Senate District Conventions: Saturday, March 20, 2010

Congratulations to all of you that were elected Delegate or Alternate to the 2010 Senate District Convention at your Precicnt Convention. This years SD Conventions will be fun,informative, and the next step towards the big win in 2010.

When: 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Where: Great Commision Baptist Church located at  7700 McCart Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76133-7815

To learn more about the Senate District Conventions please visit here.

Or contact your Senate District Convention temporary chairperson, especially if you are interested in volunteering!

SD 9 Marvin Sutton

SD 10 Linda Cozzen

SD 12 Lee Henderson

2010 Precinct Conventions

If you want to be a delegate to the Senate District or State Convention, if you want to effect change in the Party or if you just want to participate, please attend your Precinct Convention. Conventions will be called to order at 7:15 p.m. Or after the last eligible voter has voted. They are held at the polling location you vote at. Please visit the Texas Democratic Party website for more information.

NOTICE

The first day candidates in the 2010 Democratic Primary may file for office is Thursday, December 3, 2009

The filing deadline is 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 4, 2010
As filings are completed, they are listed on our candidates web site .

Notice is hereby given that applications for a place on the Democratic Party Primary ballot may be filed, according to the dates and times listed, at the following address(s)

TCDP Office
3004 West Lancaster, Fort Worth TX 76107
December 3-19, December 28-30
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
817-335-8683

Chairman Maxwell’s Office
801 Cherry St. Suite 3450, Fort Worth, TX 76102
December 21-23
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
817-377-1654
You are encouraged to call ahead of time.

Monday, January 4, 2010
3004 West Lancaster, Fort Worth TX 76107
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Applications, Signature Petitions and Filing Fees must be filed with either the Party Chairman or Party Secretary

For important information related to candidate filing, including fee schedules and forms please visit the Texas Secretary Of State Website

SDEC REPORT – MEETING February 13, 2010 by Jo Pierce SD 12

For the first time I went to and from the meeting in one day. I usually go the day before and go to a little happy hour fundraiser at the state office on Friday afternoon.  This time I rode with DeeJay Johanneson which was great fun. Talked politics for hours.  We solved all the problems, from the President on down.  Now if they would only listen to us. (Ha Ha)

I sat in on the Grassroots committee. They have done a great job in producing training for Precinct Chairs. There are Webinars now posted on the state web site       www.txdemocrats.org   for election judges and precinct conventions and a great Grassroots Manual to help Democrats to organize and get out the vote. It was also discussed that the minutes from the precinct conventions need to be legible and turned in immediately so as they can be entered into a software program from which we can print out dependable lists for the county and senatorial district conventions.  That would be great for registration!!

In the Resolutions committee we passed a resolution honoring the memory of Congressman  Charlie Wilson. A resolution in opposition to the Supreme Court decision to allow corporations free will in contributing funds in Washington was also passed by the committee and by the SDEC.

In the Convention committee we mostly finalized plans and made assignments for the convention in Corpus Christi, June 25, 26.  The theme is “Catch the Blue Wave” . There is to be a silent auction at the kickoff dinner on Friday night at the Aquarium. If you have something you would like to donate to the silent auction please contact Deborah Guilford at 512-476-9800 or dguilford@txdemocrats.org

If you want to go to the convention without being a delegate, go to the web site and sign up as a volunteer.  It is a great way to be able to move about without a lot of responsibility.  Also excellent for family members of delegates.  Corpus is going all out for us. Go if you can!!!

Convention registration and hotel information will be on the state web site by the time of the primary.  Make your reservations early and prepare to have fun.  We should be able to form some car pools from Tarrant county.  Contact the County office 817-335-8683 or me jompierce@aol.com if you are interested and we will try to put folks together

FROM THE GENERAL SESSION

Welcome of special guests. Strangely enough there weren’t any of the candidates from the top of the ticket at the meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Nominations: Replaced SDEC committee persons in Districts 8 and 14 plus four county chairs.  All were approved.

Rules: New Rules books have been published and will be included in each Precinct packet.

Finance:  The 2010 Operating Budget was approved.  Revenue: $1,059,500   Expenses: $1,865,815    NET  $92,685     Positive!  Good!!

Legislative: This committee has analyzed the election codes and is making recommendations to the Texas Legislature in it’s 2010 session.

Majority Builder: In 2009 this program produced $180,000 in revenues. As a sustaining program it provides some income year round.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Texas Young Democrats Convention is in Austin April 23 to 25. Go to the state web site for further information.

The next SDEC meeting will be May 13, at the Austin Marriott North

Democrats of Senate District 12 – I have decided to run for re-election as your  SDEC representative.. .  I hope I have communicated with you, been available to you and have represented you well in Austin.  If you think so, please vote for me.

SDEC REPORT – MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2009

Thank You! : SDEC 12 member Jo Pierce for submitting the following report.
Hasn’t this been a busy and exciting two weeks for Texas Democrats ! And full of surprises. Tom Sheiffer getting out of the Governor’s race, Bill White moving from Senator to Governor into it, Hank Gilbert moving from the Governor spot to Agriculture, Kinky Freidman says he will announce something Monday. And last but not least the new fellow on the block Farouk Shami.

Farouk Shami, candidate for Governor came to the meeting at the end of the day and was introduced. He did not speak to the group, just shook hands and visited with attendees.

The Convention Committee met on Friday beginning at noon and had presentations from Dallas and Houston inviting the 2012 State Convention. We met again on Saturday and after much negotiation the decision was made and the contract signed to have the meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. They made many financial concessions, plus the GRB is going green, already using wind power and solar power for 80% of their electricity needs. Also, there are several hotels plus all sorts of family entertainment in a 9 block footprint. All is going as planned for the 2010 convention in Corpus Christ June 10-12. The convention hotel is the Omni. Hopefully the airlines will offer discounted rates to our attendees.

The Resolutions committee is my other assignment and we met on Saturday morning.
Three resolutions were presented: 1) a Resolution supporting managing fisheries to prevent overfishing. Passed in committee and the general session. 2) Resolution in support of NASA and US Space Exploration Program. Passed in committee and the general session. 3) Resolution in support of HR 226 on supporting the human rights of the people of Tibet. Failed in committee. Three congratulatory resolutions were passed, 1) Harry Reid for standing up for us, 2) Jean Klego, president of ElPaso Central Labor Union, and 3) Committeeman John Beherman on his 67th birthday.

I sat in on the Grassroots committee meeting. In the past 6 months 350 people have been trained at five Campaign Camp Academies. There are three programs plus webinars. New candidates (or old ones) are welcome to go to the web site at www.txdemocrats.org
and check out the online training. Go to Resources, then Candidate Resources, and online training. A committee was formed from the Grassroots Committee to draft help for new precinct chairs who will be election judges for the first time in 2010.

I also was able to sit in on the last 15 minutes of the Rules Committee. Very interesting,. Senator Royce West chaired a special advisory committee over several months of the spring and summer to gather information from Democrats around the state regarding the election process, the precinct and district convention process and the so-called Texas Two Step process for delegates. A series of twelve meetings were held all across the state. The committee members were not paid for their time or expenses. There is a report from this group with proposed rules changes that will be posted on the TDP web site in the very near future. I suggest we all read it. Then please let me know what your concerns and thoughts are so I can vote appropriately when the time comes.

GENERAL SESSION

Chairman Boyd reported on the many successes and achievements since June. The national Democrats in congress are gradually pulling out of the GOP recession. The Texas Dems restored SCHIPS for the children. We can’t let up, we must continue to work the precincts in our counties. That is how elections are won. By the voters voting!
He said that when Sam Rayburn was criticized for the Democrats being Socialists that Sen. Rayburn replied “Socialism – no it is Applied Christianity.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
David Henderson of Smith County, newly elected SDEC member
There are new county chairs in: Archer, Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dickens, Hansford, Hudspeth, Matelle, Refugio, Stephens and Scurry Counties.

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Adopted budget of $368,000 for 2010 convention

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
This committee and the Rules committee appointed members to the special committee that began in the Grassroots committee because the goal of the groups overlap

MAJORITY BUILDERS
There are currently 1056 Majority Builders across the state and that program has raised $166,370.00

The DNC sent cards and letters of gratitude for the help during their Austin meeting.
(Note- I’m glad the DNC has noticed that there is a Texas Democratic Party and it is alive and well)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Pierce, SDEC Dist 12

More Politics of Fear from Republicans!

The Republican Party is once again using misinformation and fear to motivate extremists to block measures that would extend equality to citizens of Tarrant County.

The Tarrant County Republican Party has called for all Republicans in the City of Fort Worth to speak against expansion of the City’s non-discrimination ordinance to protect gender identity and expression in employment, housing, and public accommodation.

Please contact your Council Representative TODAY to let them know you support legal protections for all citizens of Fort Worth. No one should be denied housing because a landlord doesn’t like the way that person looks. Employment should be offered or retained based upon a person’s qualifications and job performance, not that person’s gender. No one should be forced out of a restaurant or business because the owner doesn’t like the way they look. Discrimination should never be tolerated, regardless of someone’s personal opinions.

Better yet, attend the City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 10 in City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton. Expansion of the non-discrimination ordinance is on the agenda. The Diversity Task Force recommendations are not on the agenda.

Top Ten Rick Perry Failures

From State Chairman, Boyd Richie:

#10: Health Insurance Premiums Increase 91.6%
#9: Homeowners Insurance Rates Skyrocket During Perry’s Tenure
#8: Utility Rates Out of Control
#7: Perry Taking a Toll on Texans
#6: Perry Prices Texans Out of a College Education
#5: Perry’s Stimulus Hypocrisy Costs Texans
#4: Perry Education Report Card: F
#3: Perry’s Political Cover-Up Compromises Texas Criminal Justice System
#2: Perry: A Bad Prescription for Children’s Health
#1: “What Recession?”
Joking about the recession may be funny to Rick Perry, but for the 44,700 Texans who lost their jobs last month to failed Republican policies, it’s no laughing matter.

N.O.G. Neighborhood Outreach Groups

NOG Leadership Council Recruitment Announcement:

Purpose:

Last year our focus and mission was to help organize TC democrats and like-minded voters to support a national presidential campaign. That effort resulted in 50 NOG groups, which helped drive nearly 3000 voters to the polls, which helped TC contribute to DEM victory. Under the TCDP sponsorship, we are now reorganizing to help our communities, precincts, and house districts, one neighborhood at a time; with a goal to unify DEMs and like-minded supporters to win local victories.

As a result of our new mission and broader reach, we will require a more robust NOG infrastructure to support our efforts; therefore we are preparing a larger field leadership support structure. Assistance is needed in the following categories:

Leadership Assignment Categories:

1. ADMIN Support:
   1. Telephone calls (to members, prospects, and candidates)
   2. Team tracking duties and assignments
   3. Meeting setup and arrangements
2. COMMUNICATIONS:
   1. NOG Calendar Management
   2. Agendas, Memos and Status reports
   3. NOG email distribution list management
   4. NOG weekly web page or blog updates
   5. Occasional documentation updates
3. TRAINING Support:
   1. Learn NOG mission, strategy, and methods
   2. Help Train internal leaders
   3. Help Train PCs, Captains, and other NOG groups
   4. Help improve training materials
   5. Support other team leaders efforts in field with “How To” answers

Length of Commitment:

We ask that members of the Leadership Council commit for one year. The amount of time needed from Council members is dependent upon project size; however average volunteer hours for a leader will be 4-6 hours a week.

Contact:

If you would like to join the NOG Leadership Council, please send your name, contact information, category of interest, precinct and house district number to: Nognog@tcdp.net.

2009 North Texas Salute to Jim Wright

Thanks for Attending The 2009 North Texas Salute To Speaker Jim Wright

Featured Speaker Jim Wright and Jim Hightower

Speaker of the House, Jim Wright

Upcoming Events Roundup

See our calendar to the left.

Health Insurance Reform

A Message From the White House

WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck — to help you separate fact from fiction and share the truth about health insurance reform. Here’s a few of the reality check videos you can find on the site:

• CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses.
• Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families.
• Matt Flavin, the White House’s Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran’s benefits.
• Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors.
• Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.

There’s more information and a number of online tools you can use to spread the truth among your family, friends and other social networks. Take a look:

Health Insurance Reform Reality Check

SDEC Meeting Report of June 6, 2009 from Jo Pierce

Read it here.

The New White House Web site

The Obama Administration has gone live with their new web presence, including a blog, and ways for you to share your ideas for our government directly with the administration.

The White House

Democrats: Commit Now

Now is the time to commit to be an election judge or
pollworker for future elections. Learn More…