[Tcdp_newsletter] Travis County Democratic Party Weekly E-Newsletter for Thursday, July 3 - Friday, July 11, 2008

Travis County Democratic Party Weekly Newsletter tcdp_newsletter at lists.traviscountydemocrats.org
Wed Jul 2 17:53:52 CDT 2008


Travis County Democratic Party Weekly E-Newsletter

Thursday, July 3 - Friday, July 11, 2008

 

Please note:  The TCDP Main Office and Coordinated Campaign Office will be
closed on Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4 and throughout the weekend in
observance of the July 4 Holiday.

 

Due to the office closings this week, this newsletter is going out
Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

 

************************************************************************ 

IN THIS ISSUE 

 

- Become a Precinct Chair!

- Become an Election Judge!

- Grassroots Training from DFT and DFA on July 20

- Netroots Nation is Coming to Austin!

- Coordinated Campaign Weekly Update

- Become a TCDP Sustaining Member

- Did you know?

- Calendar of Upcoming Events

- In the News 
- Contact Info for the TCDP Offices
- Newsletter: How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe Your E-Mail 

- To Subscribers Who Use AOL

 

***********************************************************************

BECOME A PRECINCT CHAIR

 

You, YES YOU, can have an impact at the state capitol and on national
politics!  Take a look at some of this information:

-          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 to take back the Texas House

-          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!

 

The best way of getting involved is by becoming a Precinct Chair!  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.  With everything happening so
quickly, your leadership was needed YESTERDAY!  

 

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 

121  164  156

 

If your State House Representative is Valinda Bolton, District 47 

314  318  323  324  339  350  356  361  367  406  412  458

 

If your State House Representative is Donna Howard, District 48

163  218  260  279  343  370  371  375  378

 

If your State House Representative is Elliott Naishtat, District 49 

137  146  148  275  277  421  437  444  454  462

 

If your State House Representative is Mark Strama, District 50 

107  112  140  205  208  225  254 

 

If your State House Representative is Eddie Rodriguez, District 51 

123  401  402  404  405  407  420  427  439  443  452

 

The best way of helping our great State Representatives is by becoming a
Precinct Chair.  Won't you help them today?

 

***********************************************************************

BECOME AN ELECTION JUDGE

 

Currently, the TCDP is looking for Democratic term-appointed election
judges.  The term will be for one year running from August 1, 2008 - July
31, 2009.  

 

Please know that since a Democrat won most precincts in Travis County in the
2006 Gubernatorial election, a Democrat will be the presiding judge and a
Republican will serve as the alternate judge since there are no party
primaries during the upcoming 2008-09 term.  The roles will be reversed in
the few precincts in which the Republicans won.

 

Please review the following requirements for another 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 November General Election, and elections for city council,
independent school district board, Austin Community College board, bond and
state constitutional elections, etc.  You are expected to work, if possible,
each and every election.
2.	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.
victory parties).
5.	By law, you are required to attend training regardless if you have
been trained in the past.
6.	Pay for the elections over the next year is set by the Travis County
Clerk's Office.  The hourly rate for the 2008 - 2009 term is $10.00/hour for
judges and $9.00/hour for clerks, and all training will be paid.

 

Please see below which precincts where we need Democrats to serve and
contact Garry Brown, TCDP's Assistant Director, at
garry at traviscountydemocrats.org or 

477-7500 for any questions. 

 

If interested in serving, please send an email to Garry that includes you
name, home precinct, mailing address, phone numbers, and email address BY
MONDAY, JULY 14.

 

100s

106  107  110  111  112  113  121  123  126  135  136  137  145  146  149
150  152  153  154  161  163  164

 

200s

200  202  203  205  206  207  209  211  215  216  217  218  219  220  223
225  226  227  229  231  235  237  239  240  241  242  243  246  251  252
253  254  256  258  260  262  263  266  267  274  275  277  278  279

 

300s

301  302  303  304  306  308  309  315  316  317  319  320  321  323  324
326  327  330  333  334  336  337 338  339  343  345  347  350  351  354
355  356  360  361  364  366  370  371  372  373  374  375  376  377  378
379

 

400s

401  402  403  404  405  407  411  412  413  422  423  424  426  427  429
438  439  443  444  448  450  451  452  455  462  463

 

*********************************************************************** 
GRASSROOTS TRAINING FROM DFT AND DFA ON JULY 20

 

Democracy for Texas is taking a break from meetup for July and August, but
that doesn't mean they're on vacation. Everyone at Democracy for Texas is
hard at work on their Lone
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0010_XVcrgvpbmmxhHRV62mvsQCnaGoQq8Tah_SWV61EeubMOR4
R6MwllNii004G0VFyT35KryUrWQsxrPGmhJQQwhLgMQORkrbcxi6-fblR89jWmL41mzJCwXIUZ5Q
EBk64HmayL23niQ=>  Star Training in connection with Netroots Nation! 

When: Sunday, July 20, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Where: Travis County Coordinated Campaign HQ, 1107 N. IH-35

Sign up here: http://www.actblue.com/page/lone-star-training-nn2008 

With assistance from friends at Democracy for America, for only $25 ($5 if
you're attending Netroots Nation), you'll learn what you need to know to
elect your candidate, with special emphasis on helping Barack Obama, Rick
Noriega, and other federal candidates. Topics include: 

      . Voter Files / TrueBlueAction.com / Sharing Information
      . Fundraising and House Parties
      . Email, Websites, and Other Outreach
      . Recruiting and Working with Volunteers
      . Federal Election Commission Compliance 

The cost includes all course materials and lunch. It's a grassroots bargain!


Sign up here: http://www.actblue.com/page/lone-star-training-nn2008 

The training will be announced statewide on July 1, but Austinites are being
given an opportunity to sign up first. Space is limited, so don't delay in
reserving your space!

 

*********************************************************************** 
NETROOTS NATION IS COMING TO AUSTIN!

Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and
in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective
in using technology to influence the public debate. Within that campus, we
strengthen community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for
progressive ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change
in the public sphere.

The third annual gathering of the Netroots (formerly known as the YearlyKos
Convention) will be held July 17-20 at the Austin Convention Center in
Austin, Texas. Netroots Nation 2008 will include panels led by national and
international experts; identity, issue and regional caucuses; prominent
political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; a progressive film screening
series; and the most concentrated gathering of progressive bloggers to date.

To learn more:  http://www.netrootsnation.org/

 

To volunteer:  The Netroots Nation conference is looking for volunteers to
help make this year's conference a success! This one-of-a-kind conference
brings together progressive political activists from all across the country
for a 4-day event that includes major elected officials, leading progressive
voices and the hardworking grassroots activists who work every day in their
communities to further a progressive vision.

It is being held July 17-20, at the Austin Convention Center.

Volunteer tasks are varied, but the biggest needs are for preparing
materials for the conference, helping attendees acclimate by staffing an
information/registration booth, and attending to VIPs and speaker needs.
Essentially, people are needed to help the conference run smoothly from
start to finish. It's a great event, and an opportunity to network with
other progressive activists, learn some things and have fun doing it.

Hopefully local volunteers will be able to attend and participate in the
Netroots Nation conference as well. Those who wish to attend the bulk of the
conference - including panels and workshops - must register and pay for
admission at http://www.netrootsnation.org/.  After filling out a scheduling
survey (see below) you will receive a registration promotional code. Local
volunteers are offered a discounted registration fee of $250.

However, because they couldn't do this with out your help, as a courtesy,
Netroots Nation is opening their keynote events, an address by Governor
Howard Dean and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to volunteers from the Austin
progressive community.

If you are interested in getting involved in the conference, for a few hours
or for a few days, they need you!   
 
To get started, interested individuals should take a scheduling survey here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Xaa_2bu4y4PI7Csx5WRzD3Xw_3d_3d  

Thank you again for taking the time to get involved in making this event a
success. This conference, which began two years ago as an all-volunteer
effort could not happen without your assistance.

 

*********************************************************************** 

COORDINATED CAMPAIGN WEEKLY UPDATE

 

Thank you for helping hit Senator Kirk Watson's $40,000 Challenge!

In less than two weeks, over 130 people have given over $7,500 online and
over $30,000 in the mail. That is an average contribution of $59.96. 

Our mission to Turn Texas Blue is a grassroots movement, and right now State
Representative Elliott Naishtat is keeping the momentum going by doing
another dollar for dollar match up to $15,000 ending July 15. Since Rep.
Naishtat kicked off his generous match we have already raised $1,600
dollars. That gives us 14 days to raise $13,400 online. 

Please
<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1262872&r=1261788&t=1413244388&l=1&d=89803180&u=
http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eactblue%2ecom%2fpage%2fnaishtatmatch&g=0&f=-1>  take the
time to donate $10, $25, $50, $100 or whatever you feel comfortable giving
and double your money.

Representative Naishtat's generosity is everlasting but his dollar for
dollar match ends in 14 days!

Your support will pay for everything we need around our office and make sure
every campaign and Democratic club have the resources they need to Turn
Texas Blue. Please help keep the air conditioning on, the phonebanks
running, and the voter registration push alive and keep the doors open from
9 a.m. until 9 p.m. to ensure victory for all of our Democratic Candidates.

Donate today and double your donation!

 

Greatest Campaign Need this week is .....  First, thank you to Adan
Ballesteros, Candidate for Constable Precinct 2 and his crew of folks for
taking the pile of trash out of the coordinated campaign office last
weekend.

 

The greatest need this week is a rug or carpet remnant that is approximately
7' x 7'.  We'll take one that is smaller.  One of the offices in the
coordinated campaign complex has very stained, wall-to-wall carpeting.   If
you have something that will work, please email Sylvia Camarillo at
sylvia at traviscountydemocrats.org

 

Also, the campaign really could use some steady volunteers to man the front
desk to be a host, greet folks and guide them.  The campaign headquarters
building is quite a large space with many offices so we want to make sure
that each and every person is greeted and appropriately pointed in that
proverbial right direction.  If you are able to devote hours to doing this,
the best thing to do at this point until all the phones are hooked up and
there are enough volunteers to answer is just to show up at the Coordinated
Campaign Office which is located at 1107 N. IH-35 (on the frontage road
between East 11th & E. 12th next to the CVS).  Campaign phone number is 472
- VOTE (8683)

 

*********************************************************************** 

Circle C Area Democrats Issue Fundraising Challenge!

 

On short notice, Circle C Area Democrats recently challenged its membership
to gear up for the fall campaign by becoming TCDP sustaining members.  In
only 72 hours, the group signed up 10 new sustaining members and three
existing members substantially increased their monthly contributions!  Many
of these folks, inspired by the recent primary campaign, are new political
activists seeking to deepen their local commitment and turn Travis County
100% blue this November.

 

Circle C Area Democrats would like to issue a friendly challenge to all
local DEM clubs to launch similar membership drives to see who can round up
the most new members and increased contributions!

 

The following CC Area Dems helped make the drive a success:

 

New Sustaining Members:

 

Kristina Peterson

Bill Phillips

Karen Collier

Ed Scruggs

Ron Adams

Alice Adams

Tom Niland

Patricia Murphree

Veta Winick

Dr. Patricia Stuart

 

Existing Members Increasing Monthly Contribution:

 

Kathi Miller

Leslie Weston

Bryan Weston

Gay Phillips (special $100 contribution)

 

*********************************************************************** 

BECOME A TCDP SUSTAINING MEMBER!

Since 2004, seven Republican-held offices within Travis County have switched
to Democrats, and now, there are only four Republicans left and one of those
was just appointed by Rick Perry last September!  As you can see, the TCDP
has stepped up to make Travis County even more Democratic!

 

Sustaining members are our lifeblood.  They are the reason that we are open
year-round (one of only five county parties in Texas that stay open
year-round), have two full-time staff members, and our work has been so
successful.  We do not receive any funds from the national or state parties!


 

Stand with us and other Travis County residents 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!


To join the Travis County Democratic Party 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

 

*********************************************************************** 
DID YOU KNOW?

 

The Travis County Democratic Party has two other email lists: Activism and
Events.  These lists are used occasionally for folks who want to know more
about action items and particular events respectively.

 

You may sign up for these lists at the following link:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/newsletter.php 

 

************************************************************************

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       

 

**************************

Thursday, July 3, 2008-  TCDP Offices closed today in observance of the July
4 Holiday.

 

Capital City Young Democrats Meeting

DATE:  Thursday, July 3, 2008

TIME:  6:00 pm
PLACE:  Austin Centre, 3809 South Second St., Bldg. A, Ste. 100
CONTACT:  Kim Hokanson, 905-4493 or kimberlyhokanson at gmail.com 

Please join the Capital City Young Democrats for their monthly meetings the
first Thursday of the month. You are invited to visit their website at
www.capcityyoungdems.org . 

**************************

Friday, July 4, 2008

 

Both the TCDP Main Office and TCDP Campaign office will be closed on Friday,
July 4th in observance of Independence Day.  Happy and safe holiday to all!

 

**************************

Saturday, July 5, 2008

 

YellerDawg/Saturday Sages Democrats Meeting 
DATE:  Saturday, July 5, 2008

TIME:  11:00 AM
LOCATION:  Tres Amigos Restaurant, 1801 S. Capitol of Texas Hwy

CONTACT:  Bill McAfee at bmcafee at austin.rr.com 

 

You are invited to join the YellerDawg/Saturday Sages Democrats for their
weekly meeting.

 

**************************

Monday, July 7, 2008   

 

Texas Democratic Party Advisory Committee Meeting on the Primary/Caucus
System 

DATE:  Monday, July 7, 2008
TIME:  10:00am
LOCATION:  Austin Community College Health Science Building, Building 9000
in the Multi Purpose Hall room 8500, 3401 Webberville Rd.
CONTACT:  Texas Democratic Party at 478-9800

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Texas Democratic Party
Convention/Caucus System has been scheduled. Headed by Senator Royce West,
this is the first of several meetings.

While all meetings will be open to the public, this first committee meeting
will be limited to invited testimony only. Senator West and the Committee
members wish to use this initial meeting as an informational session. They
will discuss with current and former Party leaders the history and
development of the current convention/caucus system.

Those wishing to participate at this meeting are encouraged to submit
written testimony to the Committee, or complete an online survey
(http://www.txdemocrats.org/page/s/primsurv), available on the Texas
Democratic Party website. Additionally, there will be other hearings held in
Austin and throughout the state where public testimony will be taken in
order to learn about your personal experience with the convention/caucus
system. Those hearings will be scheduled at a later date. 

 

 

Travis County Democratic Issues/Policy Meet-Up
DATE:  Monday, July 7, 2008

TIME:  6:00pm-8:00pm
LOCATION:  Travis County Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign
Headquarters, 1107 N. IH-35
CONTACT:  David Kobierowski at 413-0286 or Cleanair999 at yahoo.com 

You are invited to join the Travis County Democratic Issues/Policy Meet-Up.
We'll network and present issues and policies important to Travis County and
to TX.

Cost: FREE

Bring food/drinks to share and bring your laptop (Laptop not mandatory).

**************************
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

 

West Austin Democrats Meeting 

DATE:  Wednesday, July 9, 2008
TIME:  7:00 pm
PLACE:  Howson Library, 2500 Exposition Blvd.
CONTACT:  Chris Dietche, 481-1424 or cdietche at mindspring.com 

Please join West Austin Democrats for their monthly meeting the second
Wednesday of the month. 

**************************

Thursday, July 10, 2008

 

Capital Area Democratic Women Meeting 

DATE:  Thursday, July 10, 2008
TIME:  11:30 am networking, 12:00 pm lunch
PLACE:  Nuevo Leon Restaurant, 1501 E. 6th St.
CONTACT:  Laurie Felker Jones at 538-1329 or cadw at cadw.org  

Please join Capital Area Democratic Women for their monthly meeting the
second Thursday of the month.

 

Hispanic Voter Outreach Meeting 

DATE:  Thursday, July 10, 2008
TIME:  6:00pm
LOCATION:  TCDP Coordinated Campaign Office, 1107 N. IH-35, next to CVS
CONTACT:  Sylvia Camarillo at sylvia at traviscountydemocrats.org 

Sylvia Camarillo, the Coordinated Campaign Hispanic Community Organizer,
invites you to weekly meetings to plan voter registration activities geared
towards the Hispanic Community.

************************************************************************ 
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" 

************************************************************************

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE TCDP 

www.traviscountydemocrats.org <http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/>  (main
web site)               

www.turntexasblue.com <http://www.turntexasblue.com/>  (campaign web site)

General contact e-mail:  info at traviscountydemocrats.org                 


Main Office:

Ph        (512) 477-7500

Fax      (512) 477-7769

1311 East 6th Street

Austin, TX  78702

Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

 

MAILING ADDRESS: 
P.O. Box 684263 
Austin, TX 78768-4263 

 

Andy Brown - Chair 

andy at traviscountydemocrats.org                


Elizabeth Yevich - Executive Director 

elizabeth at traviscountydemocrats.org                 


Garry Brown - Assistant Director 

garry at traviscountydemocrats.org   

 

Coordinated Campaign Office:

Ph        (512) 472-VOTE (8683)

1107 N. IH-35 (on the frontage road between East 11th & E. 12th next to the
CVS)

Austin, TX  78702

Monday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

 

MAILING ADDRESS: 
P.O. Box 684263 
Austin, TX 78768-4263 

 

Andy Brown - Chair 

andy at traviscountydemocrats.org                


Ian Davis - Coordinated Campaign Manager

ian at traviscountydemocrats.org

 

Sylvia Camarillo - Hispanic Outreach Coordinator

sylvia at traviscountydemocrats.org

 

*********************************************************************** 
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send an e-mail to: 

tcdp_newsletter-unsubscribe at lists.traviscountydemocrats.org              

 

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*******************************************************
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Each time an AOL user hits the "Report Spam" button on a post from a list
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careful when deleting messages. 

 

****************************** 
This e-mail service is paid for by the Travis County Democratic Party, 
P.O. Box 684263, Austin, TX 78768-4263

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