BREAKFAST THIS FRIDAY
Friday, April 3, 7:30 am, we’re back at Rachel’s Café, 330 E 3rd Street. Please join us for a MOST informative session!
Our very special guest is Jane Henegar, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and relative of at least THREE former or present elected officials in Monroe County (Warren Henegar, Alice Henegar Eads and Lillian Henegar). Jane is perfectly situated to relay to us the timing and intent of the latest “protection of freedom” bestowed upon Hoosiers by the state legislature.
Jane Henegar has taught political science at Butler University and has led the Indiana Bar Foundation’s Project Citizen to teach civics to K-12 students in Indiana. She served as interim director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention following her service as Indianapolis deputy mayor from 2000 to 2006. Henegar has held various positions in government, including State Director in the office of Senator Evan Bayh, Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel in the Indiana Department of Administration, executive posts at the Family and Social Services Administration and judicial law clerk for the Honorable Thomas Reavley, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Born and raised in Bloomington, she is a 1984 graduate of Bryn Mawr College and earned her law degree in 1988 from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington.
Save the date - Sunday, April 12:
DWC First Ever Political Karaoke Night at Player's Pub
Our annual DWC Spring fundraiser!!! We’re SURE it will be the first ever political Karaoke contest with your favorite candidates singing their way into your hearts and minds. Come prepared to cheer on your favorite candidate and VOTE for the best performance! Winner will take home a cool trophy. Tickets will be available for $10 at the door, online at our website, or from a DWC steering committee member. Your $10 donation gets you 10 free chits to use to vote for your favorite performer. (Additional chits will be available at the event for purchase at $1.00 each.) Please feel free to vote more than once!
Come out, have fun, have dinner, listen to some ~interesting~ performances, and support candidates!!
IN THIS ISSUE:
EVENTS THIS WEEK - Every day is a POLITICAL day!
Monday - Forum (MCPL)
Tuesday - Forum (City Hall)
Wednesday - WILPF Event - "Charlotte Perkins Gilman to Jane Adams: Perils of Peace"
Thursday - FDR Gala
Friday - DWC BREAKFAST
Saturday - LWV Legislative Forum
CANDIDATE NEWS
Isabel Piedmont-Smith seeking volunteers
Nicole Bolden campaign seeks help
Women on $20 Bill!
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Applicants sought for Monroe County Women's Commission
Applicants sought for City Boards and Commissions
Action Item! - From our Friday Breakfast Speaker, Jane Henegar
MORE!
All Endorsed Candidates
You and the DWC!
EVENTS THIS WEEK - Every day is a POLITICAL day!
Monday, 30 March, 7-9 p.m., at the Monroe County Public Library
DFMC will be hosting this forum that will feature the uncontested primary candidates for City Clerk, City Council from Districts 2, 6 and At-Large. The contested mayoral candidates will also participate in this forum.
Tuesday, 31 March, 7-9 p.m., in the Bloomington City Council Chambers
DFMC will be hosting this forum that will feature the candidates from the contested races for City Council from Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Wednesday, 1 April, 4-6 p.m., at the Monroe County History Center
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Gallery Opening and Reception Opening exhibition and reception of WILPF on Wednesday, April 1 from 4-6 with Guest speaker Judith A. Allen, IU Professor of History "Charlotte Perkins Gilman to Jane Addams: Perils of Peace." Jane Addams founded Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) at an International Congress of Women convened at the Hague, Netherlands, in 1915, to protest against the World War then raging in Europe, lay the basis for a permanent peace, and guarantee fundamental human rights around the world. Founder of Chicago's Hull House, Addams was the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Bloomington Branch of WILPF was founded in 1965. Light Refreshments Available.
For more information, visit monroehistory.org. From Tomi Allison
Thursday, 2 April, 6-8 p.m. at the Fountain Square Ballroom
The Monroe County Democratic Party FDR Gala!! Hosted by the MCDP, the fundraiser helps with HQ expenses, and for the good of all Democratic candidates. Please come!
FRIDAY, 3 APRIL, 7:30 AM!! Rachel's Café on 3rd Street
DWC Monthly Breakfast -- It's so IMPORTANT, we've listed it twice!!
Saturday, 4 April, 9:30 - 11:00 am at the Council Chambers City Hall, 401 N Morton
League of Women Voters Legislative Forum
As always, all legislators who have constituents in Monroe County have been invited. If you want to speak to them personally, ask them a question, or make a comment on their priorities and votes, THIS is the place to be on Saturday.
CANDIDATE NEEDS:
Isabel Piedmont-Smith is in a contested race for City Council District 5. It’s an open seat, but one she held during the term 2007-2011.
Isabel needs your help to reach voters! She is seeking volunteers to contact voters at their doors, and since it's warming up out there, she wants to share the fun. She is also seeking venues for house parties as "fundraisers" or "friendraisers." Please contact the campaign at [email protected]
Also, like Isabel on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter!
https://www.facebook.com/piedmontsmith
Twitter: @piedmontsmith
Website: www.PiedmontSmith.us
Nicole Bolden campaign seeks help
Nicole Bolden, DWC-endorsed candidate for Bloomington City Clerk, is seeking volunteers to go door-to-door to talk to voters. Please contact Dylan Hilderbrand, at [email protected] to sign up for a shift.
Women on a $20 Bill?
A nonprofit campaign called Women on 20s, seeks to put the face of a woman on the $20 bill by 2020, the 100th anniversary of 19th Amendment, which granted the right to vote to women in the United States. "This is not just a campaign about getting women on the 20. That's our crowning goal, but we really want this to be an educational campaign and a national conversation," Ades Stone said. "We wanted adults and kids alike to look at these names and think 'I don't know enough about this person, and maybe I should find out more. If you’d like to see some designs, check out this edition of the Huffington Post: Eleanor? Alice? Elizabeth? who?
The DWC’s exhibit table at the Women’s History Month Luncheon featured this campaign, and we conducted our own little survey among the attendees. The results can be seen on our website: DWC survey on Women on 20s
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Applicants sought for Monroe County Women's Commission
A newly vacant position leaves the Commission short-handed. Information about the Women's Commission is here. To apply, use the form Board and Commission application (found in the left panel on the county's website: www.co.monroe.in.us), and email or send it to the County Council.
Applicants sought for City Boards and Commissions
City Boards and Commissions are citizen staffed and operated, and serve to advise the Common Council and the Administration on issues affecting Bloomington.
A complete list and description of Boards and Commissions, in addition to application materials may be found at www.bloomington.in.gov/apply . Information and applications also are available at the City Clerk’s Office in Showers Building, City Hall at 401 N. Morton, or call 349-3408.
- Environmental Commission
- Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs
- Commission on the Status of Black Males
- Utilities Services Board - By Statute, applicants must have a political party affiliation other than Democratic, and also be a rate payer for City of Bloomington Utilities
- Housing Trust Fund Board of Directors - Applicants must represent one of the following: for profit housing, low income, banking, not for profit housing, social services
- Urban Enterprise Association - Applicant must be a business owner in the Zone
Action Item -- From Friday's Breakfast guest Jane Henegar
This is a sad day for Indiana. Despite tens of thousands of Hoosiers voicing their opposition to SB 101, despite hundreds of businesses, community, and faith leaders highlighting the possible harmful consequences of the proposed legislation, and despite even national celebrities questioning whether they would be welcome in Indiana, Governor Pence signed into law SB101 — the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA.
The timing of this legislation is important to understanding its intent: the bill was introduced as a backlash reaction to achieving marriage equality for same-sex couples in Indiana. The unfortunate truth is that members of the LGBT community, despite advances, remain vulnerable to discrimination.
Tweet Gov. Pence: @GovPenceIN Indiana can support religious freedom without being out of step with the country’s values of fairness. #RFRA @ACLUIndiana
Time will show how RFRA claims will be fully used by individuals and interpreted by the courts. But we are already seeing some immediate effects from the passage of this bill:
- It jeopardizes our reputation as a hospitable and welcoming place to visit. On the day the bill was voted on by the House chamber, Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, questioned Gov. Pence on whether or not he would face discrimination when he visited Indiana. The next day Gen Con, one of the state's largest conventions, raised concerns regarding SB101, which they say will factor into their decision to return to Indiana.
- It characterizes Indiana as a state falling behind the times, as a state on the wrong side of history. Our lawmakers may claim RFRA is about religious protections, but everyone outside of the statehouse sees this bill for what it is: an attack on equality.
- It breaks apart Hoosiers' sense of community. Because of RFRA, any one of us, including our friends, neighbors, and family members, can be denied the same services others enjoy simply because of who we are.
We may not be able to challenge the law as written. Only time will tell the full consequences of the state RFRA. It poses harm to our reputation as a welcoming state that is open to everyone and to the balance that respects individuals' freedom of religion without jeopardizing others' freedom from discrimination. And, of course, the ACLU of Indiana will continue to fight for equal protection and equal rights for all individuals, just as we have done for the LGBT community for more than 70 years.
Tweet at Gov. Pence: .@GovPenceIN Hoosiers say no to discrimination in Indiana. #SB101 @ACLUIndiana
While today is a short-term set back, the momentum in this country and this state is towards equality for all. We are not there yet, but we will continue the fight until that day comes.
Sincerely,
Jane Henegar
Executive Director
ACLU of Indiana
AND MORE!!
2015 Endorsed Candidates - Profiles posted
The profiles for each of our five 2015 endorsed candidates is now available on the DWC website here.
Help Continue the work of the DWC...Join Today!
Dues monies help us fund our endorsed candidates, and allow the DWC to hold trainings, seminars, special events to encourage and hopefully inspire women to become involved in the political process.
Join any time. Only $20 for one year’s membership. Join online here.
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/