Oconee County, GA Politics

Subject: The future of this movement Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:26:10 -0500 From: Barack Obama <info@barackobama.com> Reply-To: info@barackobama.com To: Obama for America Dan -- I have some exciting news to share about the future of this grassroots movement. I recorded a personal message for you. Please take a minute to watch the video: http://my.barackobama.com/thefuture What you built can't stop now. Together with our partners at the Democratic National Committee and its new chairman, Governor Tim Kaine, this movement will continue organizing and bringing new people into the political process. The challenges facing our country are too great, and our journey to change America is just beginning. I look forward to working side-by-side with you in the

I post the corrected minutes instead Subject: [oconeedemocrats] Corrected minutes for January 8. 2009 Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:44:00 +0000 From: Rita Bennett <bonanzagirl@hotmail.com> Reply-To: oconeedemocrats@yahoogroups.com To: Oconee Democrats <oconeedemocrats@yahoogroups.com> Minutes Oconee County Democratic Committee Meeting January 8, 2009 Oconee County Government Annex, Watkinsville, Georgia Committee members present:     Jonathan Veit (5-3) Chair; Rita Bennett (3-2) Secretary ; Violet Dawe(1-1) Treasurer ; Dan Matthews (2-2); Sarajane Love (2-3); Herb West (5-1); Myrna Adams        West (5-2); Robert Wyatt(6-1); Diana Jeffreys (6-2); Pat Adams (6-3). Committee members absent (excused):   Ann Stoneburner (1-3) Vice Chair ; Tony Glenn (1-2); Becky Vaughn(5-3). Others:   Erika Ferrari, Liz Goodroe, Terry Holley, David Jarret

Seems like it has been a while since we have had such a meaty post on the onlineathens.com web site from Oconee County correspondent and red headed journalist Adam Thompson. He interviews outgoing Oconee County Commissioner Don Norris about a wide array of issues and this gives much insight into why Norris is no longer an elected official. Norris seems to think that Lee Becker does not like him personally and it was not enough to discharge pollution in the stream in his back yard. I used to see Norris every morning at the downtown Athens U.S. Post Office, but not so much recently, and he was always very polite, had a nice thing to say, and was always cordial. I appreciate his service to his county.

There is no denying that President Barack Obama effectively incorporated and expertly exploited various distinctive images in a manner that was unprecedented in politics, marking the Obama brand beyond just fashion or trendy appea. Artist Shepard Fairey created the iconic images. This was sent to an Oconee County Democratic Committee listserv and one of the members blew a gasket over it and was immediately pelted with stinky rotten vegetables, er, at least a few polite rebukes. I have yet to receive the posters or the pencils or the $140 basketball jersey or other items I have ordered with complete faith and trust in the Obama online team. So I will let you decide yourself whether you want to pay $20 here or $100 at the other site. I collect distinctive political imagery and I did buy two posters. Hey Oconee Democrat readers or members, I just ordered a limited edition inauguration poster by graphic artist Shepard Fairey. I thought you might be interested in getting your own: htt

Lee Becker shows us how once again to effectively communicate with our potential Superintendents (all two of them). Dear Friends, I wrote a short note on my blog about the forum last night for the finalists for the school board superintendent. I also uploaded a video I shot of the session and linked that to my blog. The Board of Education is soliciting input on the two finalists. It is obvious that this is an important choice for the county. So consider looking at the video (or listening, as the quality is pretty poor) and sending a comment to BOE Chairman David Weeks, at weeksdw55@hotmail.com . I think you know the url for the blog. It is www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com . Lee -- Lee Becker Blog: www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com Web: http://lbbecker48.googlepages.com/

Once again with the Oconee celebration first Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: carlmcgrath@yahoo.com Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:14:39 -0800 Subject: Re: [oconee] FW: Inauguration Celebration Yes, Tony! Here's an option. Follow the link to RSVP: http://my.barackoba ma.com/page/ event/detail/ gpt88s All are welcome to stop by or stay & watch the entire time.  Hope you can make it! Carl ********* Carl McGrath 1031 Simonton Drive Watkinsville, GA 30677-2579 (706) 769-3400 --- On Tue, 1/13/09, Tony Glenn <southoconee@ yahoo.com> wrote: From: Tony Glenn <southoconee@ yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [oconee] FW: Inauguration Celebration To: oconee@yahoogroups. com Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 2:29 PM Does anyone know of a local place where people can gather to watch the inauguration? Tony From: Herb West <herbwest@bellsouth. net> To: "Athens_UU@yahoogro ups. com" <A

Here are some other areas where you can watch the Inaugural. To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: southoconee@yahoo.com Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:33:55 -0800 Subject: Re: [oconee] FW: Inauguration Celebration Here's what I found for the UGA venues. Tony Media Advisory: UGA to offer several Inauguration Day viewing opportunities Athens, Ga. - The University of Georgia will offer faculty, staff and students several opportunities to view the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, Jan. 20. Screenings will be available at the following locations: - UGA Chapel, 10 a.m. -  2 p.m. - Fine Arts Balcony Theater, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Russell Library Auditorium, UGA Main Library, West Entrance, noon - 2 p.m. - Memorial Hall 407 (Adinkra Hall), 11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m. - East Campus Village Fireside Lounge, Noon - 2 p.m. - Tate Student Center Theater, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. From: Jane <jbvkidd@aol. com> To: oconee@yahoogroup

Hi, I have sent out notices for renewals of membership in our organization. If you do not receive a letter and are interested in renewing your membership please sent a check to us at P.O. Box 1514 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Dues schedule is as follows: Individual (16 years) $25.00 Family $ 45.00 Business $60.00 Non-Profit Organization $25.00 Student* (18 years) $ 5.00 Associate* $10.00 Contributing $75-100.00 Patron $>100.00 *non voting members Peggy

I do not think of historic preservation as a political issue per se, but I do subscribe to saving our heritage and helping our government's support efforts at preserving our history. This group has done a great service to Oconee County in maintaining an almost unmaintainable structure in the old Central school house. Below are the minutes of their most recent meeting: Hi, Below you will find the minutes of our last meeting. You are invited to a couple events which I have put in bold print so you can easily find them if you want to put them on your calendar. MINUTES 2009 January 12, 2009 Attendance: John Cleaveland, Peggy Sommer, Danna Anderson, Dory Brown, Lisa Douglas, Mary Ruth Moore and Richard Pendergrass Old business: 1. Discussed meeting of Mary Ruth Moore, Richard Pendergrass and Peggy Sommer with Don Oliver and John Gentry concerning Central School House They would very much like to see it open for tours and or events on a regular basis but they do not have the staff to man

OK, Oconee County activists, this is our Maginot line. We need to do everything we can to make certain this development is not built according to the plans currently laid out.  Our wetlands are more important than a huge parking lot and movie theater. Check out more at Lee Becker's blog. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 10:45 PM Subject: Buffer Variance Need Explained To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, It really is rather simple. The property for the proposed Epps Bridge Centre on Epps Bridge Parkway really isn't suitable for the shopping center unless the state allows the developer to pipe and pave over the streams. Onsite mitigation isn't practical either, since all the streams and wetlands will be piped, paved over, filled or otherwise disturbed to build that shopping center. The reason the state should grant the variance request? We need more shopping opportunities in the

Free tickets at the Classic Center! Woo hoo! Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: ksolheim@hotmail.com To: ccdc@clarkedemocrats.com; ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com Subject: Inauguration Viewing Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:28:19 -0500 Dear CCDC members and friends,   ACC venues are available for viewing the Inauguration: 1.  The Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America will be televised at the following University of Georgia campus locations from 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm: Russell Library Auditorium, UGA Main Library, West Entrance Memorial Hall 407 (Adinkra Hall) East Campus Village Fireside Lounge Tate Student Center 2.  The Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama can be viewed on a large screen at the Classic Center in Athens on Tuesday, January 20th beginning at 10:00 AM.  The event is free and open to the public; however, tickets are required.   Tickets will be available from the Classic Center box office beginning Tuesd

Walton County Democratic Committee making a comeback! Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: ksolheim@hotmail.com To: ccdc@clarkedemocrats.com; ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com Subject: Pre-Inaugural Walton County Democratic Party Ball Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:35:55 -0500 Dear CCDC members and friends,   The Walton County Democratic Party is hosting a Pre-Inaugural Ball on Saturday, Janauary 17, 2009,. beginning  at 7:30 p.m. at the A. P Henderson Building, 860 East Hightower Trail, Social Circle, Georgia.    For more information about this black-tie affair, contact Cynthia Watkins (770.267.8758) or Ollie James (770.464.3860).   Sincerely, Karen Solheim CCDC Vice Chair for Communications  

Our chance to halt impervious developers here in Oconee County. And apparently the developer of the shopping center next to Athens Acadmey is going ahead with their law suit, or at least contemplating it, according to the Enterprise website sent twice in a blast this afternoon. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: ppriest@charter.net Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:01:55 -0500 Subject: [oconee] Paving over streams and wetlands -- coming near you! Hello! I have a favor to ask. If you could find time, I think it could REALLY make a difference to write a letter (see the template below) to ask the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to NOT ALLOW a developer to pave over a half a mile of streams and another section of wetlands near the border between Athens-Clarke and Oconee. The permit is still pending. We can stop it! Your objection to such irreversible damage to wetlands has to be mailed -- and it n

Subject: You're Invited! Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:30:23 -0500 From: Carl McGrath <carlmcgrath@yahoo.com> To: danjmatt@bellsouth.net Carl McGrath has sent you an invitation to 'Obama Inauguration Watch Party' -- click here to view the invitation and submit your response: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt88s

Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: Athens_UU@yahoogroups.com; oconee@yahoogroups.com From: herbwest@bellsouth.net Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:15:10 -0500 Subject: [oconee] FW: Inauguration Celebration Forwarded on behalf of the ad hoc committee:   Organized at the last minute for all of us who are not going to DC January 20th.  Come downtown beginning at 5:30!   The "ad hoc committee" wanted to have some way to mark this historic event locally as a community. (There is also a semi-formal ball at the Classic Center later in the evening sponsored by the Athens Human Relations Council.  Contact the Classic Center for ticket information ) Hope to see everyone there! http://docs. google.com/ View?docid= dc6pbm4s_ 11cvk335jk Athens Inauguration 2009 Community Celebration of Hope Downtown Athens, GA, January 20, 2009, 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm (see schedule below)     5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Twilight