Correction: This issue has been updated to correct the spelling of Daraka Larimore-Hall's name.  We apologize for the error and appreciate your patience.

 

The Democratic VoiceTM

Monday, April 8, 2019  •  Silicon Valley Democratic Club 

April Silicon Valley Democratic Club General Meeting & California Democratic Party Chair Candidate Forum

Please join us at our next General Meeting of the Silicon Valley Democratic Club (SVDC). At this event Club members will have the opportunity to shape the direction of the California Democratic Party by voting to choose which of the three contenders for the California Democratic Party Chair will receive our Club endorsement.

At the California Democratic Party Chair Candidate Forum, you will be able meet the candidates and ask questions to help ensure your values and priorities are being heard. We are delighted to have Celeste Walker from Orchard City Indivisible moderate the panel.

The CA Dem Party Chair candidates are:

  • Lenore Albert
  • Kimberly Ellis
  • Rusty Hicks (Mr. Hicks will be represented by a surrogate)
  • Mike Katz-Lacabe
  • Daraka Larimore-Hall

You can learn more about these candidates and their qualifications by clicking here

 

Monday, April 15 at 6:45-8:15pm

 

6:45-7:30pm
Wine & Cheese Reception
Where you’ll will have the opportunity
to mix & mingle with the Candidates

 

7:30-8:15 pm Forum

 

Endorsement vote following

 

Campbell Community Center

Orchard City Banquet Hall

One West Campbell Ave, Campbell

(Please note our new meeting location.)

This is a free event and no RSVP is required. You need not be a member to attend, however, voting is open to qualified members. We are excited that the Sunnyvale Democratic Club will be co-hosting this event.

 

Upcoming Progressive Events:

Tue Apr 9
9am - 5pm
Support County Sanctuary Policy! Board of Supervisor Mtg by FIRE Coalition • Where: 70 W Hedding St, San Jose

Sat Apr 13
9am - 1pm
Thank You Canvass in Tracy w/South Bay Swing Left • Where: Democratic Club of Greater Tracy, 902 N Central Ave, Tracy

Mon Apr 15
6:45pm - 8:15pm 
April Silicon Valley Democratic Club General Meeting & California Democratic Party Chair Candidate Forum (Details Above)

Mon Apr 15
5:30pm - 8pm
America to Me Screening & Speaker Series • Where: CERAS 101 - 520 Galvez Mall - Stanford

Wed Apr 17
6pm - 9pm
3rd Annual Activist Summit hosted by Rep Anna Eshoo • Where: Crowne Plaza Palo Alto, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Wed, Apr 24
7:00pm - 9:00pm
SVDC April E-Board Meeting • Where: Headen-Inman House, 1509 Warburton Ave. Santa Clara, SVDC Members Only

Fri Apr 26
5:30pm - 9pm
SIREN's 32 Year Anniversary Celebration • Where: Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose

Fri Apr 26
6:30pm - 10:30pm
Grateful Gathering Gala Dinner & Auction • Where: First Unitarian Church of San Jose, 160 N 3rd St, San Jose

Find Details and RSVP on our SVDC Progressive Partners Calendar

Official Notice of Motion to Amend the Bylaws Of the Silicon Valley Democratic Club

According to our bylaws a 5-day notice to the membership is required before a motion may be considered by members to amend our bylaws.  Notice is hereby given that on April 15 at our General Meeting a motion to amend the SVDC bylaws will be made as follows:

Motion:

To remove the 180-day wait period and 50-day wait period to join the SVDC Executive Board or Nominating Committee and to vote on Endorsements respectively. 

  • An affirmative vote will change Article X1 ENDORSEMENTS, Section 4.   Change "50" to "0". 
  • An affirmative vote will change Article VII ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD, Section 2:  Change "180" to "0".   
  • An affirmative vote will change Article VII ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD, Section 3:  Change "180" to "0".

The Executive Board believes that in keeping with our democratic values that voter participation in public elections needs to be increased.  One way to achieve that objective is for barriers removed or reduced whenever possible.  While SVDC elections are not “public” per se, we believe in much the same vain that wait periods on membership eligibility to vote on Club endorsements needs to be eliminated, and eligibility to serve on our Executive Board needs to be reduced.

Your board has worked to increase diversity in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, socio-economic status and ethnicity of our membership and our Board. Your vote in support of this motion will do much to reaching that objective.

This motion will require a 2/3 majority affirmative vote of those in attendance.  We therefore urge you to attend and vote at our upcoming General Meeting.

 

PRESIDENT'S NOTE:

What an honor and pleasure it was to meet with Ben Field, Executive Director of the South Bay Labor Council and Ruth Silver-Taube, Supervising Attorney at Workers’ Right Clinic at our last General Meeting.  Ben reminded us that unions lift wages, health benefits and working conditions for all workers ̶ even for those who aren’t represented by a union. And Ruth brought our attention to important pending legislation that needs our support. The bill effects sexual harassment and retaliation law in the workplace.

At our next General meeting we will have the opportunity to vote to endorse the next California Democratic Party Chair. We’ll have a forum, a debate and most of the announced candidates will be there in person.  In fact, there will be a meet and greet before the forum and debate, so come early to mingle and talk with the candidates. We are delighted that the Sunnyvale Democratic club co-host this event with us.

A lot happening in the world of politics locally and nationally.  I’d be remiss not to opine on the Mueller report completion, or shall I say the Barr opinion.  I think this month Congress and executive branches will be arm wrestling with one another over who has the authority to read the whole truth and un-redacted truth.  Ultimately it looks as though the courts will be the final arbitrator and hopefully they’ll decide in favor of putting the interests of our country over party.

April will bring raining “showers” of events. We’ll be reaching out to delegates who will meet in late May to decide who will be the next CA Democratic chair.  The CA Democratic Convention will be taking place in San Francisco.  There will be many presidential candidates trying to convince us how they will be best one to lead the Democratic Party and govern from the White House.  Keep your eyes and ears open for what comes out of that event in late May.  On Friday, May 17, the Santa Clara County Democratic Party Victory Dinner is being held at the Hayes Mansion in San Jose. Many of the local and national “who’s who” of politics will be there. If you are interested in tickets, send an email to president@siliconvalleydemclub.org. Tickets are selling fast, so please don’t wait to get yours!

If you recall, in January I recounted the uplifting experience I had when I attended a ceremony at which a personal friend became a U.S. Citizen. Well this last month I attended yet another ceremony of a close friend becoming a US Citizen.  This time the event was held at the Campbell Community Center and 350 people from over 50 countries became citizens! Again, what an emotional experience! The special guest at this ceremony was Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren gave a special welcome to the new citizens.

My inspirational quote for this month is: “Only those that attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible!”

I look forward to see you soon at our next General Meeting!

-Art Cohen, President

www.SiliconValleyDemClub.org

 

Unsubscribe