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1. Democratic Women's Club Luncheon Meeting
2. Forum Headquarters Open June 4, Grand Opening June 16!
3. Democratic Summit a Big Success!
4. Forum Committees
5. For Your Information
6. Democratic Fund Raisers on the Eastern Shore
1. Democratic Women's Club Luncheon Meeting. The DWC will feature Wendy Rosen, Democratic nominee for Congressional District One, as their guest speaker Wednesday, May 16. A brief business meeting, which will be held at 11 AM, will then be followed by the luncheon and Mrs. Rosen. The event will be held at the Londonderry Retirement Center, 700 Port Street, in Easton, and an a la carte lunch will be served for under $10. For reservations call Natalie Caccia at (410) 822-4812, or contact her by e-mail at benat@goeaston.net.
Chair Joyce Scharch says that "The Women's Club is very excited to welcome Wendy as our candidate and want everyone to meet her and see what a true ball of fire she is. We want a Democrat representing us in Congress!" Also, the DWC's Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, June 24 at 2:00 PM at the Senior Center in Easton. Mark your calendars, as Senator Ben Cardin will be the featured speaker. More details in The June Update.
2. Forum Headquarters to Open June 4, with Grand Opening June 16! The Grand Opening of the Forum's Headquarters will be Saturday, June 16 from 4:30-6:30 PM. The HQ is located at 7 East Dover Street in Easton, just a few steps from the Avalon Theatre off the corner of Washington Street on two floors in the heart of Easton's historic district.
The HQ will be Command Central for the 2012 elections on the Eastern Shore, and owing to its location should attract considerable foot traffic. The Talbot County Central Committee, the Maryland Democratic Party, Mid Shore Obama for America, the Cardin and Rosen campaigns, local candidates and the Forum will be conducting phone banks, training volunteers, displaying campaign materials, providing issue information, registering voters, conducting committee meetings, and hosting First Fridays, receptions and campaign events.
The Grand Opening will immediately follow the Juneteenth Celebration (see below) at the Avalon Theatre. Several Maryland Democratic leaders will be there, and I'll have more details in the June Update. Come and join us for camaderie, candidates, free food and drink, and a look at the new HQ!
The HQ will open to the public beginning Monday, June 4,from 11-3 M-F in June, 11-5 M-F after July 4. Wish List for HQ: vacuum Cleaner, recent flat panel TV, all-in-one printer/fax/copier/scanner, furniture (tables, chairs, desk and chairs, credenza, etc.), paper goods (plates, cups, napkins, utensils, etc.), trash cans and bags, small refrigerators, extension cords. Must be new or good condition. Contact me at richardlcalkins@gmail.com if you can help.
We also have a few openings for volunteers at HQ. Volunteers serve for a 2-hour period weekly. For information contact Marilyn Furlong at mgfurlo@goeaston.net.
3. Democratic Summit a Big Success! The Eastern Shore Democratic Summit is now in the books, and will be remembered for uniting Democrats in our quest to sweep into office in November. The list of speakers was indeed impressive-Governor Martin O'Malley, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Ben Cardin, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler, District One Congressional nominee Wendy Rosen, Delegate Heather Mizeur, State Senators Norm Conway and Jim Mathias, Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley, Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton, Easton Town Councilman Pete Lesher, former Governor Harry Hughes, and leaders from nine Eastern Shore counties, among many others.
4. Forum Committees.
The Communications Committee, which will be central in spreading the Democratic message in 2012, will meet Friday, May 18, at 2:30 PM at the home of Bob and Blair Potter, 8607 North Bend Circle, in Easton. At the April meeting, considerable discussion centered around two items: how the Committee can help Wendy Rosen beat Andy Harris, and Forum testimony and LTE's supporting the mandatory Maintenance of Effort state law.
For a terrific example of how to write an LTE, go to our website, www.demforum.com, and read Rich Levy's "Dr. Harris' Surgical Theatre." As always, the Committee will be discussing future Viewpoints, LTE's, blog responses, and other ways to respond and articulate the Democratic message.
The Legislative Committee met April 19 and provided an update on bills sponsored by the Forum. Insurance coverage for telemedicine services passed; death penalty repeal failed, and didn't make it out of committee, and the Harriett Tubman bills were combined in House and Senate resolutions authorizing a gift of a statue of Harriet Tubman to the US Government. The Bill requests Congress to place the statue in Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center or other federal property. A commission would be established to raise funds and identify a sculptor. Discussions also centered around the county budget, and what constitutes a county's foundation under the Maintenance of Effort (MOE). It was agreed to contact County Councilman Tom Duncan for further clarification.
The Committee then met April 26 and welcomed Talbot County Councilman Tom Duncan, who discussed the Council's reaction to the the bill mandating funding by counties for schools at the MOE level. Some members of the Council are wishing to raise property taxes and invite citizens to sue. Duncan prefers a combination of funding the MOE through the reserve fund and raising income taxes that would raise $3 million, which the Committee saw as a more reasonable approach. Duncan is opposed to raising the property tax, which residents have opposed. He noted that there is a projected $1 million increase in county income in 2013, which would mean the reserve fund need not be tapped again in 2014. Duncan stated that his amendment would cost a household with an adjusted gross income of $1 million about $3,500 annually.
Several questions were raised regarding the size of the reserve fund, low tax levels in Talbot, and how property taxes are collected. At the May 1 County Council hearings, Richard Calkins and other Forum members testified on behalf of the Forum in support of Duncan's proposal and the futility of taxpayer suits, which would be unwinnable and land at the Council's doorstep.
The next meeting of the Legislative Committee will be Thursday, May 17 at 7 PM at the Welcome Center.
Minority Outreach Committee. The Committee met May 3 to discuss future events, including two events May 5, a Multicultural Day from 10-1 and the Frederick Douglass Day from 10-4 at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum The Committee took part in the Community Multicultural Festival in Idlewild Park with a booth that included voting materials and Forum literature. Charlene DeShields, Richard Calkins and June McGuckian hosted the booth. Richard also attended Frederick Douglass Day, as did several Forum members who were also involved in the organization of the day. It was also decided to participate in a similiar way in the Community Health Fair June 9 from 1-4 in Moton Park. There was also a discussion as to how best to connect Wendy Rosen to the Talbot minority community. The next meeting of the Committee will be Thursday, June 7 by conference call.
5. For Your Information.
2012 Election Calemdar. The following dates:
April 16- Voter registration re-opens
September 22- Mailing Absenteee Ballots
October 16- Deadline to register to vote for the general election
October 27-November 1- Early voting period, same hours as March 24-29
October 30- Absentee Ballot Application Deadline
November 6-General election
Juneteenth Celebration. The Academy Art Museum and the Frederick Douglass Honor Society are hosting the second Juneteenth celebration Saturday, June 16 from 11-4:30, which begins at the Museum from 11 AM-2:15, culminating at the Avalon Theatre from 2:30-4:30 PM. Juneteenth marks the abolition of slavery and is a celebration that commemorates Emancipation Day, and celebrates the significant contributions of African Americans in our country.
The event includes a special screening of Double Victory, a new documentary by George Lucas of the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII at the Avalon, performances by Baltimore's Sankofa Dance Theatre and Sombarkin' Trio, and an exhibition by acclaimed African American artist Tom Miller. For information concerning Juneteenth go to www.frederickdouglasshonorsociety.org or www.academyartmuseum.org.
After the screening of Double Victory, please join the crowd at the Forum's Grand Opening of the HQ, just down the street!
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. Senator Cardin won the statewide primary April 3 with 74.2% of the vote over eight candidates, supported by 88.1% in Talbot County.
Re-elect the President. The local representative for Obama for America is Carl Widell, head of the mid-shore effort to re-elect President Obama. Contact Carl at (410) 714-9555 or carlwidell@me.com.
6. Democratic Fund Raisers on the Eastern Shore.
Obama For America. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Florida Congresswoman and Chair of the Democratic National Committee, will speak at an Obama for America (OFA) event in the afternoon of June 3, at a time to be determined. The event will occur at the home of Nina Rodale Houghton, Carmichael Farm, 154 Carmichael Farm Road, in Queenstown. For informationm, contact tfletcher@barackobama.com, or call (202) 863-8150. Tickets are $250 per guest. https://my.barackobama.com/june3queenstownreception.
Wendy Rosen for Congress. Congressional First District Democratic nominee Wendy Rosen will host an event Wednesday, June 27, from 6:30-9:30 PM. The event will take place at the Blue Dog Cafe and Piano Bar, 300 North Washington Street, in Snow Hill. Tickets begin at $20 for students and seniors. Find the invitation at info@mailva.evite.com.
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
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