Downstate Democrats for Change Sadly Late Minutes

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Apr 17, 2008 10:50 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

I am so sorry for being tardy posting these minutes. These are the minutes from November 2007 through April 2008.  We had meetings in November and December. We watched SICKO in November. We partied in December. We  were lucky to recruit several new and enthusiastic members. We didn't endorse any presidential candidate through the end of December since we had Kucinich, Edwards, and Obama supporters. In January we met and decided to plan a health care forum for April. We sought out forum participants from the HCAI (, Dr. Ann Scheetz), from the SEIU,(David Klein), from our Metro-east  faith based group- the United Congregations of the Metro- east (Jan Daker who was also on the governor's health care task force), and a small business owner. We invited many and even went across the Mississippi to be interstate with Missouri.  Meanwhile, many of us continued to work for the Democratic presidential candidates, including running as a delegate, canvassing, and organizing St. Louis events. I also have become an appointed Democratic precinct commitee person in the part of the country where my office is located and am trying to work within the party to create change. We also watched "Uncounted" at a meeting. We held the forum on April 12 and had about 40 attendees. It's too bad that we didn't  get more to come. It was very good even if I say so myself. Dr. Scheetz and I represented physicians who are committed toa  single payer since it is the only thing that makes sense. Daniel Davis, the Democratic candidate for IL Congresional 19 came to the forum.  We will hold our next meeting on the first Tuesday in May.  We have been invited to participate in a single payer event in St. Louis , a parade,at 11AM on  April 19 in University City to show our support of health care reform. I will be there. We are committed to making sure that whoever is nominated as the Democratic Party candidate knows what issues are important to America. Like everyone, many of us are having campaign fatigue. We remain committed to the cause. By the way, you can blog on our FDR picnic site, http://www.fdrpicnic.org.

Pam

FDR Picnic

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Sep 26, 2007 5:45 PM EDT

The Downstate Democrats for Change are proud to announce our first annual FDR Picnic on October 13, 2007 at  Pere Marquette Park in Grafton, Illinois. We are holding this event to honor Franklin Delano Roosevelt who we believe is the greatest Democratic President. Franklin Roosevelt brought hope to the American people during the Great Depression and created lasting social programs that work today. Many local and state Democratic parties hold, Jefferson, Jackson, Kennedy, and even Truman dinners. However, not many hold events to honor FDR. We would like to create a movement throughout this country among liberals/progressives to make an FDR Picnic an annual event.  As President Bush waits eagerly with pen in hand to deny needy children health care beneFits, we have to stand firm and unite around the message that Americans do believe that the role of our government should be to provide social programs for all Americans. We need to show that we  truly believe that all Americans should have the rights to life, liberty , and the pursuit of happiness. Next year, the second Saturday of October is October 11 which is Eleanor Roosevelt's Birthday. We think that this makes our choice of dates even better.

DFA Academy in Springfield,IL

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Sep 2, 2007 7:15 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

Remember that the last DFA Academy will be held in Springfield, IL on September 29-30. We in our Blue state have to remember that  we did not change one Congressional seat in the 2006 election despite the fact that we had many good unendorsed candidates.  Why is this so? The training acdemy is great for education and networking. In order for us to build a strong grassroots movement, we need to be organized and work together. We have to remind our own state Democratic Party that activism is dynamic and positive. I myself will not be happy being merely a fundraiser and cakebaker for this party. Besides, I don't even bake anything because I am awful at it. Come to Springfield. Learn and experience activism! 

Trivia for Democracy

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Aug 17, 2007 2:46 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

The Downstate Democrats for Change is having a Trivia Night for Democracy on August 18 at the IBEW Hall in Collinsville. We are raising money for scholarships to the DFA Training Academy in Springfield, IL on September 29-30. Many of us are working on the presidential campaigns in St. Louis as well as in the Metro-East. Join us for a fun night. We meet once a month at the Edwardsville Library.  We are trying hard to restore the Constitution to its pre-Bush glory. We take small steps but every step puts us a little closer to our goal. You can contact me at 618-792-1708.

Pam

Meeting Summaries-March, April, May, June, and July

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Jul 9, 2007 5:40 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

These minutes are long overdue. You must forgive me. In March through July, we met at the library to develop a plan of  action for the year. The meeting attendees in  these months included Pam Gronemeyer, Stephen Kriegh, David Kiley, Bill and Maggie Rechtiene, Miriam Burns, the Slosars who were new to the group, Joane Nabe, Dianne Lee, Mike Bailey, Freydna Scroggins, Karen Sandefur, and Dick Wagner.  We decided to concentrate on fund raising for the upcoming 2008 elections as well as raising money to sponsor students for the DFA Training Academy in Springfield in September.  The dates for the training academy were set on September 29-30, 2007. Pam is working with the DFA Trainers and  Tim Bagwell to get the details of site, time,housing, food, and advertising together. She also speaks every month to the DFI Leader Group to tell them about our progress and to get the word out to potential enrollees. We planned a trivia night for August 18, 2007. This will be held at the IBEW Hall in Collinsville. Maggie created a flyer and we are distributing it. Pam is sending a letter to try to get round sponsors. We tried to get Senator Durbin to make an appearance but he will be attending a family wedding on this weekend. We are still trying to get a video from him to show. Tim Bagwell will be the emcee. There will be a silent auction, 50-50 game, and another game in between rounds.

We are firming up the DFA Training Academy details. Maggie is now making a flyer for this event. Bill investigated getting a speaker to come to talk to us about  ongoing activities to prevent voter fraud. He will report back in August. An ad about our group was submitted  ( along with the fee) to the Madison County Federation of  Labor Award Ceremonies book. Unfortunately, the ad did not appear and we are to have our money refunded. We did everything correctly but we were left out of the book. Dorothy Asbury ,one of our members, received a well-deserved award for all of her activities working for the retired union members. Congratulations Dorothy !!  Pam and Stephen attended the event.

 Dick Wagner and Pam are now appointed precinct committee persons in Highland as part of  the East End Democratic group.  Jeff Hurst welcomed our help and gave us our precinct lists to get the word out to voters.  Pam attended the Illinois Democratic Women annual meeting in Springfield this spring and has a copy of the DNC Precinct Committee training powerpoint to educate new precinct committee people about their  responsibilites. She will be taking the power point to the East End Democratic meeting  to show in July. Six of us went out on July 5 to see SICKO. We distributed some information about universal healthcare from the Physicians for National Health Plan  Organiazation. Pam is a member of the group.

On July 14, we will have  a community table at the Goshen Market to try to recruit new members. We are talking about a second monthly meeting when we have a movie night and show progressive movies.

Hopefully, this summary includes all of our activities.I think that this summarizes our meeting minutes to date. 

February 12 Meeting

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Feb 14, 2007 5:00 PM EST

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

We watched "The Iraq War Tapes" during our meeting at the Edfwarsville Public Library. We had ten members present. We will be completing postcards which will be taken to Representative Shimkus' Collinsville Office on February 22 at  9:00 AM. Representative Shimkus will not too surprisingly be " not in appearance in the office" but will have his assistant Debra Detmers to speak to us. Hopefully, there will be more people seing the film on Monday in Pam's office in Higland and at SIU since Mike bailey our member took a copy to show at the SIU-E campus.

Our Peoria Meeting

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Jan 25, 2007 7:06 PM EST

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

We made a great start on Saturday January 20 in Peoria. We had fifteen people and decided that we definitely need to have a DFA Training Academy in Springfield, IL this year,earlier than later combined with a lobbying day. Pam Gronemeyer is in charge of contacting the DFA to set up a time. We are experiencing similar problems with our local parties throughout the sate as we try to make the grassroots a formidable force in this state. Christine Cegelis was a great speaker. The DFA phone call at the end with Tom Hughes capped off a good day. We have to remember that we become stonger as we grow and unite.

Organizational Meeting in Peoria, January 20,2007

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Jan 20, 2007 1:31 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for Illinois

We are right now in the middle of an exciting event. We are creating an organization that will be able to support progressive candidates starting now. Join us in this adventure.

November meeting

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Dec 18, 2006 7:30 AM EST

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

The Downstate Democrats met on the Saturday following the election to review our campaign efforts and plan ahead, Pam Gronemeyer will be trying to secure the precinct results from Madison County to see what kind of effect our leafletting had on the Stover campaign. Dan Stover came to the meeting and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for a job that was well-done. In addition, he stated that he is contemplating running for the mayor of Centralia. As for the future for the DDFC, we will meet in late December to plan our activities for the next year. Several of us are pursuing efforts to become precinct committeewomen and men in Edwardsville.  We are also planning on attending the Paul Simon Museum Anniversary event in Troy in late November in  order to see Senator Durbin again. We are working with the other groups in the DFI to try to organize a more statewide grassroots efforts so that the various groups can communicate and gain strength by increasing the numbers and organization of the grassroots. Pam Gronemeyer will be participating as the liason and will be attending the statewide gathering in January.

Our efforts in Illinois Congressional District 19

Written by: pamella gronemeyer on Nov 14, 2006 8:15 PM EST

Linked to groups: Downstate Democrats for Change

Our group the Downstate Democrats for Change worked very hard for Dan Stover who ran against John Shimkus. We came up with flyers exposing Shimkus'; record and contrasting it with Dan's agenda. We had them printed in union shops and had signs reminding people that a vote for Shimkus was a vote for Bush. We leafletted a large part of Madison County trying to get help from students, unions, etc. We marched in parades and sent letters to the editors of the major newspapers which were published. Unfortunately, the mainstream Democrats were not appearing in the election except to worry about the judge races. We did get Senator Durbin to come to see us the last week before election. Senator Obama came to stump for an appellate judge in Shimkus' hometown and while Dan was given lipservice, he was only asked to speak by Congressman Costello as everyone left. The judges's bouncer wouldn't even let me bring Dan's newspapers or handouts into the Obama event.  We are however here to stay even if the county Democrats would prefer  to fashion us into a fundraising baking club. We are committed to adding life and a breath of fresh air to our stale party here. We are committed grassrooters and think that the Democratic Party in Illinois should take some hints from Missouri's party which has been reborn. I get their e-mails since I went to a  McCaskill event and the party there is very inclusive. We could have done more if I could have afforded a direct mail campaign. Blood, sweat and tears need a little cash along the way.  We are going to start in December planning for the future.  We are will use the DFA training videos and other political literature as it appears to keep us current. We want to expand our numbers. We can all sleep well at night because even if we lost, we fought a noble battle.