SVDC EBoard Meeting Minutes - February 27, 2019
Executive Board Attendees: Art Cohen, Jeff Levin, Ed Cobb, Bill Barrett, Fred Rehhausser, Jeff Orloff, Catherine Williams, Michele Dauber, Jennie Richardson, Marika Krause, , and Vinod Menon, Guests: Frank Monachello, Cupertino Vice Mayor Liang Chao, Linda Sell
1. Check-in – Art Cohen
2. No additions/modifications to agenda
3. Guest: Liang Chao, Cupertino Vice Mayor re: Andrew Yang Event
Yang is a progressive candidate for President focused on:
Universal Base Income w/ How to Pay for it, Human Capital-GDP doesn’t measure human needs (parents, childcare, etc), Innovative Ideas – Trump supporters want hope, Event on Sat, March 16, Details TBD – panel with interview, Chao expressed that Yang’s goal is to promote his ideas, as he is not necessarily a viable candidate, Asking for SVDC support as co-host and help promoting the event, ACTION ITEM: Jennie Hutchinson will look into event as Programming Chair.
4. Guest: Frank Monachello (See Attachment 1)
SCCDP Democratic Party Precinct Captain Program Training in March, Swing Left’s Super State Strategy for 2020 – Voter Registration by Mail
5. January Board Meeting Minutes Approval
Changes/Corrections: Add “Minutes” to title, Correct typo in Item 12, Motion to approve: Michele Dauber, Second: Jeff Orloff, Amended Minutes will be posted on the Website, Motion to table until end of meeting for time to review: William Barrett, Second: Jeff Levin, Motion passed by unanimous approval., PLEASE NOTE: Did not revisit at end of meeting. Need to approve via email.
6. Treasurer’s Report - Bill Barrett (See Attachment 2)
Membership: Need to evaluate Trial Members and Courtesy Members, We currently have no liability insurance, We have paid $550 per year in the past, Art: table to March Board Meeting to purchase insurance, ACTION ITEM: Fred Rehhausser will work with Jennie Hutchinson to evaluate insurance
7. Board Meeting Schedule:
November & December Board meetings conflict with holidays
Change November meeting to 11/20, Remove December meeting
Motion by Art Cohen, Second Fred Rehhausser, Motion passed by unanimous approval
ACTION ITEM: LezLi Logan to update meeting dates on website
8. Club Events: Jeff Orloff (See Attachment 3)
ACTION ITEM: ALL Please review attached event summary from last year and refer questions to Jeff Orloff
Do we want to continue with same BBQ venue?
Note low turnout last year due to competing events on same date
Lesson learned: Check Dem Party calendar and others
9. Guest: Environmental Committee – Linda Sell
SVDC endorsed SB100
ACTION ITEM: Consensus of board was to have Environmental Committee look into Green New Deal
Sunnyvale Dem Club Event with Ro Khanna on March 23, 3-5pm
Deb will send info to LezLi for website
ACTION ITEM: JENNIE HUTCHINSON & MICHELE DAUBER will work on developing a Green New Deal Call to Action for the August Meeting when Mike Levin is our featured speaker
ACTION ITEM: Environmental Committee will look into the Lehigh Cement Plant issues and report back to the board about possible Calls to Action
10. Newsletter – Jeff Levin, Fred Rehhausser
Article Submission Deadline is March 1
ACTION ITEM: (LezLi Logan) Add Fred to Communications Committee
Full Communications Schedule has been added to the website as a Google Calendar on private Board page, and Article Submission Dates have been added to the website on the Members page.
11. Privacy Policy – Jeff Levin
ACTION ITEM: Ed Cobb will revisit privacy policy loaded in Google Drive and post most recent version that incorporates sharing of info to Democratic Party. LezLi Logan will edit and finalize the Privacy Policy on website.
Jeff Levin raised a concern about what information is shared with the Democratic Party. Consensus of the board was that we will supply no more than Member name and address to the Democratic Party.
12. Business Cards – LezLi Logan
Business Card design has been finalized.
ACTION ITEM: Confusion around whether or not the club would be paying for board member business cards. The club will not pay for business cards. Since the previous collection of orders assumed club was paying, LezLi will re-administrate collecting orders and handle ordering business cards.
Other than Art Cohen, no one has indicated that their cards are a high priority, so this will be completed as time permits.
Michele Dauber reiterated her strongly held belief that we must use a union printer. The plan is to use a union printer.
13. Insurance for Events – Bill Barrett
Addressed in Item 6 above.
14. Facebook Ad for March Meeting - Ed Cobb
ACTION ITEM: - Ed Cobb will target Union/Labor with the Facebook Ad for March
Motion to approve $25 Facebook Promotion for March Meeting by Art Cohen, Second by LezLi Logan, Motion passed by Unanimous approval
15. Transition Team Update – LezLi Logan (See Attachment 4)
16. March Meeting Phonebank – Art Cohen
Art proposed that each board member call 20 members to ask them to come to the March meeting to try to increase attendance.
Michele Dauber emphasized that she believes the drop in attendance is due to the closure of Harry’s Hofbrau, and we should not panic. We should wait until after our new long-term location is confirmed before calling people to ask them to attend.
Jennie Hutchinson explained that in her experience phone banking is not a popular exercise for volunteers. LezLi Logan agreed.
Art offered to make some calls as President, reaching out to members to make a personal connection. Consensus of the board was that this is a good idea.
17. Long-term Meeting Location - Fred Rehhausser (see Attachment 5)
Fred provided some information about the venues visited by Fred, David Donaldson and Catherine Williams (listed in attachment)
Michele Dauber listed the criteria she feels is most important: Cost, available parking, ease of getting there, long term availability, capacity with flexibility.
LezLi Logan emphasized that it is important that the board poll the members about our new meeting location criteria, as it was promised at the Feb General Meeting, and it is important for the board to follow through on such promises.
ACTION ITEM: LezLi Logan will create a poll for the membership re food at meeting. Fred will send a list of questions to LezLi for the poll.
It was noted that there has been a history of better attendance at meetings when food was available.
ACTION ITEM: Fred, Catherine and David will firm up details and provide the board with a recommendation via email for a vote.
18. n/a
19. NFL Resolution – Michele Dauber
NO REPORT
20. Debate Watch Parties in June/July – Art Cohen, Jeff Orloff
Art wants to offer watch parties to promote the club & foster partnerships with other organizations
ACTION ITEM: Jeff Orloff & Jennie Bradanini (Events Committee) will make arrangements for a location. Bill Barrett recommended Pizza Factory
21. Programming/Speakers – Jennie Hutchinson
Incorporating local Calls to Action into meetings to increase engagement
Currently plans:
April – Kimberly Ellis confirmed.
Michele Dauber suggests that we should invite the other candidates for CA party chair as well and make it an endorsement meeting (which requires appropriate notice). Perhaps make it a joint meeting with Sunnyvale Dem Club and Young Dems.
May – Candidates for County Board of Supervisors
Tran declined, Magdalena and Otto replied YES, Rose Herrera and Peter Fung have not yet returned calls.
June - Sam Liccardo confirmed
July – Picnic
Eric Swallwell was invited to speak at our picnic but did not respond
Michele sent a text to Ro Khanna during the meeting, and he responded that he would speak at our July Picnic (details TBD)
August - Mike Levin (see note about Call to Action re: Green New Deal above)
September – Speaker with info regarding Education Policy (Adia Hoag can help arrange for speaker)
Oct – Still open
Nov – Still open
Fred Rehhausser suggested a State Senator Candidate Forum in Sep/Oct/Nov
Jeff Orloff suggested that debates on key issues would be excellent meeting topics.
22. Endorsement Committee Update – Fred Rehhausser
No report
23. Women’s Caucus – Jennie Hutchinson
No report (see Central Committee report in item 25)
24. McTaggert Meeting Report – Art Cohen
Spoke regarding Voter Choice (all mail-in ballots)
When Board of Supervisors votes, SVDC should have a Call to Action to encourage member participation
25. Central Committee Report – Michele Dauber
Michele and Jennie Hutchinson proposed a resolution re: CEDAW which passed the Central Committee board and is now on the agenda for full committee meeting (First Thursday in March, 3/7). Resolution states that candidates must support CEDAW ordinance and gender equity analysis in their district (noted on endorsement questionnaire) to receive the Dem Party endorsement. Gender Equity Analysis is done city by city. (Cities for CEDAW)
26. Fundraising Committee - Michele Dauber
Michele stated that the July picnic should be a fundraiser
She also noted that fundraising would be better pursued when we have a long-term meeting location confirmed.
27. Report to Central Committee – Michele Dauber
Michele indicated that she had reported the changes to the SVDC board, that we lost our meeting location, and our efforts to increase membership in economic, age, and racial diversity
ACTION ITEM: Michele will find out the requirements for obtaining Club delegates for Party endorsements.
28. Santa Clara Arts & Historical Consortium Meeting – Art Cohen
Annual fee for use of the Headan-Inman House is $170, due in June
ACTION ITEM: David Donaldson should send meeting ads to Art so he can share with the Consortium.
29. Adjourn
Next Meeting: March 27, Headen-Inman House at 7pm
Attachment 1: Frank Monachello
New Santa Clara Democratic Party Precinct Captain Program Update
Contacts: Titus Lin (titus_lin@yahoo.com) and John Comiskey (john1962@mac.com).
Titus and John are planning to introduce a Precinct Captain Program via a Precinct Captain training in March (currently looking at March 16 or 24) to train up volunteers.. After the training they hope to get captains started with their first round of door knocking to introduce themselves to their neighbors. This will likely happen between March through May. They will be asking precinct captains to walk their turf at least once a quarter. John intends to personally walk with the first ten captains who sign up.
Swing Left’s Super State Strategy for 2020 - VRBM - Voter Registration By Mail
Mission: Win all the Houses in 2020, including the White House, the Senate, the House, and the State Houses key to rolling back Republican gerrymandering. If done right, we can not only beat Trump and the GOP—but also set up our country for a decade of progressive victories.
How We’ll Do It: By engaging voters and fundraising for campaigns in the 11 Super States, where the key fights of 2020 will be won or lost. 11 Super States: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Michigan,North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. Here’s how:
By targeting Super States.
By raising early money for the eventual Democratic nominees in Super State races.
By registering new voters in Super States by piloting an innovative tactic (VRBM - Voter Registration By Mail) that uses volunteer power anywhere to increase the number of people voting in Super States by writing personal letters to people who need to get registered.
Local VRBM Event: March 2, 2019, 11am to 1pm. Location: The Alameda and McKendrie Street, San Jose near 880 and The Alameda intersection. Host Contact: carly@southbayswingleft.org Learn about Swing Left's 2020 strategy, view Swing Left's national kickoff video and get started right away by writing letters to unregistered voters in Super States, with a registration form and instructions in the envelope.
Visit South Bay Swing Left for more here:
www.southbayswingleft.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthBaySwingLeft/
NOTE: Another Swing Left VRBM event is being held this Saturday, March 2nd, 10:00am to 4:30pm at 1121 Harriet Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Not required but you call 650-321-1171 to RSVP.
Attachments available upon request:
Attachment 2: William Barrett, Treasurer
Attachment 3: Jeff Orloff, Events Committee 2018 BBQ Invitation
Attachment 4 – LezLi Logan TRANSITION TEAM - UPDATE
Attachment 5 – New Meeting Location Search – Fred Rehhausser
