We are now two weeks into the new year and looking forward to the excitement of another round of elections. Remember, campaigns and primaries will soon be upon us. Those few months from now until the first week of May go by incredibly fast. And who we elect this year is crucial, both nationally and closer to home. Globally, in just the past week, we were brought near the brink of war and have had to watch Australia burning up as the planet warms, while locally we are watching families try to make it on epically low wages with little between them and homelessness. Yes, we have world class challenges galore to work on right in our own back yard. So sign up to help someone's campaign, run for state delegate yourself, or just sign up to help with DWC communications. Pick the best way for your talents and skills to shine and help change our world. It's time to step up.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Announcements
Events
Action Items

DWC ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES:

TO ALL CANDIDATES - ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS ARE DUE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 AT NOON

If you had an open campaign finance account in 2019 - whether you were up for election or not and whether or not you took in any money or made any expenditures in 2019 - you must file your annual campaign finance paperwork (CFA-4 form) by noon local time at Election Central. Don't wait until the last minute!

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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Filing to be a Delegate at the State Convention

To be a delegate to the Indiana State Convention, one needs to be elected by Democrats in the May Primary. Here in Monroe County delegates are apportioned by county council district. Filing starts on January 8th and ends at noon (local time) on February 7th. In Monroe County filing is at Election Central offices at 7th and Madison. They have the forms, and can notarize and accept your filing within just a few minutes.

The preponderance of National Delegates are elected by the State Delegates at the state convention in June.  For details on the National Delegate Selection Plan see the IDP website at: https://www.indems.org/dnc-convention-2020/. It's a treasure trove of complete information about filing for Delegate and all the particulars about being a delegate.

Indiana Institute for Working Families 2020 Policy Agenda

All Hoosiers should have the opportunity to support their families with jobs that pay adequate wages and allow them to balance work and family. They should have access to safe financial products and meaningful income supports when times are tough. However, unless our policymakers and community & business leaders work to combat bias and establish meaningful labor standards, consumer protections, and work supports, we will continue to see unequal outcomes that keep Hoosiers from achieving their full potential. To ensure that Hoosier families flourish, the Indiana Institute for Working Families will focus on five building blocks of thriving, inclusive communities as part of its 2020 Policy Agenda. Below is a recap of their top priorities including bill numbers (if the bill information is available):

Quality Jobs - Hoosiers need jobs with adequate wages and the ability to balance work, family, and health. 

• Provide a clear, affirmative right to reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers. Bill number - SB 342

Meaningful Income Supports - When jobs are inadequate, hard to land, or impossible to sustain due to life circumstances, income supports are a critical lifeline. 

• Raise TANF eligibility to 50% of the federal poverty line and adjust benefits for inflation. Bill number - SB 111

Strong Consumer Protections - Without protection, predatory lenders will mire Hoosiers in debt they cannot repay. 

• Enact a 36% APR cap on payday loans. Bill number - SB 26

Stable Affordable Housing - A safe and stable place to call home is critical to maintaining employment and children's education. 

• Strengthen protections for vulnerable renters and homeowners. Bill number - HB 1191

Access to Postsecondary Education and Training - All Hoosiers should have opportunities to develop skills in industries and careers that fit their talents and motivation. 

• Advance policies that provide better alignment of programs and funding to reduce the academic costs and the non-academic barriers for Indiana's adult student learners. 

For more information: Visit their TAKE ACTION page for ways you can be involved. Follow them on social media for minute-to-minute updates on what's happening in the legislature, on Twitter at @INInstitute, @JessicaDFraser, @Erin_INWorkFams, and @Amy_IIWF, on Facebook, on Instagram or check out their website at http://incap.org/iiwfpublicpolicy.html

The Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial

On Aug. 26, 1920, Hoosier women won the right to vote. At first glance, the meaning behind that statement is simple. But the real story goes much deeper. In Indiana, almost seventy years passed between the first calls for women’s voting rights and the passage of the 19th Amendment. And, though momentous, 1920 is just one milestone in a long and ongoing journey, and access to the voting booth is just one part of what it means to be an equal part of the democratic process.

The Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial, catalyzed by Indiana Humanities, the Indianapolis Propylaeum, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau, working with many grassroots and local partners, marks the anniversary of the 19th Amendment. We invite Hoosiers to honor the ideas and ideals that fueled the suffrage movement in Indiana, and the people who led the way; to engage in a conversation about inclusion, equity, perseverance and power; to consider what remains to be done to ensure that our democracy truly includes everyone; and to identify and act on the lessons of the women’s suffrage movement.

The Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission has issued a Call for Proposals to Indiana-based artists to create an original work of art to be displayed in the Indiana Statehouse to commemorate the 19th Amendment. Read more: indianasuffrage100.org

MONROE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Contact Taegan Bolden-Davis, Executive Director, Monroe County Democratic Party at [email protected]

BOARD AND COMMISSION OPENINGS
A great way to get involved and learn about how government works in Monroe County and Bloomington and to make a difference in your community:

CITY OF BLOOMINGTON B&Cs
The office of the City Clerk announces a vacant position on the Bloomington Commission on Sustainability. This position is available for city residents 18 years of age or older. The BCOS promotes economic development, environmental health, and social equity in the community for present and future generations. The commission gathers and disseminates information, promotes practical initiatives, and measures, monitors, and reports on the community’s progress towards sustainability.

For information on this position, or other commissions that have vacancies at this time, contact the office of the City Clerk or check https://bloomington.in.gov/boards to see the nature of the board or commission, recent minutes and actions, and how that particular vacancy is filled.

MONROE COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL B&Cs
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners invites you to apply to serve on a Board or Commission! There are immediate openings on a number of these bodies, including: Animal Management, Environmental Commission, and the Human Rights Commission. For information on each of them, see https://www.co.monroe.in.us/boards/. The application is available in a tab at the right side of the boards page. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Thomas ([email protected]). 

EVENTS

Sunday, January 19, 2020 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Medicare For All Indiana Film: The Color Of Medicine
The Buskirk Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington
A showing of the new movie The Color of Medicine, a documentary capturing the history of medical training of African-Americans at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. Earl Robinson Jr, a retired OB GYN from Indianapolis is featured in the movie and will be present.  He will participate in discussion and Q&A following the screening. Free admission. Please help us publicize this event.  We could use volunteers to help that evening!

Monday, January 20, 6:00pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
The community is invited to attend the 2020 City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration. Free and open to the public. Auditorium doors open at 5:30pm. The celebration begins with a reception at 6pm followed by the program at 7pm, including remarks by Hamilton, members of the MLK Commission, and others. Musical contributions from the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble, directed by Dr. Raymond Wise, Fairview elementary school students, and Jacobs School of Music Ballet Department students and faculty. Volunteers who participated in "A Day ON! Not A Day Off" will be recognized, and the winner of the Commission’s Legacy Award will be announced. The theme is “Courage and Beautiful Struggle: Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Our Work” featuring keynote speaker Dr. Melina Abdullah. The program will end around 8:30pm.

Saturday, January 25, 2020
IN Democratic Party Blue Bench Training
IVY Tech Conference Center, 2820 N Meridian St Indianapolis, IN 46208
Join the Indiana Democratic Party and the National Democratic Training Committee at their Blue Bench Training for candidates and potential candidates, campaign staff and volunteer staff, and local party infrastructure on January 25 for all the tools and tips you need to launch a successful campaign or create and build infrastructure for your local party. More women, first-time candidates and young people have stepped up to move Indiana forward. If you're ready to do the work, let them help you get started. Registration begins 30 minutes before the training begins. The training costs $25 to cover breakfast and lunch. Sign up for the training here.

IMAGE OF THE DAY: 

ACTION ITEM(s):

1. Renew your membership in the DWC for 2020 (see below)

2. Celebrate women's suffrage in 2020 and continue to fight for the rights of everyone to vote.

3. File to be a delegate to the State Convention!

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Todd Young:
https://www.young.senate.gov/contact/email-todd
(202) 224-5623

Mike Braun
https://www.braun.senate.gov/contact-mike
(202) 224-4814
(317) 822-8240

Trey Hollingsworth
https://hollingsworth.house.gov/contact/
(202) 225-5315 (U.S. House) or (812) 288-3999 (Jeffersonville Office)

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/