February 21, 2010

FEB 25 Meeting

JAN Meeting Wrap Up

2010 GOALS

Prop 15 Endorsement

Other

Club Officers

Janet Reynolds
President

Rosalie Salvato
Vice-President

Larry Nemecek
Secretary

Ken Ahearn
Treasurer

Kevin Harrop
Political Action Chair

Heike Strand
Events Chairperson

Lee Wochner
Past President

David Dobson
Past Vice-President

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Barack Obama
President

Joe Biden
Vice President

“True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.”
--Socrates

“The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities.”
--Abraham Lincoln

February 25th Club Meeting: Historic and Important!

You do not want to miss our SPECIAL regular club meeting at 7-9 pm Thursday, Feb. 25, once again at the Burbank Senior's Artist Colony Theatre, 130 E. Verdugo. Park on the street, or in lots a block or so away.

For the first time ever in our 4 1/2 years, the Burbank Democratic Club will consider making an endorsement in a primary race, the 43rd AD special election April 13 to fill Paul Krekorian's now vacant seat.  Our five-member Endorsement Committee has met, submitted questionnaires and live interview opportunities to all the Democratic candidates in the race, and will report back their recommendation for an endorsement, with discussion available at that time before the club's final vote.

Remember, it takes a 2/3 majority of those present to approve a candidate endorsement, and that's from among PAID members--so be sure to pay your dues if need be before the meeting in order to take part. You can always do it online at the club website.

And then, paid members, stick around: Following that we will vote on the four elected club officers for 2010. There is a slate ready to go, but nominations can still be put into play from the floor at this time. Janet Reynolds announced at January's meeting that she will be moving out of town and cannot stand for the office again, so the current pending slate includes Larry Nemecek (current secretary) for president, and Bridget McCann for secretary; vice president Rosalie Salvato and FOUNDING treasurer Ken Ahearn have also agreed to hang on another year!
 
With no guest speaker this month, we'll also have an extended "What's On Your Mind" open topic, and your chance to sound off on guest speakers, projects and issues for the club to focus on. Of course it's a busy election year—including our stepped-up voter registration/outreach effort on weekends at area shopping hotbeds (see below).

JANUARY MEETING WRAP UP

We had a great turnout of over 60 members and guests at our "Fresh Start for 2010" meeting and finger-foods mixer Jan. 28.  Identity theft was the topic of Chris Garcia,  Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney in Identity Theft and Fraud and a former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Major Frauds, who updated current crime trends, tips for preventing it and answered questions for a half-hour.  Chris is also a candidate for an LA County Superior Court Judge on the primary ballot June 8. (more details here)

After that we adjourned to a great mini-buffet and heard from two of the then-current Democrats vying in the 43rd Assembly District special election: Mike Gatto and Andrew Westhall.  Since that night, Andrew has withdrawn from the race. 

2010 Goals

Also at the January meeting we heard the officer's annual club goals for the year and discussed them: growth, visibility, and of course good fun in purusing our shared goals at the city, state and national level. Since it is a year filled with elections, we will be doing lots of voter registration and GOTV, including our endorsed 43rd candidate when that is decided.  Political Action chair Kevin laid out a plan and now we need volunteers to make the vision happen! Larry also discussed planning a BDC "recognition night" at year's end to honor members for various types of service to the club, party and community.                                                                         

Prop 15 Endorsement and Kickoff

You should have been contacted recently about voting in a quick, between-meeting  "Action Alert" poll to sign on the club as a sponsor for the Prop 15 "Clean Money" drive for public campaign financing, which is now being rebranded as the "Fair Election" drive; the club's poll via online reply passed 17-0 for support, by the time expired.

The large Fair Elections kick-off event is Thursday, March 11 at  7-9 pm at
Leo Baeck Temple at 1300 North Sepulveda Blvd,
along the 405 in Sepulveda Pass:  Free parking, it's accessible—
and we are one of the first clubs in the fliers listed as endorsers.

Guests so far include  State Sen. Fran Pavely, Assemblymembers Michael Feuer and Julia Brownley; LA City Council Members Paul Koretz and Bill Rosendahl, and LA City Council President Eric Garcetti.

Check their website for updates at www.YesFairElections.org, and RSVP if you plan to attend. Join the event Facebook page.
                                                                         

Candidate Forums

At this time, be alert to proposed plans by various groups to host a forum in Burbank for the 43rd AD Special Election Democrats, one of several forums being planned in the district. Details still need to be worked out, but will be updated at the Feb. 25 meeting.


March Meeting
Our third meeting for 2010 is set for the last Thursday of the month as usual, March 25, and will once again be back at the Burbank Senior Artists Colony Theatre—be sure to thank our residents' hosts, Gene and Gloria Sklair!  We'll update the campaign and voter reg efforts at that time, and a whole lot more—it will be spring backyard meeting and summer picnic time soon!