[Tcdp_newsletter] Travis County Democratic Party E-Newsletter for Friday, June 1 - Friday, June 8, 2007
Travis County Democratic Party Weekly Newsletter
tcdp_newsletter at lists.traviscountydemocrats.org
Thu May 31 17:27:18 CDT 2007
Travis County Democratic Party Weekly E-Newsletter
Friday June 1- Friday June 8, 2007
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IN THIS ISSUE
- Texas Democratic Party Austin Town Hall, Voter File Training and
Fundraiser this Saturday June 2
- Travis County Democratic Party Lends It's Support to Save Town Lake
- Make Sure Democracy Is Secure in Your Neighborhood
- TCDP Finance Council and Sustaining Members
- Become a TCDP Sustaining Member
- You Have the Power!
- Bid on a School Room Playhouse
- Save the Date! National Night Out, August 7, 2007
- Calendar of Upcoming Events
- In the News
- Contact Info for TCDP Administrative Office
- Newsletter: How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe Your E-Mail
- To Subscribers Who Use AOL
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TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY AUSTIN TOWN HALL AND VOTER FILE TRAINING
TIME: Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 10:00am-12:00pm
PLACE: Texas AFL-CIO, 1106 Lavaca
CONTACT: Sondra Haltom at 478-9800
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie invites you to a town hall in
Austin! The event is free and it provides an opportunity for all Democrats
to share their ideas about how to continue building the Texas Democratic
Party.
After the town hall from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, the state party will provide
training on the Texas Democratic Party's online voter file system ("The
Van"). This will be in the same room as the town hall. All precinct chairs
are strongly encouraged to attend.
Following the morning meetings, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie
invites you to a fundraiser for the state party.
TIME: Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 1:30pm-3:00pm
PLACE: Threadgills, 301 W. Riverside Dr.
CONTACT: Katelyn Patterson at katelyn at txdemocrats.com
COST: $25 per person
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TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY LENDS ITS SUPPORT TO SAVE TOWN LAKE
At the May 30 meeting of the TCDP County Executive Committee, a motion was
made to pass the following Resolution in support of SaveTownLake
(www.savetownlake.org <http://www.savetownlake.org/> ):
Resolution
"The Travis County Democratic Party Executive Committee strongly objects to
any variances being granted to the Waterfront Overlay Ordinance. We urge
decision-makers to uphold the stated purpose of the ordinance to the highest
degree: to promote harmonious interaction and transition between urban
development and the parkland and shoreline of Town Lake and the Colorado
River."
It passed unanimously 44-0. Tom Cooke and Jeff Jack both officers of Save
Town Lake.org were in attendance at the meeting to answer questions. Tom, a
founding member of the organization, thanked the CEC membership for their
support stressing that he felt that the majority of the community held the
same feelings toward preserving the waterfront of Town Lake.
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MAKE SURE DEMOCRACY IS SECURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Elections are the backbone of democracy, and making sure that polling
locations run correctly and smoothly is often a difficult job to undertake.
You have the opportunity to run your polling location by becoming a
presiding judge! (aka Election Judge or Poll Worker)
Currently, the TCDP is looking for Democratic term-appointed presiding
judges. The term has recently been changed by Travis County Elections and
will be a one year rather than two year term running from August 1, 2007 -
July 31, 2008.
Please review the following requirements for a term appointment:
1. You must live in the precinct in which you work and you will be
asked to work EVERY election that is determined for your precinct. This
includes the party primary, elections for city council, independent school
district boards, Austin Community College board, bond and state
constitutional elections, etc. In short, you will represent the Travis
County Democratic Party at party primaries, but you are expected to work, if
possible, each and every election.
2. Even though some of these elections are partisan, such as the party
primary, it is imperative that you work cordially with your Republican
counterpart.
3. As a presiding judge, it will be one of your duties to be able to
physically set up the voting machines. They are bulky and may be somewhat
heavy for some folks to handle. However, your alternate judge and clerk(s)
can and should help you to set these up.
4. The integrity of the election process is of the utmost importance,
so you must be reliable and dependable in making sure you have everything
for your polling location; that everything is ready to go and is operational
by 7:00am when the polls open; and when your polling location closes, that
you return all materials to your designated receiving station in a timely
manner before you go home or attend any Party function or event (e.g.
precinct conventions).
5. Travis County Elections requires attendance for training, regardless
if you have been trained in the past.
6. Pay for the primary is set by the Texas Secretary of State.
Currently the hourly rate for the 2008 Primary is $7.00/hour. All other
election pay is $10/hour for presiding/alternate judges.
We are in need of Presiding Judges in the following precincts:
106 107 110 111 112 113 123 132 136 137 139 140 141 145 150
151 152 153 154 156 161 163 164
200 201 202 203 204 205 206 208 209 210 211 215 216 217 218
219 220 223 225 226 227 228 229 231 232 235 236 237 239 240
241 242 243 246 247 251 253 254 256 260 262 263 267 268 274
275 277 279
301 302 303 304 306 307 309 312 315 316 317 318 319 320 321
323 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 342
343 345 346 347 349 350 351 355 356 359 360 365 366 367 370
371 373 375 376 377 378 379
402 403 404 405 407 411 412 413 414 420 422 423 426 427 429
430 431 442 443 444 445 447 449 450 451 452 455 458 460 461
462 463 465 466
To find out what precinct that you live in:
1. Go to www.traviscountydemocrats.org
<http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/> .
2. On the menu on the right side of the home page, click on "Precinct
Info."
3. Click on the second choice, "what precinct you live in."
4. In the "precinct search" box, you can put in your zip code, street
name, or anything else that is suggested under that.
5. Click "Go." Find your street and street number.
Please contact Garry Brown, TCDP's Assistant Director, at 477-7500 or
garry at traviscountydemocrats.org to inquire about being appointed as an
election judge for one year.
THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE RESPONDED SO FAR!!!
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TCDP FINANCE COUNCIL AND SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Member Updates for the period May 25 - May 31
Since late January, Sustaining Memberships have increased by nearly 60 new
members! Total Finance Council and Sustaining Memberships currently stand
at 340 members. Therefore a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all who have recently
joined as a new member, renewed annually or contribute monthly. And if you
have been a long-time member at $10 a month and would consider increasing to
even $12 a month, every single dollar really does make a difference. In
dollar amounts, our membership increase since January works out to about
$1,600 more a month. This increase almost puts our total monthly membership
contributions at about half of the TCDP's total monthly office over-head
expenditures.
So .. as you can see, we still have a ways to go to meet our goal of total
monthly membership contributions equaling total monthly office expenditures
but we're getting there. Thanks to each and every one of you again for
quite literally, we simply could not keep the doors of the TCDP open
year-round were it not for the support of such good Democrats as yourself.
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BECOME A TCDP SUSTAINING MEMBER!
Our Coordinated Campaigns have helped to accomplish the following:
2004 - Travis County took back three elected seats from the Republicans.
State Representative District 50, a district judgeship, and County Constable
Precinct 3 all went from Republican held seats to Democratic.
2006 - The Travis County legislative delegation became completely Democratic
for the first time since 1992, and we took back the office of Justice of the
Peace Precinct 3 from the Republicans.
There are now only three Republicans elected to Travis County offices!
The TCDP has stepped up to make Travis County even more Democratic!
If you believe our work is valuable and you want us to continue, we ask you
to stand with us and support TCDP by becoming a Member. We have two levels
of membership:
Sustaining: minimum of $10.00 per month or $120.00 annually.
Finance Council: minimum of $84.00 per month or $1,000.00 annually.
Members at this level receive prominent listing in our publications and web
site as well as at Travis County Democratic Party functions along with free
admission to TCDP sponsored events.
The Travis County Democratic Party is dependent on your generosity for
everything we do year-round!
As Linda Pemberton, Precinct Chair of 223 says, "If I don't keep increasing
my monthly contribution by $5-$10 every couple of months, I will never be
able to make it up to Finance Council level." NOTE: Linda increased her
giving from $10 to $25 per month on 6/6/06 and increased again to $30/month
on 1/31/07 and increased again to $35/month on 3/28/07 . !
To join the Travis County Democratic Party please go online to:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org <http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/>
and click on "Donate" in the red box at the bottom left of the page. Or
contact us at info at traviscountydemocrats.org or 512-477-7500.
Mailed donations for the Party should be made out to "Travis County
Democratic Party" and sent to:
TCDP
P.O. Box 684263
Austin, TX 78768-4263
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YOU HAVE THE POWER!!
As Howard Dean said, you, YES YOU, have the power. You have the power to
have an impact at the state capitol and on national politics! Take a look
at this information:
- In 2006, Travis County provided for one-third of the Democratic
increase in the State House of Representatives this session by electing a
100% Democratic legislative delegation for the first time since 1992.
- It's no secret that Travis County is depended upon by statewide
candidates to put them in a position to win because Travis County is so
heavily Democratic.
- One-term Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn continues to be
unpopular. He consistently polls way under 50% in Texas. He has been
called the "least popular U.S. Senator" in the group of Republican Senators
who are up for re-election in 2008.
- Two parts of Travis County are still represented by Republican
Congressmen.
Get involved now and you can help make the following happen:
- Keep all of our Democratic state reps in office while other parts
of the state elect more Democrats
- Put our candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives in a position to win to continue changing the politics in
Washington DC!
- There are only three Republican county office holders left! Two
of them are up for re-election in 2008.
The strongest impact you can make is by becoming a Precinct Chair! We only
have 45 vacancies left out of 210 precinct chair positions! The Travis
County GOP has 32 vacancies! Are Democrats in Travis County going to let
the Republicans have more precinct chairs than us? But then again, they
don't have to do much do they?
Make your voice heard in how your county party is run! All Democratic
Precinct Chairs in Travis County automatically become members of the County
Executive Committee, which is the governing body for Travis County
Democratic Party. In addition, you'll receive all the support you need to
turn out the Democrats to vote in your neighborhood. There is so much to do
to get ready for 2008. Come be a part of it!
Interested? Want to learn more? Contact Garry Brown at TCDP at
garry at traviscountydemocrats.org.
Below is a list of precincts where we have vacancies. The precinct numbers
are divided by legislative district.
If your State House Representative is Dawnna Dukes, District 46
Precincts: 113 122 129 132 139 141 150 164
If your State House Representative is Valinda Bolton, District 47
Precincts: 301 304 316 351 356 412 451
If your State House Representative is Donna Howard, District 48
Precincts: 279 370 371 373 376 378
If your State House Representative is Elliott Naishtat, District 49
Precincts: 137 149 444 454
If your State House Representative is Mark Strama, District 50
Precincts: 107 203 205 211 215 216 254 328 333 334 336
If your State House Representative is Eddie Rodriguez, District 51
Precincts: 123 401 402 404 405 407 427 441 452
To find out what precinct that you live in:
1. Go to www.traviscountydemocrats.org
<http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/> .
2. On the menu on the right side of the home page, click on "Precinct
Info."
3. Click on the second choice, "what precinct you live in."
4. In the "precinct search" box, you can put in your zip code, street
name, or anything else that is suggested under that.
5. Click "Go." Find your street and street number.
AFTER FINDING OUT WHAT PRECINCT YOU LIVE IN, CHECK THE LIST ABOVE TO SEE IF
A PRECINCT CHAIR IS NEEDED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
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BID ON A SCHOOL ROOM PLAYHOUSE
A great gift for a child care center or the kids' backyard. School house
playhouse includes bell tower. Construction exceeds commercial playhouses,
using wood framing, insulation, and a shingle roof. Playhouse is 8 feet by
4 feet and has finished interior and windows.
It was built by the Lake Travis Democrats as a float with the central theme
for the 2006 Lakeway 4th of July parade. Proceeds from the sale of the
playhouse will be used for upcoming Democratic events.
Bidding starts at $600 dollars.
For information contact Ed Benjamin, President Lake Travis Democrats at
512-731-5162 or eben731 at juno.com. The Lake Travis Democrats will deliver it
and set-up locally.
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SAVE THE DATE! NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AUGUST 7, 2007
Neighborhoods throughout Austin are invited to join with thousands of
communities nationwide on Aug. 7, to participate in the 24th Annual
'National Night Out'. APD officers, EMS and fire fighters will join City
Council Members and other city officials in attending neighborhood parties
throughout Austin. Events are planned to promote crime prevention and drug
prevention awareness and to strengthen the police - community partnership.
On Aug. 7 - a Tuesday -- from 6pm to 9pm, residents are asked to turn on
their porch lights, lock their doors and spend the evening outside with
their neighbors, police officers, EMS, and fire fighters.
To officially participate in National Night Out events you must complete the
National Night Out Application and mail it to: Austin Police Department,
Community Liaison Office, P.O. Box 689001, Austin, Texas 78768-9001. You may
also fax the application to 974-6222.
For more information, contact Rosie Salinas at the Community Liaison Office
at 974-4900 or by e-mail at nno at ci.austin.tx.us.
Applications are available at
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/downloads/07app.pdf
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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
The TCDP Calendar changes almost daily as we receive new information, so we
encourage you to check the calendar often. Go to:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/calendar.php
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Saturday, June 2, 2007
TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY AUSTIN TOWN HALL AND VOTER FILE TRAINING - Please
refer to this item earlier in this newsletter.
Sarah Eckhardt's Hokey Pokey Party
TIME: Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 10:00am-11:00pm
PLACE: State Capitol grounds, near the trees on the southwest side of the
grounds under the big magnolia tree (around 11th and Colorado)
CONTACT: Sandra at sandra at saraheckhardt.com
What the heck is a Hokey Pokey Party? It's a gathering of people of any (or
no) political affiliation to "talk politics" without taking themselves or
each other too seriously. Bring your coffee and donut, a folding chair, your
kids, your dog and your opinions.
Yeller Dawg/Saturday Sages Meeting
TIME: Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 11:00am-1:00pm
PLACE: Tres Amigos Restaurant, 1801 S. Capitol of Texas Hwy (AKA 360)
CONTACT: Bill McAfee at bmcafee at austin.rr.com
Please join the Yeller Dawg/Saturday Sages for their weekly meeting.
Texans for Obama Volunteer Meeting
TIME: Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 12:00pm
PLACE: Austin Java Cafe, 1608 Barton Springs Rd.
CONTACT: Ian Davis at iandavis06 at gmail.com
Sen. Barack Obama is coming back to Texas on June 24 and Texans for Obama is
holding a volunteer meeting to get ready for it. You are invited to attend
this meeting if you are interested in helping.
Texas Democratic Party Fundraiser - Please refer to this item earlier in
this newsletter
************************************
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Pride Texas "Sunrise Brunch"
TIME: Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 12:00pm
PLACE: Dell Jewish Community Campus, 7300 Hart Lane
CONTACT: Marianne at 474-5475 or Marianne at equalitytexas.org
You are invited to the 12th annual Pride Texas "Sunrise Brunch," which
honors supporters and elected officials for their support of equal rights
for the LGBT community.
Tickets are $50 and are available at the following link:
https://secure.ga4.org/01/eqtx/events/pridetexasbrunch2007/purchase.tcl
Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate
TIME: Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 7:00pm-9:00pm
PLACE: CNN, Time Warner Cable Channel 46
CNN will team up with Hearst-Argyle's WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union
Leader to host a Democratic presidential candidate debate to be held in
America's first primary state.
************************************
Monday, June 4, 2007
State Employees Union Political Action Meeting
TIME: Monday, June 4, 2007 at 6:00pm-7:30pm
PLACE: Texas State Employees Union Hall, 1700 S. 1st St. (Across from
Jovita's)
CONTACT: Steve Bradley at 458-5517 or VickiCBradley at aol.com
All are invited to join the TEXAS STATE/STATE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE UNION
MEMBERS (TSEU) in a meeting to consider a goal of visiting and calling
25,000 homes in the Austin area by November 08. They will focus on
bolstering Travis County's Super Six State Representatives, while expanding
efforts in the surrounding counties, pursuant to a regime change at the
State House.
They will also look at specific ways to assist and increase the number of
TSEU members who are Precinct Chairs, which currently stands at 10.
************************************
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Stonewall Democrats of Austin Pride Week Happy Hour
TIME: Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 5:30pm-7:00pm
PLACE: Stephen F. Austin Hotel 2nd Floor Bar, 701 Congress Ave.
CONTACT: Christina Ocasio at 422-8640 or Christina at stonewallaustin.org
In lieu of their regular meeting, Stonewall Democrats invite you to
celebrate Pride Week at the 2nd Floor bar at the Stephen F. Austin on the
balcony overlooking 7th Street.
Capital Area Progressive Democrats Meeting
TIME: Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 5:30pm
PLACE: Twin Oaks Library, 2301 S. Congress Ave. #7
CONTACT: Cecilia Crossley at 444-0956 or chair at capdemocrats.org
Please join Capital Area Progressive Democrats for their monthly meeting.
Asian American Democrats of Texas Meeting
TIME: Tuesday, June 5, 2007, 6:30pm Eat, Drink, Socialize, 7:00pm Meeting
PLACE: First Chinese BBQ Restaurant, 10901 N. Lamar Blvd.
CONTACT: Ramey Ko at ramey.ko at gmail.com
Please join the Austin Chapter of the Asian American Democrats of Texas for
our monthly meeting.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: State Representative Mark Strama (Dist. 50)
State Representative Mark Strama will provide a firsthand account of the
recently concluded and dramatic 80th legislative session. Rep. Strama will
also discuss new laws passed this session and their impact on the state and
its citizens.
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IN THE NEWS
For up to date political news and commentary, please go to our web site at
www.traviscountydemocrats.org <http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/> and
click on "Current News"
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CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TCDP ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Travis County Democratic Party Administrative Office
1311-B East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Web: www.traviscountydemocrats.org <http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/>
E-mail: info at traviscountydemocrats.org
Chris Elliott - Chair
chair at traviscountydemocrats.org
Elizabeth Yevich - Executive Director
elizabeth at traviscountydemocrats.org
Garry Brown - Assistant Director
garry at traviscountydemocrats.org
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ph (512) 477-7500 Fax (512) 477-7769
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 684263
Austin, TX 78768-4263
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******************************
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P.O. Box 684263, Austin, TX 78768-4263
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