Minutes from Oconee County Democratic Committee meeting in May

Minutes from Oconee County Democratic Committee Meeting
19th of May 2011 at the Government Annex, Watkinsville, GA

Committee members present:  Dan Matthews (2-2), Chair; Violet Dawe (1-1), Treasurer; Vickie Moody (4-1), State Committee member; Tony Glenn (1-2); Ann Stoneburner (1-3); Peggy Thrasher Law (4-2 ); Sarajane Love (2-3); Rita Bennett (3-2); Robert Wyatt (6-1); and Pat Adams (6-3). 
Committee members absent: Liz Goodroe (4-3), Jonathan Veit (2-1), and Diana Jeffreys (6-2), excused; Linda Elkins (3-1).

Guests:  Mike Berlon (Chair of State Committee), Tasso Knight (State Committee), Angelia Knight (State Committee), and Patsy Harris (State Committee).  Suzy Compere (Morgan Co.), and, from Oconee Co., Pat Priest, Will Ross (will@evergreennurseryinc.net), Linda Griffith (706-543-5604), and Eris Gaul (706-583-9077).

Dan Matthews (Chair) called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.  A quorum was present.  Dan, having just qualified to run as a candidate in the special election for representative to House District 113, officially resigned his post as chair, and Ann Stoneburner, 1st vice chair, became the new chair of the committee.  Dan welcomed and introduced the State Committee members.  County committee members and guests introduced themselves.
Violet Dawe gave the Treasurer’s report.  We have $X,XXX in our checking account.  Our check to Russell Edwards was returned, as county parties cannot make donations to federal office seekers.  

Pat Priest discussed “True South,” a 1340 AM radio show on Saturdays at 11 am, and announced the book drive for veterans.  Oconee County Democrats are co-sponsors of the book drive.  Drop-off sites for the books include Krimson Kafé, and the books will be delivered to the VA Hospital.

Mike Berlon then addressed the committee and guests.  There were a number of important points, including the likelihood that considerable gerrymandering will be done to accommodate Doug McKillip’s next run as a Republican.  The new redistricting maps, to be unveiled on August 15, will undergo serious scrutiny to determine that they are in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.  Lawsuits are likely to stretch redistricting 3 or 4 years into the future.  It is likely that the 2012 election will take place under 2010 maps. 

Berlon stated that there is a 50/50 chance that Obama will prevail in Georgia in November 2012.  In 2010, 47% of the Georgia vote went to Obama, due in large part to first time African-American voters.  Many consider the Hispanic vote equally important in 2012.  Obama needs 30 – 33% of the white vote, but only received 19% in 2010.

The State Committee insists on having Democratic candidates in every Georgia House and Senate race.
The Democratic Convention will be in Charlotte, N.C.  There will be 124 delegates, and 74 of the delegates will be elected at local caucuses on April 21st. 

August 6th is Obama’s birthday, and each county committee is expected to celebrate the occasion with an activity.

All committee members are encouraged to become “Yellow Dog Democrats” by contributing a monthly pledge to the Georgia Democratic Party.

All official business having been concluded, the meeting was adjourned.  The next Committee meeting on June 16th will be at the fundraiser for Dan Matthews at 5:00 pm at Ashford Manor, Watkinsville.
Respectfully submitted by Ann Stoneburner, acting secretary, 05-19-2011
Location: Watkinsville, GA, USA

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