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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I. Looking Ahead
II. The Annual Meeting is Sunday, March 18!
III. Membership Drive
IV. Environmental Committee is Back!
V. Other Forum Committees
VI. For Your Information
1. Looking Ahead. 2012, an election year, is upon us and and much has already occured. Mitt Romney has won Iowa and New Hampshire and, Tea Party conservatives and evangelicals notwithstanding, appears on the way to opposing President Obama in the fall. The President has won a key battle with Republicans over extending middle income payroll tax cuts, and has flexed his muscles in making key recess appointments to the Consumer Protection Bureau and the National Labor Relations Board, as well as softening immigration policies to allow families to remain together rather than be separated as they wait for approval.
In this election year, the Democratic Forum is already working. Our committees (see below) are ready to go, with the Environmental Committee re-organizing and all other committees ready to tackle an important year. We are in the midst of planning for our Annual Meeting March 18. We are beginning our annual dues drive. We are readying ourselves for the opening of the General Assembly, which began January 11, and we are attending events celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Women's Health Exchange in Annapolis, and the Clean Water Call to Action in Easton. And this is just January!
2. The Annual Meeting is Sunday, March 18! Join us at the Avalon Theatre Sunday, March 18, from 3:45-7 PM. The Forum is honored to host the premiere of a new play by Carlton Spitzer, Inside Uncle Rosy's White House, which tells the story of many of FDR's major contributions. It has special relevance to the 2012 election , as many of FDR's signature achievements (Social Security, unemployment benefits, infrastructure spending, Glass-Steagal, etc) are subjects of partisan debate this year. Actor (and Chesapeake College professor) Bob Chauncey will play the role of FDR on the Avalon stage. Bob is also the Executive Director of the Hugh Gregory Gallagher Motivational Theatre, and organization well worth your support. Read more at www.motivationaltheatre.com. And there will be additions to the program now in planning that you won't want to miss!
2011 was a very active year for the Forum. We played a pivotal role in the state redistricting hearings, both on the congressional and state representative level. The Maryland Democratic Party has held sessions with the Forum on redistricting and selection of convention delegates. We have participated in rallies outside the office of Andy Harris in protest of his votes for default of our national debt, and made our presence known at Harris' meetings with the Americans for Prosperity. We have hosted terrific evenings with Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler at the April Annual Meeting, Representative Donna Edwards at our October Unity Dinner, Verizon CEO and Talbot resident William Roberts at a special Minority Outreach event in May, and health care activist Vinny DeMarco at a special Democratic Women's Club event. The Forum was well represented at the Frederick Douglass event in June, taking out an ad in the Star-Democrat and booking a table at the banquet, and at the NAACP Banquet in October with a special Forum table. And our committees have been very active (see below) as we enter 2012. I will be more detailed in my annual report in a later Update.
As usual, the famous Forum smorgasboard and soft drinks, beer and wine will be available, and complimentary! See you at the Avalon March 18!
3. Membership Drive. 2012 will be a critical year, and we need your support! I hope you will be especially generous in supporting the Forum's event to defeat Andy Harris, and to re-elect President Obama and Senator Cardin.
Among the many uses of your support includes opening and equipping an office in Easton from July-November; instructing polling place volunteers and poll-watching; canvassing neighborhoods; supporting the annual meeting; supporting the Democratic Party's Eastern Shore Summit in Easton in April; Forum programs supporting Democratic candidates, and phone banks, among many other things.
To contribute, cut out and complete the form at the end of this Update and send with your check made to Talbot County Democratic Forum, PO Box 66, Easton, Maryland 21601. You can also go to our website, www.demforum.com and use our PayPal system to pay by credit card. Just click "Join Us" or "Donate" and follow the easy instructions. If you don't want to join, then please donate to the Forum-both options are possible on our website.
4. Environmental Committee is Back! This message from co-chair Hasan Wilson: "I am extremely grateful for all your continued interest, support and patience...while the EC has taken a brief hiatus and underwent a period of renovation and reorganization. We are back and ready to rock in this election year with plenty of new and ongoing issues. I am very happy to announce the addition of our committee's new co-chair, Mr. Steve Bender. "
Steve, who has been very active in the last several months attending and participating in several environmental events, has been (and remains) the environmental representative on the Forum's Communications Committee. If you would like to welcome him, he can be contacted at baybender@verizon.net.
The Committee will meet the third Monday of each month, unless otherwise notified. The next meeting will be Monday, January 16, at 6 PM at the Mid-Shore Riverkeeper Conservancy located at 23 N. Harrison in Easton (across from Darnell's Grill). For information contact Steve or Hasan at hasanwilson@gmail.com.
5. Other Forum Committees. The Minority Outreach Committee met January 5 to review the 2012 timetable of events and to discuss goals in this election year. Among the goals are 1) to increase minority voter turnout; (2) Develop and increase minority candidates; 3) increase participation in Forum events and activities, and 4) coordinate joint activities with minority organizations. The next meeting will be Thursday, February 2 at 6 PM in the Welcome Center in Easton. For information contact chair Charlene DeShields at cdeshields@goeaston.net.
The Communications Committee, which will be key in getting out the Democratic message in 2012, will meet Friday, January 20, at 2:30 at the home of Bob and Blair Potter, 8607 North Bend Circle, in Easton. These meetings are always very lively, and serve to shape the message of the Democratic Party through LTE's, Viewpoints, and blog postings, among other means.
The Legislative Committee has an important role in selecting state legislation to recommend to the Forum for endorsement, among many other responsibilities. As the Annapolis legislative session began January 11, this will be an important meeting to discuss Democratic priorities. The next meeting of the Committee will be Thursday, January 19 at 7 PM at the Welcome center in Easton. For further information contact co-chairs Blair Potter at blairbpotter@gmail.com or Bruce Robinson at barbandbruce@verizon.net.
The Democratic Women's Club met January 11 to review 2011 business, which included an $850 donation to the Hospice from the DWC's fundraising efforts from the Festival of the Trees. They also discussed a donation to the Eastern Shore Summit (see below) and the silent auction at the Forum's Annual Meeting March 18. The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 8 at 6 PM at the Welcome Center in Easton. For further information contact chair Joyce Scharch at joyce202@verizon.net.
6. For your Information. The filing deadline of January 11 has come and gone, and the Democrats have three candidates seeking to unseat Andy Harris. They are, in order of filing date:
Wendy Rosen. Wendy Rosen is the founder and president of the Rosen Group, which represents artists and artisans and publishes the magazine American Style for art collectors. From Harris' home town, Cockeysville, Rosen has said that small businesses are going to be the engine for the country's economic revitalization. She has worked with hundreds of small towns and 10,000 main street retailers in her business career. "If you can remember previous recessions, it's the smallest businesses that start first, that come back. And those are the ones we need to restart the new economy," she said.
She continues by saying that "There are traditional Republicans, and there are the Tea Party Republicans, which are more about obstructionism and destructionism, and that's basically what I'm fighting against." She believes that Congress is just trying to stir the pot and keep the clock running, rather than coming up with tangible solutions.
John LaFerla. Dr. LaFerla, of Chestertown, moved to the Eastern Shore 10 years ago, and since opening his practice, has delivered several hundred local babies. Three years later, he switched and opened a practice specializing in women's health in Centreville. Until January 1, Dr. LaFerla is the chief or surgery at Chester River Hospital Center, a position he will resign from in favor of his congressional bid.
LaFerla is a lifelong Democrat and currently serves on the Kent County Democratic Central Committee, from which he will also have to resign. "The more I think about it, the more it fits in with my own lifelong feelings about social justice. I've been a Democrat my whole life, and I just see things happening the way they are and think: we can make a better world." John has recently opened a campaign office in Chestertown at 357 High Street.
Kimberly Letke. Kimberly was a late filer as of this edition, and is from White Marsh. As soon as she contacts us, we will pass the information along to you.
Forum Policy. The Forum does not endorse individual candidates in primary elections for state and national offices, according to Article X, Section 2 of the Forum By-Laws. The primary election will occur April 3, 2012.
2012 Election Calendar. The following dates to mark on your calendar:
March 13- Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for the primary election
March 24-29- Early voting period-polls open 10 AM-8 PM except Sunday, 12-6 PM.
April 3-Primary election
April 6- Voter registration re-opens
October 16- Deadline to register to vote for the general election
October 27-November 1-Early voting period-polls open 10-8, 12-6 Sunday
November 6- General election
Precinct Closings. Talbot County Election Director Patti Mitchell has announced the closing of polling places in Tilghman, Bozman, and Royal Oak for this year's primary and general elections. Tilghman area residents will now cast their ballots at the St. John's Methodist Church hall in Wittman. Bozman and Royal Oak residents would now vote at the Talbot Free Library in St, Michaels (not the high school, due to parking issues).
Early voting, which last year involved 15% of Talbot's registered voters, will be held this year at the Easton Fire House. The changes take into account parking, safety and space issues, and will save the county approximately $11,000 over both the primary and general election.
Eastern Shore Summit. The Maryland Democratic Party is organizing the Eastern Shore Summit, which will involve all Eastern Shore clubs and DCC's. The event will be held April 21-22 at the Milestone in Easton. Governor O'Malley and Senator Cardin have already confirmed. We'll have more on the Summit in future Updates.
Martin Luther King Day of Service. A panel discussion sponsored by the Kappa Theta Omega Sorority will take place January 15 from 2-4 PM at the Senior Center, 400 Brooklets Avenue, in Easton. Among the panelists are county councilman Corey Pack, Dorchester Economic Director Keasha Haythe, and Caroline School Superintendent Dr. Khalid Mumin. Refreshments will be provided, and the sponsors ask that you bring a canned food item for the local food bank. Contact Mary Taylor-Acree at (410) 829-2651 for further information.
Cardin for Senate. Those interested in volunteering in the Cardin campaign can contact Ben Cardin for Senate, PO Box 21093, Catonsville, MD 21228, or www.bencardin.com. The Campaign Director is Shelly Hettleman.
Re-elect the President. Those interested in volunteering in the Obama campaign can contact Carl Widell, head of the Mid-Shore effort to re-elect President Obama. If you have any interest in helping the campaign by throwing a small get-together in your home, by participating in a phone bank, or even traveling with the campaign to neighboring states, contact Carl at (410) 714-9555 or carlwidell@me.com.
Clean Water Call to Action, etc. A breakfast presentation and discussion on state action and an overview of the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), septic task force report, and 2012 General Assemby Priorities will occur Saturday, February 4 from 9-11:30 AM at the Easton Diner, 8451 Ocean Gateway (Route 50) in Easton. For program information contact Alan Girard at agirard@cbf.org. The program, which is sponsored as a partnership (the Forum is a partner), asks for agenda suggestions by January 17. Contact Alan for agenda information.
Also, Steve Bender reminds us of the following dates: WIP Phase II comment period (January 15-March 1), and EPA public review period of the proposed TMDL (March 30-June 30). EPA will also host a night meeting to review their proposals February 16, and the MidShore WIP Action Group will meet February 1 from 9:30-11:30 AM at the Town Creek Foundation in Cambridge. Also please note that a webinar will be held February 7 from 1-3 PM on the Fertilizer Use Act of 2011, presented by Dr. Gary Felton. Details at buritsch@umd.edu.
Also, Easton Town Councilwoman Kelley Malone reminds us that the public hearing on a mandatory curbside recycling program in Easton will occur Wednesday, January 18 at 7:15 PM in the Easton Town Hall.
Get The Exchange Right For Women. Join the Women's Coalition for Health Care reform for an exciting opportunity to discuss the implementation of health care reform in Maryland Monday, January 23 from 11:30-4 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 Dubois Road, in Annapolis. A light lunch will be provided, with the Educational Forum beginning at 12:30 and ending at 2:15 PM, and with an "Advocacy in Action" session from 2:30-4:00 PM.
Learn more about the issues in the 2012 General Assembly and how you can be an effective advocate.
Kratovil Named QA's Judge. Governor Martin O'Malley has appointed former District One Democratic Congressman Frank Kratovil as Queen Anne's County District Court Judge. The ten-year appointment succeeds John T. Clark, who retired last year.
Membership Drive. Below is a form, described above in our section on our membership drive, that you can clip and return with your membership payment and donation to the Forum. Also remember that you can contribute on on website, www.demforum.com, using our PayPal connection by clicking "Join Us" or "Donate" on our homepage.
TALBOT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC FORUM
PO BOX 66
EASTON, MD 21601
Name__________________________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Phone #_____________________________E-mail_____________________________
__$20 Member ___$35 Couples ___$45 Supporter ___$50 Associate
__Red $100 ___White $250 ___Blue $500 ____Other
Please Contribute to Keep the Forum a Democratic Fighting Machine in 2012!
Please make your check payable to the Talbot County Democratic Forum and mail your dues or contribution to the above address, or go to our website, www.demforum.com, and click "Donate" or "Join Us."
PLEASE CONBTRIBUTE! WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER IN 2012!
Thank you,
Richard Calkins
President, Talbot County Democratic Forum
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Talbot County Democratic Forum
