PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF
MARIN
General
Meeting
Thursday, December
13, 2007 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Healus Center, Corte Madera,
CA
150 Nellen Ave. (Lucky Drive at
Highway 101, next to Gold's Gym)
AGENDA
ITEMS
1) MAKE 2008 A VOLUNTEER
YEAR: We're all ready to help. That was particularly evident in the
aftermath of the November 7 oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Hundreds of
volunteers came out to be trained and help with the clean-up.
What if we were already trained
and ready for any disaster? What if peaceful service was integral to our
lives? Come hear our speaker Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director of People's
Lobby Inc., sponsor of the American World Service Corps (AWSC) Congressional
Proposals.
According to the
group, the AWSC will be among the most significant legislation passed in
decades. It will dramatically affect poverty, ignorance, hatreds, global
climate change, etc... at home and abroad. See the most recent citizen
proposed Congressional legislation at: http://www.worldservicecorps.us.
2) MAKE 2008
A CONSERVATION YEAR: We will be showing Kilowatt
Ours, a film that takes viewers on a journey from the coal mines of
West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, as filmmaker Jeff
Barrie discovers solutions to America's energy related problems.
Kilowatt Ours reveals the consequences of our coal powered economy, shares
practical answers and shows how to create a Net-Zero home through
conservation. For more information and to sign a petition against
mountaintop-removal coal mining, visit www.kilowattours.org. And come see the movie!
We'll watch the 38-minute version and will
lend out the dvd for folks who want to view the 64-minute
version.
3) SIMPLIFY THE HOLIDAYS
and CONSUME LESS: Share your tips! Here
are a few from the Center for a New American Dream (www.newdream.org):
-
Instead of giving a material gift, take a loved one to a
concert, cultural performance, museum, or sports game.
-
Make a coupon that gives the gift of time (a month of taking
out the garbage, doing the dishes, cleaning the cat box, etc.)
-
Give a special activity - a massage, candlelight dinner,
picnic.
-
Sign someone up for lessons in a sport, a language or a
musical instrument.
For the 2007 holiday season, the average individual U.S.
consumer plans to spend $817 on holiday-related shopping, plus
and additional $107 on “non-gift” purchases of promoted and discounted
items. Many are still in debt from last year!
Yes, you can bring holiday cookies to
share! Hope to see you there!
Activism Opportunities -
- Counter Recruitment
Again, our thanks to State Senator Carole Migden;
Alan Barnett, Marin Peace & Justice Coalition; Christian Heath, Social
Landscape Project; and Denise Beck of H.O.P.E., Inc. for speaking at our October
meeting on counter-recruitment; defunding the Iraq occupation; and preventing
war/improving relations with Iran.
Denise Beck will conduct a training for those
interested in counter-recruitment efforts on Marin County school campuses.
Contact Anita to sign up 415-686-8841.
Clean, Fair and Transparent
Elections
Not all of our members
running for office were elected this time but we'd like to congratulate
Phil Kranenberg for his re-election to the Marin Community College District
Governing Board and Greg Brockbank for his election to the San Rafael City
Council.
NOTES FROM THE FIELD - Election Night
Dear Linda (Bagneschi Dorrance),
Just a quick note to tell you that Election Night
at the Marin County Registrar of Voters went very smoothly. There were two
women from League of Women Voters and myself as observers, although I was the
only one to stay until the end (only 10:45pm!). I watched the ballots and
machines arrive and be escorted to the receiving room
where election officials and staff logged them in and removed the
memory cards. They checked the seals on ballot boxes and
machines. Memory cards were taken at frequent intervals via
pouch by two individuals (always) up to the computer (which is not linked
nor connected to any other computer) where they were uploaded and tabulated in a
glass office in full view. Only once was a memory card unreadable and
I watched as they opened the corresponding ballot box, re-ran the ballots and
burned a new card, all under the supervision of the Registrar of Voters Elaine
Ginnold (among others).
I learned about the security, the unique code on
each card for each precinct, the background checks of the election workers, and
the many safeguards taken (such as the person burning the card is not the
same person that uploads it). I was in the constant company of the very
knowledgeable and helpful Michael J. Smith, Marin County Clerk -
Registrar, who said, "The integrity of the election is in the process that
surrounds it."
It was a great experience! I have many more
notes than the above but just wanted to give you a quick overview. I will
gladly do this again for the 2008 elections.
Best regards,
Anita Fieldman, Chair
Progressive Democrats of Marin
415-686-8841
Linda Bagneschi Dorrance is on
the Election Integrity Subcommittee of the Registrar of Voters Election Advisory
Committee. They are looking for observers for the next election. The
County is also looking for poll workers. If you want to make sure it is a
fair and transparent election, sign up and show up! Call me if you
need more information. Anita
Also on
elections.......
The January PD-Marin
meeting will again be a joint meeting with Democracy for America- Marin for the
screening of Uncounted: The New Math of American
Elections http://uncountedthemovie.com. Time and location
TBD.
MANY THANKS TO OUR NEW
MEMBERS! WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!
Please, please visit www.pdamerica.org for all national efforts, updates, campaigns and
news.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Anita Fieldman
Progressive Democrats of
Marin
P.O. Box 425
Mill Valley CA 94942-0425
415-686-8841