Breakfast at the Village Deli last Friday was well-attended and well-worth it. The topic was service on local government boards and commissions. Amazingly, probably 75% of the people in attendance currently serve on a city or county board or commission. And why would they be interested in doing that, you may wonder. As one of our panelists put it, boards and commissions are often where elected officials and citizens meet over a topic of concern. Who wouldn't find that kind of interaction worth their time?! Thank you to the following individuals who shared information about their board or commission, how they got interested in the topic, who appointed them and their advice for people interested in serving:

Jillian Kinzie moderator and City Plan Commission member
Jean Capler, Utilities Services Board member
Efrat Feffermann, United Way Executive Director and County Redevelopment Commission
Nichelle Whitney, chair, Monroe County Women’s Commission
Adrienne Evans Fernandez, chair, City Parking Commission
Sue Sgambelluri, City Redevelopment Commission

Additional thanks to Angie Purdie (Monroe County) and Regina Moore (filling in for Nicole Bolden) who gave information on applying for boards and commissions in each governmental body.

Some take-aways:
- There are approximately 30 city boards and commissions and 39 in county government, with currently about 18 openings on city boards and 5 on county boards.

- Some boards and commissions are required by state statute. These sometimes require members of both political parties, and if you are one of those appointees, you need to keep that R or D designation. Some boards require one or more members to be residents of the city, or to live outside the city limits, or fulfill some other demographic or skills requirement. Some boards and commissions, mostly in county government, pay members for attending meetings. Several women mentioned that their service was a good preparation for running for office.  Boards that have fiduciary responsibilities are especially good background for understanding the connectedness between governmental bodies and how actions affect citizens.

- Boards and commissions are quasi-governmental bodies and are subject to Indiana’s open-door laws regarding noticing meetings, cancelling meetings, etc. All are open to the public to observe, and most  really welcome visitors. It’s helpful to attend a board or commission meeting for a while before deciding to apply for membership.

As an example of the types of things one might get involved in as a commission member, the Monroe County Women’s Commission is on FIRE!! They’ve sponsored two weeks of coding camp for girls ages 11-14, held a listening session with Senator Mark Stoops, co-sponsored a retreat to enhance collaboration between the city and county women’s commissions, obtained a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to work with organizations on developing healthy practices for women, are developing a workshop dealing with the “confidence code” (why do girls stop raising their hands in about the 4^th grade?), and are planning a mixer of board and commission members in January!

Check the websites below for information on all boards and commissions:

City of Bloomington:
All of the City’s boards and commissions are described on the website, including mission statements, membership requirements, current members and term lengths. For information on each entity and online applications, go to the City’s board and commission tab at https://bloomington.in.gov/boards where you can click on each board or commission. Or click on the "Boards and Commissions" button at the bottom of the City’s home web page at https://bloomington.in.gov/ 

Monroe County:
The county’s website includes all of the county boards and commissions as well as future meeting dates and an agenda and minutes section: https://www.co.monroe.in.us/boards/  The application is available here: https://www.co.monroe.in.us/egov/documents/1533065264_74301.pdf

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DWC Training Series:
We are planning a series of trainings as we head into 2020 to be held on the second Tuesday of each month at Democratic Headquarters. Details are still in the works but the first DWC Training will be held on Oct. 8 under the broad topic - Why not you and why NOT you? - we’ll look at why women run, why you should run, how you can help women run and provide some information on the contested offices in 2020, their requirements and how to file for them. Members Dee Owens, Penny Githens, and Regina Moore recently conducted a session on candidate training in French Lick's IDEA. Topics of "How do voters make their decisions," "Follow-up Voter Contact," and "Framing Messages" may be incorporated into some of the Tuesday Training Sessions. More info to come in future editions of the MMN.

DWC Steering Committee Membership:
At the last DWC Breakfast the membership ratified Michelle Bright as a new steering committee member, her term will expire in 2020. The Steering Committee has been talking to several women who are interested in joining the committee and, as directed by the Bylaws, we will present an additional member for a term that expires in 2020, for ratification at the next breakfast. The S.C. also decided to wait until the annual elections to fill the remaining two open S.C. positions that will expire this year.
Nominations are open for the DWC Steering Committee are now open:
December is fast approaching as are elections to the DWC Steering Committee.
The following positions will be up for election:
Vice Chair:
Treasurer:
and 5 at-large positions.
The Steering Committee is a working board… we meet on the third Saturday of the month at 10am and also . If you have questions about serving on the Steering Committee, about duties of the officers and at-large members, would like to nominate yourself or someone else for the Steering Committee, or you are a member who would like to serve on the Nominating Committee to help develop a slate for the December elections, please contact Carolyn VandeWiele at  [email protected].

Are you creative, skilled at writing, a social media expert?? - THE DWC NEEDS YOU!!
We are looking for a few good women to join our Monday Morning News and Social Media Team to help keep our membership informed - if you can help - contact us at [email protected].

Endorsement Review Committee:
Jillian Kinzie is heading up an ENDORSEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE with the intent of having a finished document in late fall ready for review by the membership so that we can have a finalized process ready prior to the start of the 2020 Election session. If you are interested in contributing to this process please email us at [email protected].

Your thoughts are always welcome: We welcome your thoughts on DWC events and issues….Please share your thoughts on this organization as we move forward, in our community and our state. For those brilliant ideas that come in the middle of the night! Email [email protected]

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Kamala Harris Campaign has boots on the ground in our community gathering signatures on the Presidential Ballot Access Petitions for Monroe County. If you are interested in this essential (and interesting) campaign volunteer opportunity, contact [email protected].

MONROE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
The MCDP will be at several upcoming community events, and needs your help to staff the booths and march in the parades! Please contact Kaisa at [email protected] to sign up for a shift (or two) or if you have any questions. 
Monroe County Fall Festival: Staffing needed Thursday, September 19th through Saturday, September 21st, and we will be in the parade on Saturday at noon. 
Stinesville Quarry Festival: Staffing needed Thursday, September 26th through Saturday, September 28th, and we will be in the parade on Saturday at 2pm.
MidWay Music Festival: Staffing needed on Saturday, October 5th

BOARD AND COMMISSION OPENINGS:
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 here: https://www.co.monroe.in.us/egov/documents/1533065264_74301.pdf. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Thomas ([email protected]). 

EVENTS

Thursday, September 12, 2019, 5:30-7:00 pm
Indiana House Democratic Caucus Fundraiser
Nick's English Hut, 423 E. Kirkwood Ave.

Thursday, September 12, 2019, 7:45-9:00 am
Wake Up! with United Way - Homelessness: Unpacking the Point in Time Count
The Mill, 642 N. Madison St.
Is homelessness on the rise locally? Nationally? How do we know what the trends are, and who makes up this population? Join United Way on September 12th, as the Rev. Forrest Gilmore, Executive Director of Shalom Community Center, takes us through the data, as well as the volunteer-intensive process for gathering it each year. Your $10 ticket will cover the cost of breakfast, with remaining proceeds supporting United Way of Monroe County's efforts to address our community's critical needs today, while reducing those needs tomorrow. Facebook event page (with link to purchase ticket): https://www.facebook.com/events/401834247356694/

Saturday, September 14, 2019, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Moms Demand Action September Meeting
Monroe County Public Library room 2A
RSVP Here. Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/446282619550972/

Sunday, September 15, 2019, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Monroe County Now September Chapter Meeting
Bloomington City Hall, Room 135
Hear from committees to see what we're up to and learn how you can volunteer and join.
Special guest Nic Weinard presenting on CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). To learn more about CEDAW, visit https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cedaw.aspx.
This meeting is open to all and is kid friendly.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 5:00 pm
Trevor Potter lecture
Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Moot Court Room, 211 S. Indiana Ave.
This Constitution Day lecturer will speak to the dangers posed to our democracy by our flawed system of campaign finance.

Thursday, September 19, 2019, 7-9:00 pm
Dolores Huerta at IU as part of Hispanic Heritage Month
Presidents Hall in Franklin Hall
information for this incredible opportunity to hear on of the most iconic women in Labor today can be found
at https://anthropology.indiana.edu/news-events/events-calendar/dolores-huerta-activist-icon.html

Friday, September 20, 2019, 11:30 am - 1 pm
Hoosier Women Forward Annual Luncheon
Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
Join Hoosier Women Forward for their annual luncheon on September 20th at the Indiana Roof Ballroom! The luncheon will include an introduction to the next class of twenty-four Democratic women and remarks by guest speaker, Tiffany D. Cross from The Beat DC. Purchase your ticket today! Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/627337491007673/

Thursday, September 20, 2019, 5:30
BLUE Drinks Women in Politics Cocktail Hour
Truffles on College Mall Road

Sunday, September 22, 2019, 4:00 pm
Charlie vs. Goliath
Unitarian Universalist Church, 2120 N. Fee Ln.
This documentary shows how a political unknown mounts a shoestring campaign for the US Senate in Wyoming.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019, 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Third Annual South Central Opioid Summit
Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave., Bloomington
The 3rd Annual Opioid Summit will be held September 24, 2019, at the Monroe County Convention Center. More details to come! Save the date! Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/278644883001208/

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 10:30 am-5:30 pm
The Summit
Monroe County Public Library
The Summit will connect and empower citizens on various issues facing women, transgender, and non-binary individuals in Monroe County and beyond. Community experts will create a safe space for discussion and education on wellness, healthcare access, homelessness, politics, jobs, recovery, and more. Free. Age 13 and up. Light refreshments available courtesy of Bloomingfoods, Hopscotch Coffee, and Two Sticks Bakery. Donations for period products (tampons, pads, unused cups) will be accepted throughout the day, and will be distributed equally between Shalom Community Center and Middle Way House at the end of The Summit. Free chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis C, and HIV testing is available onsite. Syringe services, harm reduction, and naloxone distribution/training will also be available. Visit the Facebook event page for more details and to see the schedule of events: https://www.facebook.com/events/2137189706389989/

Sunday, October 27, 2019 2-3 pm
SD-SDI Membership Meeting and Panel Discussion
Unity Center in Spencer, IN
The main portion of this meeting will be a panel discussion with three Hoosier LGBTQI+ candidates who recently ran or are running in places not typically seen as "queer" friendly districts. The panelists are: Nick Dunlap, Richmond City Council At-large 2019, Joe Lannan, IN House District 63 2018, and
Janet Rummel, Owen County Council District 1 2018

Saturday, October 19, 2019, 6:00 pm
The Brainwashing of My Dad
Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.
This groundbreaking documentary by filmmaker Jen Senko examines the rise of right-wing media through the lens of her father, whose immersion in its daily propaganda radicalized him and whose new fanaticism rocked the very foundation of their family. Following the program, there will be a guided discussion with media experts offering tips on how to break free of the social media bubble.

ACTION ITEM(s):

Please consider serving on the DWC Steering Committee!!! We have a number of openings and we need creative and committed members to help guide us today and shape our future. We promise--it's fun and rewarding and usually involves great snacks! Contact any of the current Steering Committee members or send an email expressing your interest to [email protected]

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/