To our DWC members and friends at IU --

PENNY GITHENS, candidate for State House District 60
Penny needs help early this week making follow-up contacts to voters.  Please email [email protected] for information.   Also, Penny needs some yard signs put out in Morgan county.  What a great week for a country drive! Contact Morgan Murphy at [email protected] for a map, addresses and signs.  Penny thanks you!  Be sure to "like" her Facebook page, and check out her website http://pennygithensforindiana.nationbuilder.com/. Contact Penny at [email protected].

JESSICA McCLELLAN, candidate for County Treasurer 
Jessica is going door to door letting people know her qualifications for office. Her opponent is putting up billboards that say "I know how to count."
Isn't that an oversimplification of the job? Give Jessica an hour or two! Host a yard sign. Offer to walk with her.  Contact Jessica at [email protected] or through Facebook. Visit www.votejessica.com.

JOANI SHIELDS, candidate for County Coroner, [email protected]
Joani needs yard sign locations!

Friday's Monthly Breakfast Meeting Was Full Of Wisdom

Thanks to all who showed up at the monthly breakfast on Friday. The speakers were wonderfully inspiring, presenting their views on various aspects of this crazy election season. We heard from Trish Whitcomb (Campaign Manager for Glenda Ritz's first campaign and special adviser to the Indiana Department of Education) about the status of races that will affect education in Indiana. Lillian Henegar talked about how all campaigns are local, and that we need to listen, foremost, and then speak our truth and let go of negative outcomes. She also had a great suggestion for "changing the narrative on taxes" from a negative one to saying "taxes are about what we do for each other, what we do to create community." Rachel Guglielmo of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense shattered some myths about gun support in our state. Who knew that 83% of Hoosiers favor background checks? Charlotte Zietlow echoed Lillian's comment that listening is important, stressing that we have to know why people are where they are or there can be no conversation and no persuasion.We can't assume people are bad just because they have bad ideas. Penny Githens said in campaigning "choosing the right topic" is key. You have to meet people on their own turf before you can find common ground. And Linda Henderson talked about the challenges of stumping as a Democrat in a district that spans Brown, Monroe, Jackson, Lawrence AND Bartholomew Counties.

Thank you to all of these wise, experienced and persistent women for sharing their stories and their wisdom. And thanks to Pam Davidson for doing a great job of moderating.


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Breakfast Friday, October 7th. 7:30 am, Village Deli
What to say when your neighbor puts up a Trump sign........

How do people make their decisions about who to vote for?  
Do debates just validate political preferences?
Is there any way you could possibly persuade your neighbor (above) to vote for Hillary?
What about those people who say they are independents?  
We'll hear a presentation on this, and will have a panel to give some suggestions on how to talk to 'the other side' without raising your blood pressure!

Here's a little background reading:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/can-republicans-be-rational/2016/09/29/21e64ae2-867a-11e6-92c2-14b64f3d453f_story.html?utm_term=.7ea9b62fc1a4

Please join us!


OUTRAGEOUS!!
The following forums are cancelled...

League of Women Voters Forum -- State House District 46 and 60
Wednesday, October 5, 7:00 p.m., MCPL Auditorium

League of Women Voters Forum -- State House Districts 62 and 65
Thursday, October 6, 7:00 p.m., MCPL Auditorium

There are no chances of your seeing your state representative candidates side-by-side with their opponents.
Why? The Republican incumbents have declined to appear at the LWV forums for 4 out of 5 house districts that cover Monroe County.
These Republicans effectively are silencing debate and democracy.
Because the LWV is committed to being even handed and NON-partisan in their approach, the debates cannot be one-sided, i.e., even a Q&A session with one of the two candidates.
If you are angry with these tricks of the incumbents to silence their opponents, get busy!!
DWC endorsed candidate Penny Githens could use your help in contacting voters in District 60!

Don't let her opponent's silence drown out Penny's message of true representation, public education, and attention to infrastructure!

NOTE: YOU CAN WATCH THE LWV FORUMS for Treasurer, Auditor, County Commissioner, County Council-At-Large, State Representative District 61 and MCCSC School Board online at http://catstv.net and listen to Candidate Conversations on WFHB's Standing Room Only online at www.wfhb.org/news.

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Our Endorsed Candidates need to see friendly faces at the Candidate Forums

The audience at the most recent candidate forum was comprised largely of Republicans. Since many of the questions come from the audience, it's crucial that we fill the seats with friendly faces who can ask the questions that will bring out the best in our endorsed candidates.

The remaining forums may be found HERE. The next one for our locally endorsed candidates is:

Wednesday, September 27, 7 p.m.  County Council at Large - for Cheryl Munson, Lee Jones

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It's easy to think that this election is just about a certain New York business man who bought his way to a nomination to the highest office in the US versus a former Senator and former Secretary of State who may become the first woman to hold that highest office.  

The fact is that while that race is of the utmost importance in so many ways, local races will impact what happens in our own community, and in our state.  If we dislike the restrictions in women's health issues, if we dislike discrimination in the name of religion, if we dislike decisions made regarding education, roads (oh, I-69!), forests, and child care, work to elect the right people! Matt Pierce and Mark Stoops cannot continue to fight against these laws that do NOT reflect the majority of us in Monroe County, alone.  We need to send them, and the new governor, good people to work with!

And so we come to our plea:

PLEASE HELP OUR ENDORSED CANDIDATES!

Good yard sign locations needed!

Penny Githens, candidate for State House District 60,  Contact her at [email protected]
Penny has hired Morgan Murphy as her campaign manager. Morgan has experience with local campaigns and has gathered a cadre of wonderful interns to help with the job of contacting voters in the district. Penny needs help with calls, walking, and other projects. See DAY OF ACTION below! Email Morgan: [email protected]

Jessica McClellan www.votejessica.com.  Contact Jessica at [email protected] or through Facebook. Offer to help serve or clean up at her fundraiser listed below. Offer to walk with her!

Cheryl Munson and Lee Jones, Candidates for County Council at-large
Contact Cheryl at [email protected]. Lee can be reached at [email protected].
Cheryl and Lee mostly need good yard sign locations and donations. No amount is too small!

Amanda Barge and Julie Thomas are looking for yard sign locations as well!  [email protected], [email protected].
Remember -- They are both running for commissioners but from different districts. Everyone who votes can vote for them BOTH!
Amanda's Facebook page calls for volunteers to walk with her and to help with phone calls.
Julie has helped SO many women with advice, hosting fundraisers, serving on their committees, and leading the caucus. Please send her your best yard sign locations, and offer to put them up for her!

Joani Shields, candidate for Coroner, [email protected]
Joani needs yard sign locations!


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Today's Labor Day Issue brought to you by Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor for FDR.
She was the first woman to serve in a US Cabinet position.
Read more about her here: http://francesperkinscenter.org/

Breakfast follow-up:
Thanks to all those who attended the breakfast meeting on the status of women's health in Indiana, focusing on reproductive and women's health issues.  When you think about Mike Pence, think of the MILLION dollars diverted from the Federally funded but state run Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to a contract Real Alternatives, a crisis pregnancy agency. Real Alternatives is based in Pennsylvania and has contracted services to Michigan and Indiana.  The TANF money is supposed to support vulnerable families with children and provides cash assistance for use in rent, child care and food.
Read more here: https://rewire.news/article/2016/07/21/pro-life-pence-shifts-funding-needy-indiana-residents-anti-choice-crisis-pregnancy-centers/

Thanks so much to these great, smart, compassionate women who work in this field who shared their knowledge and expertise:
*Shelly Dodson, Director, All Options Pregnancy Resource Center, http://alloptionsprc.org/
*Wanda Savala, Community Engagement Coordinator, Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky, http://www.advocates.ppink.org/
*Linda Grove-Paul, Rural Women's Health Care
*Amelia Lahn, Attorney at Law, Pro-bono representation for juveniles seeking abortions
Thanks to member Pam Davidson for doing a fabulous job - tying all these views together and moderating the panel.


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TWO IMPORTANT THINGS!
(maybe three?)

1 -- Breakfast Friday!
     September's breakfast meeting will focus on the status of women's health in Indiana.  We'll focus mainly on reproductive issues, talking about services needed, delivery of services, and legislation that is currently impeding the true health of women in Indiana.  We'll have a panel of women who work for the agencies that are most conversant with these issues, and Pam Davidson will moderate.
2 -- As an ACTION ITEM for this breakfast, we'll be collecting diapers for the All Options Pregnancy Center in Bloomington. Shelly Dodson, director of the Center will be part of the panel, and these diapers will help the women she helps.  Please bring diapers with you to the breakfast.  See ACTION ITEM at the end of the newsletter for sizes.

3 --DWC Members: We Need Your Vote on Proposed DWC Bylaw Revision
     The DWC Steering Committee respectfully submits the following bylaws amendment to the membership of the Democratic Women’s Caucus for their consideration:
 Shall the Article 4 (Steering Committee) Section C of the By-laws of the Democratic Women’s Caucus be amended to read as follows:

    "C. The Chair and six at-large members shall be elected to begin their term in odd numbered years; the Treasurer and six at-large members will be elected to begin their term in even numbered years.  The Steering Committee shall appoint a Vice Chair and Secretary at its first meeting each year from among the twelve at-large members."

The section above allows for election of the two officers needed for PAC requirements and financial reporting.  The chance also allows for more flexibility for the steering committee to select the Secretary and Vice Chair according to its needs.  
     A simple majority of the entire membership is needed for the amendment to pass. If you are not sure whether or not you have paid your dues this year, please contact DWC Treasurer Vicky Sorensen, [email protected].
     If you cannot be present at the DWC monthly meeting on Friday, September 2 to vote in person, please submit your YES or NO vote to [email protected].
     Voting by email will begin at noon on Wednesday August 24 and end on Thursday, September 1 at 6pm.


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The DWC Steering Committee respectfully submits the following bylaws amendment to the membership of the Democratic Women’s Caucus for their consideration:

Shall the Article 4 (Steering Committee) Section C of the By-laws of the Democratic Women’s Caucus be amended to read as follows:

    C. The Chair and six at-large members shall be elected to begin their term in odd numbered years; the Treasurer and six at-large members will be elected to begin their term in even numbered years.
    The Steering Committee shall appoint a Vice Chair and Secretary at its first meeting each year from among the twelve at-large members.

A simple majority of the entire membership is needed for the amendment to pass. If you are not sure whether or not you paid your dues this year, please contact DWC Treasurer Vicky Sorensen, [email protected].

If you cannot be present at the DWC monthly meeting on Friday, September 2 to vote in person, please submit your YES or NO vote to [email protected].
Voting by email will begin at noon on Wednesday August 24 and end on Thursday, September 1 at 6pm

Reasoning behind the change:
The DWC By-Laws were recently reviewed by the Steering Committee and a change is proposed.  

The modification to the By-Laws is in Article 4, Section C.  The proposed change specifies that only the President and Treasurer will be elected to their roles and other roles may be appointed from among at-large members.  This change is intended to allow greater flexibility for leadership within the Steering Committee.
NOTE:  These two offices are the ones required for our PAC and financial forms.  
This is one reason.  The other was that having the Chair and the Vice Chair elected in opposite years didn't allow for a natural succession of the Chair.

This modification can be adopted with a simple majority of the membership at the September 2 breakfast meeting.  
Please vote by email if you will NOT be present at the September meeting.

Paid for by DWPAC - Democratic Women's Political Action Committee
Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/

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