Chair's Message
What Killed House Bill 1515?
For the past 29 years, legislation has been introduced into our State Legislature to prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation. Many were recently surprised when, despite the Democrat control of both houses, efforts to pass HB 1515 failed when 25 members of the Senate voted against it. While two “Democrats” voted against the bill, it would have passed had Bill Finkbeiner, Republican Minority Leader from Kirkland voted for it, as he had done for similar bills in previous years.
We may never know what was behind Finkbeiner’s shift in perspective on prohibiting discrimination, but clearly the strong, grass roots organization opposition to HB 1515 was significant.
Finkbeiner is well connected with the management of Microsoft, having formerly worked there as a contract employee, and now representing a district that includes the company. Microsoft, a previous proponent of anti-discrimination legislation, suffered a change of heart this year after Ken Hutcherson, an Evangelical Christian pastor of “a suburban megachurch” met with Microsoft officials and threatened a national boycott of Microsoft products if it didn’t withdraw support for the bill. Hutcherson, whose church has 3,500 members, organized state and national “Mayday for Marriage” rallies last year attended respectively by 20,000 and 140,000 conservative Christians. (For details see http://thestranger.com/2005-04-21/feature.html and http://thestranger.com/current/city.html).
The provisions of HB 1515 would now be law had this strong, grass roots organization not leveraged its opposition to it. While we Democrats do not necessarily need to adopt the tactics of threatened boycotts or strategies of private sector corporate influence on the passage of legislation, we must become well organized this year if we want to ensure anti-discrimination legislation rightfully passes in the 30th attempt next year!
Welcome, Roger Erskine, 2nd Vice Chair!
Following Randy Scott’s untimely resignation, Roger Erskine (PCO - Alpine) was elected as the new 2nd Vice Chair at the April 25th Central Committee meeting. We’re lucky to have someone with Roger’s experience, insight and energy join us on the Executive Committee. Roger began his career as a teacher, has since held many leadership and organizing positions in state, national and local education associations, and served in a various Democrat party leadership positions in Pennsylvania.
He’s been particularly effective at collaboration to achieve change, as noted in the Seattle PI editorial on September 29, 1999:
"A key contributor to improving Seattle's public schools has been SEA Executive Director Roger Erskine. He provided a model for cooperation between the school district and the teachers' union that we hope the teachers in this city will insist on replicating in Erskine's replacement. . . Erskine has done more to garner respect for teachers as serious, student-oriented professionals than anyone who has represented them in recent memory."
Roger is passionately committed to helping grass roots organize the TCD now in preparation for the 2006 elections.
Jefferson - Jackson Dinner and Democrat of the Year Award - May 21st
Join the Thurston County Democrats to honor Governor Christine Gregoire and Past & Present Elected Democrats at our
Jefferson - Jackson Dinner Dance & Auction Saturday, May 21, 2005
Olympia Red Lion Hotel - 2300 Evergreen Park Drive
6:00pm Champagne Auction Preview Reception with Silent Auction
7:00pm Dinner (Salmon or Prime Rib)
8:00pm Live Auction with dancing to follow with the fantastic Mud Bay Blues Band
Advance Tickets - $40
At the door - $45
You can pay in advance by credit card:
or send a check to Thurston County Democrats
PO Box 164, Olympia, WA 98507
For reservation, donations and information contact:
Helen Carlstrom (360) 352-8741 - helencarlstrom@netzero.com
Linda Lombard (360) 352-1712 - amazlinda@aol.com
New Precinct Committee Officers
We are happy to welcome four new PCOs and also four new “Caretaker” PCOs.
New PCOs for the 20th Legislative District
Kathleen Emmett - University South #79 - recruited by Jerry Muchmore
Bob Rose - Gibson Valley #157 - recruited by Jerry Broadbent
Robert Williams - Hartwood #194- recruited by Gail James
Way to go, you folks in the 20th LD!!!
New PCO for the 22nd Legislative District
Lee Stacie - Olympia #251. Lee is new to Olympia, sought out Thurston County Democrats, attended a Central Committee meeting, saw that her precinct was without a PCO and applied for the job. That’s the spirit!
Caretaker Precinct Committee Officers
We welcome Gus Fromoth who has volunteered to serve as a “Caretaker” PCO for Butler Cove #135. His own PCO, Jus Freimund, Olympia #237 recruited Gus.
Alan Corwin, the PCO of Meridian #159, has stepped forward to serve as a “Caretaker” PCO of the neighboring precinct, Beach Crest #183.
Zack Smith, State Committeeman from the 22nd LD, will serve as a “Caretaker” PCO for Fishtrap #66.
Harvey Williamson has volunteered to serve as a “Caretaker” PCO for South Bay #105.
What is a ‘Caretaker’ Precinct Committee Officer?
A Caretaker PCO is someone who serves as the acting PCO for a precinct without a precinct committee officer. The primary duty of the Caretaker is to recruit a PCO who lives within the boundaries of that precinct. The Caretaker PCO will contact the identified “A” and “B” Democrats residing within the precinct and try to put together a Precinct Committee to help with canvassing the precinct. “Caretaker” PCOs do not have the voting privileges that elected and appointed PCOs have, so their work as non-voting volunteers is especially appreciated.
If you would be interested in serving as a Caretaker PCO for a nearby precinct, please contact Debby Pattin, 1st Vice Chair, at debbypattin@thurstondemocrats.org or 866-8664.
Precinct Committee Officers Training Update
At the April 25th Central Committee meeting, training was held on canvassing.
As the weather gets nicer, it is time to start thinking about canvassing each precinct. One of the suggestions from the canvassing training was to work on a ‘Buddy System’ where other PCOs, proxies or volunteers would help a PCO canvass his or her precinct and then that PCO would return the favor.
Information on registering voters, especially in new developments, was highlighted. Important information was distributed on address confidentiality (for victims of crime), and on how felons can apply to have their voting rights restored.
A survey was distributed and collected at the end of the training and the results indicate that PCOs are very interested in training on how to use the On-Line Voter Files. This training will be done in coordination with the State Party so will need to wait until after the Gubernatorial Recount trial.
Other training topics requested through the survey were:
- information on Legislative and Congressional Districts, and on where to get candidate information
- information on Framing (George Lakeoff’s book Don’t Think of an Elephant).
- help with understanding and using Robert’s Rules of Order
The consensus was to continue to do trainings during the monthly Central Committee meetings – even if it meant starting the meetings a little earlier or running them a little longer.
The PCO Support Team, in conjunction with the Executive Board, will be working on all of these suggestions, and will be inviting you to participate in future PCO Trainings.
Precinct Committee Officer "Buddy System"
The PCO Buddy System is a way for PCO's to get help canvass their precincts. Volunteer to help others with their precincts and get help for yours in return. Contact us (Jeanne Passarelli 455-0422 j.passarelli@comcast.net or Debby Pattin 866-8664 debbypattin@thurstondemocrats.org) when you're ready to get started and we'll help you recruit some volunteers and coordinate your precinct canvass. If another participating PCO comes to help you, they'll be expecting your help with their canvass. On a good summer day, a group effort could put a big dent in covering a precinct of any size.
So don't delay. It's never too early or too late to get started. We can do this TOGETHER!
Note: If you cannot walk your precinct, then a phone canvass will be handled in much the same way.
Open House Event - ThankS!
A big “Thank You” to Gail James for the work she put into hosting an open house for the Democrats in her precinct. Putting on an open house takes time and effort, not to mention expense. While the turnout may not always be as high as we would hope, the publicity that goes into announcing an open house will pay dividends down the road, as the voters in the precinct will remember that their Democratic PCO has contacted them. Making one’s presence known as the Precinct Committee Officer within the precinct is important. Thanks again to Gail for her efforts in Forest #115.
Faith Community Outreach Committee Report
The Thurston County Democrats have formed a committee to discuss opportunities for interface between the Democratic Party and faith-based communities. A number of volunteers have stepped forward, representing Jewish, Christian (Protestant and Catholic) and Unitarian faith communities here in Thurston County.
We held an initial meeting and discussed future plans, including speaking to the pastors of the local African-American congregations. Our objective for these discussions is to listen to what the pastors have to say to better understand why the Democratic vote is starting to slip within the African-American community and learn how Democrats can better articulate our moral values to these congregations.
To learn more about religious faith and politics, several members of this committee went to St. Leo’s Church in Tacoma to hear Rev. Jim Wallis, the nationally acclaimed author of God’s Politics…Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. We obtained copies of the book and are hoping to conduct a book study group. (Note: you may have heard of Jim Wallis from his work with Sojourners magazine and the Six-Point Plan, offered by U.S. church leaders, as an alternate to war with Iraq. Bush refused to meet with these leaders, including a Bishop of the United Methodist Church, Bush’s own church).
Another activity that we participated in recently is the Thurston County CROP Walk, on Sunday, May 1st. This was the first time Thurston County Democrats had fielded a team. The CROP Walk (along with the work at the Food Bank) is a good way to show the community that Democrats ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to helping fight hunger, both locally and internationally.
If you would like to participate in the Faith Communities Outreach Committee, please contact Debby Pattin at 866.8664 or debbypattin@thurstondemocrats.org. We also have an email list that you can subscribe to at: http://thurstondemocrats.org/mailman/listinfo/tcdfaithcommunity_thurstondemocrats.org.
Legislative District News
Legislative District 35 – Represents Mason and portions of Grays Harbor, Kitsap, and Thurston Counties.
Our next meeting is on May 14th, at Griffin School. We've invited 3rd CD Congressman Brian Baird to speak and are awaiting confirmation.
9th Congressional District Training
The 9th Congressional District recently held a training in Renton. Gail James, PCO Forest #115, and others from Thurston County attended. The following is a brief review of the event from Gail.
"On April 23, 2005, the well-filled room at Carpenter's Hall in Renton, WA, was alive with some new ideas for energizing the Democratic Party from the grassroots level on up. A welcome speech by Congressman Adam Smith set the tone for the day's agenda for the 9th Congressional District, summing up the challenges that face all good men (and women) in the struggle to communicate the values of our party to the American people.
Congressman Smith reminded us about some fairly well known facts but summarized them in such a way to inspire the group. He described how the usual rules in electing people do not apply any longer; that the assumption Democrats only need to turn out voters on election day to elect their nominees is wrong; and that we need to show how the party of the majority is leading us down the wrong path.
Congressman Smith then described some of the characteristics of the vast right wing conspiracy and the movement in the hierarchy of the Democratic Party to counteract that powerful presence. He introduced us to Simon Rosenberg, President of the New Democrat Network, one of the nation's most influential political organizations, who spoke with us on the topic of "Crafting the 21st Century Progressive Politics to Meet the Conservative Challenge."
Mr. Rosenberg had a good news/bad news format. The bad news might be difficult for us to swallow but the work the GOP has done in establishing themselves as the majority party has resulted in the possibility that we might be facing some more defeats in the future. More bad news is that the majority party is not made up of reasonable people and that they are doing great harm to the whole country. All that is being fed to the public is viewed through their prism, be it business, values, security, and personal responsibility. Now it is up to us to be consistent and formulate a new populism. We need to express our coherent and patriotic values, not theirs.
The good news is that much is being done on the national and state party levels to help in this task and that we in Washington State are the beneficiaries of a well run state party under the leadership of Paul Berendt. Assuring us that the national party is not sitting on their hands, he told us that strategies are being developed but are not yet being broadcast. He revealed to us that George Soros and many other bright people are hard at work.
Mr. Rosenberg asked us not be different...but better. He pleaded with us to speak from our hearts and to avoid pushing "programs."
After a short break and a free lunch provided by Congressman Smith, our own John Pearce, LD 35 State Committee Man, took charge of the seminar and with his usual enthusiastic style, organized us into ten teams to set about writing down all our brainstorms, be they weird or wonderful, on the issues that most affected us and our fellow voters. Then in a process of elimination, these ideas were boiled down to the nuggets of what the group felt would be the most significant on which to focus our party.
Realizing that brevity is important and that the last election illustrated that verbiage is counterproductive, John also encouraged each of us to formulate an "elevator speech," a sentence which would take no more than one minute to express that would crystallize our values. As an example, John's elevator speech is: "I believe in equality and opportunity; strong communities; healthy families; investing in the future; and freedom and prosperity for all." John also asked that we use the term "radical right" instead of conservative or neo-con when referring to the opposition party.
All three excellent presenters had a question and answer period so that the group could have their views heard. And while I am sure that this one session will not necessarily result in setting the world on fire for our cause, I felt there were some good opportunities to explore ideas for moving us along that path. I'm afraid we all know the truth: It is not going to be a walk in the park to accomplish what we need to do but instead be a somewhat frustrating, long slog. Ranting and raving won't make it happen either. As my mother used to say, 'Rome wasn't built in a day, Dear.'"
Committees - Help us be the the best county Democrat organization in the state!
Burger Booth Support - Help us get the Burger Booth repaired and in top condition for upcoming fundraising events. The Burger Booth is one of the largest sources of funding for the Thurston County Democrats.
Roger Erskine 709-2445 rogererskine35@hotmail.com
Campaign Services/Support - Have you ever been a candidate or worked on a campaign? This is the committee for you. Come help us develop and implement a plan that will support the needs of candidates, Democrats, and others involved in getting Democrats elected to local office.
Jerry Muchmore 413-9729 bigdogjerry@comcast.net
Joel Staloch 455-1973 joelws27@earthlink.net
Volunteers - Are you an organized person who likes to motivate and engage people? These are the committees for you!
Elizabeth Shepard 943-9448 jemn1@earthlink.net
PCO Support - Develop training, strategies, and other supports to make our PCOs the best trained and best prepared PCOs in the state.
Rhenda Strubb 943-1913 rhenda@irisassociates.net
Jeanne Passarelli 455-0422 j.passarelli@comcast.net
Education and Forums - Develop and manage events and forums that will help educate the Thurston County Democrats and our community on issues that are important to Democrats.
Roger Erskine 709-2445 rogererskine35@hotmail.com
Sunshine Fund - Donate a monthly door prize to be given away at each Thurston County Democrat Central Committee meeting. Funds collected will be used for condolence cards, flowers and other appropriate recognitions for Democrats in our community who have experienced a loss, illness or other event.
Chris Garst 491-4969 cbgarst@aol.com
Communications - Do you have experience writing for publication? Do you have experience producing a regular newsletter? Do you know how to do publicity for events? Are you interested in working on websites? This is the committee for you. We're looking for folks to help pull together the monthly newsletter, keep the website up-to-date and help us publicize Thurston County Democrat events and activities.
Christi McGinley 459-4024 christi@beaudesigns.com
Data & Information - This committee will be looking at what data is needed, where data is coming from, and how it should be used to further Thurston County Democrat goals and objectives.
Jeff Holcomb 943-7939 mapmaker98502@yahoo.com
Historical Records - This committee will begin the important task of documenting the "institutional knowledge" within the Thurston County Democrat organization. There are many who have been around the organization for years who have valuable information that should be collected for current and future reference so we don't unnecessarily reinvent the wheel.
Jeff Holcomb 943-7939 mapmaker98502@yahoo.com
June 6th - Thurston County Food Bank
220 Thurston St. NE
Shifts: 8:30-noon or 12:30-3:00
TCD has scheduled the 1st Monday of every month to volunteer at the Thurston County Food Bank. Volunteers are welcome to bring friends as long as they are willing to be associated with Democrats!
The first Mondays are Federal Commodities day so there are many different jobs to accommodate those with less strong backs but willing hands and hearts.
Starting this Monday the food bank will also be handing out emergency food along with the commodities. This will entail making emergency food bags up, something none of us has done before. One more item to add to the list of the various jobs available to us, affording people with different preferences and capabilities to all help out!!
If you have volunteered before, please send your email address to Betty Rose the Volunteer Coordinator at the Food Bank. She is at volunteers@thurstoncountyfoodbank.org.
If you have not volunteered before the paperwork that needs to be filled out is at the Thurston County Democrats web site and can be downloaded. Bring it all with you except for the sheet to put in your front windshield for parking. Parking is in the dirt lot at the back of Alpine Experience.
For those who are unable to work at the Food Bank during the day, the Food Bank also is open for distribution on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. People who want to help but are busy during the day can join in from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. As during the day there are multiple jobs to be done, so if your spirit is stronger than you spine there are still things for everyone to do. The Thurston County Democrats are making a name for themselves at the Food Bank as being a superstar group, lets get another group going on the 4th Wednesday of the month.
For more information contact Elizabeth at 943-9448 jemn1@earthlink.net.
Letter Carriers' Food Drive - Saturday May 14th
The Letter Carriers' Food Drive is Saturday May 14th and we need volunteers to help! This is the largest day of donations for the food bank all year in Thurston County. It is also a fun day and a great way to roll up your sleeves and help your community. Food is provided to workers, and there are also prizes awarded, donated by local businesses such as coupons for restaurants, etc. Betty Rose, the Volunteer Coordinator at the Food Bank, has specifically asked Thurston County Democrats to help the Westside Post Office (on Cooper Point Rd,) during this drive.
We need three people with trucks or vans who can accompany postal workers during the day to ferry the large amounts of food back to the Post Office. If you live on the Westside this is a great opportunity to interact with your neighbors. We are also offering the community a very visable presence of who Thurston County Democrats are and what we stand for. At the Post Office we will need at least ten to twelve people from 12:00 until 5:00. The staff at this branch is very small, we will be helping them sort and box the food that is brought in before it is taken to the Food Bank and weighed.
Please wear old clothes and closed toe shoes. This is a competition between Post Offices throughout the whole county. Lacey has been the winner frequently in the past, and the competition is strong. There are prizes given to the winners. So please come join the fun (it is truly fun!!) and help those in our community who need it. If you are not able to help during the drive, please remember to put food out for your postal carrier to pick up!
Please call or email Elizabeth Shepard at jemn1@earthlink.net or 943-9448 for more information and to sign up. Ruth Milroy is the overall director of this Postal food drive, and Debby Nicklaus is the director of this at the Westside Postal Annex, you can contact me for their phone numbers if needed.
Thank you, from the bottom of our communities stomach!
Calendar through July 2005
May 2 |
TCD Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00pm – Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg. 1, Room 152 Volunteer at the Food Bank – 8:30am-noon or 12:30pm-3:00pm |
May 14 |
13th Annual Letter Carriers' Food Drive |
May 21 |
Jefferson/Jackson Dinner - Red Lion Inn – Spruce Room |
May 23 |
TCD Central Committee Meeting – 6:30pm Social Time, Meeting 7:00pm – Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg. 1, Room 152 |
May 30 |
Memorial Day TC Pro-Net Spring Networking Picnic - Tumwater Historical Park - 11:00am-7:00pm Contact Glen Anderson 491-9093 glen@olywa.net |
June 6 |
TCD Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00pm – Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg. 1, Room 152 Volunteer at the Food Bank – 8:30am-noon or 12:30pm-3:00pm |
June 11 |
Super Saturday - Burger Booth Shifts |
June 22 |
Democrats Spring Issues Conference – 5:00pm-9:30pm – More information at www.2ndlegislativewa.com |
June 27 |
TCD Central Committee Meeting – 6:30pm Social Time, Meeting 7:00pm – Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg. 1, Room 152 |
July 4 |
Independence Day - Tumwater Parade |
July 13-17 |
Lakefair - Burger Booth Shifts |
Precinct Committee Officer and Proxy Email Lists
If you would like to be part of a PCO discussion list we encouraged to subscribe to the TCDPCO email list. This list should be used to energize