Minutes for last night's meeting
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Minutes are pasted in below. Thanks for Myrna for taking notes for me since I ended up having to chair the meeting, too! And thanks to her, as usual, for her editing skills.
Herb
Minutes
Oconee County Democratic Committee meeting
September 4, 2008
Oconee County Courthouse, Watkinsville, Georgia
Committee members present: Bill Yarbrough (4-2), Vice-Chair; Herb West (5-1), Secretary; Violet Dawe (1-1), Treasurer; Tony Glenn (1-2); Ann Stoneburner (1-3); Dan Matthews (2-2); Sarajane Love (2-3); Rita Bennett (3-2); Vicky Moody (4-1); Myrna Adams West (5-2); Robert Wyatt (6-1);
Committee members absent (excused): Becky Vaughn (5-3), Chair; Jonathan Veit (2-1), Vice-Chair; Diana Jeffreys (6-2); Pat Adams (6-3).
Committee members absent (unexcused): Linda Elkins (3-1).
Others: Pat Priest, Vi Wilmot, Chanda Hubert, Michael Day, Rama Rickard, Erika Ferrari-Chumbley; OCHS Young Dems Jenna Lancaster, Nate Eve, Mitchell Wolfe.
Although Vice-Chair Bill Yarbrough was present and prepared to chair the meeting, because of a cold and concern for his voice, he asked Secretary Herb West to chair. Herb called the meeting to order at 7:26 pm. A quorum was declared present.
Since there were many new people present, each person briefly introduced him- or herself.
Minutes: The minutes from the August 7, 2008 meeting were approved unanimously after a motion by Dan Matthews and second by Robert Wyatt.
Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Violet Dawe reported that the balance in the account was $XXXX, after $XXXX was donated to Rich Clark's campaign for county Board of Education and $XXXX to Bobby Saxon's 10th Congressional campaign. Members were reminded that membership dues are now due, and several renewals were turned in as well as two new memberships. Dan made a motion to donate $XXX to Sherry Jackson's campaign for 46th District State Senate; Sarajane Love seconded the motion. After no discussion, the motion was approved unanimously.
Obama/Biden Campaign: Several people, including Robert Wyatt, Ann Stoneburner, Pat Priest, and Sarajane Love, reported on the Team Obama efforts in Oconee County, including their meetings and phoning sessions being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Their efforts continue on voter registration, as well as making phone calls to undecided voters, with a goal of 1,000 calls per week. This is proving to be more successful and a better use of volunteer labor than door-to-door canvassing.
10th District U.S. Congress race: No one was present from the Bobby Saxon campaign.
Rich Clark campaign for Board of Education: Rama Rickard reported on a "meet and greet" event she is helping organize for Rich on Sunday, September 14, from 4:00-5:30 pm at the Watkinsville Community Building. Everyone is invited to attend, and activities for children will be provided.
Community Service:
o Adopt-a-Road: The road cleanup on August 23 was very successful with about 15 or 16 participants, including about 8 Young Dems and one of their advisors (and her two children). Thanks again to Sarajane Love for coordinating the cleanup. The next cleanup will be in approximately three months and will be publicized.
Fundraising Opportunities:
o Yard Sale: The Yard Sale is still set for Saturday, October 18 (date of Fall Festival) at Rita Bennett's house at School St. and Second St., across from Rocket Field. Rita and Diana are co-chairing again. Rita announced her screen porch is ready to receive donations. Donors are requested to price items before they leave them at Rita's house. Volunteer work days prior to Oct. 18 will be announced. Lots of volunteers are needed on the day of the sale.
o Bike Ride: Due to Jonathan Veit's recent health problems, from which he is recovering, and due to non-responsiveness from OCAF in terms of support, the planned Tour de Pottery Bike Ride has been cancelled for this fall. We will look at rescheduling perhaps next spring.
Public Awareness—Pat Priest:
o Book Group: The book group is sponsoring reading and discussion of autobiographies from John McCain (September) and Barack Obama (October) in both Oconee and Clarke counties. There has been excellent publicity in all the area newspapers and on WUGA.
o Movie Night: The most recent movie night at Cine, combined with a Bobby Saxon event, was successful.
o Sunday Series: Plans are being finalized for a tour of the Phil Campbell Soil Conservation research center just outside of Watkinsville. Date/time will be announced.
Other Business:
o GADCC Dinner: A reminder about the annual dinner sponsored by the Georgia Association of Democratic County Chairs that will be held on Saturday, September 13, in Dublin. Becky is planning to attend, and anyone else wanting to go should contact her.
o 10th Congressional District meeting of County Chairs: Becky attended the meeting on September 2 which included reports from State Party officers, Bobby Saxon, and two field workers from the Obama campaign. GADCC has funds available for counties to apply for help with campaign headquarters, forums, etc.
o Ice Cream Social: The ice cream social tentatively planned for Sunday, September 28 at Harris Shoals Park has been cancelled or postponed due to the lack of someone to chair this event.
o Cocktail Party at Ashford Manor: Pat P. has secured permission for us to host a cocktail party at Ashford Manor for a discounted fee as a fund raiser and venue for local candidates. We would need to have the event catered, and it would be held outside, so tents would be needed. Pat P., Ann, and Robert agreed to work on putting this event together, looking either at a Sunday afternoon or a week night. They will keep us informed of a date.
o Nominating Committee: As election of new committee officers needs to be held before the end of this year, Becky requested anyone interested in serving on a Nominating Committee to contact her. Five positions (Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) will be elected to serve two-year terms beginning January 1, 2009.
o Committee membership: Herb reminded everyone that two committee posts are still vacant and asked that names of willing candidates be submitted to him or Becky no later than the October meeting. Although the two posts are for the Athens Academy/City Hall precincts and Civic Center/North Oconee precincts, respectively, in filling vacancies, the committee has the flexibility to elect any resident/registered voter in Oconee County to vacant posts, regardless of where they live.
o Vote Builder: Vote Builder is a computer program that would allow us to access voter lists, donor lists, etc. The State Party is providing training (date/location TBA). Please contact Becky if interested in taking the training. Vicky did express interest.
Blue Hats: The next Blue Hats meeting will be Saturday, September 13, at Krimson Kafe. Come early at noon to eat, and the discussion (tentatively concerning GOP Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin) will begin at 1:00 pm. Everyone is requested to contact Rita Bennett in advance if they're planning to attend so she can hold enough tables.
Next meeting: Thursday, October 2, 7:30 pm (gathering and conversation beginning at 7:00 pm). Violet suggested that we considered offering rides to the polls on November 4, and Herb requested that matter be added to the agenda for the October meeting.
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Herb West
Secretary
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