Category: Uncategorized (Page 7 of 49)

Here are my notes from the reorganization meeting for the Thurston County Democrats and (surprisingly) the LD 22 Democrats:

Bob McLeod, this is where the political career of Bob McLeod began. Presented the last of his campaign funds to the county party. Anne Hirsh swears in the PCOs.

Usually the chairs and vice chairs of the LD 22 and TCD are the same, since 22 is completely enclosed within Thurston County. This year, though, we elected a separate chair, vice-chair.

Speaking of returning money, Paul Pickett (who won a very close race for PUD)

Agenda is adopted so we’ll handle bylaw stuff next month.

Paul Berendt nominates John Cusick for chair. No other nominations for chair, but Paul still made his nomination speech. Thruston County really is gifted with a fabulous chair in John Cusick. He’s professional, respectful of the grassroots. We’re trying very hard to get people involvd who haven’t been involved before. We want to do a much better job reaching out to the outlying districts. Time is ticking and we’re getting older, and we really need to recruit and train younger people to hold leadership positions in the party.

First Vice Chair. Current first vice chair Debby Pattin nominates Elizabeth Shepard. Elected by acclamation.

2nd Vice Chair. Roger Erskine nominates Jerry Muchmore, who served as campaign services committee chair this last time around. Elected by acclamation.

Secretary. Jeff Holcumb, the current secretary nominates Christine Garst, who was member at large on the executive committee and coordinated the sunshine fund. Elected by acclamation.

Current treasurer Jane Johnson nominates Helen Wheatley, who worked on campaign services. Elected by acclamation.

Debby Pattin nominated for state committeewoman. Elected by acclamation.

Karen Van (Tumwater City Councilmember) nominates Roger Erskin as state committeeman. We really need to make sure the PCOs are connected all the way up to the state committee. We need to be active in those races (in 2007) so we’re building our party up to 2008. Elected by acclamation.

Linda Lombard moved that we approve our $20 dues again for next year. Approved by acclamation.

Approval of the banking institution. Jane Johnson suggests we maintain accounts at the state employees credit union.

Cathy ?? the state committee woman from Mason County (who is running for the 35th) brings up the topic of a possible change in the way the state committee is made up, warning against the possibility of taking away the LD state committee positions. Apparently a move is afoot to by urban state committee people to take positions away from the LDs.

Mike Rechner gets up to thank everyone. I’m not going anywhere, I’m going to be a thorn is someone’s side for the next two years. I’m probably going to go again.

Jeane Marie Christensen, who lost the LD 2 Rep race thanked everyone. The TCD was the single largest contributor to her campaign and she was elected 1st Vice Chair.

22nd LD meeting.

Jim Cooper nominated for LD chair. “He’s young bright and articulate.” Was a veteran, served in the army. Teaching leadership and team dynamics. We make sure the resources are there when people need them, keeping the playing field level for all the LDs in the county. Elected by acclamation.

John Cusick nominates Debby Pattin for 1st Vice chair. Elected by acclamation.

Helen Hunt nominates Russ Olson for secretary/treasurer. Elected by acclamation.

I nominated Hillary Hunt for state committeewoman. Elected by acclamation.

Zach Smith gets nominated for state committeeman. Elected by acclamation. It looks like I’m going to be the senior member of the 22nd LD. We need to get new people involved, we need to get tons of new people involved. This time the West is going to be very important. Elected by acclamation.

I’m pretty sure I’m voting for Roger Erskine and Debby Pattin, who are the only two folks that I’ve heard from that they’re actually running for something. I’m assuming that everyone else on the executive board is also running (maybe not Linda Lombard, but then again haven’t heard).

That is the most annoying part of this process, hardly anyone has really said if they’re running. I’ll end up voting for a full slate, but I feel weird about going into a meeting tonight voting for people when we could have been talking about this for weeks.

We have a blog we have a listserv. Why not use them and make this an open process?

Is all about legislative issue needs this week.

Here it is.

She gets her first inbound link before any outbound ones. How funny.

Sarah is an former co-worker and cube neighbor of mine, who is one of those people who always assumed would have a blog, but she never actually did. Glad she has one now though.

The city council passed a new pedestrian interference ordinance this week, which pissed a bunch of people off, some enough to protest one of the city councilmember’s business. They seem to have backed off though, and now we’re getting some really good suggestions. And, some others I’m not so sure of, but I respect the intent.

One of the above links (this one) refers to a the idea of a better public process in Olympia dealing with big community issues. Our common things as it where. Here is a great paragraph:

A friend of mine who is an Appreciate Inquiry Facilitator, attended the Town Hall meeting in September. Following the meeting, she shared with me her observations that it seemed the community members were talking AT each other and not WITH each other. She has since offered to train a Steering Committee made up of community members and leaders in the appreciate inquiry process with our wider community aimed at opening up channels of dialogue, getting to know one another’s perspectives, wants and needs in life and begin to find creative solutions to complex community issues. I have mentioned this offer to the City Council and will continue to follow up with individual council members about utilizing her knowledge and training. I mention this, because it is my belief that this form of communication may be much more effective in bringing our community together to meet the needs of both those on the streets and those who are housed. What do you think?

UPDATE: Great comment thread here.

This is a great way to deal with divisive issues:

The Spokane Indians Baseball Club, in conjunction with the Spokane Tribe of Indians, today unveiled new team logos and uniforms. This is believed to be the first time that a professional sports team has worked in conjunction with a local tribe to create a team identity.

…

When the team began to contemplate a new logo two years ago, they started with the assumption that, once again, the best way to show respect to local tribes would be to stay away from any Native American imagery. However, during a meeting with the Spokane Tribe’s Culture Committee early in the logo development process, it became clear that the use of subtle and respectful Indian images would be welcomed by the Tribe. The Spokane Tribal Council released the following statement about the Spokane Indians logo and the process of creating the new identity:

“Immediately upon contact from the Spokane Indians Baseball Management team, the Spokane Tribe believed the request to offer input with the team’s new look would prove to be a win-win situation for all involved. The Spokane Tribal Council along with input from its Culture Committee, and community Elders wanted to use this opportunity to build a long lasting successful working relationship with the baseball team carrying the Spokane Tribe’s name.”

Mayor Mark Foutch and councilmember Joe Hyer get back to me on my idea:

My email:

I was following the discussion the last couple of weeks regarding the possible closure of the after school programs at Olympia Middle Schools. Has there been any discussion about bringing the Boys and Girls Club into the formula?

Olympia, unlike Tumwater and Lacey, has no Boys and Girls Clubs. I would think that have one of two programs in Olympia would take pressure off of the city from having to provide after school alternatives.

Thanks,
Emmett O’Connell

Mayor Mark:

Emmett, as I understand it the YMCA already provides these programs in the elementary schools by charging families (and allowing low income kids to participate free or at reduced rates). So while we seem to be ready to extend funding at WMS to keep the program going as is for the rest of the school year, we will be looking for other options. One might be for our Parks and Rec dept to continue to run the programs in middle schools but charge/administer a fee schedule. Another might be to engage a nonprofit like the Y or B and G clubs. Stay tuned for opportunities to weigh in on this.

Joe:

I know discussion has occurred as to whether or not OPARD is the best vehicle to deliver these services, and I heard YMCA mentioned at one point. I also know these are great services, and we want them to continue — I’ll pass on the bOys and Girls CLub idea, which I had not considered …

Thanks,

joe

The city of Olympia is considering lopping $18,000 of its budget by either charging for an after school program they run out of our local middle schools, or by cutting it out completly. This reminded me of a decision the council made earlier this year to cut a down down youth drop in program (saving $30,000).

At the time I wondered that maybe geography killed the downtown program, that because of where the program was situated, that it was doomed to failure. Teen programs in residential neighborhoods survive, while ones in ones in commercial downtowns will fail.

The decision to cut the the middle school based programs seems more budgetary than a concern over their popularity. Kids like them, we just can’t afford them. Which is why is makes sense to charge for them, possibly with some sliding scale fees involved.

Anyway, I’ve known this for awhile, but of the three major cities in Thurston County, Olympia is the only one without a Boys and Girls Club (Tumwater, Lacey and even Rochester have one). Why wouldn’t partnering with a new Boys and Girls Club, instead of leaving it up to the city Parks and Rec. Department, save costs? Plus, this is what the B&G Club do, I think they’d have a good idea of how exactly to do this kind of thing well.

For me, this is as much a conversation about public space as it is about where kids go after school when their parents aren’t home. We should be thinking about how to provide more public space and using our current public space (especially our under used schools) more effectively. I wrote about a similar thought to use our high schools as after hours public libraries here.

Last week was a hoot, this week is about more civility and police taking pictures of people and what they do with those pictures.

Already, before I woke up today, people had already lined up and qued into stores across the country. All the craziness — trampling, running through stores to get deeply discounted DVD players — would have already happened before I even had any coffee. I’m not saying there was any craziness this year, I haven’t really checked yet.

Here is one video indicating we’re in for another sad Black Friday (people lined up 13 hours early at a Best Buy in Maryland):

Even without people literally walking over each other for the best deals this morning, the spirit of Black Friday lives, and that’s what I’m sad about today. On the day after Thanksgiving, we as a nation start our steep commercial climb into the Christmas season. And, I wish for at least today there was an alternative. An alternative for fellowship and service.

The only actual “organized” alternative to Black Friday is Buy Nothing Day. Organized in North America by AdBusters, Buy Nothing Day is, in my opinion, a reactionary and eventually negative answer to Black Friday. You see, I’m successfully buying nothing today.

I’m going to watch my son for most of the day, watch some college football and read a couple of good books. Pretty common day for fall.

But, these things don’t actually improve anything that is ruined by Black Friday. Simply “buying nothing” doesn’t make my community better, serve anyone or take away the bad effects of Black Friday, so in the end it rings hollow.

We need a positive reaction to not only Black Friday, but also “Buy Nothing Day.” Maybe a magazine like Sojourners or a blog like Street Prophets promoting a day of service, similar to how Martin Luther King day has become a day of service.

While the folks at AdBusters are right, no one was “born to shop,” we were all born to be of service and in fellowship. On all days, after we give thanks for our blessings, we should give service and love to our communities.