Are you attending the Women's History Month Lunch and would you like to sit with fellow DWC members at a reserved table? Email us at [email protected]. See DWC Announcements for full details....

It's Breakfast Time Again!!!! At our breakfast meeting this month we will visit with candidates who applied for endorsement by the DWC and were recommended by the Endorsement Committee for the 2020 Primary/General Election. Candidates will have time for a short statement after which the members will vote on the endorsements. Our Endorsement Committee was hard at work all weekend reviewing documents, running back ground checks and interviewing our candidates. We have a jam packed schedule with 11 candidates recommended – Shelli Yoder - State Senate District 40, Tiffany Grant - State Rep. District 60, Alyssa Bailey - State Rep. District 62, Paula Staley - State Rep. District 65, Julie Thomas - County Commissioner, District 2, Penny Githens - County Commissioner, District 3, Cheryl Munson - County Council At-Large, Jessica McClellan - Treasurer, Valeri Haughton - Circuit Court Judge, Division 2, Seat 6, Kara Krothe - Circuit Court Judge, Division 8, Seat 5, & Joani Shields - Coroner – so come on time and be ready to listen. To help you make your decision and for those who can’t attend the breakfast we will be sending out a special MMN with candidate statements. In addition, all members who were paid up by the deadline will receive a ballot by email along with instructions on how to vote. As previously, you will be able to vote in person, by email or provide a written signed proxy for someone else to vote for you. See you at the Village Deli on Friday morning - 7:30am sharp!!

Apologies for the late MMN - our regular writer for this week is out of town and it really was a jam packed weekend! Did we mention we're looking for women to help us out?

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

DWC ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES:

The Women’s History Month Lunch will be held on March 25, 2020 at the Monroe County Convention Center. This year’s national theme is Valiant Women of the Vote. Keynote speaker for the lunch is journalist Elaine Weiss and awardees are Women of the Year: Jessika Hane and Dr. Tashera Perry and Lifetime Contribution, Beth Lodge-Rigal. Emerging Leader,Shatoyia Moss, and Young Woman of the Year, Solveig Ksander Hicks, will also be recognized. (Those awards will be presented at at the Women’s Leadership Development Event at City Hall on March 28).
The DWC plans to reserve a table for the lunch. Tickets for reserved table seats are $35 per person. If you are interested in sitting with the DWC, please contact us asap at [email protected] and once we have enough people to make up a table we will contact you about paying for your seats. If there is enough interest we may reserve a second table as well.
Note: If you would like to sponsor the event contact Sue Owens. If you are a local woman owned business or non-profit who has questions or would like to reserve a display table at the event contact Barbara McKinney. You can also donate tickets to help provide seats for the event for women from MiddleWay House and other groups, you can do so online at the BCT Box Office - select the “Pay It Forward” option.

Are you creative, skilled at writing, a social media expert?? - THE DWC NEEDS YOU!! We trust you like our communications and rely on them to help keep you informed of political happenings and DWC operations. Those communications are not magically self-generating-they are an essential function of the DWC and we have a small crew of creative women who make it happen. We are looking for women to join that team and help create the Monday Morning News and our Social Media messages. It is not time consuming, and it is not difficult. Plus, for those of us who like to write and craft messages, it is actually fun! If anyone reading this newsletter has a few scant hours a month to help us out, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected]

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CANDIDATE NEWS AND EVENTS:

Volunteer for Cheryl Munson: Who knew that County Council would be such a hot race this year? Cheryl is running for re-election to an At-Large seat in a crowded primary. If you are willing to walk for Cheryl, meet potential voters and help her campaign, please send a message to [email protected]. A sign-up sheet will also be at Friday's breakfast meeting. More info about Cheryl's Council accomplishments and future goals WWW.CHERYLMUNSON.US

Volunteering for Shelli Yoder: If you are interested in volunteering to help get Shelli to the State House, please join our team by emailing Ashley Pirani at [email protected]. There are several ways for you to get involved. Some of those opportunities include canvassing, helping to write postcards, and hosting a meet and greet. They'd love to have you join them!

Note: The DWC’s mission is to recruit, fund and support pro-choice, progressive women candidates in Monroe County. For more information about candidates, candidate events and other political information that does not fall within this mission, check out, among others, the Monroe County Democratic Party Website, The Indiana Democratic Party Website and the Indiana Secretary of State's Election Division. If you don't currently get the Monroe County Democratic Party Dispatch, you can send a note to [email protected] to sign up.

CANDIDATE & OTHER POLITICAL TRAININGS:

Monroe County Democratic Party

The MCDP will host two trainings, one on Communications and one on Fundraising, on March 5, 2020 at Democratic Headquarters. The Party will also hold a training on using the VAN on March 8. Check  our Calendar of Events for full details.

Indiana Democratic Party

A Candidate Tool Box, Precinct Committee Person Handbook, VAN training and links to the Party’s Webinar Training Series can be found at https://www.indems.org/trainings-and-voter-file-access/

Emily’s List Webinars

Thursday, March 5, 2020 3:00pm - 4:00pm - Introduction to Campaign Messaging
Who are you? Why are you running? Why should people support you? As a candidate, you must be able to answer these questions with confidence. In this webinar, we'll walk through how to craft your personal narrative to create a message that potential voters can trust.

National Democratic Training Committee Webinars

The NDTC has and extensive list of webinars and courses in political management, messaging and communication, fundraising, and running for office. Check out their list of courses at https://traindemocrats.org/course-catalog/

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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The final day to register to be able to vote in the May 5 Indiana Primary is April 6.Now is a great time to double check that your voter registration is up to date - check your status at indianavoters.com

Early Voting for the Indiana Primary in Monroe County starts on April 7 - all absentee in person voting will take place at Election Central, 401 W. 7th St., Bloomington on the following dates:
April 7 - April 9 8an - 6pm
April 13 - April 17 8am - 6pm
April 20 - April 24 8am - 6pm
April 25 9am - 4pm
April 27 - May 1 8am - 6pm
May 2 9am - 4pm
May 4 8am - Noon

The Monroe County Election Division is looking for democratic poll workers to work as Inspectors, Judges and Clerks. 
To work the polls in Monroe County, you must:
• Be a registered voter of Monroe County.
• Attend training,  provided by the Election Board.
• Have access to transportation.
You will be paid for training, working at the polls and a $25 food allowance. 
Interested: call  812-349-2690 or Email: [email protected]
More information can be found at: http://monroecountyvoters.us/pollworkerportal.html

Upcoming National Caucuses & Primaries:

Super Tuesday (March 3): Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia primaries, and American Samoa Democratic caucuses.
March 10: North Dakota Democratic "firehouse caucus," Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington primaries
March 17: Arizona Democratic primary and Florida, Illinois, and Ohio primaries 
March 24: Georgia Democratic primary 
March 29: Puerto Rico Democratic primary
April 4: Alaska and Hawaii Democratic primaries, Louisiana primaries and Wyoming Democratic caucuses
April 7: Wisconsin primary
April 28: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island primaries
May 2: Guam Democratic caucuses and Kansas Democratic primary
May 5: Indiana primary
May 12: Nebraska and West Virginia primaries
May 19: Kentucky and Oregon primaries
June 2: Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota and Washington, D.C., primaries

The Indiana Democratic Convention is slated for Saturday, June 13 in Indianapolis
The National Democratic Convention is slated for July 13-16 in Milwaukee. 

The 11th Democratic presidential debate will take place in Phoenix on Sunday, March 15.
The debate will air from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, will be hosted by CNN and Univision, and it is being held in partnership with CHC Bold, the political action committee of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The venue, format, moderators and qualification criteria will be announced at a later date, the DNC said.
The debate is taking place two days before voters head to the primary in Arizona, which is emerging as a battleground in 2020. Illinois and the competitive states of Ohio and Florida also hold their nominating contests on March 17.

The Indiana Democratic Party wants to hear from you! The IDP is seeking your input on their 2020 State Democratic Platform and have been holding hearings around the state (Portage on January 15, Indianapolis on January 25 and New Albany on February 22) to learn what issues are important to Democratic voters. There is one remaining Platform Hearing, on March 14 in Fort Wayne, and these events are free and open to the public.
If you are unable to attend a Platform Hearing but would still like to participate, you can submit an online input form here. If you'd like to review the 2018 State Party Platform, click here. The open comment period will close on April 3, 2020 and a final draft of the Platform will be presented to delegates for approval at the 2020 State Convention on June 13th.

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]). 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERSHIP:

Through December 31, 2020
VOTES FOR WOMEN: The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Monroe County
Monroe County History Center, 202 E. 6th St., Bloomington
Commemorating the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution granting women the right to vote with a year-long exhibition in the Deckard Education Room. Featuring Monroe County women involved in the struggle for suffrage in the context of the State and National suffrage movements based on the research of Hilary Fleck and supported by the May Wright Sewall Fellowship from Indiana Humanities. Sponsored by The Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial, the Monroe County Bicentennial, the City of  Bloomington, and Monroe County NOW

Wednesday March 4, 2020, 6:30pm
Winning Back Indiana: A Candidate Forum On Equality And Justice
Whittenberger Auditorium (IMU), 900 E 7th St., Bloomington
Featuring Democratic Candidates for: Governor, Attorney General & 9th District Congressional Races
Emcee: Dana Black, Indiana Democratic Party Deputy Chair
Co-hosted by the College Democrats at Indiana University, the Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus, 9th District, the Stonewall Democrats of South-Central Indiana, & the Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus
Doors open at 6:30. Program starts at 6:45.
For more information or to RSVP: https://facebook.com/events/s/winning-back-indiana-a-candida/2774387382845389/?ti=icl

Friday, March 27, 2020, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
2020 FDR Gala
Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St.
Please join MCDP for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, music, and fun with fellow Democrats! This event is free to attend, but all contributions are welcome: suggested donation $30.00. For information about sponsorships and contributions, please contact Kaisa Goodman at [email protected]. For questions about the event, please contact Gavin Everett at [email protected]
Sponsorship Levels:
Gold Sponsor/Event Host: $1000
Silver Sponsor: $500
Bronze Sponsor: $250

Saturday, March 28, 2020, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Indiana Federation Of Democratic Women 2020 Spring Meeting
First Friends of Richmond, 2010 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN
Cost: $20,00 per attendee
Registration: 9:00am, Meeting: 10:00am to 3:00pm, Lunch is provided
More information at: https://www.facebook.com/events/182754393028546/
PLEASE RSVP/You can pre-register at ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ifdw20spring# 
Call 765-603-8213 with any questions or concerns

Saturday, March 28, 2020, 2:00pm to 4:00pm 
Sip & See with the Next State Senator to Be
Patrick residence: 516 North Hamilton Court, Bloomington
An open house with Shelli Yoder, candidate for State Senate! The event will take place on Saturday, March 28th from 2-4PM at the home of Lisa and Josh Patrick (516 N. Hamilton Court). All ages are welcome, and snacks and drinks will be provided! Hosted by Nicole Browne & Olivia Reed. If you have any questions, please contact Olivia at oliviajreed@gmail.

A little history: International Women's Day is celebrated around the world as a way to remember the past achievements of women and look toward the next step towards gender equality. Often there are marches and luncheons to commemorate the day. Despite using the day to commemorate the historic achievements of women, the actual history of the day is often forgotten. It was born from the actions of women workers who were fighting not only for their rights but also for their safety in the workplace; from labor movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s. In particular, garment workers were fighting for reduced hours and safer working conditions. On March 8, 1857, protesters were attacked by police, and the first women's labor union grew from this movement. A similar protest was held on March 8, 1908, and helped inspire America's National Women's Day in February 1909.
In 1910 the Socialist International met in Denmark, and an International Conference of Socialist Women was held before the main conference. A German delegate called Clara Zetkin proposed a holiday honoring the women striking in the United States, which was approved by delegates. Known as the International Working Women's Day, it was celebrated on March 19, 1911, and rallies were held in Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. At the time only Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, and Finland had granted women the right to vote.
For many years, International Women's Day was largely a communist holiday. It was declared an official holiday in the Soviet Union following the revolution and is still a national, non-work day in many current and former communist countries, including Armenia, Cuba, and Vietnam. In China and Madagascar, the day is a public holiday for women only.
In the 1960s, International Women's Day was renamed "Women's International Day of Struggle" by women in Europe. Second-wave feminism moved the focus of the women's movement away from legal rights such as suffrage to the issues of sexuality, family, injustices in society and the workplace, reproductive rights, harassment, and violence. As International Women's Day was taken up as a day of action by women, protests in the 1970s and 1980s often centered around subsidized child care, equal pay and an end to domestic violence.
The UN Charter of 1945 was the first international agreement to recognize equality between men and women. The UN declared 1975 as the International Women's Year and the organization has celebrated International Women's Day on March 8 ever since. UN member nations at the time were invited to declare the date a day of women's rights and world peace.

ACTION ITEM(s): 

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

2. Get involved with the DWC - there are ways you can contribute beyond your membership support...
Social Media: we are looking for women to help us maintain and keep our social media pages up to date and to contribute to writing and/or editing the Monday Morning News. A couple of our long time writers will be unavailable after this spring. This doesn’t necessarily require a major time commitment. If you’re interested please email us at [email protected]

3. Vote for the candidates you want to see endorsed by the DWC... can we get 100% participation?

4. Early voting starts on April 6 - candidates are ramping up their campaigns. Find a candidate you want to support and get involved.

5. Watch for your census form - fill it out - send it back!

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/