Benton County Democrats and 8th LDDO Wednesday Meeting

The Benton County and 8th Legislative District Democrats will hold their regular monthly meeting this coming Wednesday, March 15th, at the union's labor hall on Duportail, just off the bypass in Richland. The 8th LD meets at 6:00 pm followed immediately by the BCDCC at 7:00 pm.

The proposaed 8th LDDO agenda follows:

1. Call to Order by Chair 6PM
2. Adoption of Minutes as sent out on March 14th 6:02PM
3. Adoption of the Agenda 6:04PM
4. Officer Reports 6:05 PM – 6:25 PM
5. Treasurer
6. Secretary
7. State Committee Woman
8. State Committee Man
9. Chair of Activism
10. Chair of Fundraising
11. Chair of Elections Vice Chair
12. Chair Report 6:25 PM
13. Our Revolution
14. Candidate/Campaign Training Opportunity
15. Monthly State Committee Meeting Update
16. Budget
17. Good of the Order 6:45 PM
18. Adjournment 7:00PM

 
8th Legislative District Meeting Minutes, February 15, 2017

I. Skye called the meeting to order at 6:08 PM on February 15, 2017 at the Laborers Hall 348. A flag salute is conducted.
II. Adoption of the Agenda
Motion is made to adopt the agenda as e-mailed out prior to meeting. Motion carried.
III. Guest Speaker Leo Perales
Leo spoke on the Inclusive Community Resolution in Kennewick. Took questions. Motion made: The 8th LD encourages the cities within our communities to support similar inclusive resolutions. Seconded. Motion passed.
IV. Officer Reports
A) Brent Kirby – Treasurer – 8th LD currently has $2,458 in checking and $375 in savings.
B) Carl Sjostrand – Secretary – Updated body on the previous motion to purchase a recorder. New motion was made for: The 8th LD to purchase of a PA System, with the cost split between the 8th LD and Benton County CC, for use in the meeting space; if Benton County fails to pass the motion to split, the 8th LD covers the cost itself. Seconded. Motion carried.
C) Barbara O’Brien – State Committee Woman – Spoke on the state committee meeting she attended. Full comments are attached. Took questions.
D) Jay Clough – State Committee Man – Also spoke on state meeting. Jay was elected for 4th CD Executive Board, spoke on the state chair election, took questions.
E) Matt Bonomo – Spoke on upcoming DNC elections, state bills SJM 8000 and HJM 4003. Took questions.

V. PCO Outreach Update
Allison Dabler spoke on the need and recruitment of PCOs and further outreach. Took questions.
VI. Chair Report
A) Standing Committees
a. Legislative Candidate Search Committee
i. Nancy Washton appointed as chair. Body votes and approves.
b. Fundraising Committee
i. Angie Mykel appointed as chair. Body votes and
approves.
B) Additional Committees a. Bylaws Committee
i. Chuck LoPresti appointed as chair. Body votes and approves.
b. Audit Committee
i. Stacy Cash-Ware is appointed as chair. Body votes and
approves.
c. Community Activism Committee
i. Jill Mulhasen is appointed as chair. Body votes and approves.
VII. Good of the Order

1. A)  Question of committee meeting times/8th LD website.
2. B)  Reminder to body of Protest Tuesdays at John Dam Plaza.
3. C)  $229 was collected at the meeting for the 8th LD.

VIII. Adjournment
Skye adjourned meeting at 7:01 PM Minutes submitted by: Carl Sjostrand

The BCDCC agenda follows:

1. Call to order
2. Flag Salute
3. Special order of Business
    *Young Dems food fundraiser
    *Guest Speaker: Indivisible group

4. Report of Committees
    *Finance
    *Organization
    *Communications
    *Labor and Commerce
    *Elections
    *Platform and Legislation

5. Report of the Officers
    *Recording Secretary
    *Treasurer
    *SCW
    *SCM
    *Vice Chair

6. BCDCC Chairs Report
    *Candidates running for open seats and upcoming elections
    *House Bill 1723
        -Action moving forward
        -Yays and Nays for bill
    *Political Movement moving forward/Together as one!

7. Old Business

8. New business
    *If not having already done so, approve Bylaws, Policy Guide and Rules

9. Good of the order

10. Adjourn

Please review last month's meeting minutes prior to the meeting.

Executive Board Meeting This Sunday!

Joint Executive Board Meeting, Sunday, January 22nd

There will be a combined Executive Board Meeting on Sunday, January 22nd at 3:30 PM at the All Saints Episcopal Church. The address is 1322 Kimball Ave in Richland. The Executive Boards of the Benton County, 8th LD, and Tri-City Democrats organizations will be meeting together.

We will be discussing how best to coordinate our efforts for the foreseeable future in order to have responibilities clearly assigned and to reduce duplication of effort.

There is no need to attend if you are not on any of the executive boards, but anyone is welcome to come observe. Only executive board members may vote.

Upcoming Events in Our Community

Events of possible interest to our members coming up between now and the inauguration of Donald Trump. You may find that attending these events will lessen the distress of seeing this odious man become the POTUS.

January 12, 2017 "The Soul, Science & Culture of HOPE"
Did you see the Disney film McFarland, USA? If so, you know that instilling hope in kids can inspire them to accomplish great things with their lives.

Kennewick School District invites teachers, coaches and anyone in the Tri-Cities community to a free symposium at Kennewick High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m, Jan 12.

Featured speakers include Danny Diaz, a member of the California high school track team portrayed in the Disney film McFarland, USA. He will be joined by Rick Miller, founder of Kids at Hope, a national youth advocacy organization. Those planning to attend are encouraged to watch McFarland USA before attending. For more information, contact Sarah Del Toro at sarah.deltoro@ksd.org


January 14, 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Event
Red Lion Hotel, 802 George Washington Way in Richland
From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $50 per person (includes dinner)

The African American Community Cultural & Educational Society (AACCES) is hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King 10th Annual Celebration that will feature dinner, guest speakers and entertainment.

Guest speakers include:
•Les Trent, Senior Correspondent for CBS' Inside Edition with Deborah Norville
•Gwen Fisher Trent, Head of U. S. Communications for Shire, a global biotechnology company

The Trents are seasoned communications professionals who will discuss issues of traditional vs alternative news media.

AACCES will award its annual MLK scholarship to a student from WSU Tri-Cities and its Commitment to Diversity Award to an individual who has made a positive impact in the community.
In addition, Freeform, a nationally acclaimed jazz vocal group from Columbia Basin College, will be performing.

Tickets can be purchase at Salon Remedi (745 The Parkway in Richland), online or by phone 509-531-2141. Info and Tickets at AACCES

January 15, 2017, Rally for the Affordable Care Act.
Noon Sunday. John Dam Plaza, Richland.

Community event hosted by the local democrats. Includes speakers, music, information and call to action.

More info can be found here and on the BCDCC web page.

January 19, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. The White Privilege: The Other Side of Racial Inequality
Mid-Columbia Library - Kennewick Branch, located at 1620 S. Union St.

To be presented by Sociology Professor, Teresa Ciabattari, this event centers on racial inequality and white people's experiences concerning this matter. 'The White Privilege' aims to inform the participants how situations like this should be addressed, and how racial justice can be promoted in every community.

For more details, please visit the White Privilege: The Other Side of Racial Inequality page at Columbia Basin College's website.

County and District Reorganizations

The Bylaws of the Washington State Democratic Party require all County and Legislative District Parties to reorganize in the December or January following an even-year general election. At a Reorganization Meeting, Precinct Committee Officers elected during the most recent primary elect a new Chair, new Vice Chairs, and new State Committee members for the organization. Other officers may be elected and additional party business may be conducted.

The Benton County Democratic Central Committee (BCDCC), and the 8th Legislative District Democratic Organization (8LDDO) will meet at the Richland Public Library beginning at 1:30 on January 7, 2017. The Benton County reorganization meeting will be first. Upon its conclusion, the 8th Legislative District reorganization meeting will convene. 

Elected Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) are strongly encouraged to attend both the County and Legislative District reorganization meetings. This is an especially important meeting for elected PCOs. According to our rules, elected PCOs are the only ones who can vote on the new set of officers that will be elected on the 7th.

Both the BCDCC and the 8LDDO will elect chairs, vice chairs, secretaries, and treasurers. In addition, each organization will elect a state committee man and a state committee woman. These four newly elected State Committee Members will meet in the last weekend of January to reorganize the State Party.

At later regular meetings, the new chairs will appoint committee chairs and membership, subject to support of the body. The committees undertake essential work for the organizations, and are responsible for recommending actions to be taken by the organization as a whole.

The BCDCC has six standing committees:

1. Finance
2. Organization
3. Outreach
4. Candidate Development
5. Voter Registration
6. Platform (added in 2016)

The  8th LD has two standing committees: Fundraising, and Legislative Candidate Search.

Chairs of standing committees are members of the respective organization's Executive Boards. The Executive Boards shall assist the chairs in implementing the programs and policies of the BCDCC and 8th LDDO.

Members interested in taking on these essential duties and responsibilities at the committee level should speak with the chairs, and with other members of the Executive Board.

Finally, the BCDCC and 8th LDDO will reexamine their bylaws, rules, and policies and propose amendments as determined necessary by the body as a whole. This is a crucial step in ensuring your party organization operates in an open, democratic, efficient manner.

Every PCO should take it upon themselves to review these documents and be prepared to propose and/or discuss proposed changes. It is quite likely that our governing rules will be examined as an early priority of the new leadership.

Upcoming Events

Electric Car Show for National Drive Electric Week

Sat. Sept. 17, 2016, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm

A variety of Electric cars to observe and discuss with their owners.
Richland Public Library
 955 Northgate Drive, Richland WA

Electric Auto Association

Strategy Meeting for Benton County/8th LD PCOs & Volunteers

Sat. Sept. 17, 2016, 2 pm

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 598 1328 Road 28, Pasco

Contact: Tony Ramirez, (509) 790-8556

Washington State Democratic Central Committee Meeting

September 16, 2016 (All day) to September 17, 2016 (All day)

Yakima Convention Center
10 N. 8th St
Yakima, WA 981901

Contact: mackenzie@wa-democrats.org 

8th Legislative District Monthly Meeting, 6 pm to 7 pm, and

Benton County Democratic Central Committee Meeting, 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016

Laborers' 348 Hall, 2505 Duportail St, Richland, WA

Benton County Democrats ANNUAL PICNIC 

Sept. 24th, 2016 from 1-4pm

Jefferson Park, 1400 George Washington Way, Richland

I-732 Carbon Tax Forum

Fri, Sept. 30, 2016, 7 pm

WSU-Tri-Cities East Auditorium

2710 Crimson Way, Richland, WA