Columbia County Democratic Central Committee

http://www.columbiademocrats.org/

Minutes – Sept 30, 2008

Kozy Korner, St. Helens

Attendees: Craig Frasier, Brad Witt, Josette Hugo, Jolene Jonas, Jamie Maygra, Tammy Maygra, Rita Bernhard, Earl Fisher, Kathy Appel, Bill Eagle, Claudia Eagle, Roger Wuollet, Dale Chambers, Dave Fretag, Ryan Svenson, Anne Cox, Bob LaLiberte, Christy LaLiberte, Donna Nyberg

Excused: Chip Bubl, Nancy Bubl, Roger Cunningham, Julane Grant

Guests: Jay Stewart – Senior at St Helens High

Minutes for Aug were approved as amended – changed the language from “the sheriff will do Neighborhood Watch training if requested” to the “City” will provide training.

No treasure report as Julane was sick. But Jolene mentioned both John Helms and Betsy Johnson donated $200 to help cover our office rental costs. To date we’ve had donations from Betsy, John, Brad and David Wu (in the mail) to defray our office costs.

Committee Reports

No reports

Legislative Updates

Rita mentioned they continue to struggle with the loss of Timber funds. With the focus on the country’s mortgage lending crisis there is limited attention to this at the federal level.

Old Business

Fair Update – Jolene

Jolene, Susan C and their husbands worked the first shift on Labor day at the State Fair. Bob and Christy LaLiberte worked the second shift with some local help.
Jolene, Roger and Julane worked the Scappoose Sauerkraut festival with robust button/sticker sales. Bill E has restocked our button supply.
One man from Kentucky has requested 10 “Columbia County for Obama” buttons. Jolene will mail them once his check is received.
Jolene and Kathy will work the booth in Vernonia on Oct 4^th (weather permitting)
Jolene and Roger did a 20 mile Obama bike ride through wine country this past Sunday
For all of them we are seeing a good reception and sold sales

Office update - Jolene

Office is staffed Monday through Friday 11am to 5pm, plus some evenings
Office supplies being sold by Obama Campaign and by CCDCC so we are very careful to separate funds.
Phone bank lists and DTD lists are available in the office for all who want them. Please pick some up!

Measures 5-190 & 5-191 Update – Craig

Every Weds evening there is a phone bank and DTD effort. Plus this Saturday there will be a DTD effort in St Helens. They will meet at the St Helens Bakery at 10:45 for those you would like to join them. Craig emphasized the effort is critical as most do not know of the measures. The education is helping.

Bill Bradbury presentation – Ryan

Bill Bradbury came to Scappoose High School on Sept 29^th to present Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth”. Ryan and Craig’s classes helped arrange the event that 80+ people attended. The question and answer section that followed showed good interest by the students and parents.

In addition to this visit, Bill will return on Oct 13^th to hold a mock election. If interested, it will begin at 2:00 in the High School cafeteria.

Ryan also mentioned there will be a Candidates’ forum in the same location on Oct 15^th. Meet the candidates will be from 6 to 6:30, with the formal discussions beginning at 6:30.

Bill E mentioned there will be a Measures’ Forum on Oct 14^th at Bings, beginning at 11:30am.

Update on CD1 – Jolene

Jolene, Brad, Donna and Betsy attended the CD1 quarterly meeting in Astoria. After updates on election activities across the counties we agreed on the next quarterly. Columbia County will be hosting the event on Saturday, Dec 13 at the Kozy Korner from 11am to 2pm. Join us if you can.

Update on the State County Chair meeting – Jolene

The state county chairs/vice chairs have a call the first Monday of each month. This month’s discussion focused on everyone’s election activities and everyone’s inability to get supplies. They are selling out as fast at they come in.

We also reviewed the DPO position on all the measures. They aligned with how CCDCC voted (see new business).

New Business

Executive Board Elections – Craig and Roger

Craig lead the election of the 2008 – 2009 Executive Board. The preprinted ballots contained the names of those PCPs interested in running. Craig, followed by Roger, asked three times if anyone else was interested. With no other names brought forward, a motion was made and seconded to vote verbally for the slate as stands. This motion passed. With 17 yes and 2 no the slate was passed:

Chair – Jolene Jonas
Vice Chair – Ryan Svenson
Secretary – Donna Nyberg
Treasurer – Julane Grant

Election Activities - Jolene

Phone banking and DTD is under way. Please pick up lists from the Scappoose office and return them when done.

Bill E and Roger both requested phone lists for their precincts rather than the random list from the office. Jolene will get those out ASAP.

Debate/Election Night plans – Jolene (for Julane)

Thursday folks met at the Varsity at 6pm to watch the Biden/Palin debate.

Election night will tentatively be at the Varsity as well, unless Julane finds a different spot. We’ll have an update at our next meeting

Oct Newspaper Ads – Jolene

After discussion, the committee authorized ¼ page ads to be placed in each of the 4 county-wide newspapers. The Chronicle’s Saturday edition will be added if dollar-to-value merit.

Jeff Campbell has graciously offered to do the graphics and Jolene and Bob Liberté will put the message together subject to changes by the committee. The position of CC Dems on the ballot measures will also be in the ad piece. Each was discussed after a brief summation by Rep. Brad Witt.

Ballot measure recommendations:

Yes – 54, 55, 56, 5-192 (911), 5-189 (Soil & Water Cons Dist. Funding, Local K-12

No – 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 5-190, 5-191

Public Comment

Dale provided updates on several committees in which he is participating. He also mentioned there is a public health fair on St Helens on Oct 4^th.

Brad brought an issue to us to set the records straight. He passed around a posting Tammy placed on the St Helens Update website - It stated she was surprised to see “$1,000 donation from Democrat Representative Brad Witt” to Tony Hyde. Brad stated he did not donate any money to Tony. His union did as most unions have, but he did not. Jolene, as Brad’s treasurer, confirmed this. Many of us reinforced that inaccurate comments like this are wrong and cause damage to our group/party. Going forward, for the good of the team, the appropriate way to address concerns is to have direct discussions with the person in question vs putting it on public sites.

The next meeting is Oct 28, at 7pm at Kozy Korner

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30

Respectfully submitted by Jolene Jonas and Donna Nyberg