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.