacted under Obama, and made it clear that her priorities are aligned with schools for profit over public schools and the teachers and students affiliated with them. Her actions would imply that Betsy DeVos doesn't give a damn about our kids, especially the poor black and brown ones. The Department of Education's announcement that they're scaling back on investigations into civil rights violations sends a clear message that schools can impose bias sanctioning practices for students of color and neglect penalizing rapists and abusers with impunity. This lack of support means that vulnerable students will have even more barriers to surpass just to receive an education.
We expected reprehensible behavior like this, and we're ready. Sign the petition now to tell Betsy DeVos to do her damn job and protect all of our students, not just the ones whose parents can pay well for their education.
Join the DWC. Renew your membership today.
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.
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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/